When travelling to Central and South America, quite often you’ll see a stopover in Panama City, Panama on your itinerary. For some, the idea of a stopover sounds inconvenient. But to me, it sounds like a great way to add another destination to my travel plans super easily! With a stopover, you may be able to explore the city for several hours or stay overnight. In my case, I had a 24-hour stopover and had plenty of time to explore the highlights of Panama City.
Stopovers are certainly not for everyone as they require a consistently fast pace if you want to explore a lot of the city. Though, some people head to a nice restaurant or relax on the beach during their stopover, which is just as amazing! Either way, plenty of planning is required to make the most out of your Panama City stopover. Hopefully this article will inspire you to add some of these amazing things to do and see to your itinerary!
Continue reading to discover how to spend an amazing day exploring city highlights on a stopover in Panama City, Panama!
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Table of Contents
Top Things to See and Do on a Panama City Stopover
Visit the Panama City Sign
I really enjoy visiting giant city signs on my travels. The Panama City sign is one I just had to visit during my stopover. It’s located right in front of the water, making it a great place to walk around after taking photos of the sign!
Walk Along Amador Causeway
The Amador Causeway is a long road and boardwalk that connects the city to a few small islands. It’s a great place to walk and enjoy the breeze from the water and admire the scenery.
Head to the Famous Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is one of the main reasons I wanted to explore on my Panama City stopover. While it really is just a boat canal, I’ve always been fascinated about the history of the canal and how it works. If you’re lucky, you’ll witness a boat slowly moving through and the canal locks in action.
Visit Miraflores Visitor Center
The Miraflores Visitor Center is located along the Panama Canal, so it’s a great spot to visit to knock out two places at once. It’s a great place to learn about the history of the area and view the canal from one of the observation decks or terraces. There is a restaurant on-site, but be warned, it is quite pricey! We opted to purchase a couple of drinks to sit on the terrace and watch the boats.
Indulge in Food at a Local Restaurant
This is one that I wish I planned out better before my stopover. I ended up finding a random last-minute spot to eat on my adventures rather than planning a place to go in advance. There are many incredible local restaurants around the city, serving Panamanian cuisine. As the city is located on the water, the fish is great!
Go On a City Tour
There are plenty of organized tours to take you around the city to explore highlights. This is more of a stress-free option as everything is planned for you in advance, you just need to show up! There are convenient tours that offer round-trip airport transportation as well, which is perfect for a stopover adventure!
Visit a Museum
I enjoy visiting museums in different cities I travel to so I can learn more about the area and its history. Panama is home to interesting natural history museums like Biomuseo, art museums like the Museum of Contemporary Art, and history museums like the Panama Canal Museum. It’s a great way to learn about Panama City without having to adventure too far!
Wander Through Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo is the old historic district of Panama City. Here, you’ll find buildings with stunning architecture painted in pastel colours. It was my favourite part of the city to walk through as I love historical buildings. There are stalls selling souvenirs, cafes with incredible coffee, and amazing restaurants to explore. Casco Viejo is definitely a must-visit if exploring Panama City on a stopover.
Go Shopping
Shopping is likely something you’d do if your stopover was on the way home rather than on the way to your vacation destination. But, Panama City is home to a number of shopping malls boasting hundreds of stores, souvenir shops around the streets, and markets to explore.
Where to Stay in Panama City
Budget-Friendly Accommodations
- For an affordable hostel stay located on the mountain, check out Bodhi Panama City. There are both private room and dorm options for super affordable prices!
- Hotel Milan is located close to downtown and a 20-minute drive from the airport.
Mid-Tier Accommodations
- I stayed at Hotel Faranda Express Soloy & Casino during my stopover. It is located a little way outside of the downtown core, but the rooftop pool completely won me over!
- Hotel y Casino Central Park Panama also has a gorgeous pool and cozy rooms to relax in.
Luxury Accommodations
- This stunning 3-story penthouse is a perfect vacation rental option. The rooftop sitting area is the perfect way to relax after a long day of exploring.
- Located a bit outside of the city, Dreams Playa Bonita Panama boasts a beachfront property with a stunning pool.
To discover more places to stay in Panama City, Panama, check out Expedia.ca, Booking.com, HostelWorld, or VRBO.
Conclusion
Panama City, Panama is a great stopover destination on your way to or from South America. There are plenty of things to do within a single day. My stopover has inspired me to put Panama on my future travel list so I can explore more of what the country has to offer!
Further Reading on Central America:
- 30 Amazing Things to Do in Nicaragua
- White Water Rafting in Costa Rica
- Reasons to Visit Corn Islands, Nicaragua
- Best Places to Visit in Nicaragua
- The Ultimate Costa Rica Bucket List
Have you had a stopover in Panama City? What were your favourite things to do and see? Let me know about your experience in the comments!
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6 Comments
Steve Collins
Cities on the coast look like so much fun, can’t wait to get back out there
deventuretime
So much fun!!
GLEN BOWE
Panama is definitely on our post pandemic bucket list.
deventuretime
I really want to head back and explore more! A stopover wasn’t enough for me. 😀
Lookoom
As you say Panama is often the place to change planes between the north and south of America. I have often connected there from Toronto or on the way back. If you have a long connection, Copa Airlines, the national airline, organizes a city tour by mini-bus. Personally I preferred to book my own driver-guide with whom I had prepared the itinerary. Casco Viejo and the Miraflores lock are certainly the places to visit in priority. Thereafter I came back to spend about ten days in Panama, at the right season.
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