When looking for things to do in Panama City, Casco Viejo, also known as Casco Antiguo, will naturally be at the top of your list. These beautiful colonial streets are still full of vintage charm, cultural heritage, and a lot of fun spots to explore.
Whether you are looking for nightlife or daytime activities, Casco Viejo has a little bit of everything. It shines in the day and comes alive at night. Come along and take a look at everything this old town area has to offer so that you can find all the top spots during your stay in Panama.
Where is Casco Viejo in Panama City?
Casco Viejo is part of Panama City, Panama, and is located about 30 minutes from the Tocumen International Airport. However, travel time in Panama is relative to the time of day you are traveling and how much traffic there is.
For the most part, Casco Viejo is very central and very easy to get to. It’s on the southern coast of Panama City, just above the Amador Causeway and only a few minutes away from the Panama Canal.
The history and origins of Caso Viejo
Casco Viejo, as it is commonly known, is officially named Casco Antiguo and is the old Spanish quarter of Panama City in Panama. Whilst the original Panama City was built in 1519, the city was set on fire before being attacked and raided by the legendary pirate Henry Morgan.
From its ashes, a new settlement was built in 1673 in a much more defensible position, which is what mostly remains today. Despite more fires in the 18th century and partial reconstruction in the 19th century, the city thrives with a mix of colonial buildings and Afro-Antillean construction.
In 1997, this part of the town was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage site, and today this spot has become a favorite site for tourism.
10 things to do in Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo
Whilst you can always just wander into Casco Viejo and take the day tour, explore, you may want to know about some of the best activities, historical sites, bars, and restaurants that you can enjoy here. Let’s plan out your Panama City itinerary…
1) Explore the oceanfront market of Plaza Francia
Along the farthest point of Casco Viejo lies a unique walkway by the ocean of Las Bovedas, where you can find an open-air market full of souvenirs and handcrafted indigenous artistry. This walkway leads you to a historic French part of the peninsula, where there are some historical discoveries to be made.
This is by far one of the most popular spots for photos, as you can take advantage of the panoramic views of the ocean, the flower-filled archways, and a lot of local crafts and historical monuments to backdrop your Instagram shots.
2) Order ice cream or a raspao in Casco Viejo
Whilst much of Casco Viejo is shaded, it can still get very hot amidst this old town. There is no better way to cool down than with some authentic local ice cream or with the shaved ice cones known as Raspao. Around the plazas, you will often find a man with a pushcart carrying a large block of ice and some different syrups for you to choose from. Ask him for a Raspao, and it should only cost you about $1.50; it is highly refreshing and 100% worth it.
3) Eat in a fancy Casco Viejo restaurant
Panama Viejo has a lot of really nice restaurants to choose from, with some very different price ranges. A great way to explore these restaurants is via the website Degusta Panama, where you can search for “Casco Antiguo” and see all the available restaurants, their guest ratings, and their price ranges.
4) Wander around the old town of Casco Viejo
Part of the fun of Casco Viejo is just exploring and seeing what you come across. If you want a route to follow, try this… Enter each of the following locations into your Google Maps in the following order.
- Plaza V Centenario (Start here)
- Plaza Herrera
- Plaza de Independencia (the Panama Canal museum is also here)
- Arco Chato (historical landmark)
- Plaza Francia (Las Bóvedas & Paseo Esteban Huertas)
- Teatro Nacional (National Theatre)
- Plaza Simón Bolívar (End Here)
To make it simpler for you, we have made the entire Casco Viejo walking tour here for you so you can simply follow the map as you explore some of the main spots.
5) Find some souvenirs for your friends in Casco Viejo
Panama Viejo is the second-best place in the city to buy souvenirs. Not only does it have several market locations, but there are full-on souvenir shops with all sorts of gifts and assorted Panamanian merchandise so that you can bring home some Panama memories and share them with your friends and family.
Even if you are not looking to buy, it’s still quite a lot of fun to just see what they have and explore the shops and local crafts.
6) Head to a rooftop bar in Casco Viejo
Rooftop bars in Casco Viejo are absolutely incredible. If you go in the daytime, you get Panoramic views of the ocean with city skylines that are bright and gleaming in the full-on sunshine. It’s spectacular. Alternatively, at night, it is just as breathtaking, but instead of ocean scenes, you are going to be swept away by the Panama City lights and skyscrapers.
With either option, there are some really great cocktails to try and an absolute ton of rooftop bars to explore. It is truly an incredible experience as you gaze out above the city of Panama. 4 great options to try out are Casa Casco and the rooftop bars of La Compañía hotel in Casco Antiguo, Sofitel Legend, and Tantalo.
7) Seek out some live music in Panama City
As the town comes alive each night, you will find that there are some truly incredible spots for live music. My absolute top recommendation is Calle de Dragones: here, there are themed evenings with free live shows in an amazing ambiance. Note: late at night, the vibe changes, but if you like to dance, it’s a lot of fun. Another option is the Ammi sky bar in Sofitel, where more classical and casual music sets the mood for your evening.
