Panama City is where old-world intrigue meets modern skyline—a capital born in 1519, sacked by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671, and rebuilt in the elegant Casco Antiguo (1673). Today, it’s a gateway between oceans and cultures, with the Panama Canal as its beating industrial heart.

Come for the engineering marvels at Miraflores Locks and stay for the cobblestone charisma of Casco Viejo: plazas shaded by bougainvillea, pastel facades, and rooftop terraces staring down a glittering bay. Between bay breezes on the Cinta Costera and howler monkeys on Gatun Lake, you’ll taste the tropics with a city-slick sheen.

Practical notes: The local currency is the Balboa (pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar; USD cash is widely used). Dry season runs roughly December–April; expect brief showers other months. Uber and official yellow taxis are common; at night, stick to well-trafficked areas in Casco and the banking district and avoid poorly lit zones.

Panama City

Panama City is a study in contrasts: glass towers in Punta Pacifica, seafood stalls by the fish market, and colonial churches in Casco Viejo. The city’s seaside promenade, the Cinta Costera, frames the bay in a ribbon of palms—ideal for a jetlag shakeout stroll or sunset run.

Top highlights include the Panama Canal at Miraflores, the UNESCO-listed Casco Viejo, Amador Causeway with skyline views, and wildlife-packed Gatun Lake. Food-wise, find soul-warming sancocho at neighborhood fondas, modern Panamanian tasting menus, and ceviche at the lively fish market.

• Where to stay: For boutique character in Casco, consider Hotel Casa Panamá. For refined service in the banking district, The Bristol Panama excels. Families and shoppers like the Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall for space and easy Metro access.
• Bookable stays:
  • The Bristol Panama: Check availability
  • Hotel Casa Panamá: Check availability
  • Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall Hotel & Convention Center: Check availability
  • Browse more hotels on Hotels.com: Panama City stays
  • Browse apartments/villas on VRBO: Panama City vacation rentals
• Getting there: Tocumen International (PTY) is the main hub. From Miami, ~3 hours; from NYC, ~5 hours; from Mexico City, ~3 hours. Compare fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical roundtrips from the U.S. run ~$300–$800 depending on season.
• Airport transfer: Uber/taxi to Casco or downtown takes 25–35 minutes in light traffic (~$12–$25). Allow 2–3 hours at PTY for international departures.

Day 1: Arrival, Bayside Stroll, Rooftops, and Night Spin

Morning: In transit to Panama. If you’re still shopping flights, compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com, then line up an Uber from PTY on arrival.

Afternoon: Check into your hotel and head for a leg-stretch on the Cinta Costera. Pause at the Mercado de Mariscos for a cold cup of corvina ceviche and patacones; order upstairs for table service or at the outdoor stalls for quick bites. Coffee pick-me-up: Café Unido (Casco Viejo) for Panamanian Geisha by pour-over, or Kotowa for a creamy flat white.

Evening: Start with dinner in Casco Viejo. Try Fonda Lo Que Hay (inventive Panamanian small plates—think yuca carimañolas and octopus with chombo chili), Santa Rita (Spanish-Panamanian classics; great for paellas and croquettes), or Nazca 21 on Plaza Bolívar (Peruvian tiraditos, lomo saltado). For a fun, photogenic city orientation, book this award-winning night spin:

The City Safari: 2 Hour Private Classic Car Tour — cruise between the modern skyline and Casco’s colonial streets in a vintage ride. Reserve on Viator

Cap the night with skyline views at Tántalo Rooftop (DJ sets, tropical cocktails) or glamorous CasaCasco. Rum lovers, slip into Pedro Mandinga for a raspadura old-fashioned with Panamanian cane sugar.

Day 2: The Panama Canal, Gatun Lake Wildlife, and City Flavors

Today is all about the world’s most famous shortcut between oceans: locks, jungle, and a boat ride on the canal’s inland lake. This one tour efficiently combines it all and frees your afternoon for a nap or another viewpoint.

