Things to Do in Panama City Panama
What to do in Panama City: the Canal, Casco Viejo, the Cinta Costera and the coffee circuit, with realistic times and where to have dinner after.
Panama City packs a canal, a colonial quarter and a skyline of towers into about twenty kilometers of coast. That mix is the reason most visitors underestimate it and then wish they had stayed longer. Here is what actually deserves your time.
The Canal, done properly
Miraflores Locks is the classic stop, and it works best in the morning, when ships move north. Give it two hours: the viewing terrace, the short film and the museum. If you have already seen it, the Agua Clara locks on the Caribbean side show the newer, larger chambers and a very different landscape.
Casco Viejo, the old town
The historic quarter is the part of the city you will remember. Colonial facades, restored plazas, rooftops looking back at the skyline, and the highest concentration of restaurants and bars in the country. It is compact enough to cover on foot in an afternoon, and it is where most visitors end up having dinner.
- Plaza de la Independencia and the cathedral, for the postcard.
- Paseo Esteban Huertas, the bougainvillea walkway over the sea wall, best at sunset.
- Iglesia de San Jose and its golden altar, the piece that survived Morgan.
- The rooftops, which are the local way of drinking before dinner.
The modern city
The Cinta Costera is a waterfront park along the bay: joggers at dawn, families at dusk, and the best free view of the towers. Amador Causeway, built with rock excavated from the Canal, connects four islands and ends at the Biomuseo designed by Frank Gehry.
Nature, without leaving town
Metropolitan Natural Park is a tropical forest inside the city limits, with a lookout over the skyline and a decent chance of sloths and toucans in the early morning. Half a day, no special gear needed.
Where dinner fits
Nearly every itinerary ends in Casco Viejo, and that is the right call. After a day of walking, the neighborhood offers everything from street food to long dinners. If you want the sit-down version, book: the good tables in the quarter go early on Fridays and Saturdays.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Panama City?
Two full days cover the Canal, Casco Viejo and the modern city without rushing. Three lets you add a day trip to the Pacific islands or the rainforest.
Is Panama City walkable?
Casco Viejo is; the rest of the city is not. Distances are long and the heat is real, so plan on taxis or rideshare between neighborhoods.
What is the best time of day for the Canal?
Morning, roughly between 9 and 11, when the northbound transits pass Miraflores. Afternoon transits are less predictable.
Santa Rita in Casco Viejo
Spanish kitchen and Argentine grill on Avenida Eloy Alfaro and Calle 11, in the heart of Casco Viejo. Open Monday to Thursday 5:00 to 11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 1:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Sunday 12:00 to 8:00 p.m. Phone +507 303-0991 · WhatsApp +507 6629-6315.
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Where we are
Avenida Eloy Alfaro and Calle 11, Casco Viejo, Panama City.
Book a table at Santa Rita
Spanish kitchen and Argentine grill in the Casco Antiguo of Panama City, Avenida Eloy Alfaro and Calle 11. Live music Thursday to Saturday.