8) Visit the Panama Canal Museum
Want to learn more about the Panama Canal? Whilst a very different experience from going to the Miraflores Locks, the Panama Canal Museum offers a lot of insight into the canal’s history, construction, and mechanical engineering.
In short, if you want to learn about the Canal, this is the top spot in the city to do so.
9) Explore the Museum of La Mola
Another cultural heritage which you won’t find anywhere else in the world is the Museum of La Mola, also known as MuMo. “Mola” is a local term for the indigenous art made by the Guna people of Panama. With 5 different art exhibitions to explore, here you will be enveloped in brightly colored fabrics and unique cultural creations that can only be found in Panama.
10) Go to the old National Theater of Panama
The original 1908 building has a vintage charm that is hard to find nowadays. This Classic theatre experience sends you back in time and provides regular shows and musical performances for you to experience. Many are in Spanish, so you may want to check the details, but even then, it is quite an enjoyable experience.
Upcoming shows can be viewed and booked on the Panatickets website.
Are there any Panama City tours for Casco Viejo?
Whilst some parts of Casco Viejo can be explored by yourself, a guided tour can provide you with an easy route to the best things to see and the top experiences in the area. Additionally, many of the locations within Casco Viejo have cultural meaning and historical context that can easily be lost without a guide to explain them along the way. Lastly, whilst Casco Viejo is generally pretty safe for tourists, there are some nearby areas that you could easily wander into that are not recommended for visitors.
Here are a few of the Casco Viejo tours you might want to take a look at…
Casco Viejo hidden gems tour
Casco Antiguo’s most cost-effective tour option takes you along the hidden streets of Casco Viejo for a personalized exploration experience amidst historical buildings, landmarks, and all the quaint colonial charms of this old town. This is the ultimate walking tour that gives you all the top information regarding this area and takes you to all the top photo spots for a maximum of 3 hours.
Private 6-hour tour of Panama City, Panama
Receive private transportation around the city, starting in the colonial square of Casco Viejo, then heading to the Panama Canal at Miraflores, the Bridge of the Americas, the Amador Causeway, by some of the nicest buildings in Panama City, and then finally to the number 1 spot for souvenirs at Mercado Nacional de Artesanias in Panama Viejo. It’s an all-in-one package that takes you for 6 ½ hours of luxury city exploration.
The Panama City Bar Crawl
Want to experience Casco Viejo by night? Take this tour of the top bars as you stop at 5 of Casco Viejos tops drinking spots. The guide is high on energy and will make sure that you make the most of the night with the best vibes, best music, and best Panama cocktails or beers.
The Pub Crawl takes about 4 hours, after which you will certainly be ready to return home. FYI, the legal age to drink in Panama is only 18 years old.
Tips for touring Casco Viejo
Here are some additional tips to help make your stay more enjoyable and to help you prepare for your next visit to Casco Viejo’s old town streets.
Where to find parking in Casco Viejo
Parking in Casco Viejo can be a nightmare for newcomers when you do not know where to go. Many locals will try to offer to help park your car and look after it for a price, but you should 100% ignore them since these are public streets and there is easy parking available in specific locations.
If bringing your car, the easiest parking option is adjacent to the National Theater, and it is free during the evenings. However, the absolute best option is just to arrive via Uber and avoid having to take a car through the narrow streets of Casco Viejo. It’s a great place to walk, but not the easiest place to drive.
Is Casco Viejo safe for tourists?
The old town of Casco Viejo is very safe both during the daytime and at night. Due to increased tourism and the existence of the presidential building within Casco Viejo, Panama has ensured that the main areas have a lot of security, so you are never very far from a policeman.
This means that whilst you should always use some caution as you would anywhere else, the main walking areas of Casco Viejo are very safe to explore and enjoy as a tourist.
There should be caution, however, to avoid walking outside of this area since these tourist-friendly areas in Casco Viejo border El Chorillo, which is known to be a very precarious neighborhood where you should not explore alone during the day or night.
Stay hydrated when exploring the city
A last tip is to make sure that you drink plenty of water as you explore the streets of Casco Viejo. Whilst you won’t always be in direct sun, it is very easy to dehydrate during your exploration, and many of the tours automatically include bottled water so that you can keep drinking during your time here.
This is a tip that applies everywhere in Panama, but due to the addictive nature of Casco Viejo’s exploration, time can pass easily, and you can simply forget to keep drinking enough water as you walk from street to street. (This also applies to the drinking tour.)
Have fun in Casco Viejo
This is our last and final tip for Casco Viejo. Whether visiting during the day, the night, or both, there is plenty for you to enjoy. Take a look through the vintage streets, uncover its hidden secrets, speakeasies, and souvenirs, and have an amazing time!