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Panama City’s old town, Casco Viejo, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built after the sack of the original site of Panama City by legendary pirate Henry Morgan in 1671. It features many important historic sites, a few museums, and some churches.
Plaza de Francia
A good place to start exploring Casco Viejo is at Plaza de Francia, which is covered in a separate entry. It sits at the very end of the small peninsula where Casco Viejo is located.
A ruined building sits along the ocean near the street to Plaza de Francia. Class and Troop Club (Club de Clases y Tropas) was once a popular hangout of Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega. It was destroyed in the 1989 US invasion, but it was undergoing restoration at the time of my visit.
Next to the ruined club is a beautiful park with more great views of the modern city.
Plaza Bolívar
Another important plaza is Plaza Bolívar. This is where Simón Bolívar held a meeting, the Amphyctionic Congress, urging the union of Latin American countries against Spain. It took place on July 15, 1826, in the Bolívar Palace (Palacio Bolívar), which is now used as the foreign ministry. There’s a museum inside where you can view the Salón Bolívar, where the meeting took place. Admission is free (as of June 2024) and it’s open Monday through Friday.
The magnificent National Theatre (Teatro Nacional), built in 1907, also sits on Plaza Bolívar. There is a large monument to the liberator in the center of the plaza.
Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor, the old town’s main plaza, is where Panama declared its independence from Colombia in 1903. It’s surrounded by several beautiful buildings, including the historic Hotel Central.
Municipal Palace
The Municipal Palace (Palacio Municipal) on Plaza Mayor houses the small but worthwhile Panama History Museum (Museo de Historia de Panamá). It covers Panamanian history from the beginnings to independence and the construction of the Panama Canal, the 1964 riots against the US (Martyrs’ Day), and finally the Noriega years and the 1989 US invasion up to the present. Admission is US$1 (as of June 2024) and includes a guided tour in Spanish. It’s open daily except Mondays.
Panama Canal Museum
Next to it is a fantastic museum about the history and construction of the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal) is worth spending a couple hours in for canal junkies. It features fascinating photos and artifacts from both the French and American attempts at building the canal. Admission is US$15 for non-residents (as of June 2024). The majority of the exhibits are in Spanish but an audioguide is available for an extra cost. Hours are 9am to 6pm daily except Mondays.
Palace of the Herons
To the north of Plaza Mayor is the Palace of the Herons (Palacio de las Garzas), which is the home of the president of Panama. As you can imagine, the area is heavily guarded and restricted. I was only able to get a glimpse from a distance.
Parque Herrera
Parque Herrera is a nice park on the western end of Casco Viejo. It features several benches and trees and is surrounded by a couple restaurants.
Also on the western end is the Municipality House (Casa de la Municipalidad), which houses the government offices of the municipality.
Architecture
Casco Viejo has a unique mix of architecture with Spanish, French, and American styles. Many of the buildings have undergone extensive restorations. Simply wandering the streets in this area is a treat, especially with the odd run-down building mixed in.
Stay Safe
A note on safety: Casco Viejo is safe but don’t wander too far off the peninsula. It is connected to one of the worst areas in Panama City. If you do plan to go inland, do it during the daytime only, stay along Avenida Central, and don’t wander off onto any side streets.
Getting There
To get to Casco Viejo, you can take the metro to Plaza Cinco de Mayo and take a taxi.
