Top 14 ✅ Panama City Activities ✔️
So, you’re off to Panama city, eh? Our own Panamanian escapade, a rather ambitious 26-day circumnavigation, kicked off and concluded in this bustling metropolis. We set aside four days upon arrival, a tactical decision that allowed us to ease into the chaos, and then a further two at the bitter end, presumably to recover from the rest of the trip.
Many of the city’s star attractions are, rather conveniently, within walking distance from the center. No real need for a taxi or a guide, just a decent pair of shoes and a healthy dose of adventurism.
Herein lies our meticulously curated, utterly infallible list of the Top 14 things to do in Panama city, most of which, I assure you, won’t require you to remortgage your house or trek through dense jungle.
Highlights
- Our Ultimate Top 14 List
- Exploring Panama with ‘Hello Travel’
- Discovering David
- What to Do in Boquete
- Bocas Del Toro Carnival
- Fly from Panama City to Bocas
- Our Complete Panama Itinerary
- What You’ll Need for the Jungle
- All Hotel Deals in Panama City
- Our Panama Impressions
Amador Causeway 🚴♂️☀️ Cyclist’s Paradise (walker’s folly 🚶♀️😩)
The Amador Causeway is where your maritime adventures to Taboga begin, should you be so inclined. A word to the wise: avoid weekends unless you enjoy the thrilling sport of ticket-scarcity bingo. We, being the optimists we are, arrived on a Saturday only to find the boat tickets had vanished faster than a free round of drinks at a wedding.
The Causeway itself, a rather long strip of reclaimed land, is absolutely teeming with cyclists and runners, all looking terribly virtuous. It does, I’ll grant you, offer some rather cool views of the Panama city skyline. Just don’t even contemplate walking there from the city centre.
Seriously, don’t.
It’s a long, circuitous route that meanders through areas that are, shall we say, characterful in a way that doesn’t necessarily scream ‘tourist-friendly stroll’.
You’ve been warned.
View from the Amador Causeway
Casco Viejo ✨🧱👮♂️ Charm, Cobblestones, & Cops
Now, Casco Viejo, Panama’s old town, is a genuinely captivating place. It’s absolutely bursting with character and practically begs for a camera lens to be pointed at it.
However, a polite caution: it’s best not to stray too far into its less polished, slightly frayed edges. The surrounding areas have a certain… rawness to them. We couldn’t help but notice the formidable police presence patrolling the streets during the day, which should serve as ample deterrent from venturing off the beaten path.
Cathedral Square, Casco Viejo
While you’re there, do yourself a favour and seek out Rene’s Cafe, tucked away just off the main Cathedral square.
This Bolivian/Panamanian establishment operates on a wonderfully simple premise: two choices. Lunch ($10) or Dinner ($25). That’s it. No existential menu crises here.
You’ll be presented with a procession of small, varied, and genuinely tasty dishes – dinner simply means more of them. The truly inspired bit? You can order ‘Lunch’ at dinner time, and vice-versa. Genius!
The service is efficient, the wine won’t require you to sell a kidney, and there are some rather intriguing paintings adorning the walls to keep you entertained.
Top 14 Panama City Activities – Rene’s Cafe
Trump Ocean Club Tower 🏢 Lure of the Lofty ✨☁️
One hears whispers, unverified mind you, that those with a certain audacity can waltz into the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel & Tower, feign residency, and ascend to its dizzying heights to admire the ‘eternity pool’ and bar.
‘The Donald’s’ Tower in the background
Our own levels of brassiness, I’m afraid, were insufficient for such an endeavour.
And frankly, we couldn’t be bothered.
Most afternoons, the city skyline tends to vanish behind a persistent veil of cloud anyway. So, what precisely would we be gawking at? A grey expanse and our own reflection in the expensive glass? Not exactly my idea of a thrilling afternoon.
Nope, it wasn’t to be…
Taboga Daytrip 🏝️ A Not-So-Hidden Gem (of disappointment)😩🗑️
Right, the Taboga Daytrip. Some people, Panamanians notably, wax lyrical about this one. I, however, remain entirely unconvinced that it deserves a spot on any ‘top activities’ list, unless that list is titled ‘Ways to Regret Your Morning Decisions’.
You’ll need to be up with the lark to catch the 8:30 am ferry from the Amador Causeway. This ‘slow boat’ will trundle along for a good hour or so, depositing you on the island.
Get in line for the slow boat to Taboga
Hope you brought a good book, because you’ll be there for a solid six hours before the first ferry deigns to make its return journey.
There are a couple of beaches, one of which is slightly less cluttered with filth and rubbish than the other.
As for snorkeling? Forget about it. The water is about as clear as a politician’s promise. If your time in Panama city is limited, and let’s be honest, whose isn’t, there are far better ways to waste your money in Panama city.
Check the return times carefully – You really don’t want to miss your boat back
Jungle Land Experience 🐒🛶 An Actual Must-Do ✅
Now, this is an activity that actually warrants your time and effort.
The Jungle Land Experience is, without hyperbole, a genuine ‘must-do’ if you find yourself in Panama city. You’ll spend an entire day exploring the canal and immersing yourself in a variety of jungle and water-based capers, all under the expert tutelage of the rather charismatic Captain Carl.
