Few countries pack so much into one trip. In Panama you can walk a 17th-century old town in the morning, watch giant ships cross the Canal at midday, and fall asleep to the sound of the Caribbean — or the Pacific — the same night. This is the short version of what to do in Panama: the places, the tours and the experiences worth your time, all searchable in our directory.
✦ Build your free Panama itinerary with our AI trip planner
Panama City: history, the Canal and rooftop nights
Start in Casco Viejo, the old town, for colonial plazas, rooftop bars and the best sunsets over the skyline. See the Panama Canal at the Miraflores or Agua Clara locks, walk or bike the Amador Causeway and the Cinta Costera, visit the Biomuseo, and end the night on Calle Uruguay. It is the easiest first day in the country.
Beaches and islands: two oceans, countless choices
On the Pacific, Coronado, Playa Blanca and Pedasí–Playa Venao are within a few hours of the city. On the Caribbean, San Blas (Guna Yala) and Bocas del Toro are the postcard islands, while the Pearl Islands (Contadora) are the quickest island escape from Panama City. Snorkeling, surfing, sailing and desert-island day trips are all on the table.
Mountains and nature: coffee, cloud forest and volcanoes
Boquete, in Chiriquí, is the home of Panamanian coffee, the Barú volcano and the country’s best hiking. El Valle de Antón, inside an extinct volcanic crater, is the closest mountain getaway to the city — waterfalls, hot springs and a Sunday market. Santa Fe and the highlands add rivers, birds and cool air.
Tours, activities and where to stay
Whatever the plan — a Canal tour, a coffee farm, a diving trip, a food crawl — you will find the operators and the places to stay across the country in the directory, from boutique hotels to beachfront lodges. Tell our AI trip planner your dates and tastes and it builds a day-by-day itinerary with real places.
Are you a tour, hotel or restaurant?
Get in front of the travelers searching for things to do in Panama. List your business or activity in the directory — bilingual, with a map, WhatsApp bookings and recommendations from our AI assistant.
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Panama?
In one trip Panama offers the city, the Canal, two oceans, islands, mountains and rainforest: Casco Viejo, the Canal locks, the Pacific beaches, San Blas, Bocas del Toro, Boquete and El Valle de Antón.
What to visit in Panama City?
The Old Town (Casco Viejo), the Panama Canal (Miraflores/Agua Clara), the Cinta Costera, the Amador Causeway, the Biomuseo and Calle Uruguay nightlife.
What to do in Panama in 3 days?
Day 1 Casco Viejo and the Canal; day 2 Pacific beaches or the Pearl Islands; day 3 nature in Boquete or El Valle. Generate a free, personalized itinerary with our AI trip planner.