Best Things to Do in Casco Viejo, Panama

Introduction

On my very first trip to Panama City more than a decade ago, I spent a lot of time researching where I wanted to base myself. I quickly realized that most visitors tend to choose between staying among Panama City’s modern high-rise hotel districts or staying on the historic peninsula of Casco Viejo, in one of the low-rise boutique hotels tucked within the city’s historic district (often referred to locally as Casco Antiguo).

But when I considered how I actually wanted to experience Panama City, the decision became easy. Most of the experiences I was looking for — wandering colourful streets, people-watching in plazas, lingering over Panamanian coffee, browsing markets and museums, and eating great food — felt best enjoyed from within this beautifully restored UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Since then, I haven’t looked back. I’ve stayed in Casco Viejo on every trip back to Panama and still can’t seem to get enough of its energy and charm.

So whether you choose to stay in Casco Viejo or within one of Panama City’s modern hotel districts, I really want to encourage you to spend at least a day exploring this historic neighbourhood. In this post, I’ll show you everything I think you should see and do in Casco Viejo.

Watch a Quick Video Tour of Casco Viejo

Want a quick feel for Casco Viejo? Here’s a one-minute glimpse of the neighbourhood before we dive in.

Quick Guide to Casco Viejo

Why visit (or better yet, stay) in Casco Viejo?

• Walkable and pedestrian-friendly
• Colourful streets and charming boutique shops
• 2 top museums – the Mola Museum and the Canal Museum
• Some of Panama City’s top restaurants and cafés
• Beautiful plazas perfect for people-watching
• Incredible rooftop views of Panama City’s skyline
• Great boutique hotel options

Best for:

• History lovers
• Foodies
• Romantic getaways
• Families
• Photography enthusiasts
• First-time visitors

Time needed:

• Half day minimum
• 2–3 days is ideal to soak it all in

Stay here?

• Yes — my preferred area of Panama City (more on this later)

Pin for later!

Best Things to Do in Casco Viejo

Now for the fun part. In no particular order, here are my favourite things to do in Casco Viejo.

Wander the Colourful Streets

Strolling the streets of Casco Viejo is a delightful way to spend part of a day. As you wander (best done, in my opinion, with no particular destination in mind), don’t forget to look up. The neighbourhood is a fascinating mix of beautifully restored mansions, crumbling facades and colourful buildings, often draped in lush green plants and flowers.

Many of the restored buildings are now boutique hotels, cafés and restaurants, so don’t hesitate to pop inside if a space catches your eye.

While I personally prefer simply wandering and seeing where the streets take me, some visitors may enjoy adding a little more historical context to their explorations. If you are interested in learning the stories behind the buildings and hidden corners of Casco Viejo, a guided walking tour can be a great way to discover places you might otherwise walk right past.

Interested in exploring with a guide? Check availability for this Casco Viejo walking tour → Legends and Hidden Gems of Casco Viejo.

Visit the Mola Museum

If you don’t know what a mola is yet, I don’t want you leaving Panama without finding out.

A mola is a traditional handmade textile art form created by the Guna people, one of Panama’s seven recognized Indigenous groups. Molas originated in the Caribbean islands and coastal communities of Guna Yala (formerly known as the San Blas Islands), where many Guna communities still live today.

Created by carefully layering and cutting multiple pieces of brightly coloured fabric, molas often feature intricate geometric patterns, animals, plants and designs inspired by nature and daily life. What may look simple at first glance is actually an incredibly detailed and time-intensive art form requiring remarkable skill and precision.

Whether Panama City is your only stop in Panama or you’re planning to continue on to Guna Yala, the Mola Museum is well worth visiting. The museum showcases beautiful work created by master mola makers, allowing you to appreciate the extraordinary skill, detail and artistry involved in the process. Best of all, admission is free, making it an easy stop to add to your Casco Viejo itinerary.

Tip: The museum itself does not sell molas. While you will find beautifully curated collections for sale in boutiques throughout Casco Viejo, I would encourage you to buy directly from a Guna community member if possible. One of the best places I found to browse molas sold by Guna artisans was along the shaded waterfront pathway near Plaza V Centario, just on the outskirts of Casco Viejo (about an 8 minute walk from the center).

Visit the Canal Museum

During a visit to Panama City, chances are you’ll also be visiting the Miraflores Visitor Center right on the Panama Canal. So why visit the Canal Museum in Casco Viejo as well? Personally, I found that the two experiences complement each other really well.

The Canal Museum takes a really deep dive into the history and human stories surrounding the canal — from the early French attempts and enormous construction challenges to the people and cultures that helped shape Panama along the way. It provides a much fuller understanding of the region’s history before, during, and after the canal was built.

