Panama City: What to Do and See
Panama City: What to Do and See
Panama City packs history, an engineering marvel, and genuine rainforest into a city you can cross by Uber in twenty minutes. Here’s the same list sorted by what kind of day you’re planning, rather than ranked, so you can build a trip around whichever category matters most.
History and old town
Casco Viejo is the restored colonial peninsula built after Henry Morgan’s raiders burned the original city in 1671. It’s fully walkable and pedestrianized, the one part of Panama City where wandering without a plan actually works, anchored by Plaza Herrera and Plaza de Francia. Panama Viejo is the separate site, several kilometers away, holding the actual 1519 ruins Morgan destroyed; entry runs around $15 and the cathedral tower is still climbable. Keep the two straight in conversation with a local, they’re not interchangeable and mixing them up is a common tourist mistake.
The canal
Miraflores Locks, fifteen minutes from downtown, is the canal visit that matters for a city-based trip. Non-resident adult entry runs roughly $17 (verify the current price at visitcanaldepanama.com ), and four observation decks plus an IMAX film cover the history and mechanics well. Ships transit in waves, generally northbound mornings and southbound afternoons, so timing your visit around the schedule beats showing up at random. Agua Clara, the Atlantic-side visitor center showing the 2016 expansion, only earns a slot if you’re already headed toward Colon or Portobelo.
Modern architecture and views
Frank Gehry’s Biomuseo sits at the entrance to the Amador Causeway, his only completed building in Latin America, with biodiversity exhibits on Panama’s role as a land bridge between continents. Non-resident entry runs $18-20, though the grounds and Level One are free. Ancon Hill is the free alternative worth as much attention: a 30-45 minute climb delivers canal traffic, the skyline, and rainforest canopy in one panorama, sometimes with a sloth or toucan for company. The Cinta Costera, the coastal promenade linking Casco Viejo to the modern districts, is the easiest free evening walk in the city.
Food and markets
Mercado de Mariscos near Casco Viejo sells ceviche for $3-8, fresher than most restaurants charging three times as much for the same fish; go around midday while the boats are still unloading. Once you’ve covered Casco Viejo’s restaurants, Marbella and El Cangrejo are where the city’s professional class actually eats, with lower prices and none of the tourist markup. Our best places to eat in Panama City guide covers specific spots in both zones.
Getting between all of it
Uber is the default for nearly every trip on this list, cheaper and more transparent than a street taxi. Metro Lines 1 and 2 cover downtown and Albrook for a flat, low fare; Line 3 remains under construction and won’t carry passengers in 2026. Our Panama City travel tips page has the rest of the practical details, and our things worth doing ranking has the fuller case for why these particular stops earn their place on a short trip.