Panama CityCapital
Panama · Country profile
Panama City is the capital of the country of the canal, the most modern and the most dynamic metropolis of Central America, a city whose enormous glass skyline rises over the bay while the colonial old town, the Casco Viejo, preserves the historic heart just across the water. The canal, the great waterway, runs past the edge of the city with its locks and its enormous cargo ships, and the causeway and the bridges of the bay give the whole thing a spectacular setting. The city is a crossroads of the region, fast, prosperous and increasingly cosmopolitan, with the rainforest reserves and the islands of both coasts within easy reach. A bridge between the two Americas and the two oceans, Panama City is the gateway of the entire continent.
About Panama City
Panama City is the capital of Panama. The city's documented population is around 1,200,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Balboa (PAB) and Spanish is spoken; the dialling code is +507. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Tocumen International Airport.
The Canal, the Locks and the Skyline over the Bay
Panama City is the most modern capital in Central America, a place of skyscrapers, fast money and a constantly moving economy, set between the colonial charm of the Casco Viejo and the jungle of the metropolitan parks. The canal is the great sight, and the majestic passage of the enormous ships through the locks is the essential experience. The city is compact and easy, with the banks of the bay, the old town and the modern districts connected by the metro and the taxi apps. It is a working, prosperous, surprisingly green city, and it is the natural base for the islands, the highlands and the forests of the whole region.
The Dry Season, the Dollar and the Metro of the City
The climate is tropical, with the dry season from January to April and the wet season through the rest of the year, and the heat and the humidity are the constant of the city. The cathedral of the Casco Viejo and the canal visitors centre at the Miraflores locks are the essential sights, and the causeway of the city with its views over the bay is the classic evening walk. The US dollar is the currency, the Spanish is the language and the cards work everywhere. The city is modern and easy, with the metro and the taxi apps covering the main areas, and the canal and its rainforests are the obvious day trips. Bring the light clothes and the sunglasses.
The Casco Viejo, the Causeway and the Rainforest of the Weekends
The Casco Viejo, the colonial old town on its peninsula, is the historic heart of the city and a world heritage, and its plazas, its churches and its increasingly stylish bars and restaurants have made it the evening centre of the capital. The visitor centre of the Miraflores locks gives the front-row view of the ships of the canal, and the causeway of the Amador with its views over the bridge and the bay is the classic walk. The metropolitan parks of the city, the tropical reserves that reach into the urban edge, hold the sloths, the monkeys and the birds of the rainforest. The modern skyline of the city, best seen from the water, is the emblem of the new Panama. The islands of both coasts and the highlands of the west are the natural extensions of the trip.
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- Country
- Panama
- Population
- 1,200,000
- Coordinates
- 9.0714, -79.3835
- Capital
- Panama City
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- Balboa (PAB)
- Languages
- Spanish
- Calling code
- +507
- Country code
- PA
Entry requirements for Panama
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting Panama for tourism.
Getting to Panama City
Airports we list for Panama City:
Frequently asked questions
Is Panama City the capital of Panama?
Yes — Panama City is the capital of Panama.
What currency do I need in Panama City?
The local currency is the Balboa (PAB). Languages spoken in Panama include Spanish.
What is the dialling code for Panama?
The international dialling code for Panama is +507.
Which airport should I fly into for Panama City?
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) is the airport we list for Panama City.
Do I need a visa to visit Panama?
It depends on your passport. Among the origins we track, travellers from Australia, Canada, France, Germany and Italy currently enter Panama visa-free for tourism. Use the entry requirements tool to check your own nationality and purpose of travel.
Flying out of Panama City? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.