Featured full-day experience: Panama Canal with entrance included and Gatun Lake Boat Tour — a guided day covering the Miraflores Visitors Center (to watch ships rise in the locks) and a wildlife cruise on Gatun Lake near Gamboa to spot capuchin and howler monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, and herons. Expect hotel pickup around 7:30–8:00 a.m. and return early-to-mid afternoon; bring sunscreen, a hat, and a light rain layer. Typical duration ~6–7 hours.

Book on Viator

Evening: Celebrate canal day with a standout dinner. For modern Panamanian tasting menus and wood-fired flavors, try Maito (book ahead) or the intimate chef-driven Íntimo in Bella Vista. If you want traditional fare, El Trapiche serves sancocho, ropa vieja, and hojaldres. Nightcaps: La Rana Dorada brewpub for a local pale ale, or live jazz at the American Trade Hotel’s club when shows are on—check the schedule.

Day 3: Casco Viejo Legends, Brunch, and the Causeway (Departure Day)

Morning: Ease into the day with breakfast in Casco. Mahalo Cocina y Jardín plates breezy brunches (try the tropical smoothie bowls and arepas), while Café Unido offers single-origin coffees and guava pastries. Then join a locally led walk that unpacks the district’s stories and symbols:

Legends of Casco Viejo Tour: Uncover Hidden Gems — a relaxed, story-rich stroll through plazas, churches, and alleyways, ideal for photos and context before you shop for handicrafts. Book on Viator

Post-tour, cool off with artisan ice cream at Granclement (maracuyá and pistachio are standouts) and browse Kuna molas or Panama hats from local boutiques.

Afternoon: If time allows before your flight, head to the Amador Causeway for wide-angle views of the Bridge of the Americas and the city skyline. Lunch at Mi Ranchito (crispy corvina, coconut rice, patacones) or swing back to the fish market for a last ceviche flight. The airport is ~25–35 minutes away; leave Casco 3 hours before an international departure. Compare any last-minute flight changes on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Evening: Departure. If you have a late flight, sneak in a sunset walk on the Cinta Costera—watch the light slide across the bay and the casitas of Casco Viejo.

Optional swaps if you extend your stay (or want different flavors): - Trade Day 2 for a partial transit through the canal itself with Panama Canal Partial Tour—a bucket-list ride through Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks. See dates on Viator

- Prefer the beach? Book a Taboga Island catamaran day trip for swimming and a wander through the “Island of Flowers.” Reserve on Viator

Where to eat and drink—handy list: - Breakfast/coffee: Café Unido (Geisha when available), Kotowa (Boquete beans), Mentiritas Blancas (seasonal pastries). - Lunch: Mercado de Mariscos (ceviche mixto), Nasca 21 (Peruvian), Los Ajos (homey plates near Via Argentina). - Dinner: Fonda Lo Que Hay (creative Panamanian), Íntimo (chef’s menu, reservations suggested), Maito (modern Panamanian), Santa Rita (tapas and mains). - Drinks: Tántalo Rooftop (views), CasaCasco (multi-level), Pedro Mandinga (rum), La Rana Dorada (craft beer).

Good to know: Tap water is generally potable in the city, but many visitors prefer bottled. Carry small bills for taxis and markets. For Ubers at peak times, order from a hotel lobby or well-lit corner for quicker pick-ups.

Accommodations recap: - The Bristol Panama (service-forward, central): See rooms - Hotel Casa Panamá (Casco vibe): See rooms - Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall (space and convenience): See rooms - Compare more stays: Hotels.com | VRBO

This 3-day Panama City itinerary balances engineering spectacle, historic heart, and coastal calm. With the Canal’s drama, Casco Viejo’s legends, and breezy bay views, you’ll leave with both big-picture stories and little neighborhood details. Buen viaje—Panama rewards the curious.