12 best things to do in Panama City, Panama
Panama City, the capital of Panama, is a place that took me by surprise when I visited it for the first time. I don’t usually like to spend much time in big cities when I travel, so I didn’t have high expectations for it, but it quickly became my favorite city in Central America.
Most people associate the city with the Panama Canal, but there are many other (much more) exciting attractions in Panama City. With its magnificent skyline, colonial old town, amazing restaurant scene and proximity to nature, it’s a wonderful place to visit.
I lived in this city for four months and did a great deal of exploring there, so in this blog post, I’ll be sharing all of the best things to do in Panama City. At the end of the post, you’ll also find my recommendations on where to stay and a map with the locations of all of the places I cover.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.
Top things to do in Panama City, Panama
1) Wander around Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo, also known as Casco Antiguo, is the historic district of Panama City. With its colorful colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, lively squares and panoramic ocean views, it’s undoubtedly the most beautiful area of the city.
It’s hard to imagine that until the late 20th century, Casco Viejo was one of the most run-down and dangerous areas of the city. Thanks to large investments and renovation efforts, it was transformed into a picturesque neighborhood with well-preserved architecture, cute shops and boutique hotels.
Since everything in Casco Viejo is within walking distance, the best thing to do here is to just stroll around and take in the charm. I lived in Casco Viejo and went for almost daily walks around the neighborhood, because I just enjoyed the vibe so much.
Some of the main points of interest here are Plaza de la Independencia, Panama Canal Museum, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza Simón Bolívar, Arco Chato ruins, Paseo de Las Bóvedas monument and La Calle De los Sombreros (“The Street of Hats”).
While you can easily explore the area on your own, if you’d like to get a deeper understanding of the history of Casco Viejo, consider taking .
Casco Viejo is also packed with amazing restaurants, beautiful coffee shops and rooftop bars with views of Panama City’s skyline. Some of the best restaurants in the area are Fonda Lo Que Hay, Bruma Seafood, La Pulperia, La Estrella and Mahalo. For a delicious cup of coffee, head to Sisu or Casa Sucre. For drinks, check out CasaCasco rooftop, Villa Ana 1928, Pedro Mandinga Rum Bar and Element.
If you want to see a traditional Panamanian dance and music show, head to Diablicos Restaurant. We weren’t impressed with the food there, but the cultural performance was fun to see.
2) Walk along Cinta Costera
Another one of the best things to do in Panama City is to walk along its scenic waterfront promenade, Cinta Costera, that stretches for 7 km (4.3 mi) from Punta Paitilla to the El Chorrillo neighborhood. The promenade offers fantastic views of the skyscraper-lined coast of Panama City and the Pacific Ocean, and is easily one of my favorite places in the city.
It’s a popular place both among tourists and locals who go there to jog, ride bikes, walk their dogs, or simply relax and enjoy the green surroundings in this linear park. There are various sports courts, outdoor gyms, kids’ playgrounds, monuments, viewpoints, street vendors selling snacks, and a big colorful Panama sign. If you’re lucky, you might also spot some curious raccoons there.
In the middle of the day, Cinta Costera becomes very quiet because everyone’s avoiding the heat and the scorching sun but in the mornings and before sunset there’s a nice lively vibe. I recommend walking the promenade from the Casco Viejo side towards the modern part of the city because the views in this direction are better.
Related post: Best things to do in Bocas del Toro, Panama
3) Visit the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is, without a doubt, the most famous attraction in Panama City. Opened in 1914, this iconic engineering marvel connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean and serves as a highly important international trade route.
The best place to learn about the canal’s history and see the gigantic cargo ships pass through it is Miraflores Locks, a 20-minute drive from downtown Panama City. There you’ll find the Miraflores Visitor Center, which has a viewing deck overlooking the canal, a restaurant, a museum with interactive exhibits, and an IMAX theater showing a movie about the canal’s history, operations and global significance.
To get to the visitor center, you can take an Uber from the city or join a tour, such as this 5-hour guided tour, that includes pick-up and drop-off as well as a tour of Casco Viejo. You can also sail through the canal on this 6-hour Panama Canal cruise.
4) Go hiking in the Metropolitan Natural Park
One of the things I love about Panama City is how close it is to nature, and the Metropolitan Natural Park is the perfect example of this.
Located just a few kilometers from downtown, this massive park is covered with wild tropical forest where you can spot coatis, turtles, monkeys, deer, sloths, toucans, hummingbirds and other animals. I was truly impressed by how much wildlife we saw here, considering how close the park is to the city.
