Panama, the divider between North America and South America, is a convenient destination for travelers across all of the Americas. It’s also one of the safest countries in Central America.
Its capital, Panama City, always has a lot going on. This is to no surprise once you get a glimpse of the city’s Miami-like skyline of 73 oceanfront skyscrapers.
But what is Panama City like? Is it worth visiting? And if so, for how many days before moving onto other parts of Panama or a neighboring country?
If you’re looking into visiting Panama City, you should know what you’re getting into beforehand—both the good and the not-as-good.
Pro No. 1: Old Town Panama City
The Old Town neighborhood (‘Casco Viejo’) is without a doubt the best to visit in Panama City.
This district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is perched right on the water and is one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in all of Central America. With 17th century Spanish colonial and neoclassical architecture, plus walkable, narrow streets and fantastic nightlife, Casco Viejo is can’t-miss if you’re visiting the country of Panama. It has the best nightlife in Panama City, great cafes for a morning hangout, and waterfront areas to relax and take in the views.
While here, I stayed at Selina Casco Viejo Hostel. If you like nightlife, this is the best place to stay. However, it can get loud, so while they do provide earplugs, I would recommend visiting during the week rather than the weekend to avoid the noise if you like a calmer environment.
Con No. 1: Humidity and Unpredictable Weather During Rainy Season
No matter what time of year you visit, it’s going to be very humid in Panama, though this is no different from the rest of Central America.
In the dry season from December to March, the humidity won’t be quite as unbearable, so that’s a great time to visit Panama. But regardless of what month you’re there, expect to sweat.
Thunderstorms are frequent the rest of the year. You should expect it to rain essentially every day outside of dry season, which can be very frustrating for planning purposes as a sunny day will turn into a torrential downpour in 10 minutes. The good news is that these storms typically don’t last long, and the majority of days have extended periods of sun.
Don’t let the wet, humid weather deter you from visiting Panama, just make sure to always have an umbrella on you and be prepared for not-so-comfortable weather from early afternoon to early evening.
Pro No. 2: Panama Canal Adventures
Yes, it’s the most “touristy” activity, but taking a boat ride on the Panama Canal is a liberating experience.
Most Panama Canal boat tours launch about 30 minutes from Panama City center. Many operators will pick you up from your hotel, hostel or AirBnB.
If you’ve chosen a tour with a monkey experience (highly recommend), your boat will continue from the canal into Gatun Lake, which is dotted with islands home to four different species of monkeys: the Mantled Howler Monkey, the White-Faced Capuchin Monkey, Geoffroy’s Tamarin Monkey, and the Lemurine Owl Monkey.
These islands are where you’ll boat up close enough for these monkeys to hop aboard and onto your lap! They’re used to visitors feeding them bananas and nuts (which your tour guide will provide) so they’re very friendly and harmless.
The best part of the canal and monkey tours is that you get the complete, fulfilling experience in only a few hours, thus not taking up your entire day. But rest assured you’ll get your money’s worth! This experience alone is part of what makes Panama worth visiting.
Tip: Viator offers some great Panama Canal + Monkey Isle tours!
Con No. 2: Loss of Cultural Identity
While Old Town gives a taste of classic Panamanian culture, the same unfortunately can’t be said for much of the rest of Panama City.
You might be shocked to find out Panama City has 73 skyscrapers, 16th-most in the world and 3rd-most in the Americas, only behind New York City and Chicago. Think Miami, but on an even grander scale.
While it’s unique and makes for picturesque backgrounds, it felt like a façade in that it’s not what Panamanian culture is really about. If you want to get a feel of historic Panama, I suggest making a stop to another smaller city or town on your trip, such as Boquete.
Pro No. 3: Metropolitan Natural Park
Metropolitan Natural Park is a 573-acre wildlife refuge right on the doorstep of the center of Panama City. It’s a perfect activity if you’re looking to experience the wilderness of the Panamanian jungle right on the doorstep of the city itself.
