Best Things to Do in Panama City
Best Things to Do in Panama City
Panama City packs a working canal, a restored colonial quarter, and a free jungle hike within a 30-minute Uber ride of each other, so the hard part isn’t finding things to do, it’s picking which ones earn a full morning versus an hour.
Miraflores Locks
Watch a container ship the length of three football fields squeeze through the lock chamber with feet of clearance on either side. The visitor center opens daily at 8am, adult admission for non-residents runs $17-20 (verify current pricing at visitcanaldepanama.com ), and four viewing decks plus an IMAX theater round out the visit. Morning slots give you the best odds of catching a scheduled transit.
Casco Viejo
The restored colonial old town is fully pedestrianized, so just walk: cobblestone streets, plazas opening onto more plazas, and church facades in every state from fully restored to still crumbling on purpose. Duck into Plaza de la Independencia for the Catedral Metropolitana, then come back after dark for the rooftop bars.
Panama Viejo
Not to be confused with Casco Viejo. These are the ruins of the original city, the one Henry Morgan’s crew burned down in 1671, about 20-30 minutes from downtown. Admission runs $15 for non-residents, and the climbable stone tower is worth the entry fee for the skyline view alone.
Biomuseo
Frank Gehry’s biodiversity museum sits at the base of the Amador Causeway. The building’s riot of color is worth circling even if you skip the paid galleries (grounds and Level One are free); the exhibits inside run about $20 and dig into Panama’s role as a land bridge between two continents.
Ancon Hill
Free, a 30-45 minute climb through jungle in the middle of the city, and the summit hands you the canal, the skyline, and the rainforest canopy in one 360-degree view, sloths and toucans included if you’re quiet. Most visitors never hear about it; go anyway.
Amador Causeway and the Cinta Costera
The causeway strings together former islands with a paved path locals use for running and cycling, with cruise ships queuing for the canal entrance as a backdrop. Back in the city, the free Cinta Costera promenade delivers the same skyline views without the walk out.
Mercado de Mariscos
Skip the $15 sit-down ceviche and head to this fish market near Casco Viejo instead, where the same dish costs $3-8 and comes from whatever boat unloaded that morning. Go at lunch for the freshest catch.
Nightlife
El Cangrejo’s Calle Uruguay is the livelier scene for bars and clubs, while Casco Viejo’s rooftop bars pair the same drinks with canal and skyline views. Pick Casco Viejo if you’re already staying there; the Uber back at 1am is one more thing to plan around otherwise.
Read more: Best Places to Eat in Panama City for where to follow up each of these stops with a meal.