Meanwhile, the Miraflores Visitor Center is more about experiencing the canal itself. Watching enormous ships move through the locks and appreciating the sheer scale and engineering behind it is pretty incredible.

Note: Casco Viejo can get surprisingly hot, especially if you are spending hours wandering its beautiful streets. Stepping into an interesting museum with air conditioning can feel like a welcome little break before heading back out to explore.

Try Panama’s Famous Geisha Coffee

Nobody has to twist my arm to stop for a coffee anywhere, let alone in a beautiful neighbourhood like Casco Viejo, but Panama’s famous Geisha coffee had me particularly intrigued.

Originally brought to Panama from Ethiopia decades ago, Geisha coffee gained worldwide attention after growers in Panama discovered that the country’s unique climate and high-altitude growing regions could produce something exceptional. Known for its delicate flavour profile, Geisha coffee often has floral and tea-like notes, along with hints of jasmine, citrus and tropical fruit.

Fun fact: Some rare Panamanian Geisha coffee lots have sold for more than $13,000 per pound at international auctions.

Some excellent (and very stylish) places to try Geisha and other locally-grown coffee blends in Casco Viejo include Café Unido and Sisu Coffee Studio. Expect to pay around $10 USD or more for a high-end cup of Geisha coffee. Pricey? Absolutely. But if you think of it more as a unique Panamanian experience than simply a cup of coffee, it somehow softens the purchase.

Tip: Café Unido is located very close to the Mola Museum so you might want to combine the two activities.

If you want to go beyond simply ordering a cup of coffee, there are also more immersive coffee tasting experiences available. The beautiful locally-owned, boutique hotel La Concordia offers a coffee and chocolate tasting experience that dives deeper into Panama’s coffee culture.

Recommended experience: Interested in learning more? → Panamanian Geisha Coffee and Chocolate Tasting at La Concordia

Relax in One of Casco Viejo’s Beautiful Plazas

As you explore Casco Viejo, you will almost certainly find yourself wandering through several of its beautiful plazas, including Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Mayor), Plaza Bolívar and Plaza de Francia. To me, these plazas feel a little like the heartbeat of the neighbourhood — places where daily life naturally gathers and unfolds. 

One of my favourite things to do is simply find a shady bench and spend a little time people-watching. In the mornings, you’ll see people exercising, walking their dogs, reading or lingering over coffee. As the day goes on, the atmosphere becomes a little livelier. Musicians appear, vendors set up nearby and locals and visitors gather to enjoy the slower rhythm of life. If you’re lucky, you may even stumble across traditional dancers, live music or a local celebration taking place.

One of my most treasured memories from my first stay in Casco Viejo many years ago was letting my kids stay up much later than usual so they could experience the lively evening plaza atmosphere. After dinner, we sat in the gazebo in Plaza Mayor while some local children, despite the language barrier, proudly introduced my kids to their new puppy.

Stroll Along the Cinta Costera Promenade

For a beautiful view of Panama City that showcases both the old and the new, take a stroll along the Cinta Costera pedestrian pathway just outside of Casco Viejo. It’s my second favourite place to appreciate the city skyline. (My first is from a Casco Viejo rooftop bar at sunset!)

The images below show the completely different views you get when looking in opposite directions from the exact same spot along the Cinta Costera pedestrian pathway.

Along the way, you’ll pass joggers, cyclists, families out for a stroll and plenty of people simply enjoying the ocean breeze. You’ll also come across vendors selling handmade goods, including molas and other artisan items. The walk eventually brings you to another worthwhile stop: Mercado de Mariscos, Panama City’s famous fish market.

Visit the Fish Market (Mercado de Mariscos)

Yes, it is a smelly, noisy and somewhat hectic place (especially in the early morning when the fish trade is in full swing), but it is also an interesting place to get a feel for the commerce and everyday energy of Panama City. It also happens to be one of the best places in the city to enjoy fresh seafood.

On my first trip to Panama City with my husband and kids in 2014, we grabbed a beer and ceviche right inside the market itself after seeing Anthony Bourdain do exactly that in his well-known travel series Parts Unknown (still an excellent travel series, in my opinion).

On my more recent trip, I realized there is a slightly more relaxed way to enjoy the myriad of fresh seafood options. We did a quick wander through the bustling market and then headed outside to browse the many — and I mean many — outdoor seafood restaurants lining the perimeter.

Tip: Walking past these restaurants can feel a bit like running a gauntlet. Persistent hosts offer free ceviche, a free beer, a free margarita, or sometimes all three if you choose their restaurant. If you take a quick look at the reviews, though, you’ll notice that many of the places closest to the market entrance get quite poor reviews.

