7 Best Things to Do in Panama City, Panama

Panama City is the capital of Panama and the heart of the country. From nature to man-made wonders, Panama City offers something for everyone! This post covers the 7 best things to do in Panama City, Panama.

1. Visit Panama Viejo

Panama Viejo or Old Panama is the original Panama City and the former capital of the country. This city was destroyed in 1671 by the privateer Henry Morgan. Today, you can still see remnants of the city and the ruins of some of the buildings. You need to purchase a ticket to visit which can be bought at the gate.

2. Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is known by many names including Casco Antiguo and San Felipe. It is the historic district of Panama City. This area was built following the near-total destruction of the original Panama city, Panama Viejo. Today, Casco Viejo is a colorful and vibrant corner of Panama City. The area is very walkable and has so many awesome resturants, places to stay and places of interest and historic significance. In fact, this is a great area to use as a base while in Panama City.

Check out my post on things to see and do in Casco Viejo HERE

3. Visit the Panama Canal

No visit to Panama City is complete without a visit to the Panama Canal. It was really one of the most fascinating mechanisms I have ever seen. I was lucky to see a massive cruise ship navigate the locks (which I thought was more interesting than a cargo ship). I visited the Agua Clara locks on the Atlantic side. The Miraflores locks however, are the closest to Panama City (on the Pacific).

Check out opening times HERE

4. Gamboa Rainforest

Located just 45 minutes from Panama City, the Gamboa rainforest is home to a massive range of birds and wildlife. You can tour the rainforest in different ways. You can take a boat or kayak tour along the Chagres river or a night safari. You can also take an aerial tram, which is a 600 meter-long tram that rises above the rainforest giving you a different perspective over the rainforest.

5. Visit Monkey Island

See a wide variety of different monkeys at Monkey Island. These monkeys are so tame, they will come right inside the boat for food!

6. Climb Ancon Hill

Enjoy panoramic views of Panama City from Ancon hill. It’s a 30-minute walk to get to the summit of the hill. You may even be able to see sloths, deer, armadillos, toucans, butterflies on the hill.

7. Day Trip to San Blas

If you are only visiting Panama City on your trip to the country, I highly recommend spending one day at San Blas. San Blas is a remote area of Panama that consists of several small islands. It’s truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited!

See HERE for my detailed post on San Blas Islands!

Tours

Like the idea of exploring Panama City with a tour? Check out these great options below!

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