3 days in Panama City

Day by day

1. Day 1: Miraflores Locks and Panama Canal partial transit

   Miraflores Locks, Panama Canal partial transit and Ancón Hill, then Casco Viejo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Miraflores Locks

      The closest set of canal locks to the city lifts and lowers ships about 16 metres between the Pacific and Miraflores Lake.

   2. Late morning

      Panama Canal partial transit

      Bring sun protection and a hat; most of the journey is on an open deck in strong sun.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sancocho

      Fondas and traditional restaurants throughout the city, especially at lunchtime and on weekends.

   4. Afternoon

      Ancón Hill

      The forested hill rising about 200 metres above the city is topped by a giant Panamanian flag.

   5. Evening

      Casco Viejo

      Rooftop bars, cocktail bars and live music in restored buildings around the plazas.

2. Day 2: Casco Viejo and Mercado de Mariscos

   Casco Viejo, Mercado de Mariscos and Plaza de Francia and Las Bóvedas, then Calle Uruguay in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Casco Viejo

      Walk it in the early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat, and stick to the restored streets after dark.

   2. Late morning

      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.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ceviche

      The Mercado de Mariscos stalls and seafood restaurants around Casco Viejo.

   4. Afternoon

      Plaza de Francia and Las Bóvedas

      Walk the bougainvillea-covered promenade at sunset for views across the bay to the towers.

   5. Evening

      Calle Uruguay

      Bars, clubs and late-night restaurants popular with a young local crowd.

3. Day 3: Iglesia de San José and Catedral Metropolitana

   Iglesia de San José, Catedral Metropolitana and Panama Canal Museum, then El Cangrejo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Catedral Metropolitana

      Sit on the plaza after visiting the cathedral and the canal museum, which is on the same square.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Patacones

      Almost every restaurant and fonda; they come with fish, ceviche and meats.

   4. Afternoon

      Panama Canal Museum

      Housed in the building used as headquarters by the French canal company on the Plaza de la Independencia, this museum tells the story of the isthmus as a crossing point, the failed French attempt, the American construction and the 1999 handover of the canal to Panama.

   5. Evening

      El Cangrejo

      Casual bars and craft-beer spots near Vía Argentina.

Before you go

• Panama Canal partial transit: Partial transits run only on some days and fill up; book well ahead, especially in the dry season.

If it rains

• Swap in Biomuseo (Amador): Allow around two hours and combine it with a bike ride or lunch along the causeway.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Casco Viejo keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa ($$) suits first-timers, families and solo travellers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 11.6 hours in December to 12.6 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Panama City
• 2 days in Panama City
• 5 days in Panama City

Questions travellers ask