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Panama City blends Casco Antiguo heritage, Panama Canal history, Pacific views, tropical nature, museums and lively neighbourhoods for curious travellers.

Between the Pacific and the Canal

Panama City occupies a strategic stretch of Pacific coastline where the urban skyline, tropical forest and Panama Canal converge. Its character is shaped by striking contrasts: glass towers rise behind colonial balconies in Casco Antiguo, while the ruins of Panamá Viejo recall the city's first Spanish foundation. Along the waterfront, the Cinta Costera opens views towards the bay, ships and the wooded hills beyond, and the Amador Causeway leads through the sea towards islands at the canal entrance.

Layers of a Historic Capital

Founded in 1519, Panama City became a crucial link in Spain's American trade network before the original settlement was destroyed in 1671. The rebuilt city in Casco Antiguo retains churches, plazas and defensive structures from the colonial era, later joined by republican and canal-era architecture. The Panama Canal, completed in 1914, transformed the city's economy and international importance; its operation remains visible at the Miraflores Visitor Centre and along the canal corridor.

Neighbourhoods and City Life

Beyond the historic quarter, districts such as San Francisco, El Cangrejo and Obarrio offer restaurants, cafés, galleries and an everyday urban rhythm, while the Mercado de Mariscos connects the capital with Panama's seafood culture. Green spaces are unusually close to the centre: Metropolitan Natural Park preserves tropical forest within the city, and the Biomuseo explores the natural history of the isthmus. Panama City is consequently best understood not as a single compact old town, but as a collection of districts linked by history, commerce, water and woodland.

When is the best time to visit Panama City?

Best: December–February · 31°C

Best 31° Temperature Range for JanuaryLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for JanuaryLow: 0 mm, High: 30 mm J

Best 31° Temperature Range for FebruaryLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for FebruaryLow: 0 mm, High: 20 mm F

31° Temperature Range for MarchLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for MarchLow: 0 mm, High: 40 mm M

32° Temperature Range for AprilLow: 24°C, High: 32°C Precipitation Range for AprilLow: 0 mm, High: 300 mm A

32° Temperature Range for MayLow: 24°C, High: 32°C Precipitation Range for MayLow: 50 mm, High: 500 mm M

32° Temperature Range for JuneLow: 24°C, High: 32°C Precipitation Range for JuneLow: 150 mm, High: 700 mm J

31° Temperature Range for JulyLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for JulyLow: 150 mm, High: 700 mm J

31° Temperature Range for AugustLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for AugustLow: 200 mm, High: 800 mm A

31° Temperature Range for SeptemberLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for SeptemberLow: 200 mm, High: 800 mm S

31° Temperature Range for OctoberLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for OctoberLow: 150 mm, High: 700 mm O

31° Temperature Range for NovemberLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for NovemberLow: 50 mm, High: 500 mm N

Best 31° Temperature Range for DecemberLow: 23°C, High: 31°C Precipitation Range for DecemberLow: 0 mm, High: 30 mm D

Average daytime high and rainfall by month
Month	High (°C)	Rainfall (mm)
January (best)	31	15
February (best)	31	10
March	31	20
April	32	150
May	32	250
June	32	350
July	31	350
August	31	400
September	31	400
October	31	350
November	31	250
December (best)	31	15

Getting to and around Panama City

How to get there

Most international visitors arrive at Tocumen International Airport, the country's principal aviation gateway, east of central Panama City. The airport is connected to the city by road and public transport links, while taxis and ride-hailing services provide direct transfers. Albrook 'Marcos A. Gelabert' International Airport, closer to the centre, serves domestic and some regional flights, particularly to destinations within Panama. Long-distance buses use the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte at Albrook, which connects the capital with towns and cities across the country. Panama City is also accessible by road from other parts of Panama, although travel times vary considerably with traffic and road conditions.

Transportation

Panama City's Metro provides a useful way to avoid traffic on routes covered by its growing rail network, while Metrobus services reach districts beyond the stations. The historic centre, parts of Casco Antiguo and the Amador Causeway are best explored on foot, though heat, humidity and uneven pavements require sensible pacing. Taxis and ride-hailing services are widely used for cross-city journeys; agree the fare in a taxi before setting off if the meter is not being used. Traffic can be heavy at peak times, and walking between districts is often impractical because major roads and waterways interrupt the urban grid.

