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Panama City — travel, stays & events guide
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Panama City city overview
Panama City is a city in Panama shaped by its region, population, local economy, landmarks, climate and civic history. This overview summarizes the city itself: where it sits, what defines it, which places anchor its identity and why it matters within the wider country.
City facts
Known forPanama City, Capital city in Panama, Panama City planning base 3, Panama City planning base 4
RegionPanamaPanama
Time zoneAmerica/Panamalocal time
Founded1519historical origin
City history
The city was founded on 15 August 1519, by Pedro Arias de Ávila, also known as Pedrarias Dávila.
In 1520, Genoese merchants controlled the port and the commerce of the region, mainly for the slave trade, thanks to a concession given by the Spaniards, who had the Republic of Genoa as its.
In 1671 Henry Morgan with a band of 1,400 men attacked and looted the city, which was subsequently destroyed by fire.
The city was rebuilt in 1673 in a new location approximately 5 miles (8 km) southwest of the original city.
Between 1848 and 1869, the year the first transcontinental railroad was completed in the United States, about 375,000 people crossed the isthmus from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and 225,000 in the opposite direction.
One year before the start of the California Gold Rush, the Panama Railroad Company was formed, but the railroad did not begin full operation until 1855.
After declaring independence from Colombia on 3 November 1903, Philippe Bunau-Varilla (a French engineer) was named Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary.
Completed in 1914, the Panama Canal symbolized U.S. technological prowess and economic power.
As a result, a portion of the El Chorrillo neighborhood, which consisted mostly of old wood-framed buildings dating back to the 1900s (though still a large slum area), was destroyed by fire.
In the late 1970s through the 1980s the city of Panama became an international banking center, bringing a lot of undesirable attention as an international money-laundering locale.
Panama City is the fourth earliest-founded of the modern-day capital cities in the Americas.
However, most of the laborers for the construction of the canal were brought in from the Caribbean, which created unprecedented racial and social tensions in the city.
During World War II, construction of military bases and the presence of larger numbers of U.S. military and civilian personnel brought about unprecedented levels of prosperity to the city.
Shipping is handled through port facilities in the area of Balboa operated by the Hutchison Whampoa Company of Hong Kong and through several ports on the Caribbean side of the isthmus.
Worth seeing
Panama City
Panama City is a practical Panama City planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Capital city in Panama
Capital city in Panama is a practical Panama City planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Panama City planning base 3
Panama City planning base 3 is a practical Panama City planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Panama City planning base 4
Panama City planning base 4 is a practical Panama City planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Panama City planning base 5
Panama City planning base 5 is a practical Panama City planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Panama City planning base 6
Panama City planning base 6 is a practical Panama City planning anchor: compare its location, transfer time, nearby hotel bases and event timing before you lock the day plan.
Stay overview
Compare Panama City before booking Panama City hotels. Start with the places you will repeat most, then check airport timing, parking, nightly price and event demand before choosing the final base.
Hotels & areas
Compare accommodation options in and around Panama City by area, not only by nightly price. A cheaper room can become expensive when airport transfers, parking, attraction routes, late arrivals or event-week demand add time and cost.
Compare stays in Panama City, PanamaFlights & airports
Main airport TBC arrival plan
- Panama City airport accessMain gateway TBC.
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Rental cars
Panama City day-trip car use
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Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best time to visit
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Transport notes
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Crowds
Prices can jump around festivals, conventions, school holidays, cruise days, ski weeks, race weekends and large sports events.
Booking detail
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Upcoming events
No upcoming Panama City events in the shared event index yet.