Where to stay in Panama City — pick the right hotel, book in 3 clicks
Panama City is where gleaming glass skyscrapers stand shoulder to shoulder with a UNESCO-listed old town — a Dubai-style business skyline on one side, the cobblestoned colonial lanes of Casco Viejo with their rooftop bars and standout restaurants on the other. And of course there is the Panama Canal, where you can watch giant ships squeeze through the Miraflores Locks with inches to spare. This guide covers the real neighborhoods to stay in, what to see, what to eat, and how to get around.
Why stay in Panama City
See the Panama Canal up close
At the Miraflores Locks visitor center you can watch container ships ease through the locks with just inches to spare. There's a museum and an IMAX cinema on the canal's history — check the morning and afternoon transit windows before you go.
UNESCO old town of Casco Viejo
Cobblestone streets, pastel colonial facades, historic plazas and rooftop bars with bay views. It's the most walkable, safest and most atmospheric part of the city, with its best restaurants too.
A sleek modern skyline
Punta Pacifica and Avenida Balboa bristle with high-rises, big malls and world-class dining — easily the most modern cityscape in Central America.
Nature inside the city
The Metropolitan Natural Park is a tropical forest right in the capital, unique in Latin America. Hike Ancon Hill for skyline-and-canal views, or cycle the breezy Amador Causeway along the bay.
Pick an area first — where to stay in Panama City
Location is the single most important thing about a hotel — choose the right area first, then pick the hotel
Casco Viejo (Old Town)UNESCO heart of the city, rooftop bars, top restaurants, fully walkable — ideal for first-time visitors
Coming soonMarbella / Bella VistaCentral, near the Cinta Costera waterfront, major-brand hotels, dining and nightlife, easy to get around
Coming soonEl CangrejoMulticultural district packed with international restaurants, very walkable, good value, close to a Metro station
Coming soonPunta Pacifica / PaitillaUpscale Pacific-front area with high-rises, malls and an international hospital — very safe, great for families and business
Coming soonRanked reviews — find your ideal stay in Panama City
Start with where to stay (the heart of the trip), then explore food and sights
Find the right Panama City hotel for you
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Local dishes to try in Panama City
- 1🍲
Sancocho
Panama's hearty national chicken soup, simmered with yucca, corn and green plantain and seasoned with culantro. Served with white rice — locals swear by it as a hangover cure.
📍 National dish - 2🐟
Ceviche
Raw fish or shrimp cured in lime juice with onion and cilantro — bright and refreshing. Eat it fresh and cheap at the Mercado de Mariscos seafood market on the bay.
📍 Seaside classic - 3🥩
Ropa Vieja
Tender shredded beef stewed in a spiced tomato sauce — the name means 'old clothes.' Served with white rice and crispy patacones.
📍 Shredded beef in tomato - 4🍌
Patacones
Green plantains fried twice, smashed flat and crisped up. Eaten with salt, dipped in sauces or topped with chicken or avocado — they come with almost everything.
📍 The go-to side - 5🍗
Arroz con Pollo
Rice cooked down with chicken, vegetables and spices — a beloved family staple you'll find affordably at any local restaurant.
📍 Panamanian chicken rice - 6🍧
Raspao
Shaved ice drenched in colorful sweet syrups and condensed milk, sold from street carts — the classic way to beat the tropical heat in Panama.
📍 Shaved-ice cooler
- 1🛳️
Miraflores Locks (Panama Canal)
The canal's main visitor center, where you watch giant ships transit the locks at close range. Includes a museum, IMAX theater and a viewing deck — check the morning and afternoon transit schedule.
📍 Top must-see - 2🏛️
Casco Viejo (Old Town)
Colonial quarter of cobblestone streets, pastel buildings, old churches, plazas and rooftop bars with skyline views — lovely to wander day or night.
📍 UNESCO World Heritage - 3🎨
Biomuseo
A biodiversity museum designed by Frank Gehry, with boldly colored roofs on the Amador Causeway, telling the story of how Panama's isthmus joined two continents.
📍 Frank Gehry architecture - 4🚲
Amador Causeway
A breezy palm-lined road linking small islands at the mouth of the bay — perfect for walking or cycling, with skyline and Bridge of the Americas views at sunset.
