Old Town Panama City tour: Colonial streets & palace

Colonial Panama City unfolds on foot, from a 1510 cathedral to the seat of government

A guided walking tour through Panama City's Old Town (Casco Viejo) covers eight stops across colonial and modern landmarks, including the Cathedral Basilica Santa María La Antigua, Independence Square, and the Presidential Palace. A certified guide shares the history of each site (from the fires that shaped the Flat Arch convent to the moment Panama declared independence), and explains how the city blends Renaissance architecture with contemporary development. The walk takes 2.5 hours and covers UNESCO-listed streets and plazas.

Step-by-step itinerary

Walking tour of Panama City's Old Town

• Walk to Plaza Santa Ana and Café Coca Cola
• Eat puff pastry at Café Coca Cola
• Pass old tram rails
• Visit Cantina Aurora bar
• Stop at Plaza Mayor
• Visit Cathedral Basilica Santa María La Antigua
• See the Flat Arch and convent ruins
• Walk to Sofitel Hotel grounds
• Pass National Theater and Plaza Bolívar
• Visit Presidential Palace
• End walk at Plaza Quinto Centenario

The experience

The tour starts at Plaza Santa Ana in San Felipe, where you'll stop at Café Coca Cola, the oldest café in the city and one of the first authorized by the Coca Cola Company in 1875. You can try puff pastry, a fried snack common across all social classes in Panama. From there, the walk passes the rails of the old colonial tram and reaches Cantina Aurora, a local bar nearly a century old, where your guide explains the drinks Panamanians have consumed for generations.

The route moves through Plaza Mayor (also called Plaza de la Independencia), ringed by the Cathedral, the Panama Canal Museum, and the Municipal Palace: the spot where Panama declared its separation from Colombia and independence from Spain. At the Cathedral Basilica Santa María La Antigua, founded in 1510, you'll see mother-of-pearl inlays once considered the finest in Latin America, stone walls, and a Renaissance-carved façade. Nearby stands the Flat Arch, a convent complex built with a Latin cross plan and a single-wing cloister. Fires in 1737 and 1756 damaged it, yet it survives as an architectural landmark that helped prove to American engineers that Panama had no major tectonic movements: a fact that influenced the choice to build the Canal here.

The walk continues past the Sofitel Hotel, overlooking Panama Bay, and the National Theater, then reaches Plaza Bolívar (renamed in 1926 to honor Simón Bolívar) and the Presidential Palace. At Plaza Quinto Centenario, the final stop, you stand between the Old Town's colonial brick and the modern city's skyline: a vantage point designed for photographs and reflection on how the two eras coexist.

What’s included

• A certified guide fluent in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• entrance to Independence Square, Plaza de Francia, and Plaza Bolívar.
• access to Plaza Tomás Herrera and the Promenade of the Vaults.
• hotel pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 90 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 28 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Paradise Green Panama

Is this one for you?Small groups keep the pace conversational and give you room to ask questions at each stop, so you absorb the history of each building rather than moving through a crowd. The 2.5-hour walk suits travelers with moderate fitness who can handle brick streets and uneven colonial architecture. It is not recommended for those with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What is the Cathedral Basilica Santa María La Antigua and why is it significant?

The Cathedral Basilica Santa María La Antigua was founded in 1510 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with mother-of-pearl inlays, stone walls, and a Renaissance-carved façade. It is the only Panamanian colonial building with a dome and stands as one of the architectural wonders of the world.

What happened at Plaza Mayor during Panama's history?

Plaza Mayor, also called Plaza de la Independencia, is where Panama declared its separation from Colombia and its independence from Spain. The square is surrounded by the Cathedral, the Panama Canal Museum, and the Municipal Palace.

Why is the Flat Arch convent considered important to the Panama Canal?

The Flat Arch convent survived major fires in 1737 and 1756 and remained standing, which helped prove to American engineers that Panama had no significant tectonic movements: a factor that influenced the decision to build the Canal here.

How old is Cantina Aurora and what will I learn there?

Cantina Aurora has been active for nearly a century on Calle 12 Oeste in San Felipe. Your guide will explain the drinks that Panamanians have consumed over generations at this legendary local bar.

What can I eat during the tour?

At Café Coca Cola, the oldest café in the city, you can try puff pastry, a popular fried food eaten across all social classes in Panama. Food and drinks beyond this stop are not included in the tour.