Panama City
Panama City, also known as Panama, is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama.
It has a total population of 410,354 in the city proper and 1,086,990 in the Panamá District, which includes the outer corregimientos of the city. The metropolitan area has over 2,100,000 people. The city is at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, in the province of Panama. The city is the political and administrative center of the country, as well as a hub for banking and commerce.
Getting to Panama City
Panama City used to be the de facto headquarters of the US control over the Panama Canal and as the canal was and is of vital strategic and military importance, there were a bunch of military airfields built to defend the canal. The Americans have greatly reduced their presence, and Panama turned its former military airports over to civilian use, giving Panama City three airports:
- 01Tocumen International Airport
- 02Gelabert/Albrook Airport
Also known as Albrook Airport, is located just a few minutes from the city center, within the metropolitan area.
- 03Pacífico Airport
It is located at the southwestern end of the former canal zone on the west bank of the canal.
- 04Corozal Passenger Station
Worth seeing
Panama Canal. Not only one of the world's most important shipping connections, but also the very reason for which the modern country of Panama was created, the canal is probably the single most iconic thing to visit in Panama. There are different ways to explore the canal: the easiest but pricey way from Panama City is to visit the Miraflores Visitor Center/Miraflores Locks.
- 01Miraflores Visitor Center/Miraflores Locks
The most visited place along the canal is the Miraflores Visitor Center at the Miraflores Locks.
- 02Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo is the historic part of town, where you will find many colonial style government buildings, cathedrals and museums including a Canal Museum or a small Panama History Museum.
- 03Canal Museum
Plaza de la Independencia, San Felipe (between Calles 5a and 6a).
- 04Panama History Museum
Avenida 6a Central, Plaza Catedral, San Felipe,.
- 05Panama Viejo
The archaeological site of the ruins of the original city of Panama that was sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan in the 1600s.
- 06Amador Causeway
The Amador Causeway connects four little islands (Naos, Culebra, Perico and Flamenco) to the mainland.
Things to do
Help a sailboat to cross the canal. All sailboats that want to cross the Panama Canal needs by law 5 crew members when crossing the locks due to the complexity of handling these boats in these narrow locks and tieing and untieing it to the walls, other boats etc. The job called "linehandler". The owners of the boats can either hire local help or look for volunteers in exchange for the experience, food and drinks.
- 01Metropolitan Natural Park
Where to eat
Check out Panama Restaurant Week, which doesn't happen every year, but when it does it is a fantastic option to try great restaurants at good prices. Despite its name, it lasts 15 days, with dozens of participating restaurants offering special participating menus at fixed, lower than normal prices. There's several cafes along Via Argentina. The Spanish sandwich shops offer excellent sandwiches, coffee, and churros.
- 01Capital Bistró Panamá
Chillout music and large sofas on the upper terrace.
Getting around Panama City the local way
- Get inRegular ferries connect Panama City with the Pearl Islands, including Contadora and Saboga.
- Get inThere is no public ferry service through the canal itself.
From Wikivoyage: Panama City, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons (see file page), Wikimedia Commons.