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District · Panama City

Bella Vista and Avenida BalboaBella Vista

Towers and traffic.

sleepeat

Key facts

Suits
Modern hotels and a shorter ride to the business districts
Room prices
$$$
price band of 5

What it's like

Feels:
Towers, malls and traffic
Suits:
Modern hotels and a shorter ride to the business districts
Best time:
Evening
Watch out for:
Expecting old streets.
In short:
Towers and traffic.

About these names

Walk inside Casco Viejo; use ride-hailing or licensed taxis between areas, and do not walk the edges of the old town at night.

Casco Viejo is a small peninsula on the south-east side of the bay, with the cathedral square in the middle and the sea wall at the tip. North of it are Santa Ana and Avenida Central, and beyond them the modern towers of Bella Vista, Punta Paitilla and Costa del Este. The Amador Causeway runs south-west into the bay, the Miraflores Locks are 30 minutes north-west, and Panamá Viejo is 20 to 30 minutes east.

Where exactly

This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.

Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa on the Panama City mapTap an area for what it is like and who it suits. Shapes follow this guide’s walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Bella Vista and Avenida… · $$$Casco Viejo · $$PTY · 21 km · 45–75 min

Bella Vista and Avenida BalboaBella Vista

sleepeatPrice $$$

Towers and traffic.

Suits: Modern hotels and a shorter ride to the business districts

District guideSleep: Bella Vista and Avenida BalboaIn the districts table

Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Costa del Este and Punta Paitilla. See the table above.

Where’s what, as a list:

  • Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo): Cobbles and heat; the edges are unsafe at night. Suits: Old streets, plazas and restaurants. Price band $$.
  • Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa (Bella Vista): Towers and traffic. Suits: Modern hotels and a shorter ride to the business districts. Price band $$$.
  • Amador Causeway (Calzada de Amador): Open and shadeless at midday. Suits: The Biomuseo and a flat seaside path.
  • Miraflores Locks (Esclusas de Miraflores): North-west by car; go early. Suits: Ships in the Canal.
  • Panamá Viejo (Panamá Viejo): East by car; open and hot. Suits: The ruins of the first city.
  • Costa del Este and Punta Paitilla (Costa del Este): A car city. Suits: Malls and modern towers.
  • Sleep area Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa: suits Modern hotels and a shorter ride to the business districts, price band $$$.
  • Sleep area Casco Viejo: suits Old streets, plazas and restaurants, price band $$.
  • Tocumen International Airport (PTY), about 21 km from the centre, 45–75 min by the usual route.

Stay here?

How this district's sleep area scores for five kinds of traveler, ranked against the other Panama City districts that have scores. Scores are this guide's 1–5 judgements.

  • First visit

    2nd of 2

    A short ride to Casco Viejo.

    Better for this: Casco Viejo

  • Families

    best of 2

    Pools and malls.

  • Light sleepers

    best of 2

    Traffic noise.

  • Night owls

    2nd of 2

    Bars and restaurants nearby.

    Better for this: Casco Viejo

  • On a budget

    best of 2

    Mid-range and business hotels.

Sleep

  • Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa$$$

    Quieter nights in larger hotels with lifts and a car at the door; a 15-minute ride to Casco Viejo.

    Rooms: $90–200 per room per night (mid-range to high) (check)

    Pick this if: Families, late arrivals, shorter transfers to Albrook and the bus terminals

    Skip this if: You want to walk to old-town restaurants at night

    15–22 min walk to Casco Viejo

Drink and nightlife

Lines from the Panama City drinking guide that name this district.

  • Calle Uruguay and Bella Vista · Bars and clubs · until LateTake a car; do not walk between bars.

Getting there and around

Nearest arrival point: Tocumen International Airport (PTY): about 18 km in a straight line; the usual ride to the centre takes 45–75 min.

Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.

Safety at night and noise

  • Quiet nights

    Traffic noise.

  • Nightlife

    Bars and restaurants nearby.

  • Late arrival

    24-hour desks.

Nearby districts

Built from this guide’s Panama City districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.