What to do in Panama City Panama: 12 must-do tourist attractions
Wondering what to do in Panama city Panama? Here are the best things to do in Panama that you need to include in your itinerary.
Are you looking for activities in Panama City Panama? A while ago, we visited the city during a layover in Panama, but now we came back and spent more time going around some of the must-do tourist attractions in Panama that were left pending (apart from repeating others that you can’t miss when visiting Panama).
That’s why in this article I’m going to tell you the 12 best things to do in Panama City and some unique places you definitely should pay a visit to in the surroundings, so that you can organize your trip with all the information you need.
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How to visit Panama City?
To go around the city, you can chose the following options:
➤ On your own.
➤ With tours that take you to the most important places.
➤ A combination of both.
Apart from how you decide to visit the city, the most important thing you should take into account is choosing the best areas where to stay in Panama; they need to be safe and near the tourist attractions in the city. A good option in the city is Riu Plaza hotel, or a cheaper option is Marbella hotel.
If you’re going on your own, you can walk short distances or use public transport called Metrobus. To use it, you have to buy a card that costs 5 dollars and has 2 dollars in it and you can top it up in the machines at the train stations. Each route costs between 25 and 50 cents, and you can also use it to go from the airport to the center of Panama, which is a very cheap way of getting there.
As for visiting the city on tour, you can pick tours to visit the most important places of the city and get picked up from your accommodation, or book walking tours that, for instance, take you to the historic center or other places of interest.
⭐ Book here a guided tour in English.
Maybe the best option would be to combine both going on your own and tours. By going on tours, you can visit the places that are far away and more complicated to get to, such as the Panama Canal or visiting the ruins of old Panama.
⭐Book here a complete tour: city tour + Panama canal.
➤ Are you looking for more independence and safety? An alternative that can be quite comfortable if you don’t want neither to go on tours nor using public transport is buying the ticket for the tourist hop-on hop-off type of bus, which has stops in plenty of the must-see places in the city of Panama which I’ll refer to in this travel guide, even places far away such as the Panama Canal. You can hop on and hop off the bus at the stop you want and the ticket is valid for the entire day. You can get it for 24 or 48 hours with an audio guide in Spanish, English and Portuguese.
🚍 Check price & book the tourist bus.
Best things to do in Panama City Panamá: 12 must-do plans
1. Walking around the historic center of Panama: Casco Viejo
The historic center or Casco Viejo is the most picturesque area to visit in Panama. This neighborhood that dates back to the 1600s has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded after the first city, called Panama La Vieja, was destroyed in 1671.
The stone pavement and the pastel-colored colonial facades at times make you feel like you’re in Cartagena de Indias, but better. This sector was one that greatly surprised us, since we saw it much more restored and cared for than when we visited it a few years before.
The historic center of Panama isn’t big, but it’s worth spending a couple of hours walking around its streets, its plazas and taking pictures of its corners. Plus, it has some must-do trips to do in Panama, which I’ll mention in detail next.
To better get to know the historic center and its history, I recommend taking a guided tour so that you get to know fun facts, the main spots of the historic center, and much more interesting data.
A good option is going on a free walking tour as soon as you get to the city. You can book these tours completely for free and then, at the end of the tour, you give the guide a tip taking into consideration how much you liked the tour and the guide’s dedication.
There’s a free tour dedicated to visiting the most important places of the Casco Viejo (➥ Book it here!), and, if you have enough time, you can complement it with another very interesting tour dedicated to the city’s mysteries and legends (➥ Book it here!).
Another option would be to hire a traditional professional guided tour, which are cheap and take you around the best places of the neighborhood (➥ Book it here!). This alternative is ideal if you want to make sure you can do the guided tour on a certain day (since the free tours do not leave if there are few people), as well as if you want a more extensive tour (which includes a visit to the Panama Canal or the ruins of Old Panama). There is also the option of hiring private guided tours where you can even choose the number of hours to customize it to your liking.
2. Visiting churches
There are several churches you can visit in the historic center. The ones I recommend adding to your trip around the city and not miss are:
- Santa Maria la Antigua Basilica: it’s Panama’s Cathedral, built in stone in the 18th century (it reminded us a bit of the one in La Habana, Cuba).
- San Francisco de Asis Church: when looking at the historic center for afar, the church’s bell tower stands out. It is worth going inside, since a few months a year, at the top floor, there’s a huge and beautiful manger, as well as a Christmas villa.
- San Jose Church: it’s most famous characteristic of this 17th century church is its gold altar.
- La Merced: a small 17th century church.
What caught our attention is that several of them had air conditioning, so inside it was super cool and they were also spotless.
Of course there are other churches in Panama outside the Casco Viejo, and we visited two churches that were near our hotel, which were Nuestra Señora del Carmen Church and Parroquia Santuario Nacional del Corazon de Maria. Both were pretty and worth checking out if you’re around.
3. Convento Santo Domingo and Arco Chato Ruins
Convento Santo Domingo is one of the most photographed places of the historic center of Panama. It is a place in ruins due to two fires in the mid 1700s.