Note: you’ll need to book and pay for this online in advance if you want to join the fun and japes. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Join Captain Carl on the Panama Canal
Albrook Mall 🛍️ A Retail Labyrinth 😵💫
Albrook Mall, the largest shopping centre in Latin America, also happens to house the central bus station. It’s the final stop on the metro line, which is rather convenient if you fancy being swallowed whole by a consumerist behemoth.
It’s worth a visit if you’re in dire need of retail therapy and don’t mind navigating throngs of people. More importantly, it’s unavoidable if you plan to catch a bus out of town.
Albrook: This is as close as I wanted to get
Walk/Run the Promenade (early bird gets the… clean pavement)
The Panama city promenade offers a glorious two-kilometre stretch of impeccably maintained walkways and recreational areas.
Your best bet is to go early, before the sun decides to turn you into a human puddle.
However, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous and wish to witness humanity at its most uncouth, pop along early on a Saturday or Sunday morning. You’ll be treated to a veritable tableau of how the locals manage to utterly desecrate this beautiful public space with their wanton littering.
Fortunately, the city council dispatches its diligent ‘green elves’ each morning to restore order.
Jogging the promenade is one of the more relaxing activities in Panama City.
Jogging the Promenade? Are you mad?
The Seafood Market 🐟 Tourist Trap (with a secret 🤫)
Ah, the Seafood Market. Another staple of every self-indulgent Panama travel article…. Go on, be a tourist.
Queue up, get your overly-sour ceviche, wash it down with a Balboa beer, and happily pay the ‘gringo‘ rate for the privilege.
Opposite the Market – So this is where they get your fish 😱
And while you’re at it, try to ignore the aggressive hawkers attempting to drag you into their establishments with blatantly false promises.
Instead, just wander around the back and into the cavernous fish market hall. There, should you still possess the inexplicable urge to consume ceviche, you can procure twice the amount for half the price.
You’re welcome.
Inside the Seafood Market
Trapiche Restaurant ⭐⭐⭐ A Triple Treat
We found the Trapiche Restaurant so appealing, we graced it with our presence no less than three times. You’ll find it conveniently located on Via Argentina.
Here, we were treated to a proper taste of authentic Panamanian cuisine, indulging in their ‘Fiesta Panamaña’ and a rather impressive ‘Mixed Grill surf-n-turf’ style. All for a grand total of $38 for two, including a bottle of their house red. A bargain, if ever there was one.
Visit the Trapiche Restaurant
Via Argentina boasts several other dining establishments, including an Indian restaurant, for those yearning for a taste of home. However, none seemed to draw the crowds, both local and foreign, quite like the Trapiche.
The closest metro stop, unsurprisingly, is Via Argentina.
Mixed Grill at the Trapiche Restaurant
La Pappa Restaurant: Not bad, just… not Trapiche
Close to the Iglesia Del Carmen metro stop, you’ll find La Pappa Restaurant.
While it doesn’t quite hit the same value-for-money heights as Trapiche, it’s still perfectly respectable and generally garners favourable reviews.
A solid second choice, one might say.
La Pappa Restaurant
Rey’s 24/7 Supermarket 🛒🏪 Our Urban Oasis
We cannot, for the life of us, speak highly enough of Rey’s 24/7 supermarket. Easily one of our most frequented haunts in Panama city.
If you’re planning a serious food shop, or merely craving a takeaway meal at an ungodly hour, Rey’s is your salvation – it never closes.
The selection is unparalleled, the prices are spot on, and the quality is consistently excellent. It’s not far from Iglesia Del Carmen, making it accessible for all your late-night snack emergencies.
Rey’s Supermarket
One-Dollar Shop 💵🎁 Souvenirs on a Shoestring
Hey, don’t knock it!
If you’re after some souvenirs that won’t require you to declare bankruptcy, the One-Dollar Shop (not far from Rey’s, incidentally) is your mecca.
Seriously, don’t save your last few dollars for the airport. They’ll stretch considerably further here, and your bank account will thank you.
All Hotel Deals in Panama City
Panama Viejo 🗺️ The One That Got Away
OK, so we didn’t make it to Panama Viejo…
Sorry.
It’s a fair few kilometres east of the city, the metro line inconveniently bypasses it entirely, and honestly, we simply couldn’t muster the mental fortitude to decipher the bus schedules.
Sometimes, dear reader, one must accept defeat and move on.
Take the Metro 🚇 Your Penny-Pinching Public Transport Pal
While taxis in Panama city aren’t exactly going to break the bank ($4 to $5 will get you most places), the single-line metro is an absolute steal at just 35 cents per trip.
You can pick up a metro card from a machine at any station for a mere $2.
It’s clean, efficient, and will save you a few quid (which you can then promptly spend on more ceviche… from Rey’s, naturally).
Save some money by using the Metro
So, How Long Should You Stay? 🤔
In our considered opinion, four full days in Panama city should suffice.
Any longer, and you might start to develop a permanent sheen of sweat and a desperate craving for something other than plantains.
Unless, of course, you’re one of those curious types scouting for retirement property. Panama, you see, boasts a rather sizable foreign retirement community.
If that’s your particular cup of tea, you might also want to cast an eye over Boquete and some of the rather charming, if slightly damp, small islands for sale around Bocas Del Toro.
If you enjoyed Top 14 Panama City Activities, check out our Panama Roundtrip. You may also like:
Spice up your inbox…
… with discounted hotel deals, cost-saving travel itineraries and SandSpice escapades! 😉