Best attractions in Panama City

Panama City's attractions range from the excavated remains of Panamá Viejo, the original Spanish settlement, to the restored plazas and churches of Casco Antiguo. At the Miraflores Visitor Centre, exhibitions and viewing terraces explain how ships pass through the canal locks, providing context beyond the spectacle of moving water and vessels. The Biomuseo, designed by Frank Gehry, presents Panama's geological and biological importance through colourful, accessible displays, while the Museo del Canal traces the waterway's political and engineering history. For a change of pace, Metropolitan Natural Park brings tropical forest, birds and walking trails close to the urban centre. The Amador Causeway offers open views across the bay and toward the canal entrance, with museums and waterfront paths along its route. The Cinta Costera provides another perspective on the skyline, linking modern city views with the sea.

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Best landmarks in Panama City

Panama City's historic identity is anchored by the stone ruins of Panamá Viejo, where remnants of churches, convents and civic buildings mark the first Spanish settlement on the Pacific. In Casco Antiguo, the Metropolitan Cathedral dominates Plaza de la Independencia, while the Iglesia de San José is known for its celebrated golden altar and the district's defensive structures recall its rebuilding after the seventeenth-century destruction. The Palacio de las Garzas serves as the presidential palace, and the neoclassical Teatro Nacional represents the cultural ambitions of the republican era. Beyond the old quarter, the Miraflores Locks embody the engineering and political significance of the canal, while the Bridge of the Americas spans the Pacific entrance and has become a powerful symbol of the isthmus's role as a continental crossing.

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Explore Panama City on the map

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Neighbourhoods in Panama City

Best restaurants in Panama City

Panama City's food scene reflects its position between oceans and its long history of migration. Local cooking includes sancocho, a restorative chicken soup, carimañolas made from yuca, plantains, rice and seafood, while ceviche is closely associated with the Mercado de Mariscos near Casco Antiguo. Caribbean influences are especially visible in dishes using coconut, spice, seafood and Afro-Panamanian techniques, while Chinese, Spanish and other migrant communities have broadened the city's everyday dining. Casco Antiguo contains polished restaurants in historic buildings, whereas San Francisco, El Cangrejo and Obarrio offer cafés, contemporary kitchens and informal places to eat. Markets and neighbourhood fondas provide a more direct introduction to local habits, with breakfast counters, fried snacks and hearty set meals complementing the city's growing modern gastronomy.

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Best bars in Panama City

After dark, Panama City's social life is concentrated in several contrasting districts rather than a single entertainment quarter. Casco Antiguo combines restored colonial streets with cocktail bars, music venues, rooftop terraces and late-night dancing, making it the most immediately atmospheric area for visitors. Calle Uruguay and parts of the financial district have a more contemporary selection of bars and clubs, while San Francisco and El Cangrejo offer relaxed lounges, craft drinks and restaurants that remain sociable into the evening. Live music can range from salsa and other Latin styles to jazz and electronic sets, with cultural performances also available through theatres and arts venues. Nightlife varies by venue and day, so independent checks are sensible; use trusted transport after dark and take local residential norms into account.

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Best nightclubs in Panama City

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Best shops in Panama City

Shopping in Panama City ranges from traditional produce and seafood markets to modern malls serving the capital's affluent and international population. Around Casco Antiguo, independent shops and workshops sell jewellery, decorative objects, woven goods and Panama-related souvenirs, although visitors should ask about provenance rather than assuming every craft is locally made. The Mercado de Mariscos is primarily a working seafood market rather than a conventional souvenir stop, offering insight into the city's daily food economy. Avenida Central and nearby commercial streets provide a more local, practical shopping experience, while major centres such as Multiplaza, Albrook Mall and MetroMall concentrate international brands and services. Handcrafted items, textiles, carved goods, coffee and packaged regional foods can make thoughtful purchases, but protected wildlife products and questionable antiquities should be avoided.

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Panama City essentials

Currency and Payment

Panama uses the balboa, whose currency code is PAB, at parity with the United States dollar; US dollar notes circulate as the country's paper currency, while balboa and US coins are used for change. Cards and contactless payments are common in established hotels, shopping centres, supermarkets and many restaurants, but smaller businesses, markets and informal transport may require cash. ATMs are available in commercial areas and bank branches, although international card issuers may apply their own fees. Carrying small dollar denominations is practical, particularly for taxis, market purchases and places outside the main visitor districts.

Safety

Visitors should take ordinary urban precautions, especially in crowded transport areas, markets and busy streets where phones and bags can attract attention. Keep valuables discreet, use established transport after dark and avoid walking alone through unfamiliar or poorly lit areas. Casco Antiguo is active and visitor-oriented, but its atmosphere changes from street to street and sensible awareness remains important. Heat, intense sun, sudden rain and slippery pavements are more immediate practical concerns during sightseeing, while strong currents make unsupervised swimming along the city waterfront inadvisable. Check current local advice before visiting less familiar districts or hiking areas.

