Top 11 Things to See and Do in Panama City

1. Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo, also called Casco Antiguo, is the city's historic district and, together with the ruins of Panamá Viejo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was founded in 1673 on a small peninsula after the original city was destroyed, and its streets now mix restored Spanish colonial and French-influenced buildings with others still waiting for renovation.
Highlights include Plaza de la Independencia and the Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza de Francia with its memorial to the French canal effort, and Iglesia de San José, home to an ornate golden altar. Local legend holds that it was painted over to hide it from the pirate Henry Morgan. On the main plaza, the Interoceanic Canal Museum covers the canal's history from the French attempt through the handover to Panama.
Casco Viejo is also the center of the city's dining scene, with restaurants, rooftop bars, and cafés serving Panamanian specialty coffee, including the country's well-known Geisha variety.
Good to know: The district is compact and best explored on foot, ideally with a local guide who can share the stories behind the buildings. Cobblestones, narrow sidewalks, and uneven curbs can be challenging for travelers with limited mobility.

2. The Panama Canal

No visit to Panama City is complete without seeing the canal. The Miraflores Visitor Center, a short drive from downtown, has a museum, a short film, and observation decks directly above the Miraflores Locks, where you can watch ships being raised and lowered at close range.
If you want to experience the canal from the water, day tours offer both partial transits and a full ocean-to-ocean transit without booking a multi-day cruise. For more on the canal's history and every way to experience it, see the Panama Canal guide.
Good to know: Ship traffic at the locks moves in waves, with quiet stretches in between. Check the day's transit schedule before visiting Miraflores so you arrive while vessels are passing through.

3. Biomuseo

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Biomuseo is hard to miss, with its brightly colored, angular roof near the start of the Amador Causeway. Inside, the exhibits tell the story of how the Isthmus of Panama rose from the sea millions of years ago, connecting two continents, separating two oceans, and reshaping the movement of plants and animals across the Americas. It provides useful context for everything else you'll see in Panama.
Good to know: The museum's outdoor botanical park and its views of the canal entrance and skyline are worth a few extra minutes. A visit pairs naturally with the Amador Causeway.

4. Amador Causeway and Punta Culebra Nature Center

The Amador Causeway stretches from the mainland out to three small islands, built with rock excavated during the construction of the canal. It offers some of the best views in the city, with the skyline on one side and ships lining up to enter the canal on the other. You can walk, rent a bike, or stop at one of the restaurants along the way.
Near the end of the causeway, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute runs the Punta Culebra Nature Center, an open-air science center with marine touch tanks, a short trail through one of the area's few remaining patches of tropical dry forest, and exhibits on amphibian conservation. Sloths and iguanas are common sightings.
Good to know: Punta Culebra's public hours change seasonally and are limited on some weekdays, so confirm before you go.

5. Panamá Viejo

Founded in 1519, Panamá Viejo was the first European city on the Pacific coast of the Americas and a key hub for Spanish treasure moving between South America and Spain. After Henry Morgan's attack in 1671, the city burned and was abandoned, and residents rebuilt at what is now Casco Viejo. Today you can walk among the stone ruins, visit the site museum, and climb the restored cathedral tower for views of the old city and the modern skyline.
Good to know: The site is spread out and has little shade, so bring sun protection and water. A guide brings the ruins to life, since much of the city's story isn't obvious from the stones alone.

6. Cinta Costera

The Cinta Costera is a waterfront park running along the bay, with walking and cycling paths, green space, and wide views of the skyline and the Pacific. An extension loops over the water around Casco Viejo, making it an easy and scenic way to walk between the historic district and the modern city.
Good to know: Early morning and sunset are the most comfortable and atmospheric times, when locals are out walking, jogging, and exercising.

7. Ancon Hill

Ancon Hill is the highest point in Panama City and a protected nature reserve. A paved road climbs through forest to a summit topped by a giant Panamanian flag, with views across Casco Viejo, the skyline, the Bridge of the Americas, and the canal entrance. Along the way, watch for sloths, coatis, Geoffroy's tamarins, and toucans.
Good to know: Go early to beat the heat. The climb is moderate and suitable for most fitness levels. Bikes, skates, and scooters are not permitted, and single-use plastics are banned in Panama's protected areas, so bring a reusable water bottle.

8. Metropolitan Natural Park

Metropolitan Natural Park protects a large area of tropical forest within the city limits, making it one of the easiest places in Panama to see rainforest wildlife without leaving town. Trails range from easy walks to steeper climbs, and a lookout point offers views over the forest canopy to the skyline beyond. Birders will find a long list of species, and monkeys, sloths, and agoutis are regularly spotted.
Good to know: Early morning is the best time for wildlife and cooler temperatures. Bring binoculars and comfortable walking shoes.

9. Mercado de Mariscos

Panama City's seafood market sits on the waterfront just outside Casco Viejo. Downstairs, vendors sell the day's catch, from corvina and snapper to shrimp, octopus, and lobster. Outside and upstairs, small restaurants and stalls serve Panamanian ceviche and fried fish in a lively, casual setting.
Good to know: A cup of ceviche is the classic, inexpensive order. Restaurant staff often compete for your business, so take a look around before choosing, and confirm prices before ordering larger dishes like lobster.

10. Soberanía National Park and Gamboa

Just outside the city along the eastern bank of the canal, Soberanía National Park is one of the most accessible rainforests in Central America. Pipeline Road, which runs through the park, is known worldwide as one of the best birding trails in the Neotropics, with toucans, trogons, motmots, and antbirds among the regulars. The nearby town of Gamboa, a former Canal Zone community, is a base for rainforest lodges and boat trips on Gatun Lake.
Good to know: A naturalist guide makes a big difference here, both for spotting wildlife and for understanding what you're seeing. Plan on at least half a day, or stay overnight in Gamboa to be on the trails at first light.

11. Emberá Community Visit