Introduction
What to do
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Renting a car

Panama City travel guide

Panama City Tourism | Panama City Guide

You're Going to Love Panama City

With a population of 36,484, Panama City is a must-see destination in Florida, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Panama City has to offer.

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When to visit Panama City

Panama City in February
Estimated package price
$102
2 travelers
Flight to Panama City
3 nights at hotel
Panama City in February
Estimated package price
$102
2 travelers
Flight to Panama City
3 nights at hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Panama City in July, when the average temperature is 80.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 44.6 °F, with an average temperature of 53.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in July, when precipitation is around 7.9″. In contrast, May is usually the driest month of the year in Panama City, with an average rainfall of 2.8″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Panama City

Plane

When flying to Panama City, you’ll arrive at Panama City NW Florida Beaches (ECP), which is located 16 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Panama City include American Airlines, Southwest and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Austin and takes around 1h 50m.

Car

Another option to get to Panama City is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 95 miles from Panama City. You’ll find branches of Budget and Turo, among others, in Pensacola.

Plane

When flying to Panama City, you’ll arrive at Panama City NW Florida Beaches (ECP), which is located 16 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Panama City include American Airlines, Southwest and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Austin and takes around 1h 50m.

Car

Another option to get to Panama City is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 95 miles from Panama City. You’ll find branches of Budget and Turo, among others, in Pensacola.

Airports near Panama City

ECPPanama City NW Florida Beaches
PNSPensacola
VPSValparaiso Destin-Ft Walton Beach

Airlines serving Panama City

Lufthansa
Good (8,086 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,530 reviews)
British Airways
Good (8,064 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,425 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,248 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,613 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,874 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,593 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,848 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (11,244 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,415 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (3,001 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,562 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,870 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,942 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,485 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,251 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,845 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,218 reviews)
Show more
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Where to stay in Panama City

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Quality Inn & Suites and Comfort Inn and Suites Panama City North. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Panama City, with prices from $54 to $980 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Panama City are about 10% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.

Most popular hotel in Panama City by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Panama City

Most booked hotels in Panama City

See all
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Panama City Beach - Beachfront By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (9.1, 2205 reviews)
$194+
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Hyatt Place Panama City Beach/Beachfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 2064 reviews)
$202+
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Holiday Inn Panama City By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 437 reviews)
$108+
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TownePlace Suites by Marriott Panama City Beach Pier Park
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 422 reviews)
$162+
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Tru by Hilton Panama City Beach
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 301 reviews)
$81+
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Hilton Garden Inn Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 264 reviews)
$110+
View

Renting a car in Panama City

Renting a car in Panama City costs $67 per day, on average, or $268 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Alamo, Avis and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Panama City is the Budget branch at 6300 West Bay Parkway, which is 16 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Panama City.

Expect to pay $4.47 per gallon in Panama City (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.60 and $71.47. Compact (Chevrolet Cobalt or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Panama City, while also 40% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Panama City costs $67 per day, on average, or $268 if you want to rent if for 4 days. Alamo, Avis and Budget are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Panama City is the Budget branch at 6300 West Bay Parkway, which is 16 miles from the city center.

It’s generally cheaper to rent your vehicle outside the airport: locations in the city are around 4% cheaper than airport locations in Panama City.

Expect to pay $4.47 per gallon in Panama City (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $53.60 and $71.47. Compact (Chevrolet Cobalt or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Panama City, while also 40% cheaper than other types, on average.

Best car rental deals in Panama City

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$41/day

Full-size

Compact

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$42/day

Compact
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