What's it like to drive in Casco Viejo / Casco Antiguo, Panama City?

Don´t drive, just park at any of the Casco Viejo Parking lots and walk around. It is by far the easiest thing.  Remember that Casco is a colonial city and was not made for cars but for people. Right now (April 2013) it is undergoing a big project where they are fixing streets and repairing sidewalks, so you might find some areas closed to cars, which makes it challenging. The best is to park at a lot and walk. Several options: Casco Parking has lots towards Central Avenue...

Don´t drive, just park at any of the Casco Viejo Parking lots and walk around. It is by far the easiest thing.  Remember that Casco is a colonial city and was not made for cars but for people. Right now (April 2013) it is undergoing a big project where they are fixing streets and repairing sidewalks, so you might find some areas closed to cars, which makes it challenging. The best is to park at a lot and walk. Several options: Casco Parking has lots towards Central Avenue near Barlovento. Or if you are going to Clementinas, they have also a parking lot. Many restaurants have valet parking. There is also the lot near the National Theater. In some cases, there are businesses that have golf carts to move you around!

 

If you absolutely need to come driving, try to do it after 4 p.m. This is when all the workers from the government ministries have left and construction has stopped. It is a different Casco then! also weekends are great.
 

If you are going to be in Casco Viejo, I would not recommend driving except to get in and out of Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo is a small place. You can walk around and you do not need a car. The streets of Casco Viejo are very narrow and it is very hard to find a parking place.

If you are going to be in Casco Viejo, I would not recommend driving except to get in and out of Casco Viejo. Casco Viejo is a small place. You can walk around and you do not need a car. The streets of Casco Viejo are very narrow and it is very hard to find a parking place.

I drive around Casco Viejo a lot.  It is very busy and there are lots of one way, very narrow streets.

 

I recommend using the free app from Google Play Store called 'WAZE'.   It works great in Panama.

 

If you are a confident driver it is OK, but don't be tricked by the young men helping you to park your car.  There is a perfectly good and very cheap car park on Calle 3a Este, which always has lots of space and...

I drive around Casco Viejo a lot.  It is very busy and there are lots of one way, very narrow streets.

 

I recommend using the free app from Google Play Store called 'WAZE'.   It works great in Panama.

 

If you are a confident driver it is OK, but don't be tricked by the young men helping you to park your car.  There is a perfectly good and very cheap car park on Calle 3a Este, which always has lots of space and literally costs you less than a dollar to park!

 

Casco Viejo is a unique area dating back 400 years with narrow, one way streets and very little parking.  There are a couple of parking lots in the are.  It is best to park and walk.  The area is only 3 blocks wide by about 8 blocks long and there are many interesting things to see while you walk.  

 

A side note - street parking is available, but there are men who ask you for $2 to $5 when you park, and then someone else may ask you for money when...

Casco Viejo is a unique area dating back 400 years with narrow, one way streets and very little parking.  There are a couple of parking lots in the are.  It is best to park and walk.  The area is only 3 blocks wide by about 8 blocks long and there are many interesting things to see while you walk.  

 

A side note - street parking is available, but there are men who ask you for $2 to $5 when you park, and then someone else may ask you for money when you leave.  You are safer parking in one of the designated lots.