The hiking is fantastic given it’s in such a large urban area, with a 3-mile (5 km) trail that weaves throughout the park, eventually leading visitors atop a hill with a superb view of the city. I felt like I was in the heart of the jungle rather than a city with nearly 2 million people!
There’s a good chance you’ll spot exotic animals such as sloths, anteaters, and monkey species like marmosets and Geoffroy’s tamarin during your walk. This park is home to 284 types of trees and protects 245 species of birds, 45 species of mammals, 36 species of reptiles and 14 species of amphibians.
Not many tourists come here as it’s removed from the city center, but it’s definitely worth visiting when you’re in Panama City.
Con No. 3: Bugs
With the humidity and dampness brings mosquitos, which are absolutely ruthless especially if you’re walking through the park or near the canal. Dousing yourself in bug spray is a must on rainy days and evenings.
Because of this, most Panamanians wear long sleeve shirts and jeans, despite the hot weather. It really protects from bug bites. If you’re visiting, feel free to wear T-shirts and shorts for comfortability, but just beware that you’ll stick out as a non-local and the bugs may get you!
Pro No. 4: Ease of Transportation
As mentioned, Uber and Lyft are fantastic in Panama City. There are many drivers available and you’ll never have to pay more than $10 – in fact, a few of our Uber rides were less than $5!
Cabs are plentiful, too.
If you really want to blend in with Panamanian people, you can take public transportation, which is pretty reliable and obviously cheap. The Metro bus system runs 24 hours a day and is available for 35 cents per ride. There are also regular buses that run out of the city to other areas. While some streets have a pothole problem, highways are modern and well-paved and navigating is pretty easy if you, or someone you’re with, can speak or read a bit of Spanish.
Overall transportation in Panama City is some of the best in Central America.
Con No. 4: Infrastructure
As mentioned, there are plentiful skyscrapers in Panama City, but I’d guess the material they’re built with is not the best.
The more pressing problem is that in certain parts of town, only a couple blocks will separate those towering new modern skyscrapers from entirely run-down buildings and housing, much of which looks like the building is falling apart completely. Additionally, the sidewalks are often uneven and in desperate need of repair, and roads (aside from the highways) are littered with potholes.
While there’s fortunately clean drinking water in Panama, frequent power outages will cause operations to temporarily shut down, and it could make for brutal nights if you’re trying to sleep with no working air conditioning.
Pro No. 5: Cost
Ubers and Lyfts are very reliable across Panama City, and for an incredibly reasonable price. My Uber from the airport to Old Town – about 12 miles – was less than $10!
You can find fairly expensive clubs, bars, or cafes, mostly in Old Town, where lattes are $5 and cocktails $10, but it’s pretty easy to find places to eat or drink for half the price you would in much of North America, Asia, or Europe. Just make sure you’re aware of your surroundings and you know the reputation of the neighborhood you’re in/headed. While crime isn’t a huge problem in Panama City, it definitely exists, and you’ll likely encounter people looking to take advantage of foreigners.
Is Panama City, Panama Worth Visiting?
Yes, Panama City, Panama is worth visiting if you’re planning on staying for 2 to 3 full days. There are some really cool things to do in Panama, such as exploring Old Town, the Metropolitan National Park, and boating on the Panama Canal.
But it’s not somewhere you need to spend your entire holiday for a week-long trip. After a couple full days here in the capital, venture out into the jungle or a smaller Panamanian city or town to get a different experience.
Panama City, Panama 2-Day Itinerary
I had a fantastic time over the course of 36 hours in Panama City.
While Panama City is worth visiting, I did feel like I experienced most of what the city has to offer despite being there such a short amount of time.
A 2-day Panama City itinerary should include the following:
- One or two nights out exploring bars, restaurants, or clubs in Casco Viejo
- A morning walking the beautiful, cobblestone streets of Casco Viejo.
- A couple hours walking or jogging in the beautiful Parque de Caroline along the water.
- A half-day excursion of the Panama Canal and its monkey-filled islands.
- A half-day exploring the rest of the city, such as the El Cangrejo or San Fransisco neighborhoods.
