Panama City Travelers Recommend

Panama City serves as a gateway to a tropical paradise, and with three days to spend in the city, you’ll have time to walk the historic streets, float the famous canal, and spend some time exploring the beaches, rain forests, or indigenous villages of the surrounding countryside. Here are some ideas on how to spend the ultimate three days in Panama City.

Day 1: City Highlights

Get your bearings in the Panamanian capital with a sightseeing tour of the city’s highlights. Stretch your legs on a walking tour of Casco Viejo (Old Town), or zip around the city on an electric bike or by car to cover even more ground in a short amount of time. Alternately, climb aboard the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus to tour the city’s star landmarks at your own pace. After lunch, dive deeper into your interests with a museum tour, food tour, or a visit to a local chocolate factory. Once the sun sets, grab a seat at a folkloric show for an evening of live music and dancing drawing on Panama’s rich cultural influences. Many of these shows include a buffet dinner of traditional Panamanian favorites.

Day 2: Canal Cruise

The Panama Canal ranks as one of the world’s top modern marvels of engineering and one of Panama’s top attractions. With a full day, you can sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific through the three sets of double locks and Gatún Lake in the middle. Stop at the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center along the way to learn more about the history and mechanics of this engineering feat before crossing. Depending on the tour, you may visit Monkey Island, enjoy a picnic lunch near Gatún Dam, or explore San Lorenzo National Park with its fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To polish off your day at the canal, sit down for dinner at the International Miraflores Restaurant overlooking the canal. Book a balcony table so you can watch as boats pass through the locks while you dine.

Day 3: Islands and Rain Forests

While Panama City offers plenty to do, it would be a shame not to explore the natural beauty of the country on a day trip from Panama City. Beach lovers can spend the day island hopping among the sun-kissed San Blas Islands on Panama’s Caribbean coast. A typical tour might include the chance to snorkel, kayak, swim, or simply relax on the white-sand beaches. Alternatively, head inland to explore the rain forest for the chance to spot sloths, monkeys, and anteaters amid the thick foliage, or take a tour to the indigenous village of Emberá to learn more about the day-to-day lives of the country’s original inhabitants. Once back in the city, celebrate your final night with a bar-hopping tour through the Casco Viejo historic district to get a feel for the local nightlife. Visit some of the neighborhood’s best bars and clubs with a local guide who knows all the hot spots.

With two days to spend in Panama City, you’ll have time to take in the old streets of Casco Viejo and the modern skyscrapers of the new city, sail through the iconic Panama Canal, and dig a bit deeper into the local food and arts scene. Read on to learn more about how to make the most of 48 hours in Panama City.

Day 1: City Sights

**Morning:**Get your bearings in the morning with a sightseeing tour of Panama City. Hit the pavement on a walking tour of the charming and historic Casco Viejo or opt for a city driving tour to see the highlights, old and new. Travelers who’d rather explore at their own pace can climb aboard the double-decker hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus for a fully customizable tour of the capital. 

**Afternoon:**Now that you have an idea of what Panama City has to offer, take this afternoon to dig a bit deeper into your personal interests. History buffs can spend this time touring some of the city’s top museums, including the Interoceanic Canal Museum, Museum of History, and Museum of Biodiversity, on a museum tour, while foodies might want to take a food tour of Casco Viejo or pay a visit to a local chocolate factory.

**Night:**This evening is all about enjoying Panama City’s stellar nightlife, and you have several options. Go barhopping on foot through Casco Viejo—most tours include a welcome drink at each stop—or pedal your way through the city on a moving bar with a group of friends or family.   

Day 2: Panama Canal

**Morning:**No trip to Panama would be complete without a visit to the Panama Canal. While there are many ways to explore this marvel of engineering, the best is to get right in the middle of it on a transit tour through the locks. Traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific through the Panama Canal takes an entire day, but it’s possible to travel through two sets of locks in as little as half a day, leaving the afternoon free to explore the surrounding area. 

**Afternoon:**If you opt for a partial transit through the canal, you can spend the afternoon exploring the area in greater depth. A popular option is an eco-cruise on Gatun Lake, where it’s possible to spot capuchin, howler, and tamarin monkeys on the shores of aptly named Monkey Island.

**Night:**After a full day of sightseeing, spend your last evening in Panama City enjoying music, dancing, and local cuisine during a folkloric show and dinner. Many shows include live music with influences from Spanish, Caribbean, and indigenous cultures, intricate handwoven costumes, traditional folk dances, and a dinner of traditional Panamanian favorites. 

At once steeped in history and remarkably cosmopolitan, Panama City is a dynamic destination in its own right, as well as a gateway to the abundant tropical wonders of Panama. If you only have one day to spend in this Central American metropolis, here are some tips on how to make the most of your time.

Morning: Panama Canal

A trip to Panama wouldn’t be complete without seeing the engineering marvel known as the Panama Canal. During a half-day tour, head to thee Miraflores Locks to watch ships being raised and lowered en route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Most tours include time to browse the exhibits at the Miraflores Visitors Center to learn more about the locks and how they work. For a truly unique experience, spend your morning fishing on Gatun Lake in the Panama Canal Zone; you’ll be able to see two sets of locks and possibly catch tarpon, snook, or peacock bass.

Afternoon: Casco Viejo

Spend your afternoon exploring one of Panama City’s most charming neighborhoods, Casco Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a walking tour to see landmarks such as the National Theater, Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Herons’ Palace (Palacio de las Garzas), and the Metropolitan Cathedral, or climb aboard the open-top hop-on hop-off bus to explore the city’s highlights at your own pace. For a hassle-free day, opt for a tour that combines a morning visit to the canal with an afternoon of sightseeing. 

Night: Folklore

Wrap up your day in the Panamanian capital with an evening of local culture and cuisine at a folkloric show and dinner. Panama is a land of diverse cultures and influences from Spain to the Caribbean—a diversity that’s evident in the music, instruments, and handwoven costumes on display. If you’d rather let loose, head out on a barhopping tour to some of the city’s best bars and clubs, complete with a welcome drink at each stop.