Essential · Half day
The SideOut travel edit · Panama City
Thirty reasons to stay a little longer.
Our considered guide to the city’s essential sights, most compelling tables and extraordinary escapes beyond the skyline—curated for Panama Canal Cup travelers.
Curated August 202601 · Culture, nature & the Canal
Top 10 things to do in Panama City
From a ship passing through Miraflores to sunset over Casco Antiguo, these are the experiences that reveal the capital’s scale, history and tropical character.
Plan this stop↗
History · Dining · Sunset
Wander Casco Antiguo
Explore tiled plazas, restored colonial façades, churches, galleries and rooftop views in Panama City’s atmospheric historic district.History · 2–3 hours
Step into the ruins of Panamá Viejo
Walk the remains of the original city, founded in 1519, and climb the cathedral tower for a striking contrast of old stone and modern skyline.Design · Nature · Family
Experience the Biomuseo
Frank Gehry’s vivid landmark tells how Panama’s emergence reshaped global biodiversity, with galleries and gardens beside the Causeway.Waterfront · Late afternoon
Cruise the Amador Causeway
Walk, cycle or dine along the waterfront connector with expansive views of the Canal entrance, Bridge of the Americas and city skyline.Nature · Early morning
Hike Metropolitan Natural Park
Trade the skyline for tropical forest trails, wildlife and a panoramic lookout in the remarkable green lung of the capital.Views · Early morning
Climb Cerro Ancón
Take the shaded climb to one of the city’s finest overlooks, with views across Casco, the Canal zone and the modern waterfront.Culture · Casco Antiguo
Discover the Museo de la Mola
A beautifully focused museum devoted to the layered textile art of Guna women and the stories, techniques and worldview it carries.Free · Sunset
Join the rhythm of the Cinta Costera
Stroll or cycle Panama City’s bayfront promenade among parks, public art and skyline views—especially inviting near golden hour.Science · Family
Meet marine life at Punta Culebra
Visit the Smithsonian’s open-air nature center for tropical marine exhibits, forest paths and close-up encounters with local ecology.02 · The new Panamanian table
10 standout restaurants
A deliberately varied shortlist—from globally recognized contemporary Panamanian cooking to Japanese craft and a beloved local institution. Reserve early for the tournament weekend.
Contemporary Panamanian · Coco del Mar
Maito
Latin America No. 18 · Best in Panama 2025Mario Castrellón’s essential expression of Panama’s multicultural culinary identity, bringing Caribbean, Indigenous, Asian and Afro-Antillean influences to one table.Panamanian · San Francisco
Cantina del Tigre
Latin America No. 47 · 2025Creative, confident Panamanian cooking built around vivid ceviches, reimagined regional dishes and an energetic neighborhood-cantina spirit.Afro-Panamanian · San Francisco
La Tapa del Coco
Latin America No. 61 · 2025Chef Isaac Villaverde celebrates Afro-Panamanian cuisine and culture through accessible, deeply rooted dishes with a contemporary pulse.Japanese craft · Obarrio
UMI
Latin America No. 72 · 2025A refined izakaya pairing precise Japanese technique with Panamanian ingredients, warm design and a thoughtful cocktail program.Modern fonda · Casco Antiguo
Fonda Lo Que Hay
Latin America No. 82 · 2025A buzzy, modern riff on the traditional Panamanian fonda, where familiar comfort food arrives with sharp technique and a sense of fun.Fine dining · Casco Antiguo
Caleta
Latin America No. 91 · 2025Inside Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo, local seafood and Panamanian ingredients meet globally informed technique in an elegant waterfront setting.Japanese · Obarrio
Makoto
Chef Makoto Okuwa’s polished Japanese restaurant brings Edomae sushi, a stylish terrace and sweeping city views together.Tasting experience · San Francisco
Íntimo
An intimate chef-led experience known for creative menus, close attention to ingredients and a distinctly contemporary Panamanian point of view.Traditional Panamanian · El Cangrejo
El Trapiche
A relaxed institution for approachable Panamanian classics—the place to explore everyday flavors, traditional breakfasts and local comfort dishes.Contemporary · The Bristol
SalSíPuedes
The Bristol’s artful dining room blends Panamanian ingredients with Afro-Panamanian, Peruvian, Italian, French, Spanish and Chinese influences.03 · Jungle, islands & highlands
Top 10 places beyond the city
Choose an easy day trip around the Canal—or turn the tournament into a longer journey through Panama’s Caribbean islands, cloud forests and Pacific coast.
Easy day trip · Rainforest
Gamboa & Soberanía National Park
Enter rainforest close to the capital for celebrated birding, Pipeline Road trails and a beautiful first encounter with the Canal watershed.Half or full day · Boat
Gatún Lake & Monkey Island
Boat through the Canal basin beside working vessels and forested islands, with opportunities to spot monkeys, sloths and tropical birds.Full day · Guided
An Emberá community in Chagres
Travel by river with a responsible guide for a community-hosted cultural exchange centered on living traditions, food, craft and forest knowledge.Day trip · Island
Taboga Island
Take the ferry to the Island of Flowers for a beach pause, village streets and a slower Pacific rhythm within easy reach of the city.Full day or overnight · History
Portobelo & the Caribbean forts
Pair UNESCO-listed colonial fortifications and rich Congo culture with the lush Caribbean coast of Colón province.Full day or overnight · Highlands
El Valle de Antón
Escape to a cool volcanic valley for waterfalls, mountain trails, gardens, artisan markets and a restorative change of pace.Overnight recommended · Caribbean
Guna Yala
Discover a Caribbean archipelago of clear water, palm-fringed islands and living Guna culture through community-approved stays and guides.Day trip or overnight · Pacific
The Pearl Islands
Choose Contadora or another island base for white-sand beaches, clear Pacific water and an effortless extension after the tournament.2–4 nights · Flight recommended
Boquete
Fly west for cloud-forest trails, cool mountain air and world-renowned coffee estates in the Chiriquí highlands.3–5 nights · Flight recommended
Bocas del Toro
Finish in the Caribbean among colorful island towns, cacao experiences, marine parks and beaches reached by boat.A gracious traveler’s note
Hours, reservation policies, transit times and access conditions can change. Confirm directly before setting out, book restaurants in advance and use a licensed guide for boat, jungle and Indigenous-community experiences.
January 21–24, 2027 · Panama City