Cheap flights to Panama City
Set your departure airport and maximum budget: SniperAir tracks prices to Panama City and alerts you the moment a deal matching your criteria appears.
Quick summary
Country
Panama
Continent
North America
Airport
PTY
Currency
Balboa (PAB), with the US dollar (USD) in circulation
Time zone
UTC-5 (no daylight saving time)
Deals already spotted to Panama City
Real flight examples detected by SniperAir, with their reference price.
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Airport and getting into town
A major hub about thirty kilometres north-east of the centre
Tocumen (PTY)
Tocumen International Airport, code PTY, is Panama City's main airport: Wikivoyage (EN) places it in San Miguelito, 32 km north-east of the city, with a metro station near the terminal. Wikipedia (EN) calls it a Copa Airlines hub for the Caribbean and the Americas, with a few routes to Europe too. Two other airports serve the capital: Albrook (PAC), close to the centre, for domestic flights, and Pacífico (BLB), west of the canal, for regional services (Wikivoyage EN).
Distances and times depend on traffic and route: we do not quote fares. Check metro, bus and taxi options before you travel.
Panama City is the capital and largest city of the country, at the Pacific entrance of the canal. The urban area exceeds two million people (Wikipedia EN); figures for the city proper vary a lot between sources, and we use none. Founded in 1519, the city mixes recent skyscrapers with well-preserved historic districts (Wikivoyage EN, ES).
Trains and boats
The only passenger train links Panama City with Colón on the Panama Canal Railway, leaving from Corozal station near Albrook (Wikivoyage ES); Wikivoyage (EN) says it is mostly a freight train with a passenger car. The city has no large passenger port, but cruise ships call (Wikivoyage ES).
Entry rules
Entry rules depend on your nationality: check the official websites of your country of departure and of Panama before you book.
Landmarks
Casco Viejo, the Panamá Viejo ruins, the Amador Causeway and the canal
Panama City was founded on 15 August 1519 by Pedro Arias Dávila, the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas; it served as a staging post for gold and silver from Peru bound for Spain (Wikipedia EN, FR). In 1671 the privateer Henry Morgan sacked and burned it; the city was rebuilt in 1673 on a peninsula about 8 km away, today's Casco Viejo (Wikipedia FR, EN).
The Casco Viejo and the modern city
From the heights of the Casco Viejo, red tin roofs and old facades contrast with the skyscrapers on the bay. Wikivoyage (EN, ES) advises caution in this district, especially in the evening, and not to wander far from the busy areas.
The Metropolitan Cathedral
On Plaza de la Independencia, the cathedral is recognised by its two white towers and dark stone portal. It stands in the Casco Viejo, near Plaza de Francia.
Plaza de Francia
This square in the Casco Viejo, with its obelisk, wide brick staircase and white arcades, overlooks the bay. It is one of the most photographed spots of the old town and is reached on foot from the neighbouring streets.
Panamá Viejo
The ruins of the original city, including the tall cathedral tower, are a World Heritage Site and one of the capital's attractions (Wikipedia EN). They lie east of the centre, on the bay. Wikivoyage (EN) advises staying alert in the surrounding area.
The Amador Causeway
The Amador Causeway extends the coast towards the Pacific islands, with a palm-lined road, a cycle path and fine views of the bay and the city. It can be covered by bike, on foot or by taxi.
The Panama Canal
Wikivoyage (EN) presents the canal as the country's most iconic site. The simplest option from the capital is the Miraflores Locks visitor centre, with a museum, a viewing platform and a restaurant; to see the new locks and the biggest ships you have to go to the Agua Clara centre in Colón, on the Caribbean side. Check hours and access before you go.
Museums and culture
Canal history, biodiversity and the old town
Cultural institutions are concentrated in the Casco Viejo and on the Amador Causeway. Always check opening hours before you go: we do not quote prices.
The Interoceanic Canal Museum
Housed in the Casco Viejo, it tells the story of building the canal and of the isthmus's role in world trade.
The Biomuseo
Designed by Frank Gehry and located on the Amador Causeway, it is devoted to the country's biodiversity and the formation of the isthmus.
The Metropolitan Natural Park
A tropical forest inside the city, with trails and wildlife, good for a half-day walk.
A trading city
Wikivoyage (EN, ES) stresses the mix of communities, notably of Chinese and Indian origin, visible in shops and restaurants.
