5 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

      Ask at the entrance or check the canal authority's website for the day's transit times; ships tend to pass in batches, so time your visit around them. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   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. (5–6 hours, expensive).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Sancocho

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

   4. Afternoon

      Ancón Hill

      Start early in the morning, when it is cooler and the wildlife is most active, and carry water. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   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. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Mercado de Mariscos

      Try a mixed ceviche from the stalls outside, and go at lunchtime when the market is busiest and freshest. (1 hour, low cost).

   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. (45 minutes, free).

   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

      Visit when there is no service, and sit near the front to see the carving in detail. (20–30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Catedral Metropolitana

      Sit on the plaza after visiting the cathedral and the canal museum, which is on the same square. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Patacones

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

   4. Afternoon

      Panama Canal Museum

      Visit before going to the Miraflores Locks; the history makes the locks far more interesting. (1–1.5 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      El Cangrejo

      Casual bars and craft-beer spots near Vía Argentina.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Gamboa and Soberanía National Park

   About 45 minutes by road each way. Getting there: Car, tour or taxi along the canal.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Gamboa and Soberanía National Park

      About 45 minutes by road (Car, tour or taxi along the canal); about 35 km.

   2. Day

      Gamboa and Soberanía National Park

      Lowland rainforest along the canal, famous for birdwatching on Pipeline Road, where hundreds of species have been recorded. Best for families and quiet stays.

   3. Evening

      Back in Panama City

      Dinner: try Carimañolas.

5. Day 5: Panamá Viejo and Biomuseo

   Panamá Viejo, Biomuseo and Amador Causeway, then Rooftop sunset in Casco Viejo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Panamá Viejo

      Climb the cathedral tower for the contrast between the ruins and the modern skyline, then see the museum's scale model. (1.5–2 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Biomuseo

      Allow around two hours and combine it with a bike ride or lunch along the causeway. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Carimañolas

      Bakeries, breakfast counters and fondas, especially in the mornings.

   4. Afternoon

      Amador Causeway

      Rent a bike or surrey near the start of the causeway in the late afternoon, when it is cooler and the skyline catches the sunset. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Rooftop sunset in Casco Viejo

      Watch the skyline light up across the bay from a rooftop bar in the old town.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Panama Canal partial transit before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 21–25 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Panama City

Questions travellers ask