Panama City

Panama City is a dynamic city that blends a modern skyline with a rich colonial past and lush tropical surroundings. The Panama Canal is the city’s most famous attraction. At the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center you can witness the massive ships passing through the locks and have a deeper understanding of the canal's history and operation.

Panama City has a historic heart with Casco Viejo. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has colorful colonial buildings, charming plazas, and narrow, cobblestone streets. It's a fantastic area to explore on foot, with many boutique hotels, art galleries, restaurants, and lively rooftop bars to enjoy.

Panama City also has a rainforest within its city limits. The Metropolitan Natural Park is a protected area where you can hike trails, spot wildlife and enjoy a panoramic view of the city from Ancón Hill, the highest point in the city. The "Cinta Costera" beautifies the bay of Panama City providing its citizens with recreational areas to enjoy.

Things to do in Panama City

The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the most significant accomplishments in Panama’s history. At the Miraflores Visitor's Center you can learn about its history and you’ll be able to watch the ships in transit just a few meters away. For another vantage point, at the Agua Clara Visitor’s Center on the Atlantic side of the Canal you can see both the ships and the canal.

Casco Viejo
Also called Casco Antiguo (historic district), this neighborhood contrasts Panama City’s lively metropolis. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, alongside Panama Viejo, the portion of the original city that is still standing today. Although it has undergone massive amounts of gentrification in the last few years, this charismatic neighborhood retains an old-world feel. French, Caribbean and Spanish influences have brought a mix of art deco and elegant colonial buildings.

Hike to the top of Cerro Ancon 
Cerro Ancon rises 199 meters (653 ft) above the city skyline. The paved trail winds up through its rainforest slopes where sloths, monkeys, and toucans live. The view from the top is very rewarding.

The Metropolitan Natural Park
The Parque Natural Metropolitano is the only one of its kind in Latin America. With more than 232 hectares, it is a nature reserve in the heart of the city and a haven for birds, mammals, and reptiles. Look out for sloths while hiking the five easy-to-follow trails.

The Mola Museum (MuMo)
This museum in Casco Viejo neighborhood celebrates the colorful textiles handcrafted by Indigenous Guna women from the San Blas Archipelago. With around 200 molas on display, you’ll learn how they’re made and how the designs evolved from geometric patterns to symbols of the natural world and pop culture icons.

La Cinta Costera
Panama City has a beautiful long waterfront stretch called Cinta Costera, a recreational area with green spaces and stunning views of the city skyline and Panama Bay.  A popular spot for both locals and tourists to walk, jog, cycle, and enjoy outdoor activities.

Visit the Fish Market
Enjoy freshly caught seafood with the locals at Panama City’s Fish Market located near the Cinta Costera. A Panama City institution – Mercado de Mariscos is a required stop.  Be sure to try the locally prepared ceviche.

BioMuseo
Designed by world famous architect Frank Gehry, the BioMuseo is a world-class museum, located on the Amador Causeway. It showcases how the skinny isthmus of Panama changed the planet. The museum’s eight galleries explore the country’s fascinating geology, natural history and diverse cultures through a host of interactive displays.

Panama City Tours to other destinations nearby

Visit to the Embera Indigenous Village 
Venture deep into the ancestral lands of the Embera located in the Chagres National Park, where you’ll witness vibrant ceremonies, traditional dances, and learn about their ancient customs, including handicrafts and traditional medicine.

Day trip to San Blas Islands
The San Blas Islands are a group of 365 islands in the archipelago de San Blas, located in the Northwest of Panama facing the Caribbean Sea. These islands are a top destination in Panama due to their well-protected natural beauty and their native population: the Guna Indians.