Stand on the viewing platform at the Miraflores Locks and the canal stops being an abstraction: steel hulls rise and fall in the chambers below you, and the whole engineered waterway is suddenly legible in a single look. Panama City rewards that kind of directness, whether you are watching ships, walking the crumbling-then-restored streets of Casco Viejo, or climbing above the skyline on Cerro Ancón.
The city suits travellers who want history and infrastructure in the same afternoon, and who are willing to move between the old quarter, the canal, and the green edges of the metropolis. This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, followed by a plan for a single day.
Top things to do in Panama City
1. Miraflores Visitor Center/Miraflores Locks
The most visited place along the canal, at the Miraflores Locks. It has an air-conditioned museum, a movie theater, an expensive restaurant, a gift shop, and a viewing platform from where you can watch ships pass through the locks. The locks here are the older ones, more than a hundred years old.
Check the visitor center's website before you go so you arrive when ships are actually passing through the locks. If you want to see the expanded canal with the new locks and much bigger ships, that means the Agua Clara Visitor Center in Colon, on the Caribbean side. From platform 'D - Via España' at Albrook there is a direct Albrook-Miraflores metrobus line that stops right in front of the visitor center.
2. Casco Viejo
The historic part of town, with colonial-style government buildings, cathedrals and museums including a Canal Museum and a small Panama History Museum. It is under massive renovation, with crumbling shacks next to beautifully restored colonial buildings, and it offers some of the finest dining options in Panama City. The area hosts a large number of eclectic events, from operas and musicals at the national theatre to block parties and fashion catwalks in the open plazas.
Together with the archaeological site of Panamá Viejo, Casco Viejo is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and both are listed a second time as part of the site The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá. You can find inexpensive walking tour guides if you look. Coming from the airport by Metro bus, get off at the 5 de Mayo stop and walk about 15-20 minutes south towards the water on Avenida Central, a pedestrian mall with many shops and markets that leads directly to the old town.
3. Panama Viejo
The archaeological site of the ruins of the original city of Panama, sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan in the 1600s before the city was moved to Casco Viejo. Today it is home to one of Panama's national parks, with the buildings left in unrestored states. Together with Casco Viejo, the site is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, and both are listed a second time as part of the site The Colonial Transisthmian Route of Panamá.
It is well worth the visit, but read the safety warnings and ask park employees about where it is safe to visit, as the park is surrounded outside by one of the city's dangerous areas. It is closed on Mondays. The ticket includes the museum, park and lookout.
4. Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador)
The causeway connects four little islands — Naos, Culebra, Perico and Flamenco — to the mainland. From it there is a lovely view of Panama City, the Puente de las Americas, and the numerous islands far in Panama Bay. Many Panamanians spend their weekends jogging, riding a bicycle or roller-blading down the causeway, or having a meal or drinks in one of the many restaurants and bars on the islands.
Bikes are available to rent in many different varieties, including recumbents and multi-person bicycles. From the causeway you can also arrange day trips by ferry to one of the surrounding islands, with boats leaving early in the morning. A metrobus line (Albrook-Amador) runs from the central bus terminal at Albrook, with a frequency of about one bus per hour.
5. Biomuseo
A museum designed by the architect Frank Gehry, on the Amador Causeway. There is a metrobus stop (line: Albrook-Amador) right in front of the building.
It is closed on Mondays, so plan it for another day of the week. Because it sits on the causeway, it pairs naturally with a walk or bike ride along the Calzada de Amador.
6. Punta Culebra Nature Center
This nature center run by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute is located on Culebra Island. It has a few fish tanks with Pacific, Caribbean, and freshwater sea life, a small pool with a sea turtle and a few little sharks, and a tank where children can touch starfish and other sea creatures. There is also a little forest where a family of sloths lives.
It sits on the same island chain as the Amador Causeway, so combine it with a causeway walk or a meal on the islands.
7. Canal Museum
A museum in Casco Viejo, at Plaza de la Independencia in San Felipe, between Calles 5a and 6a. It is one of the museums you will find among the colonial-style buildings of the old quarter.
Because it is inside Casco Viejo, it fits easily into a morning or afternoon of walking the old town, alongside the Panama History Museum.
8. Panama History Museum
A small museum in Casco Viejo, on Avenida 6a Central at Plaza Catedral in San Felipe. Like the Canal Museum, it is part of the cluster of museums in the historic quarter.