My recommendation is to keep walking all the way toward the back and find Restaurante Las Perlas, which receives much better reviews and doesn’t seem to need freebies to convince people to stop in. It’s very simple fare, but the quality is excellent.

Step Inside Casco Viejo’s Historic Churches

Even if you are not usually someone who seeks out churches while travelling, Casco Viejo’s historic churches are worth a quick look. Their beautiful architecture and peaceful interiors offer a welcome break from the heat and bustle of the neighbourhood.

A few to look for include the Metropolitan Cathedral on Plaza Mayor, Iglesia de San José, famous for its ornate golden altar, and Iglesia de la Merced, whose historic façade was moved stone by stone from Panamá Viejo.

You may also come across the ruins of Santo Domingo Convent, home to the famous Arco Chato or “Flat Arch,” another interesting stop if you enjoy old architecture and layered history.

Stroll Paseo de las Bóvedas and Plaza de Francia

Tucked along the edge of Casco Viejo, Paseo de las Bóvedas is a lovely place for a slower stroll. Running along historic stone walls overlooking the Bay of Panama, it offers beautiful views back toward the city’s modern skyline.

At one end, you’ll find Plaza de Francia, a beautiful open plaza honouring the French efforts to build the Panama Canal. I especially enjoy this area in the late afternoon when the temperatures begin to ease a little and you can often catch a bit of an ocean breeze. From here, it is an easy transition to one of Casco Viejo’s rooftop patios for sunset and then on to dinner at one of the neighbourhood’s many excellent restaurants.

Watch Sunset from a Rooftop Patio

There are so many beautiful rooftop patios in Casco Viejo from which to watch the sunset. If you’re staying in the area for several nights, personally, I think you should visit a different one each evening because the views can feel surprisingly different from one rooftop to the next.

A few of my favourites include:

• The Day Joe Died (located atop La Concordia Hotel) — This is a new favourite of mine. I love the atmosphere and the perspective over Casco Viejo’s rooftops toward Panama City’s modern skyline.

• Capella (located atop Hotel La Compañía) — A beautiful and refined rooftop setting with lovely views and a slightly more upscale feel.

• CasaCasco — A longtime Casco Viejo favourite with sweeping views and a lively atmosphere. Great if you want to continue the evening with dinner or another drink afterwards as they have an extensive food menu.

• Tántalo Rooftop Bar (located atop Tántalo Hotel) — One of Casco Viejo’s original rooftop favourites and still a popular spot for drinks and sunset views.

No matter where you go, try to arrive a little before sunset and linger for a drink before heading off to one of Casco Viejo’s excellent restaurants for dinner. Watching the light slowly change over the Bay of Panama as the city begins to glow is one of those experiences that makes you understand why so many people fall in love with this neighbourhood.

Tip: Don’t miss sunset! Panama sits quite close to the equator, so sunset happens surprisingly early year-round — usually somewhere between 5:35 pm and 6:45 pm, depending on the time of year.

Eat at One of Panama City’s Best Restaurants

For a relatively small neighbourhood, Casco Viejo really punches above its weight when it comes to food. You will find everything from casual local spots to beautifully designed restaurants serving creative cuisine and, honestly, you would have to work pretty hard to have a bad meal here. There are simply so many great options packed into a few walkable streets.

Top Casco Viejo Restaurants

• Caleta (located within the Sofitel Legend Hotel) — Refined Panamanian cuisine highlighting local ingredients and beautifully plated dishes. Led by Michelin-starred chef Lorenzo Di Gravio.

• Santa Rita — Spanish-inspired cuisine and tapas with seafood, meat dishes and a lively atmosphere.

• Fonda Lo Que Hay — Creative Panamanian comfort food with a chef-driven approach to local flavours and one of the city’s most talked-about casual dining spots.

• Kaandela (located within Amarla Boutique Hotel) — Elevated Panamanian cuisine cooked with open-fire techniques in a beautiful boutique hotel setting.

• La Pulpería — Spanish-style tapas and sharing plates with a lively atmosphere.

• CasaCasco — Multiple concepts under one roof, from sushi and cocktails to rooftop dining. A great option if your group cannot agree on one thing.

• Mahalo Cocina y Jardín (located beside Las Clementinas Hotel) — Fresh, healthy dishes and brunch favourites served in a beautiful garden setting.

For the serious foodies: As much as I love eating my way around Casco Viejo, there are a few restaurants elsewhere in Panama City that are absolutely worth venturing out for:

• Maito — One of Panama City’s most celebrated restaurants, serving creative contemporary cuisine rooted in Panamanian flavours and local ingredients. Maito has repeatedly been ranked among the best restaurants in Latin America.

