As you look beyond its most famous landmark, the Panama Canal, you’ll see that Panama City is a thriving metropolis with much to offer. Undoubtedly, it is an engineering feat of unbelievable proportions.
You probably won’t spend much time in the city known for its ties to Captain Morgan and its abundance of modern skyscrapers.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Panama City
As the canal was built, the land around the water was transformed into a network of walkways and causeways. Views of the surrounding islands and undulating landscape are very breathtaking.
Close encounters with native species and lush rainforests can be had at urban national parks both inside and outside of the city. Whereas historic districts provide trips down memory lane and cocktails atop slick new buildings.
If you’ve had enough of Panama City’s heat and bustle after seeing all it has to offer, head to one of the many beautiful beaches within easy reach by boat.
1. Panama Canal
One of the many reasons to visit the Panama Canal is to marvel at its engineering. The complicated and huge waterway that has brought international acclaim to Panama is hard to understand.
The length of the Panama Canal makes it accessible from a wide variety of locations across the country. Yet, if you want to remain in close proximity to Panama City, the Miraflores Locks are the place to go.
The Miraflores Locks can be reached about thirty minutes from the downtown area. When a massive cargo ship passes through, you and your fellow passengers can feel the energy level rise to an all-time high. If you’re curious about the canal’s locks and its origins, the visitor centre is a great place to start.
2. Amador Causeway
A walk along the Amador Causeway could be the greatest way to get to know Panama City. In just 6 kilometres, you may check off a number of items on this list while enjoying some of Panama City’s finest attractions (3.7 miles).
The Amador Causeway is only 20 minutes from downtown, yet it features the beautiful Bridge of America, miles of walking and bicycling trails, and the fascinating Biomuseo. The Amador Causeway is perfect for people in search of a genuine shopping experience.
The Centro Artisan Market, full of locally made goods and clothing, can be found along the route. Bicycles are ideal for getting about a new area. On the approach to each destination, you may admire the man-made strip of land surrounded by harbour.
3. Isla Taboga
Isla Taboga is a small island off the coast of Panama, home to only about 2,000 people. The quick ride will have you surrounded by tropical greenery, pastel-colored dwellings, and pure Caribbean air in as little as 30 minutes (depending on the boat you choose).
The beautiful, golden beaches here go on for miles. Locals work, play, and rest as if the world outside the island did not exist, and cocktails are served in coconuts with intricate carvings.
Isla Taboga, often known as the Island of Flowers, is a beautiful place to go for a walk. Views of the sparkling blue sea and the colourful city of Cerro de la Cruz may be seen from high atop the rolling hills. The latter boasts the second-oldest chapel in the Americas and was a popular hangout for Captain Morgan.
4. Panama Viejo
It’s a good idea to check out Panama Viejo, the country’s first capital, before exploring Casco Viejo. This abandoned city was established in the early 1600s and is situated just 20 minutes outside of the main metropolis.
The Spanish metropolis prospered until Captain Morgan came along and changed things for good. The enormous area once known as Panama Viejo is now home to 14 significant ruins.
Start off to the Museum of Old Panama, where you can examine miniature replicas of the entire metropolis. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the city’s ruins once you’ve been transported back to the city’s golden age.
The Puente del Rey bridge, dated to the early 17th century and widely regarded as the continent’s oldest structure, is another major attraction.
5. Miraflores Visitor Center
The Miraflores Visitor Center may be reached directly from the Miraflores Locks, which are located along the world-famous Panama Canal. The four-story building, which has an interactive look at the canal’s history, is an essential part of every visit.
One of the Seven Industrial Wonders of the World is the focus of this four-part series. A 15-minute film will take you back to May 4, 1904, the first day of work, and through the ten years it took to complete the canal that finally linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Each tier provides a glimpse into a different era, as well as the local ecosystem, its management, and its growth as of the year 2016. You’ll have multiple opportunities to snap photos of the Panama Canal along the trip.
6. Biomuseo
Along the Amador Causeway is where you’ll find the beautiful Biomuseo. Stop and soak in the sights as you ride your bike, walk, or drive up to the entrance of one of these magnificent structures.
Located in the bay adjacent to the Panama Canal, the Biomuseo may be seen from Casco Viejo. The renowned structure, designed by Frank Gehry, looks like a rainbow and immediately captures your attention.
Everything inside the Biomuseo has a similar feel, so you may relax. Panama’s fascinating and varied ecosystems are explored, and the country’s cultural heritage is revealed. Sign up for a complimentary tour that visits all eight of the museum’s major galleries during your visit.
7. Monkey Island at Gatun Lake
Monkey Island at Gatun Lake is one of the most well-liked day trips from Panama City, and for good reason. Traveling here will introduce you to the region surrounding the Panama Canal, with its remarkable network of waterways and the manner in which the globe has been altered by this amazing feat (Gatun Lake was once the largest man-made lake on earth).
And that’s only for one day at Monkey Island.
You can choose from a vast variety of tours that visit or centre on Gatun Lake. It’s simple to finish as a spur-of-the-moment adventure. On their island, accessible via the canal, you may view four different kinds of monkeys in their natural environment.
8. Iglesia del Carmen
Panama City features an eclectic mix of modern and historic buildings. The Iglesia del Carmen is one of the most eye-catching buildings in the area. The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmen, despite its Gothic appearance, was really constructed in the twentieth century.
Iglesia del Carmen, Panama’s one and only Gothic church, is a stunning structure. There are two towers and an elaborate arch on the main entrance. A row of shimmering stained windows flanks the corridor from either side.
Inside, the eye is drawn upward by the cream-colored columns to the cathedral-like ceiling and then to the far end of the church, where magnificent iconography is painted along the wall.
9. Bridge of the Americas
The Bridge of the Americas is one of Panama City’s landmarks that is visible from the Amador Causeway. Built over the course of three years, from 1959 to 1962, this majestic bridge spans the entrance to the Panama Canal and links the two sides of Central America.
Furthermore, it is the primary link between the North and South American continents. Until the construction of the iconic four-lane bridge at Gatun Locks, the other primary alternative for crossing the canal was using a car ferry.
The Centennial Bridge and the Atlantic Bridge have been built to supplement the Bridge of the Americas. Nighttime, when the bridge is illuminated against a vibrant sunset, is the ideal time to visit.
10. Ancon Hill
Stunning panoramas of Panama City can be seen from a variety of vantage points. The climb up Ancon Hill, though, is almost certainly your favourite. At the entrance at the hill’s foot, walkers have around 30 minutes to cover the paved route up to the peak.
At 5:30 in the morning, visitors to Ancon Hill can catch a glimpse of the sun rising to the right of Panama City. The city wakes up to the sound of exploding oranges as they make their way across the lake, their warm morning colours adorning the sides of skyscrapers.
The Miraflores Locks and the Bridge of the Americas, as well as the rest of the city, are visible from above at any time of day.
