10 Wonderful Things to Do in Panama City, Panama

Posted 02/01/2025 | 2nd January, 2025

This post may contain affiliate links to things like tours, hotels, and products that I love. These links help me earn a small commission on all qualifying purchases at no additional charge to you. Thank you!

Interestingly, I feel like Panama is often overlooked on the backpacking trail. Especially Panama City, which is often simply seen as a pit stop or gateway to Colombia. 

After spending a few weeks in Panama City I can safely say that it is amazing! There is so much to do here including amazing museums, hikes, and a great food and drinks scene. 

I’ve put together this guide to show you that there is more to Panama City than simply visiting the famous canal (as cool as that is!). Here are all the most amazing things to do in Panama City, guaranteed to keep you busy.

Visit Miraflores Visitors Centre (Panama Canal)

If there is one thing you absolutely have to do in Panama, it is visit the Panama Canal. 

The Miraflores Visitor Center is a key attraction in Panama City. It offers a unique perspective on the Panama Canal’s engineering marvel. Located at the Miraflores Locks, it provides observation decks where visitors can watch massive ships raised or lowered as they transit the canal.

The Miraflores centre is about a twenty-minute drive from Casco Viejo (presuming that’s where you are staying), and therefore I recommend taking an Uber. Ubers are inexpensive and efficient in Panama City. 

The centre also houses a museum with interactive exhibits detailing the canal’s history, construction, and global significance. A theatre screens informative documentaries (Morgan Freeman currently narrates a show), while a restaurant offers panoramic views of the canal in action.

It’s a prime spot for learning about Panama’s role in global trade and experiencing the canal’s operations up close. 

I recommend checking online beforehand to ensure that a boat is moving through the lock on your planned visit; otherwise, you might be underwhelmed. It’s $17.22 to enter (which I found a little expensive), but it is still a must-do activity in Panama City. 

Drink Geisha Coffee 

Geisha coffee is a rare, high-quality coffee variety originally from Ethiopia, now famously grown in Panama. Known for its unique flavour profile—floral, fruity, and tea-like—it thrives in Panama’s high-altitude, volcanic soil.

It gained global fame after winning coffee competitions, becoming one of the most expensive coffees in the world. 

So where better to drink it than in the capital? You will find the drink in almost every cafe across the city, with prices ranging from $8 to $20. I enjoyed a delicious cup at Sisu cafe, which has a beautiful interior and friendly staff. 

My opinion on Geisha Coffee: After spending a couple of months in Colombia earlier in the year, I found it a little underwhelming. However, I am still very glad I tried and would certainly reccomend you do, too. 

If you’re a coffee connoisseur or want to become one, you will enjoy this Geisha Coffee tasting experience. It includes an expert-led demonstration with six different tastings.

Mercado de Mariscos

The Mercado de Mariscos (Seafood Market) in Panama City was inaugurated in 1995 with Japanese funding as a gift to Panama.

It was designed to support the local fishing industry and provide fresh seafood to the city. The market is easily walkable from Casco Viejo. It has become a popular spot for locals and tourists, offering fresh catches, ceviche, and other seafood dishes.

I visited the Mercado de Mariscos at lunchtime and the atmosphere was buzzing – there are lots of tourists and locals alike enjoying a delicious seafood lunch. However, the touting is extremely intense and as such, I recommend doing a lap of the various restaurants before choosing the one that’s right for you. 

To be completely honest, all the menus are extremely similar, and so are the price points, and therefore I recommend choosing the spot with the best atmosphere. 

We ordered a seafood fried rice and a fish with french fries to share. The food was tasty – but I’m sure you could enjoy a better quality version of this elsewhere in the city. However, it was worth it for the great atmosphere and a quintessentially Panamanian experience.

Wander Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo, founded in 1673, is Panama City’s historic district. Built after the pirate destruction of Panama Viejo, it features colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and landmarks like the Metropolitan Cathedral and Plaza de la Independencia.

Casco Viejo is undoubtedly the iconic image you think of when you imagine Panama City.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it blends history with vibrant culture, hosting restaurants, bars, boutiques, and art galleries.

Panama Viejo is the best place to stay in Panama City. It’s safe, bustling, and full of great places to eat and drink. And, if you’re not staying here, make sure you dedicate an afternoon to wandering its colourful streets and soaking in the atmosphere. 

Visit the San Blas Islands

I went back and forth about whether to visit the San Blas Islands during my time in Panama. It’s undoubtedly one of the most expensive day trips you can take in Panama (if not the whole of Latin America), and I was curious whether these islands would match their luxury price tag. 

Well, put quite simply – yes, a day trip to the San Blas islands is completely worth it. 

The San Blas Islands are a group of 365 tropical islands and cays off the Caribbean coast of Panama. They are known for their pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs. The indigenous Guna people inhabit and govern the islands, preserving their culture and autonomy.