If you’re a nature lover and like to be active, then going for a hike in the Metropolitan Natural Park is surely one of the top things to do in Panama City. There are a few different trails to choose from but you can hike all of them in one visit since they’re quite short and easy. One place you shouldn’t miss here is the Cerro Cedro lookout, where you can get a nice view of Panama City.
It costs 5 USD to enter the park.
Related post: Want to see more of Panama’s nature? Then check out my ‘Best day trips from Panama City‘ post for some inspiration.
5) Ride a bike on Amador Causeway
Another part of Panama City that I really enjoyed spending time at was Amador Causeway. This scenic road stretches 6 km (3.7 mi) into the Pacific Ocean and connects the Causeway Islands to Panama City.
It was built with the rocks and soil from the excavations of the Panama Canal and now serves as a recreational space with a panoramic view of the city’s skyline across Panama Bay. People come here to walk, jog, ride bikes, watch the sunset and spend quality time with their family. The area gets particularly lively in the late afternoon on weekends when the temperature cools down a bit.
There are viewpoints, restaurants, cafes, the Biomuseo museum (more on that later) and a marina, where you’ll find a big colorful Panama sign. Since Amador Causeway is located right next to the entrance of the Panama Canal, it’s also a good place to observe container ships entering and exiting the canal.
In my opinion, the best way to explore the area is on two wheels. You can rent bikes at Bicicletas Moses at the beginning of Amador Causeway.
6) Have a drink at a rooftop bar
There are dozens of cool rooftop bars and restaurants in Panama City, each with a more beautiful view than the last. The bars in the modern part of the city (the business district) offer an up-close view of the city’s soaring high-rise buildings, whereas at Casco Viejo, you can enjoy views of the old town, with the modern skyline in the background.
In the modern part of the city, I recommend visiting Luna Rooftop for some jaw-dropping vistas, laid-back ambience and delicious food and drinks. In Casco Viejo, some of the best rooftops are Lazotea, CasaCasco, Tántalo, Mazatlan and Tacos La Neta.
I visited these places in the evening, but it would also be a great idea to visit them during the golden hour to watch the sunset with a cocktail in your hand.
7) Step back in time at Panama Viejo
For those interested in history, one of the best activities in Panama City is to explore Panama Viejo (’Old Panama’). This UNESCO-listed archaeological site is the original location of Panama City and an important cultural landmark.
Dating back to 1519, it was the first European settlement on the Pacific coast. After a devastating pirate attack in 1671, the city was abandoned and moved to what is now known as Casco Viejo. There are various ruins to explore here, with the most outstanding ones being the convent and the bell tower that you can climb to the top of.
You can visit Panama Viejo on your own or take a 90-minute guided tour. There’s also a great museum that you definitely shouldn’t skip. I’m usually not a big museum person but I found this one really interesting and learned so much about the city’s history and evolution.
8) Have a ceviche at Mercado de Mariscos
For a truly authentic food experience, head to Mercado de Mariscos, Panama City’s seafood market. Every day, local fishermen come to this bustling market hall on Cinta Costera to sell their catch of the day.
Right next to the market hall, you’ll find a number of simple restaurants serving freshly prepared seafood dishes at low prices. Every vendor here will try to lure you into their restaurant and claim that they have the best food, but the truth is, they all offer basically the same thing.
The most traditional dish to try here is ceviche, which costs as little as 3 USD. It wasn’t the best ceviche I’ve had in my life, but for this super low price and the authentic experience, it was worth it.
9) Have a cup of Geisha coffee
Panama is home to one of the most expensive coffee varieties in the world: the Geisha coffee. To put it in perspective, in 2025, a batch of Geisha coffee was sold at a record price of 30,204 USD per kg at an international coffee auction. Geisha is known for its superior quality and unique flavor profile with floral, sweet, tea-like notes and is grown in areas with high altitude and volcanic soil, mostly in the Boquete region.
There are plenty of specialty coffee shops in Panama City, particularly in Casco Viejo, that sell Geisha coffee. Some of the best ones are Geisha Experience, Sisu Coffee Studio and Casa Sucre. Expect to pay 8-15 USD for a cup.
I personally wasn’t a big fan of the Geisha coffee I had, because I found the taste a bit acidic, but I’m still glad I tried it. I’m also not a big coffee connoisseur, but if you are, you’d probably appreciate its flavor more.
