Panama City, capital of Panama

Travel to Panama City

The original Panama City was destroyed in 1671 when Henry Morgan sacked the city and set it on fire. To protect themselves from future attacks, the new city was founded 8km away from the old city. The ruins of old Panama City, designated as a world heritage site, can still be visited and that makes for just one of many adventures that are waiting for you here.

The old quarter is another one of the city’s fantastic attractions. Although it is currently going through a period of redevelopment, the open squares and colonial architecture are still fantastic to see. Then head to the local fish market to have an incredible ceviche.

If you love a leisurely waterfront stroll, the you’ll want to explore the “Vaults.” Las Bovedas juts out into the Pacific Ocean, providing you with a wonderful view. You may also wish to see the National Institute of Culture, which is across from the French embassy and the Cathedral, which is the center point for Cathedral Plaza.

When visiting Panama City, the Panama Canal is often on the agenda and rightly so. The canal is 77km in length and an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. France began the canal in 1881, then the U.S. took up the project in 1904 and opened it to shopping a decade later. It is frequently called one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.

Panama City provides you access to beaches, fun nightlife options, and world-class accommodations. If you’ve always wanted to explore Central America, make this one of the first stops on your journey.

A must do – Trip to the Miraflores Locks

No trip to Panama is complete without seeing the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Panama Canal. According to the Panama Canal Authority “The history of the construction of the Panama Canal is the saga of human ingenuity and courage: years of sacrifice, crushing defeat, and final victory.” This statement, while true, doesn’t go far enough to describe the mighty toll taken by the building of the Panama Canal. Construction began in 1904 and took 10 years to complete. It remains one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time, completed despite landslides, disease, setbacks, and the loss of 75,000 lives in total. Engineers directed most of the actual construction, which cost $375 million, and involved the excavation of 240 million cubic yards of earth. On average it takes a vessel eight hours to travel from one ocean to the other, passing through three sets of locks. The best place to see the Canal is from the Miraflores Locks (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission free). Make sure to get to the Miraflores Locks for 9 a.m. as this is when you are most likely to see large ships passing through.

Travel and vacation in Panama City, Belize

Here you can find information about travel and holiday trips to Panama. You will find travel deals as well as general travel information, guides, “good to know” and facts about Panama. We try to find the best travel video about the city and its surroundings and we write about the best sights, shopping and things to do. You will also find updated current weather and forecasts. The current exchange rates are also updated many times a day.