1.  CASCO VIEJO (CASCO ANTIGUO)

Panama City’s Historic Old Town | UNESCO World Heritage Site

Casco Viejo is the most popular historic neighborhood in Panama City, proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This trendy district, also known as Casco Antiguo or San Felipe, features a stunning mix of Spanish colonial and neoclassical architecture that makes it one of the most unique urban destinations in the world.

Founded in 1672, it replaced the original site of Panama City after it was sacked by the pirate Henry Morgan. Today you’ll find important historic landmarks, museums, churches, boutique hotels, world-class restaurants, and vibrant nightlife — all within a walkable, charming neighborhood full of stories on every cobblestone street.

•  Location: San Felipe, Panama City
•  Instagram: @discovercascoviejo
•  Hours: Open 24/7 — public area
•  Admission: Free to explore
•  Must Do: Visit Plaza de la Independencia, the National Theater, the Golden Altar at Iglesia de San José, and catch the views from one of the rooftop bars

2.  PANAMA CANAL — MIRAFLORES LOCKS

The #1 Tourist Attraction in Panama | Engineering Wonder of the World

The Miraflores Visitor Center is an awe-inspiring experience where visitors from all over the world come to watch massive ships rise and descend through a system of locks connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Inaugurated on August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal remains one of the most impressive engineering achievements in human history — now over 112 years old and still operating every single day.

The center features ship observation terraces, interactive exhibition halls, a 3D simulation room where you can experience what it’s like to pilot a vessel through the Canal, and an IMAX theater showing the film «A Land Divided, A World United», narrated by actor Morgan Freeman.

•  Location: Miraflores, Panama Oeste (20 minutes from the city center)
•  Instagram: @canaldepanama
•  Hours: Every day, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
•  Admission: Approximately $17 for international visitors — includes access to observation decks, museums, and the film
•  Must Do: Watch a massive cargo ship pass through the locks up close — a once-in-a-lifetime experience

3.  BIOMUSEO

Panama’s Museum of Biodiversity | Frank Gehry’s Only Building in Latin America

The Biomuseo was designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry — the mastermind behind the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris — and it is his only project in Latin America. The striking, colorful building is dedicated to telling Panama’s unique story and its extraordinary impact on the planet’s biodiversity.

Spanning 4,000 square meters, it houses eight permanent exhibition galleries, temporary exhibit spaces, a gift shop, a café, and a botanical park. Science, art, creativity, and inspiration come together in one of the most visually iconic buildings in all of Central America.

•  Location: Calzada de Amador 136, Panama City
•  Instagram: @biomuseopanama
•  Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Closed Mondays
•  Admission: ~$22 adults / ~$15 children
•  Must Do: Take photos of the exterior architecture — one of the most photogenic and Instagram-worthy buildings in Panama

4.  CALZADA DE AMADOR

Amador Causeway | Best Sunset Views | Panama City Skyline | Waterfront Walk & Bike Ride

The Amador Causeway is a scenic waterfront promenade connecting Panama City to four small islands: Naos, Perico, Culebra, and Flamenco. It was built using rocks excavated during the construction of the Panama Canal. From the causeway you can take in the stunning modern Panama City skyline, the Bridge of the Americas, and the entrance to the Canal — making it the perfect spot to watch the sunset.

It’s a must-visit on any Panama City trip: ideal for walking, cycling, and snapping photos with the iconic «PANAMÁ» letters sign. The islands are home to restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops with a relaxed, local vibe.

•  Location: Av. Amador, entrance near the Biomuseo, Panama City
•  Instagram: @calzadadeamador
•  Hours: Open 24/7 — public area
•  Admission: Free
•  Must Do: Rent a bicycle at sunset + photo at the «PANAMÁ» letters + dinner on Flamenco Island

5.  PANAMA VIEJO RUINS

The First European City on the Pacific Coast of the Americas | UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Panama Viejo ruins mark the site where, in 1519, the first Spanish city on the Pacific coast of the Americas was founded — six years after explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa first reached Panamanian shores. The city was destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan in 1671, and its haunting ruins stand today as a fascinating window into that history.

Part of the same UNESCO World Heritage Site as Casco Viejo, Panama Viejo offers one of the most accessible and authentic archaeological experiences in all of Central America. The medieval cathedral tower rising against Panama City’s modern skyline is one of the most iconic and unforgettable images in the entire country.

•  Location: Av. Cincuentenario, Panama City
•  Instagram: @panamaviejo
•  Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM | Closed Mondays
•  Admission: ~$15 adults / ~$8 children
•  Must Do: Climb the Cathedral Tower for a panoramic view of the city — ancient ruins with a modern skyline backdrop, an absolutely unique photo opportunity

 Pro Travel Tip: The perfect one-day Panama City itinerary hits all five spots: start at Casco Viejo in the morning, head to Miraflores Locks at midday, visit the Biomuseo in the afternoon, stroll the Calzada de Amador at sunset, and finish with dinner by the waterfront. Panama City in a day — done right.