The best things to do in Panama City are watching ships pass through the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks, walking the old streets of Casco Viejo, exploring the Panamá Viejo ruins, visiting the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo, and biking the Amador Causeway or the Cinta Costera. Add a short hike up Ancon Hill, ceviche at the fish market, and a day trip to Taboga Island or the rainforest around Gamboa. Two to three full days is enough to see the highlights.
Panama City is a modern capital of glass towers squeezed between the Pacific Ocean and the rainforest, with a 500-year-old history and the Canal right next door. Here’s how to make the most of it, with 2026 prices where they matter.
Panama City at a glance
| Top sight | Cost (non-resident adult, 2026) | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Miraflores Locks visitor center | $17.22 | 2 to 3 hours |
| Casco Viejo | Free to walk | Half a day or more |
| Panamá Viejo ruins and museum | About $17 | 2 to 3 hours |
| Biomuseo | $20 | 2 to 3 hours |
| Amador Causeway | Free (bike rental extra) | 1 to 3 hours |
| Ancon Hill | Free | 1 1/2 hours |
| Taboga Island ferry | About $24 round trip | Full day |
Panama uses the US dollar, so prices are in dollars. Hours and prices change, so check the official sites before you go.
25 best things to do in Panama City
1. Watch ships at the Miraflores Locks
This is the classic Panama Canal experience. From the viewing terraces of the Miraflores Visitor Center you can watch huge ships being raised and lowered a few yards away. The ticket ($17.22 for non-resident adults, $7.22 for kids 6 to 12, as of 2026) includes a museum and a 3D film about the Canal. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (ticket office until 5 p.m.). Ship traffic changes every day, so check the transit schedule on the Canal’s visitor site before you go. To understand what you’re seeing, read our guide to how the Panama Canal works.
2. Walk Casco Viejo
The old quarter, founded in 1673 after pirates destroyed the first city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of restored colonial buildings, plazas, churches, cafés and rooftop bars. Walk it in the morning before the heat, and come back at night for dinner. Our complete Casco Viejo guide and self-guided walking tour cover it street by street.
3. See the Panamá Viejo ruins
The ruins of the original Panama City, founded in 1519 and burned during Henry Morgan’s attack in 1671. Climb the restored cathedral tower for a view of the modern skyline across the bay. A non-resident ticket is about $17 in 2026 and includes the museum and the tower. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday. Details in our Panamá Viejo guide.
4. Visit the Biomuseo
The colorful, folded-roof building at the start of the Amador Causeway is the only Frank Gehry building in Latin America. Inside, it explains how the rise of the Isthmus of Panama changed the planet’s wildlife and oceans. Non-resident adults pay $20 (2026). It’s open Tuesday to Sunday and closes at 3 p.m., so go in the morning.
5. Bike or walk the Amador Causeway
The Calzada de Amador is a 3.7-mile (6 km) road built with rock dug out during Canal construction. It links four small islands and has a wide path for walking and biking, with views of the skyline on one side and ships lining up for the Canal on the other. Bikes and pedal carts are for rent along the way. Go at sunrise or late afternoon.
6. Stroll the Cinta Costera
This waterfront park runs along the bay from near Casco Viejo to Punta Paitilla. It has walking and bike paths, sports courts and great views of the skyline, especially at sunset. It’s busy with locals in the evenings and on weekends.
7. Eat ceviche at the Mercado de Mariscos
Panama City’s fish market sits at the start of the Cinta Costera. Downstairs is the market; outside and upstairs are simple restaurants and stands that sell cups of ceviche and fried fish for a few dollars. Learn to make it at home with our Panamanian ceviche recipe.
8. Hike Ancon Hill
Cerro Ancón is a forested hill right in the city, topped with a giant Panamanian flag. A paved road leads up through the trees, and it takes most people 30 to 45 minutes to walk up. Look for sloths, toucans and agoutis on the way. It’s free. Go early in the morning, when it’s cooler and the animals are more active.
9. Walk the trails in Metropolitan Natural Park
Parque Natural Metropolitano is a patch of tropical forest inside the city, with marked trails and a lookout over the skyline and the Canal. It’s a good place to see birds, monkeys and sloths without leaving town. There’s a small entrance fee.
10. Take a day trip to Taboga Island
The “Island of Flowers” is about 30 minutes by ferry from the Amador Causeway. Taboga Express charges about $24 round trip (2026), and boats leave a few times a day. Expect a sleepy village, a calm beach and seafood lunches. Our Taboga day trip guide has the details.
11. Go into the rainforest at Gamboa
About 45 minutes from the city, Gamboa sits on the Canal at the edge of Soberanía National Park. Pipeline Road is one of the best birding trails in Central America. See our Gamboa day trip guide.
12. Take a boat tour to Monkey Island
Boat tours on Gatun Lake get you close to capuchin, howler and tamarin monkeys on the islands, and right next to the giant ships in the Canal channel. Most tours leave from Gamboa. More in our Gatun Lake guide.
13. Book a partial Canal transit
For the full experience, take a partial transit tour that goes through the locks on a passenger boat. These run on select days and sell out, so book ahead. They take most of a day.
14. See the golden altar of San José Church
The Iglesia de San José in Casco Viejo is home to a carved, gold-covered altar. The story goes that it was painted black to hide it from Henry Morgan’s pirates in 1671 and later moved to the new city.
15. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Plaza de la Independencia
The main square of Casco Viejo, with the white-towered cathedral, cafés and the Canal Museum on one side. Panama’s independence from Colombia was declared here in 1903.
16. Learn the history at the Canal Museum
The Museo del Canal Interoceánico on Plaza de la Independencia covers the French and American construction efforts and the Canal’s handover to Panama in 1999. It’s a good complement to Miraflores.