📍 Bayside cycling - 5🏚️
Panama Viejo (Old Panama)
Ruins of the original Panama City, sacked and burned by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. The stone cathedral tower still stands — another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
📍 Ancient ruins - 6⛰️
Ancon Hill (Cerro Ancón)
A 199m hill in the heart of the city. Hike up through forest where sloths and toucans live to a panorama from the old town to the skyline and canal entrance.
📍 City viewpoint - 7🌿
Metropolitan Natural Park
A 232-hectare forest reserve in the heart of the capital — the only one of its kind in Latin America — with trails for spotting birds, monkeys and reptiles.
📍 Forest in the city - 8🦐
Mercado de Mariscos (Seafood Market)
The bayside fish market near Casco Viejo and the best, cheapest spot for fresh ceviche in town. Come before noon for the freshest catch.
📍 Freshest ceviche
Things to do in Panama City
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Panama City — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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3 Panama City hotels our team picked for you
Selected from real reviews — one per budget tier, each with a score and instant 3-site price comparison
★ 9.4LuxurySofitel Legend Casco Viejo
#1 luxury · the first 5-star in Casco Viejo
★ 9.3Upper-midLas Clementinas Hotel
#8 boutique stay · heart of the old town
★ 9.1LuxuryThe Bristol Panama, a Registry Collection Hotel
#3 homegrown boutique · heart of Marbella CBD
โรงแรมแนะนำทั้งหมดในPanama City
ครบทุกระดับงบ — คัดจากคะแนนรีวิวจริง พร้อมเทียบราคา 3 เว็บ
JW Marriott Panama
#5 sail-shaped tower · Punta Pacifica bay view
Hyatt Place Panama City/Downtown
#9 best value for business travelers · on Vía Brasil
InterContinental Miramar Panama by IHG
#6 bay views · twin towers on Avenida Balboa
Haven't found the one? Search all 3 sites yourself
Compare real-time room availability for your Panama City dates
🚆 Getting around Panama City
Tocumen Airport (PTY)
The main international airport sits about 15km east of downtown and is Copa Airlines' hub. Reach the city by Uber/taxi or via Metro Line 2 (Aeropuerto station).
Two-line Metro
Panama City has a clean, fast metro — Line 1 (north-south) and Line 2 (to the airport). A single ride is around $0.35 and skips the traffic.
Rapi-Pass card
Buy a Rapi-Pass card for about $2 at any station, top it up, and use it on both the Metro and MetroBus buses. Keep cash handy to reload.
Uber is easiest for visitors
Uber works well here with clear fares — generally safer and cheaper than yellow taxis, with no haggling. Handy for evenings or spots the Metro doesn't reach.
Pay in US Dollars
Panama uses the US dollar as legal tender alongside the Balboa, pegged 1:1. Banknotes are US dollars while coins mix both. Bring small bills for convenience.
Where to go next near Panama City
Bocas del ToroA complete guide to Bocas del Toro, Panama — a clear-water Caribbean archipelago of overwater bungalows, coral reefs, surf breaks and chilled floating bars, with where to stay, what to see, what to eat and how to get around.
See this city's guide →
BoqueteA cool highland town in Chiriquí — world-class Geisha coffee, Volcán Barú hikes, natural hot springs, and cloud-forest birding.
See this city's guide →Frequently asked — where to stay in Panama City
Which neighborhood should I stay in?+
For a first visit, Casco Viejo is hard to beat — the walkable UNESCO old town with the best restaurants and rooftop bars. For a central base near the malls, choose Marbella/Bella Vista. For upscale, safe high-rise living go for Punta Pacifica, and for budget-friendly international dining pick El Cangrejo.
What currency does Panama City use?+
Mainly the US dollar (USD), alongside the Balboa, pegged at a fixed 1 Balboa = 1 US dollar. Banknotes are US dollars while coins can be either — they're used interchangeably. Bring small bills and a little cash.
Where's the best place to see the Panama Canal?+
The most popular spot is the Miraflores Locks, with a viewing deck, museum and IMAX cinema where you watch ships transit up close. Check the transit schedule (there are morning and afternoon windows) before you go so you actually catch a ship passing.
Ready to book your Panama City stay?
Start with the 3 hotels our team picked, or search all 3 sites — always compare before booking