Getting Around Panama City
Panama City offers several practical transportation options for visitors. The city's public transit network includes a modern metro system, extensive bus network, and readily available taxis and ride-hailing services. Walking is feasible in certain neighborhoods, particularly the historic Casco Viejo area, though the city is large and spread out, making some form of transit necessary for many journeys.
The Metro System
The Panama City Metro is the preferred method for reaching the places it serves and opened in 2014. Line 1 runs from Albrook to the outer neighborhoods, with the section from Albrook to El Ingenio running underground and the remainder elevated. Line 2, serving the northern suburbs, opened in 2019. A metro station is located near Tocumen International Airport, making it convenient for arriving passengers. However, the network does not yet serve all areas of interest in the city; future expansion is planned.
A single ride on Line 1 costs 35 cents, with discounts available for elderly passengers and students. A ride on Line 2 costs 50 cents. The metro operates from 05:00 to 22:00 Monday through Saturday, and from 07:00 to 22:00 on Sundays. To use the metro, you will need a transit card.
Transit Cards and Passes
The "RapiPass 3en1" card is a reloadable card that works across the metrobus, metro, and bus terminal. The card costs $2 and can be topped up with additional credit as needed. This card is essential for accessing the metro and metrobus, as these services do not accept cash payment. At the bus terminal and some metro stations, you can purchase and load the card onto the RapiPass. If you need assistance, locals are generally helpful and can swipe you through; you can reimburse them the fare amount.
Buses and MetroBus
The city operates modern, air-conditioned MetroBus services, identifiable by orange signage at stops. Unlike the older "diablo rojo" (chicken buses) that once dominated city routes, MetroBus does not accept cash—you must use a RapiPass card. MetroBus serves most city neighborhoods and connects to the main bus terminal.
The "diablos rojos," decorated buses that were once common in the city, were largely phased out from main city routes in 2013. They still connect Panama City with outlying suburbs and are cheap to ride, but they are infrequent in the city proper.
The Main Bus Terminal
Panama City's main intercity bus terminal is the Gran Terminal Nacional de Transporte, commonly called "Albrook." It is one of the most modern bus terminals in Latin America and is well-organized. The terminal is located next to Albrook Airport (the domestic airport) and is part of a shopping mall complex. All international and long-distance buses operate from this terminal, including services to Central American destinations. The metro station is accessible from the terminal via a bridge in the center, and metrobuses serving the terminal arrive and depart from the western side. The terminal has two food courts, drinking water fountains, and clean restrooms.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis are readily available and are one of the easiest ways to get around the city. Unlike many cities, Panama City taxis do not have meters; instead, fares are set by authorities and determined by zones. Drivers should have a fare table showing costs, which they are required to display upon request. You can also check fares through the Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre.
Typical taxi fares within the city range from about $1.25 for travel within one zone to around $5 for the longest city routes. There is a surcharge for additional passengers and for calling a cab. A taxi from Tocumen International Airport to the city typically costs $30, including tolls via the Corredor Sur highway. A taxi to the Amador Causeway costs $5–10. Taxis can also be rented by the day at a set rate.
Be aware that taxi drivers frequently overcharge visitors, particularly when you appear unfamiliar with local prices. If a driver refuses to show a fare table or quotes an unreasonably high price, you can attempt to negotiate or ask locals what the appropriate fare should be. Drivers do not expect tips and may pick up additional passengers along the way, though they will ask for permission if a detour is needed.
Ride-hailing apps, including Uber and inDrive, are available in Panama City as alternatives to traditional taxis.
Walkability
The historic Casco Viejo (Old Quarter) is a walkable neighborhood with Spanish colonial architecture, French townhouses, and other historic buildings. However, Panama City is large and spread out, and walking is not practical for reaching many areas of interest. Visitors should rely on transit or taxis for most journeys beyond the Casco Viejo area.
Getting from Tocumen International Airport
Tocumen International Airport is the main airport serving Panama City, located in San Miguelito, 32 kilometers northeast of the city. A Panama Metro station is situated near the terminal, providing convenient access to the metro system for reaching the city. Alternatively, a taxi to the city costs approximately $30 when using the Corredor Sur highway and includes tolls. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber and inDrive are also available from the airport.
Alternative Airports
Gelabert/Albrook Airport, located just a few minutes from the city center, handles domestic and some regional flights to destinations within Panama such as David, Bocas del Toro, and Chitré. Pacífico Airport, located at the southwestern end of the former Canal Zone, offers regional services. These airports may be convenient if you are continuing travel to other regions of Panama.
Train Service
The Panama Canal Railroad operates a passenger service between Panama City and Colón, with the passenger station located at Corozal Passenger Station in the western suburbs near Albrook Airport. The train offers excellent views of the Panama Canal and tropical rainforest. As of February 2024, the train has been reopened for service, though it is currently limited to passengers on cruise ship excursions. Historically, the service operated as a commuter line for people living in Colón and working in Panama City, and it functions as one of the world's only transcontinental commuter rail lines.