The Bucketlist
Stay in an amazing hotel
Start the day with a delicious coffee
Discover the colonial heritage of Casco Viejo
Visit the Panama Canal
Buy a Panamanian hat
Lunch at Mercado de Mariscos
Taste Panamian chocolates
Go to museums
Be a foodie in the city
Watch the skyline from a rooftop
Experience the nightlife
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Stay in an amazing hotel
There are plenty of hotels in Casco Viejo as this neighborhood is the one to go for tourists. Below are a few recommendations:
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Selina Casco Viejo: a hostel/hotel perfect for digital nomads with a restaurant and pool on the rooftop
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American Trade Hotel: a boutique luxury hotel occupying a restored 1917 building
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Hotel Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo: a 5-star hotel where heritage meets modernity
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Hotel La Compania by World of Hyatt: Three eras of Panama's history at this luxury on the site where La Compañía de Jesús settled after the destruction of the original Panama City back in 1671.
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Start the day with a delicious coffee
In Panama, you will find the most expensive coffee of the worl: the geisha. Here are a few coffee shops where you can try it in the city:
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There are a lot of baristas in Casco Viejo:
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Tiempos Coffee at American Trade Hotel: delicious coffee shop in the emblematic American Trade Hotel
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Café Unido Casco Viejo
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Sisu Coffee Studio
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Casa Sucre Coffehouse
Discover the colonial heritage of Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo deserves to be better know! Just wander the streets with red bricks on the floor. This represents the safe area for tourists! You can also join a walking tour if you want to know more about the history of Panama and its colonial heritage. Don't forget to tip at the end of the tour (around 10$/person)! ​
Visit the Panama Canal
As the most famous attraction in Panama and one of the 7 wonders of the modern world, Panama Canal is a must see! Head to the visitor center in Miraflores where you will watch an IMAX documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman. You will learn a lot of the history and fun facts of the canal. Then go to the stands where you can watch the ships in transit from 2pm. Note that it will take one hour to see one or two ships if you're lucky!
Buy a Panama hat
The Panama hat is world famous! But the fun fact is that it is produced in Ecuador.
Lunch at Mercado de Mariscos
Mercado de Mariscos is quite a touristic place but it's a good option to get fresh fish and sea foods. There are plenty of stalls and the waiters will harass you so you choose theirs. Go with your feeling, or else go to the first one Ceviches y mariscos. They have a dozens of options for ceviches and all plenty of fish and seafood options.
Taste Panamian chocolates
I love Panama chocolate does a great tasting! You will discover ten flavours, all delicious. And you can also visit a cold room where they store some chocolate moldings.
Go to museums
There are two museums worth to notice in Panama City:
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Museo de la Mola: you will learn everything about the Mola: a hand-made textile that forms part of the traditional women's clothing of the indigenous Guna people.
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Museo del canal: you will discover all the story behind the construction of the canal.
Be a foodie in the city
If you love food, Cartagena de Indias is your happy place! Here is a list of our best spots:
Canteens:
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Café Coco-Cola: an institution being the only restaurant in the world which was authorised to use the Coca-Cola brand
Nice restaurants:​​
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Marea Casco Ceviche and Latin Food: for some ceviches
Chic restaurants:
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Lo que hay: made it to the list of the 50 best restaurants in the world in 2022
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Restaurants of the Hotel La Compania: 5 in-house restaurants: El Santuarion, 1739, American Bazar, Luigi's, Hari's
Watch the skyline from a rooftop
This is a great feeeling to observe the skyline of modern skyscrappers from the antique Casco Viejo! Here are a few rooftops to go:
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Selina Casco Viejo rooftop
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Vista Corona Panama
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Capella Rooftop: the rooftop of the hotel La Compania
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Tantalo Roofbar
Experience the nightlife
The nightlife in Casco Viejo happens during the weekends! This is when high class Panamians join the crowd of expats and tourists in Casco Viejo. There are various clubs and rooftops you can go to mix as well to the crowd:​
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Tacos La Luna on the rooftop of Selina Casco Viejo: they also have a salsa night on Wednesdays! Apparently the only crowded place if you want to go out during weekdays
You can also opt for a nice bar to start your evening:
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Mandiga Rum Bar: the bar of the Pedro Mandiga brand, where you can choose from a big variety of rums, or else cocktails
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La Rana Dorada: the bar to go for a draught beer in Casco Viejo
