By air
Tocumen International (PTY), ~25 km by road
North America · Panama
Panama City, Panama
Skyscrapers, a colonial quarter and the Canal
Getting there
Best time to visit
December to April — the dry season
Don't miss
Casco Viejo
The Miraflores Locks
The Amador Causeway
Panamá Viejo
Things to do
Watching ships at the canal locks
Walking Casco Viejo
Cycling the Amador Causeway
Rooftop views
Where to eat
What to pack
Light clothes, sunscreen, an umbrella for afternoon showers
A quieter corner
Ancon Hill, a forested hill with sloths and city views
Questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Panama City?
December to April — the dry season. What to pack: Light clothes, sunscreen, an umbrella for afternoon showers.
How do I get to Panama City?
Fly into Tocumen International (PTY), ~25 km by road.
What is there to do in Panama City?
Watching ships at the canal locks, walking Casco Viejo, cycling the Amador Causeway, rooftop views. A quieter find: Ancon Hill, a forested hill with sloths and city views.
What should I eat in Panama City?
Sancocho panameño, ceviche from the fish market, patacones, fresh fruit juices.
About Panama City
- Coastal
Where it is
Panama City is the capital of Panama, on the Pacific coast at the southern entrance to the Panama Canal, its modern skyline curving around the Bay of Panama.
History
The Spanish founded the first city in 1519, and it grew rich shipping Andean silver across the isthmus. After the pirate Henry Morgan sacked it in 1671, a new walled city was built a few kilometres away in what is now Casco Viejo. The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 made the city a crossroads of world trade.
People
Panama City's people speak Spanish, and the city mixes communities with roots across Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and beyond, reflected in its food and music.
Known for
- The Panama Canal
- Casco Viejo's colonial streets
- A modern seafront skyline
- The ruins of Panamá Viejo
Did you know?
The Amador Causeway was built from rock dug out during the construction of the Panama Canal, linking four small islands to the mainland.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.