What are the best things to do in and around the Panama City, Panama area of Casco Viejo?

Because there is too much to describe in Panama City, Panama, I'll focus my answer solely on Casco Viejo.

 

 Perhaps the most beautiful Spanish Colonial City in all of Latin America, this district has been preserved as the conquistadors left it over 300 years ago.  There is so much to see and cherish.  I highly recommend that you find a local guide who can show you the area.  This fellow in the picture was 75 years old when he showed me...

Because there is too much to describe in Panama City, Panama, I'll focus my answer solely on Casco Viejo.

 

 Perhaps the most beautiful Spanish Colonial City in all of Latin America, this district has been preserved as the conquistadors left it over 300 years ago.  There is so much to see and cherish.  I highly recommend that you find a local guide who can show you the area.  This fellow in the picture was 75 years old when he showed me around in 2011.  His English was perfect and he knew every cubbyhole in Casco Viejo.  I paid him $10 for an hour and a half, and he showed me all the sights plus the courtyards, cafes, restaurants and shops that occupied these historical structures.

 

The 28-block area is undergoing a major restoration.  Along with all the magnificent buildings, the presidential palace, prison, museums and churches, you will experience sweeping views of Panama City's skyscraper skyline and the islands of the Amador Causeway.

Stay in a local hotel right in Casco Viejo and experience everything this wonderful district has to offer including the Kuna Indians selling their wares. Take in all the magic of this fabulous neighborhood!

 

For the best things to do in Casco Viejo, a district in Panama City, Panama, I would have to say for bars anyway Tantalo or Barlovento are two great choices. I love the outdoor roof bar style because you get a fabulous view of the old town from both places but especially Tantalo, with the lovely tropical breeze blowing in off the sea and the old town is lit up spectacularly at night. It lends the bars a romantic atmosphere. The crowd is very stylish and trendy in both bars....

For the best things to do in Casco Viejo, a district in Panama City, Panama, I would have to say for bars anyway Tantalo or Barlovento are two great choices. I love the outdoor roof bar style because you get a fabulous view of the old town from both places but especially Tantalo, with the lovely tropical breeze blowing in off the sea and the old town is lit up spectacularly at night. It lends the bars a romantic atmosphere. The crowd is very stylish and trendy in both bars. Tantalo in particular has a good tapas style restaurant on the ground floor so I often eat there with friends first then pop upstairs for a nice mojito and a chat. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the old town and they are in easy walking distance of each other.

From March 11th to the 15th, one of the biggest cultural festivals will take place in Casco Viejo: Macrofest, an annual event with all kinds of expos and shows about music, art, fashion, and entertainment. It is one of the biggest  festivals of its kind in Panama and definitely a "must" if you are in or around Panama City during those dates.

From March 11th to the 15th, one of the biggest cultural festivals will take place in Casco Viejo: Macrofest, an annual event with all kinds of expos and shows about music, art, fashion, and entertainment. It is one of the biggest  festivals of its kind in Panama and definitely a "must" if you are in or around Panama City during those dates.

The best thing to do in Casco Viejo is to eat out and experience the restaurants. There is a great variety of food here and the settings are perfect. It is not like in the States where the waiters are on top of you asking if you are going to have anything else from time to time, because for them it is important to turn the table as often as you can. In contrast, here in Panama, you will first have drinks, some wine, and then you order and you talk. Then you have a lot of after dinner...

The best thing to do in Casco Viejo is to eat out and experience the restaurants. There is a great variety of food here and the settings are perfect. It is not like in the States where the waiters are on top of you asking if you are going to have anything else from time to time, because for them it is important to turn the table as often as you can. In contrast, here in Panama, you will first have drinks, some wine, and then you order and you talk. Then you have a lot of after dinner drinks and before you know it, it has already been 3 or 4 hours. The restaurant owners or the waiters do not pressure you and that makes it for a nice moment.

On the other side of the cost spectrum, in Casco Viejo we also have outdoor stands where you can enjoy food that is very inexpensive. I personally enjoy that, too. You can also go to a bar on the rooftops and have good view of the bay. There are a lot of activities here in Casco Viejo, whether they are free or not.

There are a lot of things that you can do in Casco Viejo. You can walk to Casco Viejo from the Cinta Costera in Avenida Balboa in the afternoon. Avenida Balboa is one of the main streets here in Panama City and around 5 or 6 years ago, they built a coastline, which is Cinta Costera, where you can park your car for free and walk along the coastline. It is a very peaceful walk along the coastline of Panama. If you want to eat, you can go to Casco Viejo and buy a lunch for only US $3.50 at...