Regardless of where you book your trip, all tours run on an almost identical itinerary. You will be collected around 5 am from your accommodation in a vehicle that fits six – and driven to the coast. The journey takes around three and a half hours (including a short rest stop). 

What to Expect from the San Blas Islands

Once at the coast, you will be allocated a boat (boats hold up to around 18 tourists) and your journey really begins!

You will first enjoy around 45 minutes of sailing through paradise, before being dropped on a desert island simply to enjoy. The boats all spread out to different islands so you do not need to worry about crowds. 

You’ll have a couple of leisurely hours here, swimming in the crystal clear sea and relaxing on the beach. The second stop of the day is for snorkelling! We saw starfish here which was absolutely incredible. The third and final stop is at another beautiful island. I didn’t find this as breathtaking as the first as it was much busier (and we arrived at the exact time as a huge storm).

All in all, an incredible day! 

There are two things you should look out for when booking your tour:

💰There is a $22 fee to enter this territory. Some tours include this and others don’t.

🦐Check whether your tour includes lunch. Again, some itineraries do, and others don’t. Ours luckily did – but I can imagine if you have to buy food on the islands it would be very expensive! 

This one-day San Blas Islands Tour includes multiple islands, lunch, and entry fees for the islands. Alternatively, if you feel extra adventurous, this four-day San Blas Islands Tour includes all meals and accommodation, giving you a much deeper insight into how the local people live. 

❗You need your passport to enter the area. If you do not have your passport you will be denied entry and lose your opportunity to visit the San Blas Islands. 

Drink Rum at Pedro Mandiga 

Pedro Mandinga is Panama’s first artisanal rum distillery, known for producing high-quality, handcrafted rums. It blends traditional methods with local ingredients, emphasising premium sugarcane and unique flavours. 

They have a fun bar in the heart of Casco Viejo which I 100% recommend checking out. You can sample rum flights, many different cocktails, as well as beers and wines. There is also a small food menu to help you soak up some of that booze. 

The staff are all very friendly and speak Spanish and English. I was in Panama City for a few weeks and never saw this place packed, therefore you don’t need to worry about making a reservation. There are a few stools at the bar if you would like an intimate experience and a great chat with the bar staff.

Explore Panama Viejo 

Panama Viejo, or Old Panama, marks the birthplace of Panama City, founded in 1519 by Spanish conquistadors. It thrived as a key trade hub, linking the Americas with Spain, but was devastated by Captain Henry Morgan’s pirate attack in 1671. The city was abandoned, and a new Panama City was built nearby.

Today, the site preserves ruins of churches, convents, and colonial structures, with the iconic Cathedral Tower standing as its centrepiece. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Panama Viejo offers insight into the region’s early colonial history and serves as a vital archaeological and cultural landmark in Panama.

Entrance to Panama Viejo is $17 per adult. You don’t need to pre-book tickets you can simply purchase them at the ticket office using cash or card. All of the information around the museum is in Spanish and English. 

I recommend taking an Uber to and from Panama Viejo. The area surrounding area is not the safest and it is pretty difficult to get to using public transport. 

Visit the Metropolitan Nature Park

The Metropolitan Nature Park is the ‘only the only tropical forest to serve as a public recreational park’ within a city in Latin America. Pretty special – right? It’s $4 to enter and you can simply pay on arrival using either cash or card. 

There are a few different hiking trails through the park which are well signposted. The trails get a little steep at some points but nothing too challenging. You don’t need hiking boots – trainers will be just fine.

You can complete all the hiking trails in under two hours (this includes plenty of water stops), but be prepared to get sweaty! The incline combined with the heat and humidity is no joke. 

For me, visiting the Metropolitan Nature Park was incredible because I saw my first (two) sloths! 

I was lucky enough to witness a mother sloth and her baby hanging from a tree. At this exact moment, a friendly local walked past with his binoculars and let me use them for a few moments. A truly breathtaking experience! 

Walk (or Bike) the Amador Causeway

The Amador Causeway is a scenic road in Panama City connecting three small islands (Naos, Perico, and Flamenco) to the mainland. Built with excavated material from the Panama Canal, it offers stunning views of the city skyline, canal entrance, and the Pacific Ocean.

I recommend taking an Uber to the start of the walk, and then enjoy a leisurely stroll along the water. If you want to cycle the route you should rent your bike from Casco Viejo or close to where you are staying. I could only see one bike rental on the causeway, which was very expensive and strangely located right near the end. 

Be sure to take a sun hat and plenty of sunscreen as there is very little shade and the Panamanian sun is intense!

Take A Catamaran Tour

Another extremely popular day trip from Panama City is a visit to Taboga Island. Known as ‘the land of flowers’ due to its rich and colourful biodiversity, a day trip to Taboga can provide a welcome break from the hustle of Panama City. 

There’s a couple of beautiful hikes to do here, or simply relax on the incredible white sandy beaches. A catamaran tour is an excellent option, many of which include lunch and an all-day open bar.

PIN IT FOR LATER: