Travel advisory · PanamaPanama City is in or near an area where governments advise against all but essential travel: Curundú, El Chorrillo, San Miguelito.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Mosquito Gulf · avoid all travel · Canada, France, New Zealand, US
- Colón · avoid non-essential travel · France, Italy
- Curundú · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- El Chorrillo · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
- San Miguelito · avoid non-essential travel · Spain, France
Also named by one government: Darién border zone with Colombia (France), Darién Gap south of Yaviza (New Zealand), Darién south of Metetí to Colombian border (Canada), Parts of Darién Region (US), Arena (Canada), Arraiján (France), Calidonia (France), Colombian border zones (Spain), Cristobal (France), Darién Province (France), Eastern Darién Province (Italy), Eastern part of Guna Yala (San Blas) (France), El Cacao (Canada), Isla de Cusapín (Spain), Juan Díaz (France), La Chorrera (France), Pedregal (France), Quebro (Canada), San Felipe (France), Santa Ana (France), Tocumen (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Remain vigilant, follow local authorities' advice after earthquake | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Exercise increased caution due to crime (regional advisories) | Aug 19, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Take normal security precautions (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Niveau de sécurité globalement satisfaisant, vigilance renforcée dans certaines zones (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Panama City
Travelers come to Panama City for the canal, the restored colonial old town of Casco Viejo and a modern skyline on the Pacific coast.
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Panama City is the capital of Panama, on the Pacific side of the isthmus that links Central and South America. Its tower skyline sits a short distance from the Panama Canal, which has connected the Pacific and the Caribbean since 1914. The Miraflores Locks, where ships are raised and lowered between the two oceans, are about a 15-minute drive from downtown.
Casco Viejo, the old colonial quarter on its own peninsula, has restored streets, plazas and historic buildings that now hold restaurants and hotels. Panama City suits a short city break, and it is also the main hub for trips to the rest of the country, so many trips start or end here. The dry season, roughly December to April, is the usual time to visit. Plan at least two or three days to cover the canal and the old town at an easy pace.
Panama City in five
- Treat the canal as its own outingMiraflores Locks are a 15-minute drive from downtown, per the tourism authority. Hours, tickets and the Agua Clara alternative are on the canal page.Panama Canal
- Ride the Metro from the airportLine 2 has a branch to Tocumen airport, and Line 1 runs through the center to Albrook.
- Walk Casco ViejoThe old town's plazas, churches and rooftop bars are best explored on foot in the late afternoon.
- Pay in US dollarsPanama uses the US dollar, with its own balboa coins mixed in as change.
Things to do in Panama City
See all attractions in Panama City
Need to know
- Airport
- Tocumen (PTY), about 40 minutes from downtown; Metro Line 2 branch
- Getting there
- Regional flights hub for Central and South America
- Getting around
- Metro, taxis and ride-hailing apps
- Best base
- Casco Viejo for character, El Cangrejo for value
- Time needed
- 2–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, windyJanuaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, windy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, sunnyFebruaryPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 27 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh31°Low23°Dry, hotMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 31 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Hot, dry endAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 135 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry end
- MayRain30 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Rains startMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 323 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rains start
- JuneRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rainy seasonJuneRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy season
- JulyRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Rain, some sunJulyRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 402 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, some sun
- AugustRain30 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low24°RainyAugustRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 349 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Rainy
- SeptemberRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°RainySeptemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 348 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rainy
- OctoberRain30 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°WettestOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 329 mm
- Rainy days
- 30
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wettest
- NovemberRain28 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Heavy rainNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 357 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- DecemberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Drier, festiveDecemberRain
Good
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drier, festive
Average daily high and low in Panama City, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Panama City
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
29
- Feels like
- 34°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 95%
Panama City
03:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°23°95%Monday: Rain. High 29°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Tue29°24°74%Tuesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 74%.
- Wed29°24°87%Wednesday: Rain. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 87%.
- Thu28°24°95%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 95%.
- Fri28°24°75%Friday: Drizzle. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 75%.
- Sat29°25°70%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Sun30°24°55%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 55%.
Updated 12:33 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Panama Canal15 minutes by car to MirafloresShips and a film at Miraflores, or the expanded locks at Agua Clara.Read the guide
- Portobeloabout 1.5 hours by carSpanish forts and Afro-Congo culture on the Caribbean coast.Read the guide
- San Blas Islandsabout 3 hours to the port of Cartí, then a boatGuna-run islands; better for one or two nights.Read the guide
Before you go to Panama City
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Panama City, checked
- Check entry rules for your passport with Panama's National Immigration Service (Migración) before you book, since visa needs depend on nationality.Source
- Carry your passport or a clear copy when you go out. Police and officers can ask to see identity documents at any time.
- Check whether a yellow fever vaccination certificate applies to you before you fly, because Panama asks some arrivals for proof.
- Many taxis run without a meter. Agree the fare before you get in, and ask your hotel what a usual ride costs.
- Panama uses the US dollar, so bring dollars for taxis and small shops. Check the bill for a service charge before you add a tip.
Plan around Panama City
Regions, entry basics and money
Read the guidePanama CanalMiraflores, Agua Clara and boat tours
Read the guideSan Blas IslandsGuna Yala islands, about 3 hours to the port
Read the guideBocas del ToroCaribbean archipelago, 45 minutes by plane
Read the guideCartagenaA short flight to Colombia's walled city
Read the guideMoney and cardsUsing US dollars and ATMs abroad
Read the guideVisas and entryCheck the rules for your passport
Read the guidePanama City FAQ
How do I get from Tocumen airport to Panama City?
Take the Metro Line 2 airport branch, a taxi or a ride-hailing car. Driving takes about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic.
What currency does Panama use?
The US dollar. Panama also mints balboa coins, which are worth the same and circulate alongside US coins.
How far is the Panama Canal from Panama City?
The tourism authority puts Miraflores Visitor Center a 15-minute drive from downtown and Agua Clara Visitor Center about an hour away, near Colón. The canal guide compares the two.
Is Panama City safe for tourists?
The UK advice names mugging precautions at tourist sites including Casco Viejo, Panama Viejo, Via España and Albrook Mall, and lists higher-crime districts such as San Miguelito and El Chorrillo. It says not to swim in the Bay of Panama because of sewage and to use ride-hailing apps or hotel transport rather than street taxis.
How many days do you need in Panama City?
Two days cover Casco Viejo, a canal visit and a Metro ride. A third day adds the Amador Causeway or a second canal site, and a base here makes the islands easy to add.