Your guide to Casco Viejo, Panama City's historic old town
Casco Viejo, Panama City
Colonial plazas, restored churches, rooftop bars and sea views, all on a small peninsula you can walk end to end in twenty minutes. Here's how to make the most of it.
Plan your dayPhoto: Garcia.dennis, CC BY-SA 4.0
Plan your visit
Things to do
The best things to do in Casco Viejo: historic plazas, churches, the Canal Museum, sunset on the sea wall, rooftop bars, coffee and easy trips nearby.
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One-day itinerary
A self-guided one-day walking itinerary for Casco Viejo, Panama City: plazas, churches and the Canal Museum in the morning, and sunset on the sea wall.
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Eat & drink
Where to eat and drink in Casco Viejo, Panama City: Panamanian food, rooftop bars, coffee and fresh ceviche, plus the local dishes you should try.
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Where to stay
Where to stay in Casco Viejo, Panama City: luxury hotels in restored colonial buildings, boutique stays and tips on noise, location and when to book.
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Getting there
How to get to Casco Viejo from Tocumen airport, Albrook and the rest of Panama City by taxi, Uber, metro or on foot, plus parking and getting around.
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Is it safe?
Is Casco Viejo safe for tourists? What to expect day and night, which areas to avoid, and practical tips to enjoy Panama City's old town without worry.
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Top sights
The plazas, churches and landmarks worth your time.
Plaza de la Independencia
Casco Viejo's main square, where Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903.
Metropolitan Cathedral
The Basilica of Santa María la Antigua, built over more than a century and beautifully restored.
Panama Canal Museum
The story of the canal, from the failed French attempt to the 1999 handover, on the main square.
Plaza de Francia and Las Bóvedas
A monument to the French canal builders at the tip of the peninsula, with vaults built into the old sea wall.
Paseo Esteban Huertas
A bougainvillea-covered promenade on top of the old sea wall, with views of the bay and skyline.
Church of San José (Golden Altar)
Home of the famous Golden Altar, a baroque masterpiece with a legend attached.
Where Casco Viejo is
Casco Viejo sits on a small peninsula on Panama City's Pacific shore, about 15 minutes by taxi from the banking district and 30 to 45 minutes from Tocumen airport, depending on traffic.
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