Overview to Panama City: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
- Panama City Information
- Eating & drinking in Panama City
- Things to do in Panama City
- Where to stay in Panama City
- Panama City street map
The strikingly modern skyline of Panama City rises out of the Panama Bay, a bold statement of progress from this engaging metropolis. With a host of impressive sights and a surprisingly cosmopolitan atmosphere to soak up, the city greets each visitor with vigor and vibe.
The approach to the city is dominated by the skyscrapers of a compact urban center. Although most things of interest fit snugly between the bay and the tropical forests behind, it is in fact a large city and travelers may be advised to plan their itineraries.
The Old Town of San Felipe juts out into the bay from the south of the city, a hive of well-restored colonial buildings. The grand Plaza Catedral (the Casco Viejo’s epicenter) is home to both the glorious classical cathedral and the Museo del Canal Interoceanico.
To the east, a succession of sights sit along Calle 3. The Museo de Arte Religioso Colonial, the Palacio Nacional and the monastery of San Francisco, are all worthy attractions. Opposite sits the Plaza Bolivar, a graceful square of central historical importance to Panama.
Following the shopping stretch of Avendia Central out from San Felipe takes visitors through the comfortable districts of Calidonia and Bella Vista, and still more museums and monuments. To the north of the center, meanwhile, the Avenue ends in the commercial hub of El Cangrejo.
For those looking to escape the tumult, the area of Cerro Ancón (east of San Felipe) offers surprisingly lush inner-city woodland. Ultimately, though, from whatever angle you come to it, Panama City is a very appetizing prospect.
