15 Fun Things to Do in Panama City Panama

Are you looking for fun things to do in Panama City Panama? You’ve come to the right place.

If you are coming to Panama, you are going to end up spending some time in Panama City.

This lively city often gets overlooked as people venture away to explore its beautiful islands and lush jungles, but I love visiting Panama City.

From visiting the Panama Canal to hiking Metropolitan Nature Park and exploring Monkey Island, there are plenty of fun activities in Panama City. 

Let’s jump right into the best things to do in Panama City, Panama for your next trip.

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🤩 Short on time? See Panama City’s top attractions on this half-day tour!

1. Walk Around Casco Viejo

Casco Viejo is a historic neighbourhood in the heart of Panama City. It’s one of the first places you should visit when looking for fun things to do in Panama City, Panama.

While most of Panama City is filled with towering skyscrapers and feels like a traditional city, Casco Viejo gives off a completely different vibe.

Casco Viejo served as the original settlement of Panama City before it was abandoned and replaced with a more modern city center. 

It feels like travelling back in time while wandering down cobblestone streets in Casco Viejo.

Taking a tour of Casco Viejo is the best way to get to know the neighbourhood and the history behind it. I visit Casco Viejo every time I’m in Panama City and it’s a must-visit for first-timers.

🚶‍♀️ Discover all the best spots in Casco Viejo on this walking tour!

2. Panama Canal – Miraflores Lock

Watching ships go through the iconic Panama Canal is one of the best things to do in Panama City, Panama. No trip to Panama is complete without it. 

The Panama Canal is one of the most impressive engineering marvels in the world and the Miraflores Lock is one of the top Panama City attractions.

The Miraflores Lock is part of a series of locks connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and the closest lock to Panama City. 

This gateway allows ships to take a shortcut through the waters of Panama. The locks feature massive chambers that lift and lower ships to overcome the 26-meter (85-foot) difference in sea level between the two oceans.

Watching the ships go through the locks is so incredible! If you have more time, ride a boat down the Panama Canal or book a cruise that travels from one ocean to the other for a next-level experience.

Make sure you know where you are going when visiting the lock in Panama City. Getting around Panama can be confusing at first, but it gets easier once you get the hang of it. I met up with some travellers at my hotel who took an Uber that brought them to the wrong place and they lost a day from their trip. 

If you don’t want to risk getting lost or deal with the hassle of organizing transportation, the best way to get to the Canal is to book a Panama Canal day tour.

🤩 Visit the Miraflores Lock on this Panama Canal tour!

3. Hike to Ancon Hill Lookout

Ancon Hill Lookout is a great way to get a birds-eye-view of the city and one of the best items on my fun things to do in Panama City checklist. It’s the highest point in Panama City!

You will hike the paved trail until you reach the top, where there is a staircase leading to a picturesque view. The hike takes 30-40 minutes and is moderate in difficulty. 

From the top, you can see Casco Viejo as well as the Panama Canal (in the far distance).

Keep your eyes open for sloths, monkeys, birds, and unique insects. During my hike, I was delighted to see a small family of monkeys jumping across the trees! As well as a toucan!

It’s best to visit early in the morning to avoid the mid-day heat, but the late afternoon is also good. Pack plenty of water!

🚶‍♀️ Enjoy a sunrise hike of Ancon Hill on this walking tour with breakfast!

4. Visit Panama Viejo

Exploring the historic ruins of Panama Viejo is for history enthusiasts and culture seekers looking for fun things to do in Panama City, Panama.

Translating to Old Panama in English, Panama Viejo is a great place to get a unique glimpse into the cultural history of the city. It’s rich in history and charm.

It was the original site of Panama City. And while it was destroyed by pirates, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

🤩 Explore the historic highlights on this Casco Viejo and Panama Viejo tour!

5. Amador Causeway

The Amador Causeway is one of the most fun places in Panama City, Panama because there is something here for everyone!

The Amador Causeway is a 6 km (3.7 m) long causeway that connects the three islands, Naos, Perico, and Flamenco, to the mainland.

On this pedestrian-friendly pathway, you can spend an afternoon walking around, admiring views of the city skyline.

For something different, relax on one of the beaches along the causeway, enjoy some gourmet food at one of the restaurants, visit the Biomuseo, or use the causeway as a starting point to one of the three islands.

🤩 Visit the Amador Causeway and other top sights on this half-day Panama City tour!

6. Hike in Metropolitan Natural Park

If you haven’t already figured it out, Panama City is surprisingly pleasant for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts. For being such a large city, there’s a wide variety of fun things to do in Panama City, Panama that involve nature and wildlife.

The Metropolitan Natural Park is the largest park in the city with 583 acres (232 hectares). You can get away from the city and enjoy the fresh air at the park.

There are trails for every hiking level, unique wildlife, plenty of open space and beautiful skyline views.

Bring your binoculars and keep your eyes open for monkeys, birds, and more. 

🚶‍♀️ Find the best bird-watching spots on this tour of Metropolitan Natural Park!

7. Eat Your Way Through the City

Panama City draws culinary influence from indigenous cultures, Spanish, Afro-Carribean heritage, and other global influences. For this reason, everyone needs to take a second and truly enjoy the local mouth-watering cuisine in every corner of the city.

Sancocho is the national dish of Panama and consists of broth, vegetables, chicken, tons of flavour and a side of rice. But there is so much more to discover.

