Sight guide · Panama City · Panama
Visiting 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.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Mercado de Mariscos is a market in Casco Viejo, Panama City. Allow 1 hour; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Market
- Area
- Casco Viejo
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- food
- Best months
- April–May and July
About 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.
Tip: Try a mixed ceviche from the stalls outside, and go at lunchtime when the market is busiest and freshest.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1 hour.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Casco Viejo, restored colonial streets, rooftop bars and boutique hotels.
Best time to visit Mercado de Mariscos
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- May: 32°C (90°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 33°C (91°F) highs, about 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- July: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 15 rainy days, moderate crowds.
When to visit Panama City has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Panama City itinerary visits Mercado de Mariscos on day 2, together with Casco Viejo and Plaza de Francia and Las Bóvedas.
- No. 3 of the 15 sights in our Panama City things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 5-day plan.
Near Mercado de Mariscos
Also in Casco Viejo, so you can walk between them:
- Panama Canal Museum — 1–1.5 hours, low cost
- Catedral Metropolitana — 30 minutes, free
- Iglesia de San José — 20–30 minutes, free
Staying near Mercado de Mariscos
Stay in Casco Viejo ($$$) to walk here: restored colonial streets, rooftop bars and boutique hotels. All areas to stay in Panama City.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Mercado de Mariscos?
Plan 1 hour. With Panama Canal Museum nearby, it fits a half-day in Casco Viejo.
+Is Mercado de Mariscos free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Mercado de Mariscos?
April–May and July, the quietest of the good months. Try a mixed ceviche from the stalls outside, and go at lunchtime when the market is busiest and freshest.
+Do I need to book Mercado de Mariscos in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.