Travel guide · Panama
Panama City travel guide
Canal locks, a colonial old town and rainforest within reach of the skyscrapers
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Panama City spreads along the Pacific shore at the southern entrance to the Panama Canal, its glass towers facing the restored colonial quarter of Casco Viejo across the bay. Visitors watch container ships rise and fall in the Miraflores Locks, walk the plazas and churches of the UNESCO-listed old town, explore the ruins of the first city at Panamá Viejo and visit Frank Gehry's Biomuseo on the Amador Causeway. Rainforest starts at the city's edge, in the Metropolitan Natural Park and Soberanía National Park, and the islands of Taboga and the Caribbean coast make easy day trips. The US dollar is used alongside the Panamanian balboa. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are January–April.
Key facts
- Country
- Panama
- Best time to visit
- January–April
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- PTY, PAC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $120–$220 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Panama Canal, Casco Viejo, Skyline on the bay and Ceviche and sancocho
Why visit Panama City
- At the Miraflores Locks, about 20 minutes from the centre, you can watch ocean-going ships pass through the canal from viewing terraces.
- Casco Viejo's restored 17th-century streets, plazas, rooftop bars and seafront promenade are compact and walkable.
- Rainforest trails with sloths, toucans and monkeys start inside the city at the Metropolitan Natural Park and Ancón Hill.
- Soberanía National Park, Gatún Lake, Portobelo and Isla Taboga are all reachable as day trips.
- Tocumen airport is Copa Airlines' hub, making the city an easy stopover between North and South America.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 15 things to do.
Landmark · Canal Zone
Miraflores Locks
The closest set of canal locks to the city lifts and lowers ships about 16 metres between the Pacific and Miraflores Lake.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- History
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Historic site · Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo
Founded in 1673 after the original city was destroyed, the old town is a grid of narrow streets with Spanish colonial, French and Art Deco buildings, many restored after decades of decline.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Free
- Photo spot
Market · Casco Viejo
Mercado de Mariscos
The city's fish market, at the start of the Cinta Costera near Casco Viejo, sells the morning catch downstairs, while an upstairs restaurant and stalls outside sell cups of ceviche made with corvina, shrimp or octopus and fried fish.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
Experience · Canal Zone
Panama Canal partial transit
Tour boats run partial transits through the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks and along part of the Culebra Cut on selected days, so you rise or fall in the chambers alongside cargo ships.
- Time needed
- 5–6 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- History
- Views
Landmark · Casco Viejo
Plaza de Francia and Las Bóvedas
At the tip of the old town peninsula, the Plaza de Francia has an obelisk and busts honouring the French engineers and workers who attempted to build the canal in the 1880s.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
Religious site · Casco Viejo
Iglesia de San José
This simple church hides Panama's best-known altarpiece, the Altar de Oro, a baroque altar of carved mahogany covered in gold leaf.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Art
Where to stay
Casco Viejo is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for couples, first-timers, nightlife, culture and food lovers
Casco Viejo
Restored colonial streets, rooftop bars and boutique hotels
$$ · Best for first-timers, families and solo travellers
Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa
High-rise seafront along the Cinta Costera park
$$ · Best for food lovers, budget and solo travellers
El Cangrejo
Restaurants and cafés around Vía Argentina
$$$ · Best for nightlife, luxury and solo travellers
Marbella and Calle Uruguay
Bars, clubs and business hotels near the financial district
What to eat
- Sancocho — Panama's national dish is a chicken soup with ñame (yam), corn and culantro, a broad-leaf herb related to coriander, usually served with white rice on the side.
- Ceviche — Panamanian ceviche is usually made with corvina (sea bass), cured in lime juice with onion, celery and ají chombo chile, and served in a cup with crackers.
- Patacones — Green plantain slices fried, flattened and fried again until crisp, served salted as a side dish or snack with almost every meal.
- Carimañolas — Torpedo-shaped fritters of mashed yuca stuffed with seasoned ground beef, cheese or chicken, eaten for breakfast or as a snack.
- Hojaldras — Fried dough that puffs up as it cooks, eaten for breakfast with eggs, cheese or sausage and a cup of coffee.
- Arroz con pollo — Rice cooked with chicken, vegetables, achiote and spices, a staple at family gatherings and lunch counters.
When to go
The best time to visit Panama City is the dry season, from mid-December to April, when skies are sunny, breezes take the edge off the heat and roads to the islands and the Caribbean coast are at their best. The rainy season from May to November brings heavy afternoon storms but greener forest, fewer visitors and lower prices; October and November are the wettest months.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | mid-December–April | Sunny, breezy days around 32 °C with little rain; the busiest and priciest time, with the jazz festival and Carnival. |
| Early rainy season | May–July | Hot and humid, with afternoon thunderstorms and green forest; mornings are usually fine for sightseeing. |
| Late rainy season | August–November | The wettest period, especially October and November, with long downpours but low prices and patriotic parades in November. |
| Transition | December | Rains taper off, trade winds return and the city fills up for Christmas and New Year. |
Getting there and around
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is about 24 km east of the centre; allow 30–60 minutes by road depending on traffic. Taxis from the official desk and ride-hailing cars are the usual options. Albrook's Marcos A. Gelabert airport (PAC), near the centre, handles domestic flights.
Panama City is spread out and hot, so most visitors combine walking in Casco Viejo and along the Cinta Costera with the Metro, ride-hailing and taxis. Traffic can be very heavy at rush hour.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera and the Amador Causeway with the Biomuseo. Four days adds Panamá Viejo, a rainforest morning in Soberanía or on Gatún Lake, and a day trip to Isla Taboga or Portobelo.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- Spanish
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water in Panama City is generally safe to drink; bottled water is widely available.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tip about 10% in restaurants if service is not included.
Pickpocketing and bag snatching occur in crowded areas such as Avenida Central; in Casco Viejo, stay on the restored streets after dark, as some neighbouring areas are best avoided. The heat and sun are intense, so drink plenty of water.
Flights to Panama City
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Panama City?
Two days covers the Miraflores Locks, Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera and the Amador Causeway with the Biomuseo. Four days adds Panamá Viejo, a rainforest morning in Soberanía or on Gatún Lake, and a day trip to Isla Taboga or Portobelo. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Panama City?
The best time to visit Panama City is the dry season, from mid-December to April, when skies are sunny, breezes take the edge off the heat and roads to the islands and the Caribbean coast are at their best. The rainy season from May to November brings heavy afternoon storms but greener forest, fewer visitors and lower prices; October and November are the wettest months.
+What is Panama City known for?
Panama Canal, Casco Viejo, Skyline on the bay, Ceviche and sancocho, Rainforest at the city edge, Biomuseo and Geisha coffee. At the Miraflores Locks, about 20 minutes from the centre, you can watch ocean-going ships pass through the canal from viewing terraces.
+Is Panama City expensive?
Panama City is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $120–$220 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Panama City?
No. Driving in the city is stressful and parking is limited. Rent a car only if you plan to explore beyond the day trips; tours and buses reach most nearby sights.