A Panamanian food tour can help you uncover all the hidden gems, including mom-and-pop restaurants, local favourites, and so much more. 

My favourite was the empanadas! My taxi driver brought us to this local spot and I couldn’t get enough of them!

🍴 Indulge in the best local food on this Panama City food tour!

8. Shop at Albrook Mall

If you are looking to shop, Albrook Mall is top of the list of fun shopping in Panama City.

Albrook Mall is the largest mall in Latin America, and clearly one of the most iconic Panama City attractions. Over 700 stores and services are spread out throughout this colossal shopping plaza.

You’ll find everything you can imagine at Albrook Mall, from international brands to local designers. This is a retail paradise! 

I always save time on my trips to Panama to shop for shoes at Albrook Mall. I love the sandals there!

9. Swim in a Rooftop Pool

Rooftop pools offer a serene urban retreat from everything below in the streets, making this an excellent choice for a fun and relaxing activity in Panama City.

Panama City has no shortage of high-end resorts and glamorous rooftop pools with stunning city views and night-time lights. 

I book different rooftop pool hotels in Panama City just so I can swim and enjoy the view of skyscrapers. AC Hotel by Marriott is my favourite so far.

The Hilton Panama is a five-star hotel with excellent reviews and a stunning rooftop pool. 

Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel also has a magnificent rooftop pool and a great atmosphere if you want affordable luxury.

10. Enjoy the Night Life

Like many cities, Panama City comes alive at night. Fortunately, there’s a vibe for everyone. Whether you’re looking to relax and sip a mocktail with a close group of friends or go out dancing for hours, it’s all right here.

The region of Casco Viejo is the best place for nightlife in Panama City. There is a perfect blend of culture and history, making for an excellent ambiance during your evenings.

And while you’ll mostly hear reggaeton in the bars and clubs, you can also find some salsa and salsa classes most evenings in Panama City.

💃 Dance the night away on this Salsa Lesson and Night of Dancing tour!

11. Visit Monkey Island

Monkey Island, or Isla de Monos, is located in the pristine waters of Lake Gatun. 

It’s a 30-minute journey from Panama City on the Panama Canal, but this excursion can easily steal you away from the city. If you’re looking for what to do in Panama City that’s different, this is a great choice!

Once you reach Monkey Island, you will likely be greeted by an assortment of friendly monkeys. The most common types of monkeys on the island are:

• Capuchins
• Howlers
• Tamarins

But you may see many other species! 

One of the best things about Monkey Island is you will actually get to ride in a boat along the Panama Canal. Massive shipping boats may pass you by and you can get an up-close-and-personal experience on the Canal.

🤩 Search for monkeys on this Monkey Island tour from Panama City!

12. Take a Day Trip

Sometimes the most fun things to do in Panama City, Panama include escaping the city for a day trip. Fortunately, there are many tropical options not too far from the city.

San Blas is an archipelago comprising about 365 islands and cays. While you definitely won’t have time to visit each island, you can easily make a day trip out of visiting a few.

Tobago Island, or the Island of the Flowers, is another popular tourist destination within arm’s reach of Panama City. Located 20 km (12 m) from the coast of Panama City, the best way to visit is by catamaran tour. 

Anton Valley is another great day trip from Panama. It’s 125 km (77 m) away in the crater of an extinct volcano surrounded by hills and flowing clouds. Popular for its excellent hiking with great views.

13. Cinta Costera

Cinta Costera is a captivating waterfront escape with a beautiful promenade stretching along the Panama City shoreline.

This waterfront promenade features wide pathways for walkers, bikers, or runners. Numerous parks and playgrounds are scattered throughout the 26-hectare land reclamation project.

If you have a few hours to spend around here, grab some picnic foods and enjoy a sunny afternoon in the relaxing greenery of the park.

🤩 Enjoy Cinta Costera after dark on this Panama City night tour!

14. Balboa Avenue

Balboa Avenue, or Avenida Balboa, is one of the most iconic thoroughfares in the city. This makes it a key point of interest in any list of Panama City Panama things to do.

Stretching along the coastline, this beautiful avenue offers views of the Pacific Ocean on one side and modern skyscrapers on the other.

The pathway gives access to several malls and shopping plazas, small parks, many restaurants and bars, and the most well-known casinos in Panama City.

15. Soak in the View on a Rooftop Patio

If you want a more relaxing evening, check out one of the many rooftop patios in Panama City. This is the best way to wind down after a busy day of exploring and catch a stunning sunset over the city.

Sama Sky Lounge is a beautiful spot for watching the sunset accompanied by classy live music.

Hotel Casa Panama has a lovely poolside rooftop patio with great views overlooking Casco Viejo.

Things to Do in Panama City FAQs

🤩 Experience one of the most popular day trips from Panama City on this island tour!

Final Thoughts on What to Do in Panama City

There are so many fun things to do in Panama City Panama. Many people quickly pause here to visit the Panama Canal and move onward, but this is a lively city with endless opportunities.

You won’t be disappointed if you’re interested in hiking, day trips to nearby islands, shopping or more.

You are sure to meet some incredible people, learn about some of the rich cultures of this bustling Central American city, and have a great time along the way.

Once you are ready to venture outside of Panama City, there are many other places to visit in Panama!

Happy travelling!