Aerial view of Casco Viejo peninsula, Panama City, with ships queued on the Pacific horizon waiting to enter the Panama Canal

Panama City

Panama City is where most trips begin and end. Casco Viejo, the working canal, a strong food scene, and a modern skyline that surprises most first-time visitors.

Destination Guides

Panama City skyline at dusk with the old town and modern skyscrapers visible across the bay - where to stay in Panama City

Where to Stay in Panama City: Best Neighborhoods for First-Timers

Panama City is more spread out than most first-timers expect. Where you stay shapes your entire experience.

Sailboat anchored in turquoise water off a palm-lined San Blas island, Guna Yala, Panama -- day trips from Panama City

Day Trips from Panama City: San Blas, Gamboa, and Beyond

Panama City is a base, not just a destination. Here is what to do with a free day.

The bulk carrier Nord Master entering a Panama Canal lock head-on, with the lock walls rising on either side and the Miraflores control building visible to the right

How to Visit the Panama Canal: Tours, Locks, and What to Expect

Planning a Panama Canal tour? We visited both Miraflores and Agua Clara locks and did a partial transit. Here's exactly what to expect, when to go, and whether it's worth it.

Aerial view of Casco Viejo peninsula, Panama City, with ships queued on the Pacific horizon waiting to enter the Panama Canal

Panama City Travel Guide: What to Do, See and Eat

Your complete guide to Panama City, from Casco Viejo and the Canal to day trips, food, and where to stay.