I recommend stopping by Arco Chato, which is considered by many to be an engineering marvel, defying the laws of gravity. For many years, it stood until in 2003 it collapsed and was rebuilt using a metal beam.
4. Walking around Paseo de las Bovedas
Paseo de las Bovedas is ideal for walking during sunset, since there are craft fairs (we saw many which were organized by the indigenous community Guna from the San Blas islands) under a big pergola, apart from the views to the sea and the historic center of the city. The trip ends in Plaza de Francia.
5. Eating fish at Mercado de Marisco, or Seafood Market
If you enjoy fish or seafood, there’s a good option for lunch at Mercado de Marisco. It’s at the border of the historic center and opens from 6 am to 5pm; there you can buy fresh fish, but the best thing is that at lunch time there are several restaurants. We chose one where several local people were eating.
The most common thing to order is ceviche, but we picked a white snapper and a red snapper, with a side of rice, coconut, patacones and salad. It was delicious and abundant, though a bit more expensive than what we paid for the rest of the trip around Panama.
6. Visiting Panama Canal, a unique thing to do in Panama!
Without a doubt, this is a must-do activity in Panama.
The canal, 80 kilometers long which joins the Atlantic with the Pacific Ocean, is one of the greatest engineering works that you can visit in the current world.
It has three sets of locks that bear the names of the towns where they were built:
- Gatun Locks, approximately two kilometers long on the Atlantic side.
- Miraflores Lock on the Pacific side.
- Pedro Miguel, in the center.
The Miraflores Visitor Center is the closest to Panama City, and for that reason it is a typical visit. The tour consists of a video about the construction of the Canal, a multi-story museum and, most impressive, the exit to the terrace to see the large ships pass through the locks. Each ship pays a toll to cross the canal according to its length.
This time we didn’t go because we had already visited it when we made a stopover in Panama a few years ago, but if it’s your first time in the city, I think it’s a must see in Panama City.
They are far from the center, so the easiest way to visit them is on an excursion that lasts about 4 hours and includes all transfers. Or else the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus goes to the Panama Canal.
Something that we still have pending for another trip is to go to the Gamboa area and navigate the canal to Gatun Lake. There are also excursions where you cross the channel on a cruise ➥ Book it here!
💯Book here the Panama Canal tour & Gamboa lake.
Brief summary of the history of the Panama Canal
The first effort to build the Panama Canal was made by the French in the 19th century, but after 5 years, the work was suspended due to epidemics such as malaria and yellow fever. The French company declared bankruptcy and, at the beginning of 1900, the United States bought the rights and properties for 40 million dollars and thus began the construction of the Panama Canal.
The total construction took 10 years, thanks to the labor of more than 75 thousand men and women. Around $400 million were invested and these were very difficult times due to the adversities of the time, mainly tropical diseases.
It was finally inaugurated in 1914 and, thanks to a series of treaties, on December 31, 1999, absolute control of the Canal passed into Panamanian hands.
7. Walking along the coastal strip or boardwalk
One of the most beautiful walks to do in Panama is to go for a walk along the coastal strip, from the historic center to Punta Paitilla. It is beautiful, with a wide path to walk or run, a bike path, all very green with flowers and well-kept gardens.
In addition, you will not only enjoy views of the sea but you will also have one of the best panoramic views of the historic center, the financial sector and Punta Pacífica with its glass-enclosed skyscrapers. Halfway through the tour, you will be able to take a photo with the letters of Panama.
If you also visit Panama on a Sunday, the coastal avenue is closed in the morning for pedestrians and cyclists to enjoy. There are places to rent bicycles or scooters, fresh water stalls, soft drinks and natural juices, people doing yoga classes, etc.
Without a doubt, touring this area on a Sunday morning is one of the best things to do in Panama during the weekend.
8. The ruins of Panama Viejo or Panama la Vieja
This archaeological site is located where Panama City was originally founded in 1519, before moving to what would be the historic center today. From here, the expeditions for the conquest of the Inca Empire of Peru left in 1532.
The reason for its transfer? Its commercial importance attracted the attention of pirates and, in 1671, it was attacked and sacked by the English pirate Henry Morgan, leaving it completely in ruins.
You can visit it from Tuesdays to Sundays. More information is on its official website.
⭐ Book here a Panama Viejo guided tour with transfers.
9. Calzada de Amador, or Amador Causeway
The Amador Causeway is a road that goes into the sea and joins several islands in the bay, offering beautiful views of the city.
It is a place where locals and expatriates go for a walk, run or fish, and at the end of the tour there are restaurants, shops, a yacht club and the Biomuseo, designed by architect Frank Gehry and focused on the natural history of Panama.
If you look at the map, you will see that it is relatively close to the historic center, but even if you like to walk I recommend not going on foot, since to get there you would have to cross one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Panama, El Chorrillo.
In my opinion, it is worth going to the Amador Causeway only if you have plenty of time in the city, otherwise, it seems better to prioritize other of the visits that I mentioned to do in Panama.
In case you do the complete tour of Panama, they will take you to see this site and you will not have to worry about transfers or security. Also, the hop-on-hop-off tourist bus has one of its stops here.