17. Watch the sunset from Plaza de Francia
At the tip of Casco Viejo, this plaza honors the French workers who died trying to build a canal in the 1880s. The walkway along the old sea wall (Paseo Esteban Huertas) has views of the skyline and the Bridge of the Americas.
18. Have a drink at a rooftop bar
Casco Viejo’s rooftop bars are the best place to see the skyline at night. See our guide to Casco Viejo nightlife.
19. Eat Panamanian food at a fonda
Small, no-frills fondas serve a set lunch of rice, beans, meat or fish and salad for a few dollars. Try sancocho, arroz con pollo or a plate of patacones. Our guides to where to eat Panamanian food and traditional Panamanian dishes tell you what to order.
20. Shop on Avenida Central
The pedestrian section of Avenida Central, between Casco Viejo and Plaza Cinco de Mayo, is a busy, local shopping street with cheap clothing, electronics and street food. Keep an eye on your bag; it gets crowded.
21. Go to the mall
Albrook Mall, next to the main bus terminal and the Albrook Metro station, is one of the largest malls in the Americas, with budget shops and a huge food court. Multiplaza in Punta Pacífica is the upscale option, with designer brands and a cinema. Both have air conditioning, which helps on hot afternoons.
22. Visit an Emberá village
Day tours from the city take you by dugout canoe up the Chagres River to an Emberá community, where you can learn about their culture, eat a lunch of fish and plantain and swim near a waterfall. Choose a tour that’s run with or by the community.
23. Ferry to the Pearl Islands
Contadora and the other Pearl Islands are about 1 1/2 hours away by ferry from the Amador Causeway, with white-sand beaches and, from about July to October, humpback whales. See our Pearl Islands guide.
24. Day trip to Portobelo
The Caribbean town of Portobelo, about 2 hours away, has Spanish colonial forts and the famous Black Christ. Combine it with nearby Isla Grande. Read more in our Portobelo guide.
25. Go to the San Blas Islands
The Guna Yala islands are about 2 1/2 hours by 4×4 and then a boat ride. You can do it as a very long day trip, but staying at least one night is much better. Our San Blas guide explains how.
Free things to do in Panama City
- Walk Casco Viejo and its plazas
- Hike Ancon Hill
- Walk or jog the Cinta Costera
- Walk the Amador Causeway
- Watch the sunset from Plaza de Francia
- Browse the Mercado de Mariscos and Avenida Central
More budget ideas in our list of cheap and free things to do in Panama City.
Food and nightlife
Panama City has a big restaurant scene. Casco Viejo has the most atmosphere, with everything from casual cafés to fine dining and rooftop cocktail bars. El Cangrejo, Obarrio and Marbella are packed with restaurants of every kind, including Panamanian, Peruvian, Italian and Japanese, along with bars, casinos and late-night spots. For something local, look for fondas and the seafood stands at the fish market.
For picks, see where to eat in Casco Viejo.
Where to stay in Panama City
| Neighborhood | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Casco Viejo | History, boutique hotels, nightlife | Walkable and charming, but can be noisy on weekends. Stay within the main restored streets at night. |
| El Cangrejo / Obarrio | Central location, mid-range hotels, restaurants | Close to the Metro and easy to get around. |
| Marbella / Punta Paitilla | Ocean views, upscale hotels, the Cinta Costera | Modern and safe, with lots of restaurants. |
| Amador | Quiet, ferries, biking | Far from the center at night without a car. |
Our guide to where to stay in Panama City goes into more detail.
Getting around
- Metro: clean, cheap and air-conditioned. As of 2026, Line 1 costs $0.35 and Line 2 costs $0.50 per ride, paid with a rechargeable card sold at stations. Line 2 has a branch to Tocumen International Airport.
- Uber and other ride apps: widely used and usually the easiest way to get around, with prices set up front.
- Taxis: taxis don’t have meters. Agree on the price before you get in.
- Walking: great in Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera and Amador. Elsewhere, sidewalks can be uneven and the heat is intense.
- Traffic: rush hour is heavy. Plan long trips outside 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
How many days do you need in Panama City?
- 1 day: Miraflores Locks in the morning, Casco Viejo in the afternoon and evening.
- 2 days: add Panamá Viejo, the Biomuseo and the Amador Causeway.
- 3 days: add a day trip to Gamboa, Monkey Island or Taboga.
- 4 or more days: add San Blas, the Pearl Islands or Portobelo.
Planning the rest of the country? See our Panama itinerary and the best time to visit Panama.
Is Panama City safe?
The main tourist areas (Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera, Amador, El Cangrejo, Marbella and Punta Paitilla) are generally safe with normal big-city care. Petty theft is the main risk. Avoid walking at night in neighborhoods next to Casco Viejo, such as El Chorrillo and parts of Santa Ana, and use ride apps after dark. The US State Department’s advisory for Panama is Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” as of its August 2026 update. Read our full guide: Is Panama safe for tourists?
Panama City FAQ
Is Panama City worth visiting?
Yes. Where else can you watch a cargo ship climb through the locks in the morning, walk a colonial quarter in the afternoon and see sloths in a rainforest park, all in the same city? It’s also the easiest starting point for the rest of the country.
What’s the best time to visit Panama City?
The dry season, from about mid-December to April, has the sunniest weather. The rest of the year brings afternoon rain, but mornings are often clear and prices are lower.
Can you drink the tap water in Panama City?
Tap water in Panama City is treated and generally considered safe to drink. Many visitors still prefer bottled water, especially outside the city.
Do I need Spanish?
Not in tourist areas, where many people speak some English, but a few phrases help a lot. Start with our list of Panamanian Spanish phrases.
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