If you want to get a deeper understanding of the process of growing and preparing the Geisha coffee, take this coffee tasting tour that also includes chocolate pairing, or this expert-led experience, where you get to try 6 different varieties of coffee.
10) Enjoy the view from Cerro Ancon
With a height of 199 m (653 ft), Cerro Ancon (Ancon Hill) is the highest point in Panama City and offers some pretty nice views over Casco Viejo, the Panama Canal and the modern downtown. The summit of the hill can be reached by an easy 30-minute hike along a paved road.
Since the hill is covered with rainforest, there’s a chance that you’ll see some wildlife on your way to the top. Apparently, there are toucans, monkeys, sloths and other exotic creatures living here, but I have only spotted agoutis and iguanas the few times I’ve been here. The animals are more active in the morning, so if you want to improve your chances of seeing them, visit Cerro Ancon early.
This place is certainly worth checking out, but if I had to choose between Cerro Ancon and the Metropolitan Natural Park, I’d choose the latter since it’s bigger, has more wildlife and offers better views of the city in my opinion.
Related post: La India Dormida, one of the best hikes in Panama
11) Explore the Biomuseo
If you’re interested in learning about the natural history and wildlife of Panama, visit the Biomuseo on Amador Causeway. It’s considered one of the best museums in the city and is suitable for both adults and kids.
The museum has various galleries with immersive exhibits showcasing the country’s various ecosystems, its current and prehistoric animals, and how the emergence of the isthmus of Panama changed the Earth’s biodiversity forever.
The museum building itself is also quite an eye-catcher with its quirky multi-color exterior designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry, who also designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao.
12) See wildlife at Gatun Lake
Gatun Lake is a large man-made lake that was formed by the construction of the Panama Canal. Along its jungle-lined shores, you’ll have a chance to spot a variety of wildlife, such as capuchin, howler and tamarind monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and tropical birds.
On a boat tour of the lake, you’ll sail across the Panama Canal before heading into more secluded parts of the lake and the famous Monkey Island.
Many different companies offer Gatun Lake tours. Unfortunately, on the majority of these tours, the guides feed the monkeys and also encourage the guests to do it. If you know anything about ethical wildlife tourism, you’ll know that this is a harmful practice as it disturbs their natural behaviors and increases the risk of conflict.
For this reason, I recommend taking this particular Gatun Lake tour, as it’s the only one I found where they don’t feed wildlife.
Where to stay in Panama City
Panama City offers a huge variety of accommodation options, ranging from low-cost hostels to chic boutique hotels and upscale international hotel brands.
In my opinion, the best area of the city to stay in is Casco Viejo (aka Casco Antiguo). It’s safe, beautiful, has tons of nice restaurants and cafes and is relatively close to many of the top attractions in Panama City. Alternatively, you could also stay in the modern part of the city, which has a very different vibe. Here, the best neighborhoods to stay are Marbella, Obarrio and Punta Paitilla.
Below are my top picks for Panama City hotels at different budget levels. They are all located in Casco Viejo.
BUDGET: Viajero Casco Viejo Hostel – Great option for younger travelers looking for a social vibe. There are both private rooms and dorms, and a rooftop pool with an amazing view of the city.
MID-RANGE: Amarla Boutique Hotel – An adults-only hotel with boho decor and a cozy roof terrace with a jacuzzi.
LUXURY: Central Hotel – A colonial-style hotel with bright and elegant rooms, located right next to the central square of Casco Viejo.
LUXURY: Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo – A stunning 5-star hotel with historic charm, upscale amenities and seafront location overlooking the city’s skyline. Travel + Leisure named it the best city hotel of Central and South America in 2025.
How many days do you need in Panama City
I recommend setting aside at least 3 days for visiting Panama City. This is enough time to tick off most of the attractions and activities I covered in this post. However, if you have more time, you can have a more relaxed pace and take day trips to see parts of Panama that are very different from the city. Read my post on the best day trips from Panama City, where I share some amazing destinations to explore not far from the city, including tropical islands, waterfalls, an indigenous village and more.
A map of the best things to do in Panama City, Panama
To give you an overview of where everything is located in Panama City, I created this interactive map with all the attractions, hotels and points of interest I covered in this Panama City travel guide. Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map for more details.
Planning to explore the rest of Panama as well? Then take a look at my other Panama posts:
And if you’re considering crossing the border to Costa Rica, read my 10-day Costa Rica itinerary.
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