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Destinations / Panama

Panama City

Skyline, canal locks and a colonial old quarter

historyfoodnightlifeshopping
Plan your trip to Panama CitySee the top 10
880,000Population
1.9 millionMetro area
SpanishLanguage
PAB, USDCurrency
4 daysIdeal stay
$140-230Typical day

Panama City mixes a glassy skyline, the restored Casco Viejo and the famous canal. The Miraflores Locks show ships passing through. The Biomuseo and Amador Causeway are nearby. San Blas islands make a beautiful trip.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A visitor center beside the canal locks closest to the city. Viewing decks let you watch ships rise and fall. A museum and film explain the canal.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $20-30Cost
    noBook ahead

    Foreign visitor ticket; check current prices.

    Tip. Go in the morning when ships are scheduled to pass.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. The colonial quarter built after 1673, with plazas, churches and restored houses. It is UNESCO listed. Rooftop bars offer skyline views.

    3 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Walking is free.

    Tip. Go in the late afternoon and stay for dinner.
    See on the map

  3. A museum about biodiversity designed by Frank Gehry, with a colorful roof. It explains how the isthmus changed the world. It is on the Amador Causeway.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $20-30Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry fee varies.

    Tip. Book online to avoid lines.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. A road built from canal rubble linking islands. It has cycling paths and restaurants. Views take in the canal entrance and skyline.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Walking is free; rentals cost extra.

    Tip. Rent a bike and ride at sunset.
    See on the map

  5. The ruins of the first city, destroyed in 1671. A stone tower can be climbed. A museum explains the site.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry fee varies.

    Tip. Go early before the heat.
    See on the map

  6. A seafront park and road along the bay. It has paths for walking and cycling. It links the center with Casco Viejo.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Walking is free.

    Tip. Go in the evening when it is cooler.
    See on the map

  7. A forest park inside the city with trails and wildlife. Sloths and toucans are often seen. It has a viewpoint.

    2 hoursTime needed
    about $5Cost
    noBook ahead

    Small entry fee.

    Tip. Go early to see more animals.
    See on the map

  8. A hill with city and canal views. The walk up takes about 30 minutes. Wildlife is often seen.

    2 hoursTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Entry is free.

    Tip. Go at sunrise or sunset and bring water.
    See on the map

  9. A fish market with ceviche stalls outside. It is popular for lunch. It is near Casco Viejo.

    1 hourTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead
    See on the map

  10. Islands run by the Guna people with white sand beaches. Trips take one or more days. Access requires a 4x4 and boat.

    Full dayTime needed
    yesBook ahead

    Price not verified for 2026; check the official site before you go.

    Tip. 4x4 and boat about 3 hours.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Panama City in three days

Day one canal and old town, day two Panama Viejo and parks, day three San Blas.

  1. Miraflores Locks2 hours · about $20-30
  2. Casco Viejo3 hours · Free
  3. Biomuseo2 hours · about $20-30
  4. Amador Causeway2 hours · Free
  5. Panama Viejo1.5 hours · about $10-15
  6. Cinta Costera1 hour · Free
  7. Metropolitan Natural Park2 hours · about $5
  8. Ancon Hill2 hours · Free
  9. Mercado de Mariscos1 hour · Free
  10. San Blas Islands (Guna Yala)Full day
Beyond the city

Day trips

Taboga Island

Island beach.

12 mi · Ferry, about 1 hour

Gamboa

Rainforest.

22 mi · Car, about 45 minutes

Portobelo

Colonial forts on the Caribbean coast.

62 mi · Drive about 2 hours each way

Gamboa and Soberania National Park

Birdwatching and rainforest.

19 mi · Drive about 45 minutes

Pearl Islands

Quiet islands and beaches.

37 mi · Flight or ferry

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: December to April. Dry season.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.410.2JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

84°F
Typical daily high
Average80°F
Rain0.8 in
About3 rainy days
Sun strength5.5 kWh/m²

Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Feb

Carnaval

February or March (6 to 9 February in 2027)

Four days of parades and water spraying parties.

Feb

Carnival

February or March

Parades and street parties before Lent.

Aug

Founding of Panama City

August 15

A local holiday with parades and events.

Nov

Independence celebrations

November 3 to 4 and 28

National holidays with flags and marching bands.

Jan

Panama Jazz Festival

January

International jazz concerts around the city.

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Know before you go

At a glance

4/5
Safety

Panama is at US State Department Level 2 (exercise increased caution); citing crime; stay in well known areas at night.

3/5
Walkability

Casco Viejo and Cinta Costera walkable.

4/5
Public transport

Metro and buses.

Sources disagree on: population.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
1234

1. Casco Viejo

$$$

Best for: first-timers

Historic.

2. Bella Vista

$$

Best for: nightlife

Bars.

3. Punta Pacifica

$$$$

Best for: luxury

Towers.

4. Amador Causeway

$$

Best for: families, bikers

Seafront hotels and cycling paths.

Getting there and around

Main airportTocumen International Airport (PTY), 15 mi from the center
To the centerMetro Line 2 airport branch, open since 2023, with a change to reach the center, or taxi 30 to 45 minutes.
Around townMetro, Uber and walking.
Ride appsUber, InDrive, Cabify
Taste it

What to eat

Sancocho

Chicken soup.

Ceviche

Seafood.

Patacones

Fried plantain.

Hojaldras

Fried dough served at breakfast.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 120 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingAround 10 percent in restaurants.
PaymentsCards common; US dollars used.
EtiquetteDress modestly in religious sites and greet people with a simple hello.
  • Panama uses the US dollar alongside the balboa.
  • Carry a photocopy or photo of your passport.
  • Buy a metro card at stations; fares are low.
  • Casco Viejo is safest in the main tourist streets; avoid wandering into Chorrillo at night.
  • Canal visits can close for ship schedules, so check times.
  • Rainy season showers are heavy but short.

A short history

Spanish conquerors founded Panama City in 1519 on the Pacific coast, the first European city on that ocean. Gold from Peru passed through it to Spain. Pirate Henry Morgan sacked and burned it in 1671. It was rebuilt a few km away in what is now Casco Viejo. After Panama separated from Colombia in 1903, the US built the canal, which opened in 1914 and was handed to Panama in 1999.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Panama City