Last updated on December 19, 2023.

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.

Class and Troop Club in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Class and Troop Club

Next to the ruined club is a beautiful park with more great views of the modern city.

Small park in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Small park

 

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. Apparently there’s a museum inside where you can view the Salón Bolívar, where the meeting took place.

Plaza Bolívar in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Plaza Bolívar
Bolívar Palace on Plaza Bolívar in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Bolívar Palace

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.

National Theatre on Plaza Bolívar in Casco Viejo, Panama City
National Theatre

 

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.

Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Plaza Mayor
Hotel Central on Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
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 2023) and includes a guided tour in Spanish. It’s open daily except Mondays.

Municipal Palace on Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Municipal Palace
Panama History Museum at Municipal Palace on Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Panama History Museum
Panama History Museum at Municipal Palace on Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Panama History Museum
Manuel Noriega exhibit at Panama History Museum at Municipal Palace on Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Manuel Noriega exhibit

 

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 2023). The majority of the exhibits are in Spanish but an audioguide is available for an extra cost. Hours are 10am to 6pm daily except Mondays.

Panama Canal Museum on Plaza Mayor in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Panama Canal Museum

 

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.

Parque Herrera in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Parque Herrera

Also on the western end is the Municipality House (Casa de la Municipalidad), which houses the government offices of the municipality.

Municipality House in Casco Viejo, Panama City
Municipality House

 

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.

Casco Viejo, Panama City
Casco Viejo

 

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.

Author

Owner of Paisadventure. World traveler. Chicago sports lover. Living in Colombia.

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