Casco Viejo, Panama City’s old town is such a crown jewel! The old streets are lined with colorful buildings, beautiful vibes, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. You could spend days just in this little corner of the city exploring all it has to offer. If time is of the essence, you can still make the most of it in one day! Here is how to spend one day in Casco Viejo, Panama City!
Read More: Top 8 Tips for Visiting Panama City, Panamá
Stay at the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo Hotel
The absolute best way to start your one day in Casco Viejo is to wake up at the Sofitel Legend Hotel! The Sofitel Legend hotel is a five star luxury hotel right in the heart of Casco Viejo. I was obsessed from the moment I entered. There is such attention to detail and everything is meticulously decorated. In fact, when I told some locals where I was staying, many of them replied with gasps telling me it was the most beautiful hotel in the country. And I believe it! The rooms were spacious, clean, and so beautiful. I would tell people that the trip to Panama is worth it alone just to stay in this hotel! Start your day off right by waking up in your cozy robe and slippers, stepping out onto your private balcony, and taking in the warm air while looking over the ocean. Chef’s kiss!
Breakfast at Caleta
Located inside the Sofitel Legend Casco Viejo hotel is Caleta, which serves an absolutely killer breakfast! Whether or not you are staying at the hotel, breakfast at Caleta will not only provide fuel for the big day of exploring ahead, but will also give the greatest vibes and the best service. They are open for breakfast each morning from 6:30 am – 11:00 am, but you shouldn’t have any problem getting a table whatever time you visit. To be safe, reservations can be made on Open Table, by clicking here.
Breakfast starts with a coffee drink of your choice, and I went for a hot mocha. Then, you’ll have your choice of French pastries (I went for a croissant on day 1 and a pain au chocolat on day 2) and a platter of fresh fruits. You also get to choose an entrée from a list of about 10 items and a side dish to accompany. The entrée options have a lot of variety. Some are local Panamanian dishes, while other options include American classics like pancakes and waffles (mmm). Cold, filtered water is complementary and they’re constantly refilling your glass!
Morning Coffee at Vera Café
While Casco Viejo has no shortage of cute coffee shops, make your way over to Vera Cafe for an iced coffee drink to sip while you explore! Vera Café is attached to the Sofitel Legend hotel, and can make almost anything you wish! The menu board appears to be limited, but the barista told me those are just their “highlighted” drinks and they can make all of the classics. I of course went for my iced mocha and it was made perfectly. They also had an assortment of fresh pastries, sandwiches, and desserts if you’re still peckish from breakfast! You cannot go wrong with the coffee or vibes here. It’s just waiting to grace your IG feed!
Stroll the Streets Early in the Morning
An early morning stroll through Casco Viejo is the absolute best. You’ll feel like you have the city to yourself before the crowds roll in and you can slowly feel the town waking up for the day. It’s also the perfect time for selfies, if you’re like me! Not only will you beat the crowds, but strolling the streets in the morning helps you beat the heat. The humidity is always high, so that’s inescapable, but at least you’ll avoid the direct hot sun!
There’s really no set path, you truly can just wander and zig zag through the streets! They all offer brightly colored buildings and vibes for days. Some of my favorite places to walk by though were the National Theatre, Independence Square, Museum of Panamanian History, and the Saint Francis of Assisi Church. You can also walk out onto this path here for great photo ops of the city’s skyline!
Shop Local Vendors in France Square
Later in the morning, make your way over towards France Square for some local shopping! Vendors start setting up in the morning, but by 10:00 am they are just about all open for business. The vendors set up along the pathway that circles the peninsula. You can get up to them by walking up the stairs to the right of the Panama Canal Monument, or by circling around and entering here, at the corner of Av. Central and Paseo las Bovedas.
Here, you’ll get to view and shop for everything from art, to bags, to authentic souvenirs made by local artists. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s nice to stroll along the shady walkway and just “window shop”. All of the vendors are so kind and will chat with you even if you have no intention of buying anything. They love asking where everyone is from and what they’ve been up to visiting Panama.
Beat the Heat with Lunch by the Pool
After a busy morning of exploring the city, escape the mid-day heat by returning to the Sofitel for lunch and pool time. The pool here is remarkable and so refreshing and clean. It is an infinity pool that stretches out to the ocean. I got right up to the wall and rested my head on it for about a half hour while listening to my podcast. The epitome of relaxation! During high tide, you can see the waves crashing on the break wall beneath you. During low tide, you can see the emergence of large rocks which gives a totally different view.
