Panama City
Your getaway to Panama City
Panama City gives you a bit of everything, starting with ships climbing the Miraflores Locks before the crowds thicken. Spend midday wandering Casco Viejo's plazas, ducking into churches, coffee shops, and shaded arcades as the mood takes you. Lunch is ceviche and patacones at the Mercado de Mariscos, eaten at the counter with the regulars. The Cinta Costera offers an easy waterfront walk with the skyline on one side and the bay on the other. A short climb up Ancon Hill ends with the whole city spread out below, jungle included. The Biomuseo adds a burst of color and an hour of genuinely fascinating natural history. Evening belongs to a Casco rooftop: one good drink, warm air, the city lights coming on. If energy remains, the Amador Causeway at sunset is a gentle, beautiful way to close the day. Nothing here demands extremes; every experience sits comfortably within reach. It is a city that meets an open mind exactly halfway.
Places to love in Panama City
Miraflores Visitor Center
The Pacific-side visitor center is the clearest place to watch ships rise and fall through the Panama Canal locks, with viewing terraces and an IMAX film. The Panama Canal Authority lists non-resident adult admission at US$17.22; modernization work continues through late 2026, so allow extra time.
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Casco Viejo
Panama City’s UNESCO-listed historic quarter combines colonial churches, restored plazas, sea walls, cafés, rooftop bars, and layers of living neighborhood history. Walking the district is free; explore by day and return for dinner or sunset.
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Amador Causeway
This palm-lined road links four small islands at the canal entrance, with skyline views, cycling, restaurants, and access to the Biomuseo and Punta Culebra. The causeway itself is free; bike rentals and attractions cost extra.
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Maito Restaurante
Panama’s internationally acclaimed flagship restaurant explores the country’s Indigenous, Afro-Caribbean, Asian, and canal-zone influences through creative tasting and à-la-carte dishes. Reserve well ahead. Typical price tier: $$$$.
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Fonda Lo Que Hay
A celebrated Casco Viejo restaurant serving chef-driven Panamanian comfort food in a lively, unfussy room. Expect bold flavors and popular walk-in demand. Typical price tier: $$.
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Donde José
An intimate reservation-only tasting counter interprets Panamanian ingredients and regional stories through a focused multi-course menu. Typical price tier: $$$$.
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Panama Canal Museum
Set on Plaza de la Independencia, this museum explains the canal’s French and U.S. construction eras, labor history, sovereignty, and modern expansion. The museum’s official non-resident adult ticket is US$15.
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Biomuseo
Frank Gehry’s vividly colored museum connects the formation of the Panamanian isthmus with global biodiversity through immersive galleries. The official non-resident adult admission is US$20.
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Restaurante Makoto
A polished Japanese restaurant known for sushi, robata dishes, and a stylish rooftop terrace in Obarrio. Typical price tier: $$$.
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