There are a lot of things that you can do in Casco Viejo. You can walk to Casco Viejo from the Cinta Costera in Avenida Balboa in the afternoon. Avenida Balboa is one of the main streets here in Panama City and around 5 or 6 years ago, they built a coastline, which is Cinta Costera, where you can park your car for free and walk along the coastline. It is a very peaceful walk along the coastline of Panama. If you want to eat, you can go to Casco Viejo and buy a lunch for only US $3.50 at the small stores in Casco Viejo that serves Panamanian food. You can also eat at the mercado del marisco or seafood market right at the entrance of Casco Viejo. The seafood market also has restaurants and some tables with umbrellas where you can buy fresh, delicious seafood. They also sell beers, ceviche, which is also a Panamanian dish that is made of raw fish, onions, lemons, and some spices. 
 
You can also have a walking tour at the different churches in Casco Viejo that were built in the 1600s. You can also visit some of the coffee shops here in Casco Viejo that serve Panamanian coffee. The coffee shops in Casco Viejo are smaller compared to Starbucks since they are not commercialized. They are not very busy coffee shops where people just grab a coffee in go. You can feel the warmth of the people who go to the coffee shops here in Casco Viejo. The coffee shops here are more traditional, less commercial, and the people who go there are much warmer. It is an intimate place where you can feel comfy. Panamanian coffee is way better than Starbucks.
 
On a side note, there is a Pete’s Coffee in San Jose and they also serve Panamanian coffee. 
 
Another nice thing to do in Casco Viejo is to visit the museum near the Panama Canal. There you could learn about the history of the Panama Canal such as when the French came to build it and failed, etc. There are also craft markets in Casco Viejo that you can visit. As you walk, you’ll see these small stores where they sell crafts, handicrafts, Panamanian clothing like molas. 
 
The buildings here in Casco Viejo are old buildings. If you want to use these buildings, you have to restore them and respect the original architecture of the building. There is one building here that had nothing inside; all you can see are just walls from the outside. People used to sell crafts there but I do not see them anymore. Maybe they have been evacuated to a different area for safety reasons. 
 
If you come early, you might also be able to book a tour inside the presidential palace. It is called Palacio de las Garsas. It was originally the customs building but after several years, they did some architectural transformations on it and made it the presidential palace. The original building is from 1673. 
 
There are several Plazas in Casco Viejo. One is Plaza Mayor, which is also known as Plaza Catedral. Plaza Mayor is several hundred years old and it has a church called Catedral Metropolitano en Panama that is now being restored after being closed for 5 years. It is very beautiful. 
 
Catedral Metropolitano en Panama is a Spanish colonial architecture and it was built sometime between 1688 and 1796. It took several years to be completely built. There is a tomb under this church where the church people are buried. Catedral Metropolitano is the main church of Panama City. If someone who is high profile like the president, for example, dies, then the mass will be held in Catedral Metropolitano.
 
We also have Plaza Bolivar where you can find small shops on the streets. Sometimes, during Sundays, they put some stalls in the plazas where people can sell second hand things and food. It is nice because you will find a lot of things that you can buy. 
 
There is also a promenade in Casco Viejo called Paseo Esteban Huertas, which is one of Casco Viejo’s landmarks where you can also buy handicrafts, necklaces, molas, and other things that were made by the indigenous Indians who live here. 

 

(Old architecture in Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama, pictured.) 

Casco Viejo is a highly popular tourist attraction with architecture dating back to 1700's.  This church alter was moved from the original site in Panama Viejo and dates to 1675.  

 

Casco Viejo has many little boutique condos, lots of great pubs, restaurants, shopping and art galleries.  Walk the sea wall for artisan crafts and great views of the Amador Causeway, ships waiting to enter the Canal and the colorful Bio Diversity museum.

Casco Viejo is a highly popular tourist attraction with architecture dating back to 1700's.  This church alter was moved from the original site in Panama Viejo and dates to 1675.  

 

Casco Viejo has many little boutique condos, lots of great pubs, restaurants, shopping and art galleries.  Walk the sea wall for artisan crafts and great views of the Amador Causeway, ships waiting to enter the Canal and the colorful Bio Diversity museum.