Casco Viejo
The old quarter of Panama City, founded in the 1670s, with narrow streets, plazas, churches and restored colonial buildings. Cafes, rooftop bars and small museums fill the area.
Panama City
Modern towers stand next to the historic Casco Viejo quarter in this main gateway, which also has shopping, dining and nightlife.
Attractive locations
Panamá Viejo
The ruins of the original Panama City, founded in the 16th century and left behind after a pirate attack. A tower, stone walls and church remains stand beside the bay, with the modern skyline behind them.
Miraflores Locks
A working set of Panama Canal locks, where ships are raised and lowered between the Pacific and the inland lakes. A visitor centre and viewing decks let people watch large vessels pass through.
Ancon Hill
A green hill rising over the city, with a short road and path to the top. The summit has a large Panamanian flag and a clear view over the old quarter, the bay and the Canal entrance.
Biomuseo
A natural history museum designed by Frank Gehry, with a colourful, angular roof. Its galleries explain how the isthmus rose between two continents and what that meant for wildlife around the world.
Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama City
The main Catholic cathedral, facing a plaza in the old quarter, with twin towers and a white facade. Mother-of-pearl details decorate the towers, and the interior is open to quiet visitors outside services.
Metropolitan Natural Park
A tropical forest reserve inside the city, with short trails, chances to see birds and sloths, and lookouts over the skyline and the Pacific.
Airports
Tocumen International Airport PTY
It is about 20 km in a straight line from Panama City.
Marcos A. Gelabert International Airport PAC
It is about 2 km in a straight line from Panama City.
Panamá Pacífico International Airport BLB
It is about 9 km in a straight line from Panama City.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan26.6 °C20 mm
- Feb26.9 °C9 mm
- Mar27.5 °C18 mm
- Apr28.1 °C107 mm
- May27.8 °C245 mm
- Jun27.4 °C253 mm
- Jul27.2 °C204 mm
- Aug27.2 °C220 mm
- Sep27.1 °C245 mm
- Oct26.8 °C260 mm
- Nov26.7 °C248 mm
- Dec26.8 °C108 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: Jun, Oct, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 45% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
culture
Fiestas Patrias (November)
Parades accompany several national holidays that fall in November.
festival
Panama Carnival
Carnival runs four days, with Las Tablas a big centre of it.
culture
Fiestas Patrias (November)
Parades accompany several national holidays that fall in November.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Autoridad de Turismo de Panamá (ATP)
Helps with: Panama's national tourism authority. Its website lists a central phone line and email, plus regional offices and airport information centres, for tourism information.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Panama or planning a trip there.
Phone: +507 526-7000
Email: inversiones@atp.gob.pa
Address: Edificio BICSA, Financial Center, Piso 29, Ave. Balboa y Aquilino De La Guardia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Panama
Helps with: The UN migration agency. Its Panama office, in Ciudad del Saber, works on migration matters in Panama; its contact page lists a phone, email and address.
Who qualifies: Migrants and migration-related cases in Panama. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +507 305 3350
Email: iompanama@iom.int
Address: Calle Vicente Bonilla, Edificio 110, Ciudad del Saber, Clayton, 0819-00017 Panamá
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches police, ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 911
local government
Police emergency number 104
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 104
local government
Ambulance and fire emergency number 103
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance and fire services. UK government travel advice lists this number.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 103
ngo
Panamanian Red Cross
Helps with: The ICRC supports the society's humanitarian work, including family unity and restoring contact between family members. No contact details are given, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It describes the society as an auxiliary to the State, with volunteers.