You can order your lunch from any of the attendants at the pool, and they had quite a large variety. The American in me opted for a burger and fries, of course. Food took about 20 minutes to arrive, which wasn’t bad at all, seeing as you could keep cool in the pool while you waited. Over the deck chairs were large umbrellas that they can put up that cover your entire lounger. It’s nice to be outside but completely out of the sun! Take some time here to recharge your batteries, and maybe sneak in a little mid-day nap!
Walk Through Arco Chato
After your recharge, make your way over to Arco Chato. Arco Chato, which literally means flat arch, are remains from an old church that has a very long flat arch. The arch is so flat that is truly miraculous how it stays in tact! By mid-day the gates are usually open and you’re able to walk inside and tour. I wasn’t able to find exact days/hours for when the gates are opened, however visiting mid-day is a safe bet and higher chances that they’ll be unlocked! There are informational signs around that give you more intel on the history of the church and restoration efforts. There is also a little courtyard to sit in and relax in the shade. It’s a nice little retreat right in the center of the city!
Visit the Panama Canal Museum
Next, make your way over towards Independence Square and the Panama Canal Museum! Visiting the museum in the afternoon is once again, a great way to beat the heat and get out of the sun. The building is three floors and the exhibits completely cover floors 2 and 3. In addition to a lot of interesting artifacts about the creation of the museum, there is a lot of reading (most of which is in Spanish) so make sure you have a translation app ready to go. The museum gives you a really in-depth view into all that went into the creation of the canal (both from the French and Americans), all the way through present-day when they did an expansion in 2016. Plan to spend about 1-2 hours here, depending on how quickly you move through.
Read More: Top 6 Tips for Visiting the Panama Canal Museum
Dinner at Mahalo Snack Shack
When it’s time to refuel, Mahalo Snack Shack is just the place! Walking in, you’re greeted with gorgeous tile work and an open air kitchen where you can smell the fresh food being cooked. Seating is all in their courtyard, where you can be outside while also in the shade. Big, lush, green plants surround the entire courtyard and there is a tiki bar straight back that makes all types of drinks and also some delish smoothies! It truly is such a vibe and has such an adorable aesthetic. I ordered the peanut butter banana smoothie to go along with my sandwich and it totally hit the spot. Everything on the menu is made from fresh ingredients and was so delicious. It can get a little busy during peak times, but you can make a reservation on Open Table here!
Tip: If you can help it, it would be best to avoid going if it is raining. Although there is a covering over the patio, it isn’t a proper roof and you may get wet.
Dessert Time!
After dinner, comes dessert of course! You will have no problem finding a sweet treat by just wandering the streets though Casco Viejo, but a couple of my favorites were Benissimo and Saint Honoré. Benissimo was recommended to me by a couple locals who swear it is the best gelato in the city! And spoiler alert, it was fantastic. They are open every day until later in the evening (8:00 pm during week, 9:00 pm on Fridays, and 10:00 pm on Saturdays) and is the perfect treat to top off your day. There are plenty of chairs and tables inside to eat at, or take it in a cone while you stroll the city.
Saint Honoré was another solid spot to indulge. They had tons of fresh French desserts like cakes, macarons, pastries, and tarts. I opted for a slice of chocolate cake (of course!) and loved eating it on their back patio on their comfy booths. They are open each night until 7:00 pm so would be a good option if you had an early dinner. The décor on the patio was a 10/10 and I felt like I was in a dream! Oh, and the cake was fantastic too, lol.
Exploring After Dark
Ending your one day in Casco Viejo once the sun sets would be a shame! The city comes alive and there is still so much to do and see. Rooftop bars are everywhere in Casco Viejo, and you really cannot go wrong with any of them. Selina came highly recommended, as did the bar at the American Trade Hotel. While Casco Viejo itself is very safe to walk in at night, do exercise a bit of caution as you get closer to the edge of the neighborhood. It neighbors one of the more “rough” corners of the city so just try to be on alert the further you wander (or, consider taking an Uber to your destination). The good news is, Casco Viejo is policed around the clock and if you start to wander too far, chances are high that an officer will stop you and politely direct you back.
One great, safe way to end your one day in Casco Viejo is a tour of the city with Tomi Tours! Tomi, who moved to Panama from the UK in 2016, takes tourists on a ride around the entire city in his lime green 1971 VW Safari convertible. It is so much fun to cruise through the city in this fun car. Locals and tourists love it, and we’ll get honks and cheers all throughout the city! You’ll definitely feel like a celeb. Pick up and drop off is right in Casco Viejo, near Plaza Simón Bolívar. He will take you on a cruise down the Armador Causeway (all the way down to Flamenco Island), all through downtown among the skyscrapers, and then back through Casco Viejo. It’s a great way to see all the city has to offer in a safe, fun way!
Read More: Sightseeing in Panama City with Tomi Tours
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