Getting around · Panama City · Panama
Getting around Panama City
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Garcia.dennis, CC BY-SA 4.0
_-_Pamama.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
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. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Metro
- Airports
- PTY, PAC
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Metro and MetroBus card
Ways to get around
Metro
The Metro has two lines: Line 1 runs from the Albrook bus terminal through the centre and El Cangrejo to the north, while Line 2 runs east towards the airport area.
A rechargeable transit card covers both the Metro and MetroBus.
Bus
MetroBus air-conditioned buses cover the city on fixed routes, and the Albrook Gran Terminal next to the Albrook Mall handles long-distance buses across the country.
Ride-hailing
Uber and other ride-hailing apps are widely used, inexpensive and the easiest option at night or to the Miraflores Locks.
Taxi
Yellow taxis are unmetered; agree the fare before you get in, and expect higher prices from hotels and at night.
Walking
Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera and the Amador Causeway are pleasant to walk, but the heat makes long walks hard in the middle of the day.
Ferry
Ferries to Isla Taboga leave from the Amador Causeway, taking about 30–45 minutes.
Tickets and passes
Metro and MetroBus card
A rechargeable contactless card sold at Metro stations, used for both the Metro and MetroBus; top it up at station machines.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Gamboa and Soberanía National Park | About 45 minutes by road | Car, tour or taxi along the canal |
| Gatún Lake and Monkey Island | About 1 hour by road and boat | Tour from the city with a boat from Gamboa |
| Emberá village on the Chagres River | About 1.5 hours by road and dugout canoe | Organised tour with transport and canoe |
| Isla Taboga | About 30–45 minutes by ferry | Ferry from the Amador Causeway |
| Portobelo | About 2 hours by road | Car or tour via Colón |
| Agua Clara Locks | About 1.5 hours by road | Car or tour via the Panama–Colón expressway |
| El Valle de Antón | About 2 hours by road | Car, bus or tour via the Pan-American Highway |
| Guna Yala (San Blas Islands) | About 2.5–3 hours by road and boat each way | 4x4 transfer and boat, usually as an organised tour |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Panama City?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Panama City?
Metro: The Metro has two lines: Line 1 runs from the Albrook bus terminal through the centre and El Cangrejo to the north, while Line 2 runs east towards the airport area.