Discover Casco Viejo and more!

on an Unforgettable City Tour

This article highlights some of the best places in Casco Viejo. Some are already included in our City Tour by Car, others may require an admission fee or might be restricted because of season or official visits as the Panamanian presidency is located in Casco Antiguo as well.

Please ask our agents to customize your City Tour so you can get the best experience of Panama City’s historical district.

Book City Tour by Car

Let’s visit: Panama Canal

Our signature Panama City tour begins with a thrilling stop at the Miraflores Visitor Center, where the massive locks of the Panama Canal give way to huge ships carrying containers, oil, grains, any sort of goods, showcasing engineering brilliance that reshapes global trade routes.

If we are lucky enough we might even see cruise ships where hundreds of tourists meet you for a brief moment connecting the whole world while they pass through the locks.

Book the full experience: Panama Canal partial transits

Panama Canal Museum

Next, we explore the Panama Canal Museum, immersing ourselves in historic engineering triumphs that reshaped global trade routes, while our knowledgeable guides share captivating stories behind each exhibit.

The tour through the rooms tells the Panamanian history, taking you by the hand through 1,350 pieces from pre-Columbian times to the present day, including the Torrijos-Carter Treaty, the Flag of January 9, 1964, and those of the Flag Planting of 1958.

Tha Panama Canal Museum has a great collection of items, photos and information of the days around the construction of the Canal.

It also has temporal art exhibitions worth the visit.

This is an optional stop at our City Tour by car, please ask our agents to include this at an additional cost

Casco Viejo

In 1673, after pirates destroyed the original Panama City, a new historic district was built. This area, known as Casco Antiguo, or Casco Viejo, is also called San Felipe. In 1997, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Casco Viejo was and still is the center of the city but these days all the hassle moved to other areas, leaving Casco Viejo’s magic intact where time passes a little slower than the rest of the city.

Casco Viejo, now is a top tourist destination offering a great variety of shops, restaurants, bars, historic places, photographic spots and theatres.

Remember: If you’d like to visit an specific place, please tell our agents so we can customize the tour for you. Some locations require admission fees and might generate extra charges.

Read our blog post: «Casco Viejo, the second city»

Places to visit in Casco Viejo

Metropolitan Cathedral and Plaza Catedral

While the Metropolitan Cathedral is the most important Catholic church in the city. It’s placed right in front of the Cathedral Plaza where it is frequent to see pop-up markets during the weekends where you can buy souvenirs directly from crafters.

St. Francis of Assisi Church and Convent

While the Cathedral is the most important Catholic church in the country, St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beautiful.

It is well known for it’s photogenic environment and right in front of it is Plaza Bolivar full of restaurants and bars.

Palacio de las Garzas

This is the Panama’s presidency, while open to public, it is not free to pass without reservation as the palace might restrict access according to official matters.

St. Joseph Church

St. Joseph Church has the golden altar which was brought from the old Panama city after Henry Morgan’s attack.

The altar is covered in gold foil offering an spectacular view.

Plaza de Francia

See it in 360°

Formerly known as «Baluarte de Chiriquí», Plaza de Francia was the defensive fort of the city. Now it has the famous obelisk with the French rooster on top and busts of famous Panamanians that gave shape to the Republican stage of the country.

Paseo de las bóvedas is a popular touristic destination where you can have spectacular views of Panama City, Cinta Costera and Amador’s Causeway.

As a curious fact, if you visit the place during low tide, you’ll see that the bedrock «emerges» from water that made it difficult for enemy ships to come close to the city.

Souvenirs & Gifts

In Casco Viejo you can find many top quality shops offering unique handcrafts of an outstanding level.

Panama Hats, Guna Yala Molas, Emberá Taguas, Wounaan baskets, Polleras jewelry and many many authentique Panamanian crafts you won’t regret the visit.

Restaurants & Bars

AtoZ: This signature restaurant has been the go-to destination for many celebrities. Menu is never the same offering dishes with local produce from their own crops.
The American Trade Hotel: Offers Jazz shows (prior reservation) with amazing Panamanian and international musicians and singers.
La Rana Dorada: Offers craft beers by Panamanian master brewers with unique beers from IPAs to Porters.

Coffee shops

Café Unido: One of the most popular coffee shops in Panama City where they guarantee that their coffee has a fair trade agreement with local farmers.
Dodó bon pan: A small and cozy coffee shop with lunch menus and vegan options. It’s next to Plaza de Francia and perfect for rainy days.
Casa Sucre: A renovated 1873 Spanish Colonial with a 1,000 square foot coffeehouse featuring the coffees of the Boquete region of Panama.