Last Updated on February 24, 2024
Falling in love with Panama City is easy. Leaving it is hard. My husband and I learned this during the four winters we spent in Panama. For two of those years, we spent time in the city before heading home after two months in the town of Boquete in Panama’s Chiriqui Highlands.
Panama City offers a multitude of delightful experiences, whether you’r traveling on a budget or have cash to spare. You can explore the city in style, or partake of all the free and low-cost activities, and either way, you’ll have a memorable visit. Here are a few of the aspects of Panama City that we enjoyed and wouldn’t hesitate to experience again.
Getting Around Panama City, Panama
Panama City has several options for traveling within the city. The sleek and efficient Metro, which opened in 2014, is one of the fastest and cheapest ways to get around, but it is a work in progress and has its limits. Busses offer more options, and we found it a breeze to accomplish our sightseeing goals without a car. In fact, the easygoing, laid back Panamanians we had come to know and love could instantly morph into lunatics as soon as they got behind the wheel of an automobile.
Taxis and Ubers are available, but beware of taxi drivers who have no qualms fleecing unsuspecting visitors to make a quick buck. Agree on the price before committing and have a map and/or your navigation app of choice up and running.
We familiarized ourselves with Panama City with our two-day Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tours passes. Our first trip consisted of riding the entire 90-minute route on the open upper level, using the available audio guide. This enabled us to decide what we wanted to see and in what order. With a little pre-planning and a copy of the schedule, we didn’t have to wait too long for a bus to take us to our next stop on the route.
The Panama Canal
Who could visit Panama City without catching a view of that wondrous engineering marvel known as the Panama Canal? Certainly not my husband and me. One of the Seven Industrial Wonders of the World, the Panama Canal stretches 51 miles, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the interest of international commerce and pleasure cruising of all kinds.
The Miraflores Locks is one of the must-see places in Panama City. This was where we spent over two hours at the Panama Canal visitor center and viewing deck. We had high hopes of gazing in awe at gigantic ships as they navigated the canal. Instead, we watched several sailboats and tour boats make their way through the locks. Still, the process of filling the lock to bring the boats level with the next lock, the loud mechanical sound of the huge gates opening to allow the boats passage, and the equally noisy closing of the gates was nothing short of spellbinding. And when we weren’t canal-watching, we explored the onsite museum.
The second canal experience we thoroughly enjoyed was the Panama Canal Museum, located in Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old city. Housed in a beautifully restored 1874 building the museum’s fascinating exhibits captured our interest before we even walked through the door. The structure had once served as Panama City’s main post office,
The carefully curated displays showcased the canal’s development, traveling as far back in time as France’s canal-building attempts in 1881, how the United States completed this mammoth project, and the promise kept to eventually relinquish ownership of the canal to Panama. The collection consisted of more than 1,650 historical objects, books, newspaper articles, and works of art that added depth to what we already knew of this century-old story.
Casco Viejo: Panama City’s Old Town
Despite the heat – and it’s always hot – strolling through Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old town was a treat. The historic center of Panama City is constantly in the process of being restored to its original glory, and we delighted in our brief glimpse of this ongoing gentrification.
Casco Viejo dates back to 1673. Architecture inspired by Spanish, French and early Americans drew us in, and the terracotta roofs, charming cafes, and bell towers of the old quarter kept us enthralled.
While I delved into the history of the area, my husband/photographer found plenty of lens candy to keep his head on a perpetual swivel:
- Plaza De Francia, also known as The French Plaza, is dedicated to the 22,000 workers who lost their lives during the construction of the Panama Canal. It houses the National Institute of Culture which includes a theater and is the venue for many cultural events.
- Convent Santo Domingo and the 17th century Flat Arch, a magnificent feat of engineering for its time, was definitely picture-worthy.
- Plaza de la Independencia features the majestic Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama at its center surrounded by welcoming shade trees, and colonial architecture in the form of residents, restaurants, and boutiques. This is where we found the Panama Canal Museum.
- Plaza Bolivar is home to the impressive statue of Simon Bolivar, one of South America’s most prominent historical figures. He established the Gran Colombia that comprised the nations of Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, and Panama, which he helped liberate from Spanish rule. Although the countries of Gran Colombia eventually went their separate ways, Simon Bolivar’s legacy lives on today.
Panama Viejo
One of the best things to do in Panama City is to explore the history of Panama Viejo—not to be confused with Casco Viejo—a UNESCO World Heritage archeological site bearing the ruins of the oldest part of Panama City. Established by the Spanish in 1519 Panama Viejo was the first city built on the pacific coast of the Americas. It soon became part of a thriving trade route, and therefore a popular target for pirates. who completely destroyed the city in 1671.
We spent an hour going back in time as we explored the ruins. Interpretive signs in English and Spanish helped make sense of what we were seeing, as did the Museo de Sitio Panama Viejo, which was an ideal place to start. A scale model of the ruins gave us perspective on what once stood on the original site. Restoration. of walls, facades, and structures is ongoing.
