Things to Do in Panama City by Neighborhood

Panama City is easiest to enjoy one neighborhood at a time, because the sights cluster and the traffic between them is slow. Four areas hold almost everything worth a visit.

Casco Viejo: the old quarter

Built in 1673 and listed by UNESCO, the quarter still has pastel colonial facades, churches and four plazas. Wander Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Francia, Plaza Bolívar and Plaza Herrera on foot. A seawall walk gives skyline views. Cafes serve specialty Geisha coffee, and a guided walk with a local historian runs about $15 to $25 for two hours. Casco Viejo is a different place from the Panamá Viejo ruins, which lie about 10 km east.

Amador Causeway: sea and science

The 6 km breakwater was built from rock excavated during canal construction and links four small islands. Rent a surrey bike for roughly $10 to $15 an hour. The Biomuseo sits here, with $20 non-resident adult tickets and closed Mondays. Taboga ferries leave from Fuerte Amador, $24 return.

Ancón Hill and the park: forest in town

Ancón Hill has a 30 to 45 minute paved trail to a 199 m summit, free, with sloths and toucans along the way. The Metropolitan Natural Park, about 232 hectares, charges $4 for foreign adults and opens 06:00 to 16:30. Both are best early.

Miraflores: the canal itself

Fifteen to twenty minutes from downtown, the locks are open daily 08:00 to 18:00. Non-resident tickets run from $7.22 to $17.22 depending on age and whether you add the IMAX film. See Visit Canal de Panamá for the current list.

Getting around

  • The Metro runs on Line 1 ($0.35) and Line 2 ($0.50), using a cashless card. Only these two lines are open.
  • Uber is the safest option at night. A short ride between Casco Viejo and Marbella or Albrook costs about $3.50 to $6.
  • The currency is the US dollar. Coins labelled balboa circulate alongside US coins at the same value.

A sample day

Start at 07:00 on Ancón Hill, take an Uber to Miraflores for 09:00, return for a fonda lunch, then spend the late afternoon in Casco Viejo and watch the sunset from the sea wall. It fits all four areas without a rush.

Safety

Stay within the restored core of Casco Viejo after dark and use Uber rather than walking west. Tap water is safe to drink.

Food

Lunch at a fonda costs $5 to $8, with chicken sancocho a staple. For seafood, try ceviche at the Mercado de Mariscos.

Browse departures if you want a ready-made day: see Panama City tours on Viator . For themes, see day trips .

Verdict: base yourself near Casco Viejo, spend a morning at Miraflores, and use the causeway for the late afternoon.