Emergency Situations

For police, fire or medical emergencies in Panama, dial 911 and state the location as clearly as possible; operators may require Spanish or a locally assisted translation. International visitors should keep passport details, travel insurance information and an emergency contact accessible, while hotels and established accommodation can often help communicate with services. For non-urgent medical needs, pharmacies and private clinics are available in the metropolitan area, but treatment may require payment or insurance authorisation. In an immediate health crisis, seek emergency assistance first and contact the relevant insurer afterwards. Avoid relying solely on a mobile data connection for emergency communication.

Do's and Don'ts

Dress lightly for the climate, but choose respectful clothing when entering churches or formal institutions, and ask before photographing people, market stalls or private property. Greet staff and residents politely, and remember that punctuality and service customs can vary between informal and business settings. Tipping is customary in restaurants when service has not already been included, though the amount should reflect the experience rather than an assumed fixed rule. Do not touch historic masonry, climb on monuments or leave valuables unattended. In natural areas, stay on marked trails, avoid feeding wildlife and follow guidance concerning heat, rain and tropical conditions.

Local Tips

Plan sightseeing by district to reduce time lost in traffic: combine Casco Antiguo with the seafood market, or pair the canal area with the former Canal Zone and Amador. The dry season is generally more comfortable for outdoor exploration, while the wetter months bring heavier showers that can arrive quickly. Metropolitan Natural Park offers a rare rainforest setting within the capital, but proper footwear and water are useful even on short walks. For a broader sense of Panama City's social geography, compare the restored historic quarter with residential and commercial areas such as El Cangrejo or San Francisco rather than staying only around the waterfront.

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics

English	Local	Say it
Hello	Hola	[oh-lah]
Goodbye	Adiós	[ah-dee-ohs]
Yes	Sí	[see]
No	No	[noh]
Please/You're welcome	Por favor/De nada	[por fah-bor/deh nah-dah]
Thank you	Gracias	[grah-see-ahs]
Excuse me/Sorry	Disculpe/Perdón	[dees-cool-peh/pehr-dohn]
How are you?	¿Cómo estás?	[koh-moh ehs-tahs]
Fine. And you?	Bien. ¿Y tú?	[byen. ee too]
Do you speak English?	¿Hablas inglés?	[ah-blahs een-glehs]
I don't understand	No entiendo	[noh ehn-tyen-doh]

Eating & Drinking

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to see the menu, please	Quisiera ver el menú, por favor	[kee-see-eh-rah behr ehl meh-noo, poor fah-bor]
I don't eat meat	No como carne	[noh koh-moh kahr-neh]
Cheers!	¡Salud!	[sah-lood]
I would like to pay, please	Quisiera pagar, por favor	[kee-see-eh-rah pah-gahr, poor fah-bor]

Emergencies

English	Local	Say it
Help!	¡Ayuda!	[ah-yoo-dah]
Go away!	¡Vete!	[veh-teh]
Call the Police!	¡Llame a la policía!	[yah-meh ah lah poh-lee-see-ah]
Call a doctor!	¡Llame a un médico!	[yah-meh ah oon meh-dee-koh]
I'm lost	Estoy perdido	[ehs-toy pehr-dee-doh]
I'm ill	Estoy enfermo	[ehs-toy ehn-fehr-moh]

Shopping

English	Local	Say it
I'd like to buy...	Quiero comprar...	[kee-eh-roh kohm-prahr]
I'm just looking	Sólo estoy mirando	[soh-loh ehs-toy mee-rahn-doh]
How much is it?	¿Cuánto cuesta?	[kwan-toh kwehs-tah]
That's too expensive	Eso es demasiado caro	[eh-soh ehs deh-mah-see-ah-doh kah-roh]
Can you lower the price?	¿Puede bajar el precio?	[pweh-deh bah-har ehl preh-see-oh]

Time & Numbers

English	Local	Say it
What time is it?	¿Qué hora es?	[keh oh-rah ehs]
It's one o'clock	Es la una	[ehs lah oo-nah]
Half past (10)	Media (10)	[meh-dee-ah (deh-eez)]
Morning	Mañana	[mah-nyah-nah]
Afternoon	Tarde	[tahr-deh]
Evening	Noche	[noh-cheh]
Yesterday	Ayer	[ah-yehr]
Today	Hoy	[oy]
Tomorrow	Mañana	[mah-nyah-nah]
1	Uno	[oo-noh]
2	Dos	[dohs]
3	Tres	[trehs]
4	Cuatro	[kwah-troh]
5	Cinco	[seen-koh]
6	Seis	[seys]
7	Siete	[syeh-teh]
8	Ocho	[oh-choh]
9	Nueve	[nweh-veh]
10	Diez	[dyehs]

