City Tours in Panama City

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Panama City is full of contrasts. Modern skyscrapers sit next to 16th-century ruins, man-made marvels next to rainforest parks and swaths of highway connecting continents next to Pacific beaches. Book a city tour in Panama City to discover this multifaceted Central American metropolis.

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Authors

Lindsay Donaldson

Lorie Halliday

Here's all you need to know about city tours, which are among the most exciting sightseeing tours in Panama City.

What are the best city tours in Panama City?

City tours by bike

See Panama City in an eco-friendly way on a fully-guided bike tour. Join a guide and a small group for a 4-hour tour of the top sites in the city.

City tours by electric scooter

Thrill in a visit to Panama City on an electric scooter tour. Meet your guide for an orientation on safety and operating the scooter before heading out for a short guided tour. Continue your journey independently for up to 4 hours.

Half-day city tours

Perfect for seeing the most famous Panama City landmarks in a short period of time, a 3- to 5-hour walking tour hits the unmissable locales — Miraflores Locks, the Bridge of the Americas, Casco Viejo and Old Panama.

Full-day city tours

Let an expert guide fill your day with history, culture and natural beauty on an 8-hour Panama City tour. Delight in colonial to modern architecture, the beauty of the city’s parks and seashore, the Canal and more.

Layover city tours

Have a long layover to fill? Take advantage of a layover tours that whisks you from the airport and back and escorts you to the best sites in Panama City in about 4 hours.

Private city tours

Move at your own pace, avoid crowds and benefit from the full attention of a guide with a private tour of Panama City. Relax in a private vehicle as you go from site to site on a half- or full-day tour.

Airport/Cruise port transfer plus hotel and city tour

Ideal for a long stopover in Panama City, meet a driver guide at the airport or cruise port for a ride to a choice hotel for the night, included in the price. On day two, drink in the best of the city in a private vehicle before your return to the airport or cruise port.

Which places are seen?

Miraflores Locks and Visitor Center

Just 30 minutes from downtown sits the mouth of the 8th wonder of the world, the Panama Canal. Witness massive ships rise and lower 16 meters in two steps!

Learn about the history and mechanics of the 85-kilometer waterway that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Take in the sights from the viewing platform at the visitors’ center and museum.

Bridge of the Americas

The graceful Bridge of the Americas links the North and South American continents and passes over the Panama Canal.

The bridge welcomes motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians on its 1,654 meter span and is a crucial part of the Pan-American Highway.

Amador Causeway

Built as a US military base, the Amador Causeway is a man-made finger of land consisting of rubble excavated from construction of the canal linking four islands. It now attracts tourists for its sea views, parks, shopping and museums.

Old Panama City

Now in ruins, Old Panama City is the site of the first European settlement on the Pacific. The stone settlement stood firm for more than 150 years as a major trading port for gold and silver. Too attractive for pirates not to plunder, Henry Morgan attacked, looted and burned the city in 1671.

Casco Viejo

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, Casco Viejo — also known as Casco Antiguo and San Felipe — was the colonists’ second attempt at establishing a city in the area after the destruction of Old Panama City.

Wander the red brick streets of Old Town to spy the 17th-century churches, plazas and the striking Arco Chato, or “Flat Arch.”

How much do city tours in Panama City cost?

City tours by bike cost US$15 per person for a 4-hour tour, and electric scooter tours cost US$50 per person. Both provide a safety orientation, the use of helmets and a city map.

Half-day city tours cost from US$70 per person to US$135 per person. Full-day city tours cost from US$75 per person to US$110 per person.

Lower-cost tours do not include the US$20 per person cost to visit Miraflores Locks, and higher-cost tours include lunch in the price and benefit from smaller group sizes.

Layover tours cost from US$75 per person for a 4- to 5-hour tour and US$130 per person for a 7- to 8-hour tour. Layover tours are private and provide bottled water. Longer tours offer snacks.

Private 5-hour tours cost from US$100 per person to US$240 for a group of up to three people. Private day tours cost US$185 per person. Some private tours do not include entry fees to historical sites.

Airport/Cruise port transfer plus hotel and city tour cost US$270 per person and include hotel, entry fee to attractions and bottled water along with transportation with guided transportation.

What is included?

All city tours in Panama City, except bike and scooter tours, include round-trip transportation from points in the city. Tours also include guided commentary during your visit, and most of them provide bottled water.

Where does it start?

City tours in Panama City start with pickup from local hotels. Electric scooter and bike tours start in Casco Viejo.

How long does it last?

Panama City tours last between 1 hour to a full day. Electric scooter tours include a brief guided tour followed by free time to explore on the scooter for up to 4 hours. Half-day tours last 3 to 5 hours, and full-day tours last 8 hours.

When is the best time for a city tour in Panama City?

Panama City’s weather is pleasant most months of the year, making a city tour fun at any time. Avoid the rainy season by scheduling a tour outside of December through April.

Take a city tour at the beginning of your stay for a good orientation to the town and for suggestions from your guide on how to fill the rest of your stay.