Panama City on Foot, Route by Route
Panama City is walkable in defined corridors, not everywhere, and knowing the boundary matters as much as the route itself: Casco Viejo is policed and safe on foot, while the adjacent El Chorrillo neighborhood is not somewhere to wander into.
Casco Antiguo heritage circuit, 2.5 km
Start at Plaza de la Independencia and the Cathedral Basilica, walk east down Calle 3a past the National Theatre ($5 entry) and the Church of San Francisco de Asís, continue to Plaza Bolívar, then follow the ramparts of Paseo de Las Bóvedas and Plaza de Francia over the bay. Guna vendors sell mola textiles along the sea wall on the way back through Calle 8a to Iglesia de San José, home to the Golden Altar, ending at Plaza Herrera. Two to three hours covers it at an easy pace; a raspao shaved-ice cart along the route runs about $1.00.
Panamá Viejo ruins trail, 2 km
Paved and grassy paths connect the stone convent ruins of San José, the Convent of La Concepción with its subterranean cistern, the King’s Bridge, and the climb up the cathedral tower. Foreign adult admission is $15.00, and two hours covers the full self-guided loop. This is the original 1519 Spanish settlement, sacked in 1671, distinct from the walled Casco Antiguo that replaced it.
Pipeline Road, Soberanía National Park
A flat 17-kilometer gravel road cut during WWII, 45 minutes from the city past Gamboa, and one of the world’s most recorded birding sites, 357 species logged here in a single 24-hour Audubon count in 1985. Park entry runs $5.00, set by MiAmbiente, Panama’s environment ministry . At km 1.6, the Panama Rainforest Discovery Center adds a 32-meter observation tower and hummingbird patio for $30.00, open 06:00-16:00; the Discovery Center’s operator posts hours at pipelineroad.org . Search Pipeline Road birding tours on GetYourGuide .
Metropolitan Natural Park
232 hectares of dry tropical forest ten minutes from downtown, $4.00 entry. The Sendero Mono Tití trail climbs to a skyline and canal viewpoint in 1.1 km, an easy add-on for anyone based near the city center rather than out at Gamboa.
The verdict
The Casco Antiguo circuit and Panamá Viejo trail combine into one full day within the city; Pipeline Road works better as its own half-day given the drive out to Gamboa. Compare Panama City hotels on Booking.com near Casco Viejo, or see the sightseeing guide for the landmarks along each route.
Before you go
Stay within the policed perimeter of Casco Viejo; the adjacent El Chorrillo district is a high-crime area that tour routes and locals both steer around.