Transport & Directions

English	Local	Say it
Where's a/the...?	¿Dónde está el/la...?	[dohn-deh ehs-tah ehl/lah]
What's the address?	¿Cuál es la dirección?	[kwal ehs lah dee-rehk-syon]
Can you show me (on the map)?	¿Puede mostrarme (en el mapa)?	[pweh-deh mohs-trar-meh (ehn ehl mah-pah)]
When's the next (bus)?	¿Cuándo es el próximo (autobús)?	[kwan-doh ehs ehl proh-ksee-moh (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)	Un boleto (para ....)	[oon boh-leh-toh (pah-rah)]

History of Panama City

Indigenous Isthmian Foundations

Long before the Spanish foundation, the isthmus was inhabited by Indigenous peoples whose communities traded along routes linking the Caribbean and Pacific regions. The area around present-day Panama City contained settlements and travel corridors shaped by rivers, forest and the coast. Spanish observers later built upon these existing geographical advantages, using the narrowest part of the American land bridge to move people and goods between oceans. Indigenous knowledge, labour and resistance remained central to the colonial history of Panama, although official accounts often marginalised these communities. Contemporary Panama City stands on a landscape whose importance predates the colonial grid and the canal by centuries.

The First Spanish Panama

Pedrarias Dávila founded Panama City in 1519 on the Pacific coast, making it the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas. The city became the Pacific gateway for Spanish South America, particularly after the conquest of Peru. Goods crossed the isthmus by land and river towards Caribbean ports, while the city developed churches, administrative buildings and commercial institutions. This strategic role brought wealth but also made Panama a target for privateers. The surviving ruins of Panamá Viejo, east of the modern centre, reveal the scale and urban form of the first settlement.

Destruction and Casco Antiguo

In 1671, the privateer Henry Morgan attacked and destroyed the original city after Spanish authorities set fire to parts of it during the conflict. Rather than rebuild on the same site, the settlement was transferred to a peninsula several kilometres west. The new city, now known as Casco Antiguo or the Historic District, developed with defensive walls, religious foundations and a more controlled urban layout. Its plazas, churches and colonial buildings were altered over succeeding centuries, yet the district still expresses Panama City's role as a fortified crossroads between oceans and empires.

Railways, Commerce and Canal Ambitions

The nineteenth century brought renewed commercial importance. The California Gold Rush encouraged construction of the Panama Railway, completed in 1855 across the isthmus, and connected the Pacific port with the Caribbean more rapidly than overland routes. French attempts to build a sea-level canal began in the 1880s but failed amid engineering difficulties, disease and financial collapse. The United States resumed the project in the early twentieth century, separating Panama from Colombia in 1903 and establishing the canal zone under treaty arrangements. These developments expanded Panama City beyond its historic district and intensified its international character.

The Panama Canal and the Republic

The Panama Canal opened in 1914, linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through a system of locks, artificial lakes and excavated waterways. Its construction transformed the surrounding landscape and made Panama City a centre for administration, migration and commerce, although the canal zone was governed separately from the republic for much of the twentieth century. Canal-era buildings, avenues and neighbourhoods complemented the older colonial city. Relations with the United States became increasingly contentious, particularly over sovereignty and control, contributing to the political importance of the Canal Zone in Panamanian national life.

Sovereignty and Contemporary Growth

The Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1977 established a process for transferring the canal and the former canal zone to Panama, completed on 31 December 1999. The handover became a defining moment in national sovereignty and reshaped the city's relationship with its waterfront and former restricted areas. Since then, Panama City has grown as a banking, logistics and aviation hub, adding high-rise districts to its historic core. Restoration in Casco Antiguo, regeneration around the canal and continuing immigration have produced a city where colonial heritage, canal infrastructure and contemporary Latin American urban life coexist.

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Free Panama City Travel Guide & Mobile App

Between the Pacific and the Canal

Layers of a Historic Capital

Neighbourhoods and City Life

When is the best time to visit Panama City?

Getting to and around Panama City

How to get there

Transportation

Best attractions in Panama City

Miraflores Visitor's Center

Parque Omar

Panamá Viejo

Biomuseo

Best landmarks in Panama City

Miraflores Visitor's Center

Parque Omar

Panamá Viejo

Miraflores Locks

Explore Panama City on the map

Neighbourhoods in Panama City

Best hotels in Panama City

Best restaurants in Panama City

Mercado De Marisco Cinta Costera

Chillin Multicentro

CasaCasco

Beirut • Obarrio

Best bars in Panama City

CasaCasco

El Green Room

Alejandro's

ROCK and Beer

Best nightclubs in Panama City

Casa Jaguar

Chill out discotheque

La Tana

Bar Discoteca Tomsi

Best shops in Panama City

Albrook Mall

Multiplaza Panamá

AltaPlaza Mall

Town Center Costa del Este