Food and drink
Sancocho, ceviche, patacones and world cuisine
Dishes
Sancocho, a chicken and root-vegetable soup, is the national dish. People also eat fish ceviche, patacones (fried plantain) and carimañolas. The Mercado de Mariscos, near the Casco Viejo, is the classic place to try ceviche.
World cuisine
Wikivoyage (EN) mentions many Chinese restaurants, places serving other cuisines and, in some years, a fifteen-day Panama Restaurant Week with fixed-price menus.
A tip
We do not recommend a specific address: ask your host. If in doubt about water or street food, follow their advice.
Getting around
Metro, zone-fare taxis, buses and the canal railway
The metro
The metro, opened in 2014, is the most practical way to reach the places it serves; Line 1 is half elevated, half underground, and Line 2, serving the north, opened in 2019 (Wikivoyage EN). Some places of interest are not served; Wikivoyage (EN) also mentions plans for further lines.
Taxis
Taxis have no meter: fares are set by zone, with a surcharge per additional passenger (Wikivoyage EN, ES). Agree the price before getting in, and carry small change.
Buses and trains
A bus links Albrook station with the Miraflores Locks (Wikivoyage EN). The canal train runs from Corozal to Colón (Wikivoyage ES).
Budget and safety
A mid-to-high price level, with no published ranges
Price level
The price level is medium to high, with large differences between districts and types of lodging. The official currency is the balboa, at par with the US dollar, and US dollars circulate everywhere. We do not give ranges, as we could not confirm them on two independent sources.
Flights
The flight is the most variable item in the budget. SniperAir monitors prices to PTY and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. The Tocumen hub links the capital with many cities across the Americas.
Safety
Wikivoyage (EN, ES) describes a city that is generally safe in tourist areas, but advises avoiding certain districts, especially in the evening, including El Chorrillo, Santa Ana, Curundú and San Miguelito, not showing valuables and not walking alone on poorly lit streets. The central districts of Marbella, El Cangrejo, Obarrio, San Francisco and the banking area are cited as the safest. Official advisories vary by country of departure: consult yours.
When to go
A dry season from December to April, rain from May to November
December to April
Dry season, locally called "summer": less rain, slightly lower humidity, the best period for outdoor visits.
May to August
Start of the rainy season: afternoon showers, mornings often sunny.
September to November
Heavier rain, still with plenty of sunny hours for sightseeing.
December
The dry season returns, with pleasant days and moderate temperatures.
Panama City has a hot, humid tropical climate all year (Wikivoyage EN, ES). Wikipedia (DE) gives an annual mean of about 28 °C and nearly 1,800 mm of rain a year. According to Wikivoyage (ES), the city lies outside the hurricane belt, but check the forecast before outdoor activities.
How long to stay
What to do in Panama City depending on your stay
Casco Viejo and canal
The Casco Viejo, Plaza de Francia and the cathedral, then the Miraflores Locks.
City, nature and museums
Panamá Viejo, the Amador Causeway, the Biomuseo, the Metropolitan Natural Park and the Mercado de Mariscos.
Around the capital
The canal train to Colón, the Agua Clara locks, then a domestic flight to the islands or mountains.
In pictures
Panama City in pictures
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about flights to Panama City
How far is Tocumen airport from Panama City?
About 32 km north-east of the city according to Wikivoyage (EN), with a metro station near the terminal. Travel time depends on traffic.
What is there to see in Panama City?
The Casco Viejo, Plaza de Francia, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Panamá Viejo ruins, the Amador Causeway and the Panama Canal, with the Miraflores Locks.
When is the best time to visit Panama City?
December to April, in the dry season; the rainy season runs from May to November, with showers mostly in the afternoon.
Can you see the canal from Panama City?
Yes: the Miraflores Locks visitor centre is the most accessible from the capital. For the new locks you have to go to the Agua Clara centre in Colón.
Is Panama City safe?
Guides describe a fairly safe city in tourist areas, but advise avoiding certain districts, especially in the evening. Official advisories vary by country of departure: consult yours.
Which currency is used in Panama?
The balboa is the official currency, at par with the US dollar, which circulates everywhere; the banknotes in use are US dollars.
How much does a flight to Panama City usually cost?
The price depends mainly on your departure city, the time of year and how far ahead you book. The "opportunities" section above shows real examples of prices SniperAir has already detected to this destination.
How do I get alerted when a flight to Panama City drops below my budget?
Create an alert profile with your departure airport, Panama City as the destination and your maximum budget. You are notified automatically as soon as a matching price is detected.
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