Panama

On Sunday mornings the city closes a long stretch of the coastal road to cars so cyclists, runners and families can take it over, an open-streets event called the Recreovía. Recent editions have run from the elevated bridge at Paitilla to the end of the marine section at Barraza, starting around six in the morning. Go…

Each year on November 3 and 4 the capital fills with civic parades of school bands and delegations. One route runs through Casco Antiguo from Calle 3 near Parque Simón Bolívar to Calle 26 on Avenida Balboa, and another follows Vía España. The first day marks the separation from Colombia and the second is the Day of…

IFF Panamá, the international film festival, takes over the capital in early April. The Teatro Nacional in Casco Antiguo hosts gala screenings, the Museo del Canal has been one of the main venues, and Ciudad de las Artes handles the talks and workshops. The 2025 edition opened on April 4 and the 2026 edition included…

Danilo's Jazz Club is an intimate listening room of about 60 seats inside the American Trade Hotel on Plaza Herrera, tied to the pianist Danilo Pérez and his foundation's jazz school. The room is built for listening, so arrive ready to focus on the stage rather than chat. The hotel's own page sells tickets for its…

The Paseo Esteban Huertas runs along the old seawall of Casco Antiguo, with the bay on one side and the modern skyline across the water, framed by flowers along the path. Late afternoon into sunset is the busiest window, so on weekends arrive about half an hour early or shoot in the softer morning light. The walk ends…

The Metro and the MetroBus run on a rechargeable card, and cash is not accepted at the turnstiles or on the buses, so buy and load one at any station before you queue. Line 1 runs east to west from the Albrook bus terminal through the center, a quiet way across town when the avenues are jammed. Line 2 joins it at San…

On Plaza Catedral, the Canal Museum tells the story of the waterway through 11 rooms, from the Spanish colonial routes to the French attempt and the Canal Zone. Each room has an audio guide, and the guides come in Spanish, English and French as well as Ngäbere, Guna and Emberá. Allow a long visit and start at the…

Several of the best museums in the old quarter are closed on Mondays, which catches visitors who save Casco Antiguo for the start of the week. The Mola Museum is closed that day and the Canal Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, while the Afro-Antillean Museum and the contemporary art museum follow the same Tuesday to…