District · Panama City
Casco ViejoCasco Antiguo
Cobbles and heat; the edges are unsafe at night.
Key facts
- Suits
- Old streets, plazas and restaurants
- Room prices
- $$
- price band of 5
- Sights here
- 4
- Eats here
- 4
What it's like
- Feels:
- Restored colonial streets, busy at night
- Suits:
- Old streets, plazas and restaurants
- Best time:
- Morning and evening
- Watch out for:
- Midday heat and the edges at night.
- In short:
- Cobbles and heat; the edges are unsafe at night.
About these names
Casco Viejo is a small peninsula on the south-east side of the bay, with the cathedral square in the middle and the sea wall at the tip. North of it are Santa Ana and Avenida Central, and beyond them the modern towers of Bella Vista, Punta Paitilla and Costa del Este. The Amador Causeway runs south-west into the bay, the Miraflores Locks are 30 minutes north-west, and Panamá Viejo is 20 to 30 minutes east.
Where exactly
This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
Casco ViejoCasco Antiguo
sleepseeeatPrice $$
Cobbles and heat; the edges are unsafe at night.
Suits: Old streets, plazas and restaurants
On the map: Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal Interoceánico), Metropolitan Cathedral, Plaza de Francia, Iglesia de San José (Golden Altar)
District guideWalk: Casco ViejoSleep: Casco ViejoIn 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 km13 mi 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
best of 2
The plaza, the cathedral and the sea wall are on foot.
Families
2nd of 2
Cobbles and heat.
Better for this: Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa
Light sleepers
best of 2
Busy at weekends near the plaza.
Night owls
best of 2
Rooftop bars and restaurants.
On a budget
2nd of 2
Boutique hotels; a few hostels.
Better for this: Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa
See
Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.
The old town's main church on Plaza de la Independencia: twenty minutes inside, then the square; go before the heat.
- Hours:
- Daytime; hours change on holy days. Check.(check)
- Entry:
- Free; donations welcome
The best place to understand the Canal before you see a lock: 60 to 90 minutes of maps, models and photographs on Plaza de la Independencia, air-conditioned, so it is your midday heat stop.
- Hours:
- Weekday daytime hours; check for Monday closure.(check)
- Entry:
- about US$10 for foreign adults (2026 estimate; check)
- Plaza de FranciaBook a time
A small plaza and sea wall at the tip of Casco Viejo: a monument to the French Canal effort, sea views and the skyline; 25 minutes.
- Hours:
- Open-air; daylight hours are best.(check)
- Entry:
- Free
- Iglesia de San José (Golden Altar)Book a time
A small church in Casco Viejo with a gilded baroque altar that, by legend, was painted over to hide it from pirates: 15 minutes, free, dress modestly, and go in the morning before the heat.
- Hours:
- Short daytime hours; check the church's notice board.(check)
- Entry:
- Free; donations welcome
Eat
What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.
- Carimañolas, empanadas and hojaldres
Panamanian fried snacks from a bakery counter or street stall: a carimañola (a cassava fritter with meat), an empanada or a hojaldra with coffee for US$1 to 4; a breakfast or a snack, best before 10:00.
Order: Carimañola: Order it hot.
Price: Each item costs US$1 to 2.
- Fonda lunch (plato del día)
Fonda-style lunch counters serve a plate of the day for US$5 to 9: rice, beans, plantain and stew or chicken. Go at 11:30 to 13:30, and choose a place with a queue of workers.
Order: Plato del día: Ask what is on.
Price: A plate costs US$5 to 8.
- Mercado de Mariscos
Walk-in ceviche and fried-fish counters over the seafood market on the Cinta Costera; go before 12:00 or after 14:00.
Order: Ceviche: Order a small cup first.
Price: A cup of ceviche costs US$4 to 8.
- Specialty coffee cafés in Casco Viejo
Cafés that serve Panamanian highland coffee, including the expensive geisha variety: a good air-conditioned break from the heat; an ordinary cup costs US$3 to 6, a geisha US$8 to 20 or more.
Order: Café de filtro: Ask for the day's origin.
Price: A regular coffee costs US$2 to 3.
Sleep
First-timers: restored streets, restaurants and the sea wall on foot; choose a hotel with a 24-hour desk and a drop-off within 100 m.