• Mai Mai — A stylish and lively spot serving Nikkei (Peruvian-Japanese) cuisine, creative sushi and cocktails. Mai Mai’s Nikkei fusion comes courtesy of its two owners: chef Mario Castrellon, who also helms Maito in Panama City, and Mitsuharu Tsumura, chef at Maido in Lima — combining the influence of two of Latin America’s most celebrated restaurants.

• La Tapa del Coco — A casual spot serving bold Afro-Caribbean cuisine with rich flavours and one of the more unique dining experiences in Panama City.

Personally, if there is a place you really have your heart set on, I would recommend making reservations, particularly on weekends.

Map of Casco Viejo, Panama Attractions

For your convenience, I’ve gone ahead and plotted all of my favourite places on the map below. You can explore the interactive Casco Viejo map here, or simply click directly on the map itself to open it.

Is Casco Viejo Safe?

During my visits to Panama City, I have generally felt quite comfortable walking around Casco Viejo, even later into the evenings, as long as the plazas and restaurants are still busy. One thing visitors often notice is the fairly visible police and security presence throughout the neighbourhood, with officers frequently keeping an eye on activity in the streets and plazas. While this can feel a little intimidating at first, it seemed to me to function primarily as a visible crime deterrent rather than anything more nefarious.

That said, it is still a city, so normal travel common sense applies. I would avoid carrying passports around with you and instead leave them, along with extra cash and valuables, in your hotel safe whenever possible. I would also stick to well-travelled streets and use official taxis or ride-sharing services if venturing farther outside Casco Viejo after dark. If you’re ever unsure, your hotel or restaurant can easily call a taxi for you.

Where to Stay in Casco Viejo

One of the reasons I love staying in Casco Viejo is that, for me, the hotel becomes part of the experience itself. So many are tucked inside beautifully restored historic buildings and are simply overflowing with charm and personality. The hotels here tend to be smaller boutique-style properties, with very little that feels generic or cookie-cutter about them.

That said, I do want to mention again that Casco Viejo is a very lively neighbourhood, and that energy can continue well into the wee hours of the morning. (You may even find, as I did on our most recent trip, that your hotel has thoughtfully left earplugs in the bedside table drawer.) Personally, this energy is part of the appeal for me, but if you are looking for a very quiet stay with larger resort amenities, Panama City’s modern hotel districts may be a better fit.

Best Casco Viejo Boutique Hotels

• La Concordia Hotel — This lovely locally owned boutique hotel is a new favourite of mine and where I stayed with my daughter on our most recent Panama City visit. The luxurious rooms are beautifully designed, and the hotel is home to The Day Joe Died rooftop bar, one of my favourite places in Casco Viejo for sunset drinks. There is no pool, but the character and location more than make up for it.

• Amarla Boutique Hotel — Tucked away in a beautifully restored historic building, Amarla feels intimate and romantic with just a handful of rooms and thoughtful design touches throughout. This lovely hotel offer a gorgeous rooftop lounge with a jacuzzi tub and is also home to Kaandela Restaurant, one of Casco Viejo’s more elevated dining experiences. (Amarla is an adults-only property.)

• Las Clementinas — This charming boutique property offers larger apartment-style suites (up to 4 ppl) that work especially well for families or longer stays. It is home to Mahalo Cocina y Jardín, one of Casco Viejo’s lovely garden restaurants. There is no pool or rooftop bar.

Best Larger-Scale Casco Viejo Hotels

• Hotel La Compañía — Built from beautifully restored historic buildings, Hotel La Compañía delivers a more full-service luxury experience while still feeling true to Casco Viejo. The hotel features a swimming pool, several excellent restaurants, and the beautiful Capella rooftop bar.

• Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo — Sitting right along the waterfront, Sofitel offers elegant rooms and some of the best bay views in Casco Viejo. The property includes a pool, multiple restaurants, including Caleta, and a rooftop terrace and bar overlooking the city skyline. (As this hotel is at the tip of Casco Viejo, on the water, this is the quietest of my recommended hotel options.)

Want to compare prices and availability for all Casco Viejo hotels? Browse all Casco Viejo hotel options here. If you prefer, you can also use the following interactive accommodations map.

Whether you spend a few hours wandering the colourful streets or settle in for several days, Casco Viejo is one of those places that somehow becomes more charming the longer you stay. I originally came for a visit and, more than a decade later, I still keep finding reasons to return.

Learn More

I hope this post on Casco Viejo, Panama answered all (if not, most) of your questions. If there is anything else you need help with, please feel free to reach out to me via direct message on Instagram, Facebook or by email.

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