What to Do in Panama City, Panama: Our Top Picks

We’ve visited Panama City many times and loved mixing the history of the old town and the canal with spa time and fancy rooftop pools and drinks with views. Here are our top picks for what to do in Panama City, Panama, plus the best 3-day itinerary and the two tours at the top of our list for next time.

This is not sponsored. We just love to share our experiences when they work out so well, so you can enjoy them too. Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no additional cost to you.

👉 Flying Copa? Read our Copa Airlines business class review, including how to add a free Panama stopover.

What to Do in Panama City, Panama: Planning Your Visit

Three days in Panama City is enough time to see Casco Viejo, the canal, and a few rooftop bars, with plenty of time to relax. A week gives you time for some day trips or a couple of nights at the beach. We use Uber for everything in Panama City, and rides around town usually cost us $5 to $12, so you don’t need a rental car. We’ve visited in February and April and love both times of year. December through April is the dry season, which is the easiest time to plan a lot of walking and time outdoors, and makes a great escape from the US and Canada during the colder months.

Planning Tip: Panama City is hot and humid all year, so plan your walking for the morning or late afternoon and save the middle of the day for the pool or the spa.

Wander Casco Viejo, Panama City’s Old Town

Casco Viejo is the colonial old town on a small peninsula, with plazas, churches, shops, and plenty of rooftop bars. It’s the most walkable part of Panama City. We took a 10-minute, $5 Uber from our Airbnb on Avenida Balboa, spent half a day exploring, and stayed for sunset drinks.

If you want some history with your wandering, add a walking tour. Walking tours in Casco Viejo range from about $50 per couple for a group tour to $200 for a private tour. If you’re looking for a guided, private experience in Panama, we highly recommend WithLocals.

Best Restaurants and Rooftop Bars in Panama City, Panama

Our dinners in Panama City ranged from $30 to $150 for the two of us, and these were our favorites:

Fonda Lo Que Hay: Try the local dishes at this Casco Viejo restaurant, like the fried chicken.
Sama Sky Lounge: This rooftop in Casco Viejo is our favorite spot for an espresso martini with a view at sunset.
Azahar: This restaurant is our pick for an upscale sushi dinner.
Blue Bar at the Hilton Panama: The lobby bar is a great spot for a burger and a drink after a long day.

Budget Tip: Our $265 sushi dinner in our Airbnb building was our biggest bill of the week. We balanced it out with about $300 in groceries from Foodie, the high-end market in the same building, and ate a lot of breakfasts and easy dinners in.

Watch Ships Cross the Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks

The Miraflores Locks are the easiest way to see the Panama Canal from the city. We paid about $12 for a round-trip Uber and $14 per person for entry to the canal museum, or about $40 for the two of us. We paid our Uber driver to wait for us, which made the trip back easy. Try to time your visit for when a ship is passing through the locks. It’s pretty cool!

Pro Tip: Go in the morning, then head back to your hotel for a slow afternoon by the pool.

Walk the Cinta Costera to Mercado de Mariscos

We love getting our steps in, so we walked from Avenida Balboa to Casco Viejo along the waterfront pedestrian path, called the Cinta Costera. It’s about two miles, and Mercado de Mariscos, Panama City’s fish market, is right on the way, by Casco Viejo. We walked through the market on our way to the old town, and it’s one of our favorite stops in the city.

Look for the adorable raccoons hunting for crabs in the rocks along the walkway. They’re like a cross between a cat, a monkey, and a raccoon, and we loved watching them.

Pro Tip: The walk can be hot and feel longer than you might think, so bring water and wear a hat and sunscreen. If you’re short on time or energy, take a $5 Uber back.

Book a Spa Day at the Hilton Panama

The Hilton Panama has an excellent and affordable spa with services available to non-guests. We booked a couples massage that came with spa access, bubbly, and a fruit and cheese platter, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Our whole spa day, including a $28 pizza dinner, came to $275 for the two of us, which is a lot less than a similar spa day in Miami, where we used to live.

You can also buy a Hilton Panama pool day pass on ResortPass for $65. The pool was crowded when we were there, so the spa and lobby bar were our favorite parts of the hotel. But the pool would be nice on a sunny day with fewer people.

Spend a Night or Two at a Beach Resort Near Panama City

We ended one trip with two nights at Dreams Playa Bonita Panama, an all-inclusive resort about an hour to 90 minutes from the airport, depending on traffic. We booked it with 40,000 Chase points transferred to Hyatt, which covered all our food and drinks for two people. Tips are extra, so bring some cash. We loved the pools and spa, and the food and service exceeded our expectations.

Just to set your expectations, Playa Bonita isn’t the greatest beach and doesn’t have white sand. It’s still a lot of fun if you want to unwind on the first or last night of your trip. If you don’t want to stay overnight, you can get a Dreams Playa Bonita day pass or a Westin Playa Bonita day pass through ResortPass for $89 to $115, depending on the access you want.

Luxe-for-Less Tip: Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to World of Hyatt, and it’s hard to beat 20,000 points a night for an all-inclusive stay for two.