Pair it with the Canal Museum and the rest of Casco Viejo on the same walk, since both sit within the old town.
9. Cerro Ancón
Cerro Ancón, or Ancon Hill, is the tallest peak in Panama City. There is a fairly well-trafficked paved road heading to the summit that is used by local hikers, ambitious cyclists and a few tourists. The summit has viewpoints looking out at Casco Viejo, the new town and the canal.
From the trail head near Mi Pueblito it is only about a 15-minute walk to the summit. From Estación Cinco de Mayo, walk up to the roundabout on Calle J and cross the Pan-American Highway, staying on the hill side of the road until the entrance to Mi Pueblito; from María Carter Pantalones Park, walk to the football stadium Maracaná de Panamá and head for the pedestrian overpass that crosses the highway.
10. Mi Pueblito
The pretty deserted museum on the slopes of Cerro Ancon showcases the different ethnicities of Panama, and there are several artisans producing curios. Entrance is free.
The museum is across the highway from El Chorrillo neighborhood, which has experienced some crime targeting tourists in the past, so be mindful. It also serves as the practical starting point for the walk up Cerro Ancón.
11. Parque Natural Metropolitano
The second highest peak in the city, with a few short easy trails and a viewpoint at the top looking over the city and to the Miraflores locks. Butterflies, turtles, and coatis are easy to see, and agoutis, sloths, and monkeys live there as well.
Drinks are available at the main entrance, and there are bathrooms at both entrances. It is a straightforward way to add forest and wildlife to a city itinerary.
12. El Chorrillo
El Chorrillo represents the cultural richness of Panama and the social challenges faced by a marginalized urban community, and the neighborhood maintains a strong community spirit. Its street culture, mural art, and passion for boxing and football are essential to its identity. You can admire colorful urban murals, visit the Maracaná Stadium, or join a guided community tour to learn about the neighborhood's history and local culture.
Visit with local guides or in a group, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Some parts may not be safe for solo tourists. It is a few minutes by taxi, bus, or foot from the Casco Antiguo.
13. Museo Libertad
A museum dedicated to the history and advancement of human rights in Panama and around the world. Displays are all in Spanish, but tours in English can be arranged in advance.
It is closed on Mondays. If you do not read Spanish, arrange an English tour ahead of your visit rather than arriving and hoping.
14. Help a sailboat to cross the canal
All sailboats that want to cross the Panama Canal need, by law, five crew members when crossing the locks, because of the complexity of handling these boats in the narrow locks and tying and untying them to the walls and other boats. The job is called "linehandler". Owners can either hire local help or look for volunteers in exchange for the experience, food and drinks.
The process takes two days because of long waiting times and the slow movement, and you sleep on the boat during this time. Finding a boat with openings can take some perseverance and luck, especially depending on the season, but getting into local Facebook or WhatsApp groups can be effective.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Miraflores Visitor Center/Miraflores Locks, checking the visitor center's website beforehand so your visit coincides with ships passing through the locks. From platform 'D - Via España' at Albrook, take the direct Albrook-Miraflores metrobus line, which stops right in front of the visitor center.
Afternoon: Move on to Casco Viejo and walk the historic quarter, taking in the Canal Museum at Plaza de la Independencia and the Panama History Museum at Plaza Catedral. If you want a guide, inexpensive walking tour guides can be found in the area.
Evening: Stay in Casco Viejo for dinner, since the old quarter offers some of the finest dining options in Panama City, and check whether an event is on at the national theatre or in the open plazas.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to see ships at the Miraflores Locks?
Check the visitor center's website to see at which times the ships pass through the locks, and plan your visit around those windows. Watching the locks without ships is far less interesting.
Can I see the expanded canal from Panama City?
No. The Miraflores Locks are along the old canal with its more than a hundred-year-old locks. To see the new, expanded canal with the new locks and much bigger ships, you would have to go to the Agua Clara Visitor Center in Colon, on the Caribbean side of the canal.
Is Panama Viejo safe to visit?
Read the safety warnings and ask park employees about where it is safe to visit, as the park is surrounded outside by one of the city's dangerous areas. It is closed on Mondays.
What should I keep in mind when visiting El Chorrillo?
Visit with local guides or in a group, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area. Some parts may not be safe for solo tourists.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the opening days that matter — several museums and sites close on Mondays — and start building your itinerary around the canal, the old quarter and the hills above the city.