From the Amador Causeway there are some boat excursions to Isla Contadora or Taboga island, so if you do any of them, you could visit this area the day you do the excursion.
10. Going shopping
No list of things to do in Panama would be complete without mentioning shopping in the city’s large malls.
Although it is not one of our favorite activities, I must admit that you can get interesting prices both in electronics and in the top brand clothing outlets.
You must always keep in mind that getting good or bad prices depends not only on the time of year and offers, but also on what prices you are used to in the country you’re from.
So, which are the most important shopping centers? If you stay in Panama in the Bellavista area, you will find Multicentro and Multiplaza nearby. Otherwise, if you have time, Albrook is huge and can be easily accessed by the metrobus public transport system, or there are even shopping tours that take you there. The hop-on-hop-off tourist bus also has one of its stops at the Albrook shopping mall.
11. Climbing Ancón Hill
This 199-meter hill is a nature reserve very close to the city center, and due to its height, it offers good views of the buildings of the financial district.
12. Having a drink on a trendy rooftop
Something that has become fashionable in recent years is to go for a cocktail or a beer at sunset at one of the rooftop bars in the historic center. Apart from having a good time with good music, you will enjoy beautiful views of the city.
Some of the best known are the rooftop of the Selina hotel, Lazotea Jorge Rausch or the terrace of the Tántalo hotel.
What to do in Panama City at night?
A good plan for the sunset is what I mentioned before: going to a rooftop. But, if you want something different, you always have to keep in mind how to keep an eye out, as in every Latin American capital.
For example, you can go to dinner at a restaurant with views of the city that offers a show and includes transfers to and from the accommodation (➥ Book it here!). There is also the option of booking a night tour of the city to which you can add a dinner in the historic center (➥ Book it here!). The advantage of these options is that they pick you up and return you to your hotel, so you don’t have to worry about transfers or security.
If you are looking for more fun and going out to discover the Panamanian nightlife, I recommend you book a Pub Crawl where they take you to see 7 trendy pubs without having to worry about transportation, and it includes a free drink in each pub!
What to visit around Panama
Taking Panama City as a base, there are several places you can visit in the surroundings. You would have to think about dedicating a day to each one, since most can be done as an excursion from Panama.
Some places to consider are:
- Gamboa and Gatun Lake.
- Playa Blanca and Farallon.
- Visiting the Portobelo forts.
- Some island, such as Taboga or Contadora.
- Going to the San Blas Islands.
- Going hiking in the Soberanía National Park.
Things to do in Panama City Panama: FAQs
Is it worth visiting Panama City?
Of course it is! I don’t think there are cities that aren’t worth a visit, but specifically Panama City has many things to offer as I showed throughout the article. It is an ideal destination to complement with a tour of the country or even with other places in the Caribbean or Central America.
How many days does it take to visit Panama City?
If you only want to visit the essential places to see in the city, two or three days would be enough.
If you also want to visit the surroundings of Panama, you will have to add at least one extra day for each destination.
For example, if you want to visit the most important tourist attractions in Panama, take the tour to Isla Taboga and navigate through the Panama Canal, you will have to consider at least 4 days in Panama City. If, on the contrary, you want to know the main part of the city and take a 3-day excursion to San Blas, you will have to dedicate 6 days (2 at the beginning, the 3 days of excursion, and 1 day at the end in the city before taking the flight).
If I have little time, is it worth going to the Panama Canal?
Visiting the Panama Canal is one of the most interesting things to do in Panama, since it is something unique in the world. But it is a very personal decision. If you don’t like those types of activities or you have little time, I don’t think it makes much sense to invest it in something that doesn’t appeal to you. There are many other activities to do in the city!
Is it safe to visit Panama City on foot?
If you walk through the Casco Viejo, or historic center, area or the coastal strip, it is very safe. Leaving the historic center, there is a dangerous neighborhood, so it is best to stay within the tourist area. To climb Ancón Hill, the best option is by excursion.
Even so, as in every Latin American city, there are areas that are safer than others and you always need to have common sense: do not show valuables, do not walk through dark areas or without people at night, etc. It does seem essential to me to choose one of the best areas to stay in Panama City, since it is important that coming and going from the accommodation is safe.
As I mentioned previously, a good option to move at a good price and safely between different tourist areas that are far from each other is getting the tourist bus ticket.
Another very important detail to keep in mind is that you always travel with travel assistance. It is better to have it and not use it than to need it and not have it. I say this out of extensive experience! There are also cheap plans (take a look at these options). Don’t save on health when you travel!
Is the rest of the country worth visiting?
Of course! Panama City is just the entry point to an incredible country. We made a 20-day itinerary through Panama that surprised us a lot. Beaches, jungle, hiking options, little mass tourism for now (unlike Costa Rica, for example).
We visited incredible places like Playa Cambutal, Playa Venao, Bocas del Toro or the beaches of Pedasí, among many others, and it was a spectacular trip.
Map – What to do in Panama
I hope this list of the best things to do in Panama City Panama was useful to plan your trip. If you have any questions, let me know in the comments. Have fun!