Rooms: $70–200 per room per night (mid-range to boutique); more during Carnival and November holidays (check)
Pick this if: First visits, restaurants, walking to Plaza de Francia
Skip this if: You travel with a stroller or wheelchair, or need a quiet street at night
3–6 min walk to Casco Viejo
Drink and nightlife
Lines from the Panama City drinking guide that name this district.
- Casco Viejo rooftop bars and plazas · Bars and terraces · until about 01:00A sunset drink with the skyline; take a car home.
Shopping
Markets and shopping streets from the Panama City buying guide that name this district.
- Molas and Guna crafts · Casco Viejo stalls and craft shops · About 09:00 to 18:00About 9:00 AM to 6:00 PMAsk where an item was made; buy from the makers or cooperatives.
- Panama hats (sombrero pintao and toquilla) · Casco Viejo shops · About 09:00 to 18:00About 9:00 AM to 6:00 PMReal Panama hats are woven in Ecuador and Panama; compare prices and quality.
Getting there and around
Where to get off
- Walk from anywhere in Casco Viejo; on Plaza de la Independencia facing the cathedral · for Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal Interoceánico)
- Plaza de la Independencia, Casco Viejo · for Metropolitan Cathedral
- Plaza de Francia at the south-east tip of Casco Viejo · for Plaza de Francia
- Walk from Plaza de la Independencia (about 7 minutes) or taxi to Avenida A · for Iglesia de San José (Golden Altar)
Walks inside the district
- Metropolitan Cathedral → Plaza de Francia: 8–12 min on foot (Walk along Calle 3a)
- Metropolitan Cathedral → Panama Canal Museum: 1–2 min on foot (Walk)
- Panama Canal Museum → Plaza de Francia: 10–15 min on foot (Walk)
- Panama Canal Museum → Iglesia de San José (Golden Altar): 7–11 min on foot (Walk)
- Metropolitan Cathedral → Iglesia de San José (Golden Altar): 7–11 min on foot (Walk)
On to the next area
- Car north-west: about 30 min to Miraflores Locks
- Car south: about 15 min to Amador Causeway and Biomuseo
From other sleep areas
- From Bella Vista and Avenida Balboa: 15–22 min walk to Casco Viejo
Nearest arrival point: Tocumen International Airport (PTY): about 21 km in a straight line; the usual ride to the centre takes 45–75 minTocumen International Airport (PTY): about 13 mi 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.
Walking loop
A loop that starts and ends at the same place, through this district's sights and eats. Pick a length; download it for Organic Maps, OsmAnd or Google Earth.
About 58 min in all: 3 min on foot, the rest at the stops. 3 stops, back to where you started.
- Metropolitan CathedralStart here · stop about 10 min
- Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal Interoceánico)1 min walk · stop about 30 min
- Fonda lunch (plato del día)1 min walk (estimate) · stop about 15 min (snack, or note it for later)
- Back to Metropolitan Cathedral: 1 min walk (estimate)
Walking minutes come from this guide’s route graph where it has one; “estimate” means straight-line distance plus a quarter for street detours at an easy pace. Opening hours are not checked: look at “Open now” below before you set off.
Half-day walk
The Casco Viejo route, about a half day. Best: 07:00–10:30 for walking; after 17:30 for dinner.
- Plaza de la Independencia — Start at the cathedral square; benches and shade.
- Calle 3a and Plaza Bolívar — Restored streets and cafés.
- Plaza de Francia — Monuments to the French Canal effort; sea views.
- Sea wall promenade — Walk the bóvedas walls at the point; skyline views.
In the day plans: Day 1 — Casco Viejo morning, a 12:30 lunch table (Panama City in 3 days)
Photo and sunset spots
Light: Dusk
Shoot from the sea wall as the lights come on.
Light: Early morning
Low light on the facade; the plaza is empty.
Casco Viejo side streets
Light: Early morning
Ask before photographing people.
Safety at night and noise
Casco Viejo centreday: oknight: caution
Busy and patrolled in the evening; keep to the main plazas and lit streets.
Streets around Casco Viejo (Santa Ana, El Chorrillo)day: cautionnight: avoid
Do not walk here at night; take a car.
Quiet nights
Busy at weekends near the plaza.
Nightlife
Rooftop bars and restaurants.
Late arrival
Ask about a night desk.
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.