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Jessica Ramesch at International Living explores Panama City.<\/p>\n
Panama City<\/a> is a compact capital, crammed with must-see sights, world-class restaurants, and so much more. You could easily spend a week enjoying all the city has to offer. But what if you\u2019re short on time?<\/p>\n Never fear, you can do a lot in a 24-hour stay\u2026if you plan it right. I\u2019ve been living here and writing about Panama<\/a> for over 12 years. Plus, I\u2019ve had plenty of friends visit from the U.S., so you could say I\u2019ve learned a thing or two. Here\u2019s how I would do it\u2026<\/p>\n I have friends who never give themselves adequate time to pack (and get a good night\u2019s sleep) before a trip. Do what you can to avoid this mistake. You want to get here feeling rested and ready to seize the day if you\u2019re to make the most of your 24 hours here. If you take a \u201cred-eye\u201d flight that gets you here in the morning, then do what you can to get some sleep before<\/em> and not just during the flight. (For example, flights from Los Angeles are only about six-and-a-half hours, so you won\u2019t get a full night\u2019s rest just by sleeping on the plane.)<\/p>\n No visitor to Panama City should miss the historic sector of Casco Viejo. Its stately plazas and wrought iron balconies photograph beautifully in the soft light of morning (or the golden rays of late afternoon). Don\u2019t miss the gem that is Plaza Bol\u00edvar, where you can see the St. Francis of Assisi church and the neoclassical fa\u00e7ade of the Teatro Nacional. My other favorites in Casco include the seaside walkway known as Paseo Esteban Huertas, the handicraft shops on First Street, and the \u201cV Piso\u201d rooftop bar of Tomillo restaurant, located in the ruins of an old convent.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve worked up an appetite, head to Caf\u00e9 Unido at the American Trade Hotel. One of Casco\u2019s most striking restorations, the American Trade has custom, colonial-era tile floors, classic and contemporary furnishings, all of it punctuated with a stylish mishmash of greenery, art, prints, and textiles. Treat yourself to coffee fit for royalty (try the Elida Estates pour-over) and a classic chicken empanada or a chocolate croissant.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re interested in Panama\u2019s rich, exciting history, you won\u2019t want to miss the Panama Canal\u2019s Miraflores Visitor Center. You can see the actual canal (and its massive hydraulic locks) up close, plus there\u2019s a museum, an excellent gift shop, and a restaurant overlooking the water. Get out of the hot noon-time sun while you tour the museum\u2019s four floors, see a short but fascinating video on the history of the canal, and watch ships raised and lowered into the locks. Canal experts regale visitors with interesting facts as they watch from the shaded viewing platform. It doesn\u2019t take an interest in engineering to appreciate the grand scale of the canal and its effect on Panamanian history and culture.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t recommend shelling out a lot of money on a mediocre lunch here. I\u2019d get a cold beverage at the restaurant (the views are great), and move on\u2026<\/p>\n Panama City is home to more than a few quirky buildings, and locals love to debate which is the prettiest and which is the ugliest. Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder when it comes to architecture in Panama. Want to join the debate? You\u2019ll likely catch glimpses of the crazy corkscrew of the F&F Tower and the sail shape of the former Trump Ocean Club, recently re-branded as a JW Marriot, when passing through the city center. But the quirkiest bit of construction in Panama City has to be the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo, also known as the Bridge of Life museum. The wildly-colored structure took nearly 10 years to build. One look at its fa\u00e7ade\u2014reminiscent of origami\u2014will tell you why.<\/p>\n The Biomuseo enjoys a prime location on the long avenue and promenade known as the Amador Causeway. (Locals regularly refer to it as \u201cEl Causeway,\u201d in a quintessentially Panamanian joining of Spanish and English.) There are restaurants, cafes and shops\u2026you can rent a bicycle or join the many pedestrians in walking the length of the causeway, which connects four small islands. It\u2019s the perfect place for a late lunch or sunset cocktail. For a quick, casual lunch by the water, try the Amador Yacht Club. You can get excellent ceviche<\/em>, grilled fish, and more at Pencas, which has a rooftop terrace. Service here tends to be slow, so be prepared to linger.<\/p>\n Panama City or PTY, as it\u2019s known to residents\u2014boasts the kind of nightlife you\u2019ll find in world-class capitals like New York and London. And it doesn\u2019t hurt that it has a mild, tropical climate and a sparkling skyline that curves along the deep blue Panama Bay. Here, the palm-lined Cinta Costera is a great place for an evening stroll.<\/p>\n Stellar restaurants like Makoto, Segundo Muelle (Balboa Ave. location), and hidden-gem Azahar offer incredible views from high above the bustling streets of the banking district. You\u2019ll find nearly every cuisine imaginable in this city, not to mention some of Latin America\u2019s most talented chefs. Want to see what\u2019s new or trending? Visit local restaurant review site DegustaPanama.com<\/a> and you can even make reservations online. If you want to eat at the city\u2019s most renowned restaurants, particularly Maito or Donde Jos\u00e9, be sure to reserve more than a week in advance.<\/p>\n Take in a movie or a show after dinner. Movie theaters here have \u201cVIP\u201d rooms where you can watch the latest films from the comfort of reclining chairs, complete with leg rests and call buttons for in-seat service. Order popcorn, drinks, and more while you watch the previews. Films are usually shown in English with Spanish subtitles. Whether you like\u2014opera, the ballet, jazz, symphonies, or mixed martial arts\u2014we have it here. To find out what\u2019s on, check Facebook events or ask your hotel concierge for a copy of The Visitor, a local bilingual newspaper.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not quite ready for the fun to end, don\u2019t worry. It doesn\u2019t have to. Take in an after-hours jazz show at Danilo\u2019s, go dancing at Casa Jaguar, or visit the small, sky-high Ocean Sun Casino. For a late night or early a.m. snack, try the 24-hour Niko\u2019s on Via Israel. Around 2 a.m. on weekends, this Greek-Panamanian diner is usually full of happy, tipsy locals. You can get Panamanian breakfast and hangover specialties like sancocho<\/em>, carima\u00f1olas<\/em>, and hojaldre<\/em> here.<\/p>\n Sancocho<\/em> is a Panamanian version of chicken soup often served after midnight at weddings, as guests tend to drink and dance into the wee hours. It\u2019s best with rice. Carima\u00f1olas<\/em> are mashed, fried yuca croquettes filled with meat (usually beef)\u2014delicious with local D\u2019Elidas hot sauce. My favorite, hojaldre,<\/em> is a fried bread often served with scrambled eggs or steak and onions. Not sure what to order? Just ask one of the friendly servers or diners what\u2019s fresh and good. <\/p> Pre-trip advice \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Breakfast at the American Trade Hotel<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Breakfast](\"https:\/\/cdn.internationalliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Breakfast-at-the-American-Trade-Hotel.jpg\")
Marvel at a Man-Made Wonder<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Marvel](\"https:\/\/cdn.internationalliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Marvel-at-a-Man-Made-Wonder.jpg\")
The Quirky Bridge of Life Museum<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/cdn.internationalliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/The-Quirky-Bridge-of-Life-Museum.jpg\")
Enjoy the PTY Nightlife<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Enjoy](\"https:\/\/cdn.internationalliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Enjoy-the-PTY-Nightlife.jpg\")
\u201cLate night\u201d Done Right<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Panama-City-Food\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.internationalliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Panama-City-Food.jpg\")
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