Best Day Trips From Panama City, Panama

Have Lunch at Gamboa Rainforest Resort

Gamboa Rainforest Resort is in the rainforest along the canal, and we had a peaceful jungle lunch there. There wasn’t much else for us to do after lunch, though.

Mistake to Avoid: We had trouble finding a ride back to the city from Gamboa. Arrange your return transportation in advance, or pay your driver to wait for you.

Tours at the Top of Our List for Next Time

We haven’t done these two tours yet, but they’re the first things we’re booking on our next trip to Panama City:

Catamaran cruise: Book a catamaran cruise for about $280 per couple, including transportation and tip.
Private jungle excursion: Book a private jungle excursion for about $175 per couple.

Budget Tip: Plan on $200 to $500 for tours and Ubers for a week. Budget $700 to $800 if you want private trips and upscale dinners.

3-Day Panama City Itinerary

This is how we’d spend three days in Panama City, and you can stretch it to a week with a day trip and a couple of nights at the beach.

Day 1: Casco Viejo and a Rooftop Sunset

Walk the Cinta Costera to Mercado de Mariscos in the morning or late afternoon, then explore Casco Viejo. Have espresso martinis at Sama Sky Lounge for sunset and dinner at Fonda Lo Que Hay.

Day 2: The Panama Canal and a Slow Afternoon

Visit the Miraflores Locks in the morning, then spend the afternoon at the pool or book a massage at the Hilton Panama. Grab a burger at Blue Bar or plan an upscale sushi dinner at Azahar.

Day 3: A Jungle or Boat Day Trip

Have lunch at Gamboa Rainforest Resort, or book a catamaran cruise or a private jungle tour. Plan your ride back before you leave the city.

Have Two More Nights? Add Dreams Playa Bonita

End your trip with two nights at Dreams Playa Bonita Panama to relax by the pool before your flight home.

Where to Stay in Panama City

We stayed for a week at Yoo Panama, an apartment building on Avenida Balboa, and paid $1,000 for seven nights. It’s one of our favorite Airbnbs ever, with water views, a pool, a gym, restaurants, and the Foodie market in the building. For a night or two, we book the Hilton Panama right next door. Casco Viejo is best if you want to walk to restaurants and rooftop bars, and El Cangrejo is the most affordable and local area.

How Much Does a Trip to Panama City Cost?

We flew Copa business class nonstop from DC for $700 to $900 per person, and economy from the US can be under $300 if you book early or catch a sale. We use Google Flights price alerts to track fares.

Luxe for less: About $4,000 per couple for a week, with a good flight deal, a spa day, an Airbnb, nice dinners, and a few excursions.
Tighter budget: $2,500 to $3,000 per couple, with economy flights, no spa, and self-guided sightseeing in the same Airbnb.
All out: About $5,000 per couple, with business class, dinners out every night, private tours, and a full spa day.

Is Panama City Safe?

The US State Department rates Panama Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution because of crime. The Level 4 areas are remote parts of the Darién Region and the Mosquito Gulf, far from the places in this guide. We’ve always felt comfortable in Panama City during the day and at night.

Pro Tip: Use Uber instead of hailing taxis, especially after dark. Don’t flash valuables, and carry only the cash you need for the day.

What to Do in Panama City, Panama, at a Glance

Best neighborhood to explore: Casco Viejo
Best rooftop bar: Sama Sky Lounge
Best casual dinner: Fonda Lo Que Hay
Best sightseeing: The Panama Canal at the Miraflores Locks, about $40 for two with Uber
Best free activity: Walking the Cinta Costera to Mercado de Mariscos
Best spa: Hilton Panama
Best beach resort on points: Dreams Playa Bonita Panama
Where we stayed: Yoo Panama for a week, and the Hilton Panama for a night or two
How many days: Three for the city, or a week with day trips and the beach
Best time to visit: December through April

Tantalo is a fun boutique in Casco Viejo, Panama City

What to Do in Panama City, Panama: FAQs

How Many Days Do You Need in Panama City?

Three days is enough to see Casco Viejo, the canal, and a few rooftop bars, with time to relax. With a week, you can add a day trip and a couple of nights at a beach resort like Dreams Playa Bonita Panama.

Is There Uber in Panama City?

Yes. Uber is widely available in Panama City, and rides usually cost $5 to $12, including to the airport and the canal. We use Uber for everything and never needed a rental car.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Panama City?

December through April is the dry season and the easiest time to visit. We’ve been in February and April and loved both trips.

Are There Beaches in Panama City, Panama?

The closest beach we’ve been to is Playa Bonita, about an hour to 90 minutes from the airport. It isn’t white sand, but Dreams Playa Bonita Panama and The Westin Playa Bonita Panama are a fun way to start or end a trip, and both offer day passes.

Is Panama City Safe for Tourists?

Panama is rated Level 2 by the US State Department, and petty theft is the main concern in the city. We take the same precautions we would in any big city and use Uber after dark.

Have you been to Panama City? Tell us your favorite thing to do in the comments.