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Panama City — travel, stays & events guide
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Panama City, PanamaOpen-Meteo forecast.
Panama City city overview
Panama City works best as a base in Panama when you anchor days around Panama Canal, Casco Viejo and Cinta Costera. Use those sights to understand the city's history, street life and visitor rhythm. Panama City International Airport handles the main arrival flow, so hotel choice should balance the centre, transfer time and day-trip plans.
City facts
Airport basePanama City International Airport
Known forPanama Canal, Casco Viejo, Cinta Costera, Panama Viejo
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 Canal
Panama Canal adds the water-facing side of Panama City, making it a good break from museums, traffic and dense historic streets.
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo is a named stop in Panama City worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Cinta Costera
Cinta Costera is a named stop in Panama City worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Panama Viejo
Panama Viejo is a named stop in Panama City worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Biomuseo
Biomuseo is a named stop in Panama City worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Amador Causeway
Amador Causeway is a named stop in Panama City worth keeping on the route when it fits the day's transport, timing and neighborhood plan.
Stay overview
Start with City centre for the easiest first Panama City stay, then compare Old Town and Waterfront when price, nightlife, quieter evenings or transfer timing matter more than being beside every major sight.
Hotels & areas
Panama City hotel choice is mostly about repeat journeys: use City centre for sightseeing, Old Town for a different local base, and Waterfront or Airport area when views, parking, airport timing or longer stays matter.
City centre
City centre is the most practical first base in Panama City, keeping main sights, restaurants and short local transfers close.
Best for: first visits, sightseeing, restaurantsCompare staysOld Town
Old Town is the most practical first base in Panama City, keeping main sights, restaurants and short local transfers close.
Best for: first visits, sightseeing, restaurantsCompare staysWaterfront
Waterfront suits travellers who want views, evening walks and a calmer base while still keeping central Panama City reachable.
Best for: views, quieter evenings, walksCompare staysAirport area
Airport area works mainly for early departures, late arrivals or car pickup, not for a first Panama City sightseeing base.
Best for: early flights, late arrivals, car pickupCompare staysFlights & airports
Panama City International Airport arrival plan
- Panama City International AirportPanama City International Airport, Panama City, Panama
Panama City International Airport is the main air gateway for Panama City; compare transfer time with your hotel base before locking the first night.
Rental cars
Panama City day-trip car use
Do not rent a car for central Panama City unless parking and traffic are part of the plan; use one mainly for regional day trips.
Compare rental carsTravel tips
Best base
Choose City centre for a first stay because it keeps main sights, restaurants and practical local movement close.
Airport timing
Leave extra time for Panama City International Airport, especially for early flights, late arrivals, traffic or unfamiliar transfer routes.
Local movement
Plan each day in clusters around Panama Canal and Casco Viejo so transfers do not consume the best sightseeing hours.
Day trips
Keep one flexible slot for nearby routes from Panama City, checking weather, transport and opening hours before committing.
Nearby ideas
Heritage
Panama Canal
Panama Canal is a heritage-focused side trip from Panama City; check the route and opening hours before setting aside the day.
Heritage
Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo is a heritage-focused side trip from Panama City; check the route and opening hours before setting aside the day.
Heritage
Cinta Costera
Cinta Costera is a heritage-focused side trip from Panama City; check the route and opening hours before setting aside the day.
Upcoming events
No upcoming Panama City events in the shared event index yet.