At the Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, we climbed the even open metal stairs of the bell tower and were rewarded with a stunning panoramic view of modern Panama City.
Among the fascinating structures we discovered was the Puente del Rey, a 1617 bridge. Several church ruins, and Casa Alarcon, a 1640s private residence also kept us occupied and interested until the bus timetable called us.
Cinta Costera
Early evening in Panama City often found us taking a pleasant stroll along the paved walkways of Cinta Costera, a 64-acre oceanfront parkway. within walking distance from major hotels. We never tired of the view of modern Panama City and the deepening blue of the Pacific as evening approached.
Popular with locals and visitors alike, this well maintained green-space was a welcome respite from our days of sightseeing in the daytime heat. Joggers, skateboarders, and cyclists wove between families, hand-holding couples, and groups playing games. Others took advantage of the Cinta Costera exercise equipment., or treated themselves to shaved ice, a super size cup filled with ice shaved from an enormous block and drizzled with a flavored syrup of choice. Spending time enjoying Cinta Costera is one of many free things to do in Panama City.
Mercado de Mariscos
Although we had our pick of many fine restaurants serving a variety of foods and family-owned hole-in-the-wall traditional Panamanian eateries, we enjoyed rewarding ourselves for our long Cinta Costera walk with a meal at the Mercado de Mariscos. This Panama City institution features fresh seafood and an assortment of places to enjoy it.
A number of stalls competed for our business, but since they were similar in their offerings, we opted for the more budget-friendly establishments. A typical meal consisted of an overflowing cup of outstanding ceviche each, a share plate of fried corvina, patacones – twice-fried plantain patties – salad, and ice cold Panamanian beer. The food was so flavorful and fresh, we couldn’t seem to get enough. Of the many inexpensive things to do in Panama city, Mercado de Mariscos had to be our favorite.
Biomuseo
Our visit to Biomuseo Museum of Bio Diversity, treated us to a mind-blowing experience. We first saw the eye-catching building as we gazed at Panama City’s skyline looking out at the ocean from, Casco Viejo. This cheerful structure, with its bright colors and unique shape resembling a jumble of rooftops, was designed by the world renowned architect, Frank Gehry.
Biomuseo is located on the Amador Causeway, and is one of the stops on a Hop-on-Hop-off route. We found the interior of the museum as captivating as its exterior, featuring a host of interactive displays throughout its eight galleries. The exhibits explored Panama’s natural history, geology, and cultural diversity. The last time we visited Biomuseo, workers were still in the process of assembling exhibits on the top two levels, but what we did see made us yearn to return to explore the museum in its entirety.
More Things to Do in Panama City, Panama
What else can you do in Panama City? As it turns out, plenty. Here are a few of the many options available:
- Treat yourself to a unique wildlife experience with a boat tour on the Chagres River and Gatun Lake to Monkey Island. The river and lake are part of the Panama Canal system, and you might catch sight of ships making their way through the locks. Humans can’t access the island, but the guides use special calls to attract the mantled howler monkeys, white-faced Capuchin monkeys, tamarin monkeys, and lemurine owl monkeys that inhabit the island.
- Located 20 minutes outside the city, Amador Causeway offers excellent views of Panama City, as well as places to eat, drink, shop, and play. The causeway also offers a stunning view of the massive Bridge of the Americas, spanning the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. Built by the United States in 1962, the bridge connects North and South America.
- Indulge in some retail therapy at Centro Artisan Market on the Amador Causeway. Shop for jewelry, souvenirs, and anything else you can fit into your suitcase at this gigantic market.
- Another shopping Mecca is Albrook Mall, the largest shopping mall in Central America and the 14th largest mall in the world. The mall is located near the main bus station, as well as some of Panama’s main attractions
Where to Stay in Panama City, Panama
Panama City has no shortage of accommodations from which to choose for a good night’s sleep. From high end to hostel, there’s something for every taste and budget.
The JW Marriott is an enormous complex with a Casino off the main level. It offers the expected amenities, along with a rooftop bar on the 65th floor, which is a prime location for viewing spectacular sunsets. The Marriott Panama Hotel – Albrook is located close to the bus station and is connected to the Albrook Mall.
When in Panama City, we stayed at Hotel Centroamericano located in the Calidonia neighborhood. The hotel was clean, comfortable, and had a reasonably good restaurant onsite. The nightly rate was affordable, the amenities adequate, and staff friendly. Considering we spent very little time in the hotel, it was excellent value for the price.
Panama City is a friendly city on the move. The best time to visit is between December and May, so you can escape the rainy season.
You can find plenty on which to splurge, but enjoying yourself on a budget is not only possible, it’s easy. Eat where the locals eat, stay in more modest accommodations, and have the time of your life!
