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 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Panama City has to offer.

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When to visit Panama City

Panama City in December
Estimated hotel price
$85
1 night at 3-star hotel
Panama City in December
Estimated hotel price
$85
1 night at 3-star 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 26 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Panama City include Delta, American Airlines and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Houston and takes around 1h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Panama City is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 152 km from Panama City. You’ll find branches of Turo and Ace, among others, in Pensacola.

Bus

Panama City’s bus station is located 3.0 km from the city center.

Plane

When flying to Panama City, you’ll arrive at Panama City NW Florida Beaches (ECP), which is located 26 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Panama City include Delta, American Airlines and WestJet. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Houston and takes around 1h 45m.

Car

Another option to get to Panama City is to pick up a car rental from Pensacola, which is about 152 km from Panama City. You’ll find branches of Turo and Ace, among others, in Pensacola.

Bus

Panama City’s bus station is located 3.0 km from the city center.

Airports near Panama City

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

Airlines serving Panama City

KLM
Good (1,434 reviews)
Lufthansa
Good (7,653 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,011 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,614 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,057 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,114 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,690 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,443 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,513 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,555 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,624 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,339 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (11,528 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,897 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,069 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,895 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,043 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,662 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,185 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (8,203 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Panama City

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 $45 to $301 per night. Downtown is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Panama City are about 138% more expensive 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
Hotel Indigo Panama City Marina By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (9.4, 150 reviews)
$112+
View
Hyatt Place Panama City Beach/Beachfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 1162 reviews)
$95+
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Holiday Inn Panama City By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, 426 reviews)
$78+
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Courtyard by Marriott Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 180 reviews)
$90+
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Casa Loma Panama City Beach - Beachfront
2 stars
Excellent (8.3, 3244 reviews)
$60+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1213 reviews)
$58+
View

Renting a car in Panama City

Renting a car in Panama City costs $55 per day, on average, or $164 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Avis and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Panama City is the Hertz branch at 6300 West Bay Parkway, which is 25 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 6% more expensive than at Panama City NW Florida Beaches.

Expect to pay $3.26 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 $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Panama City is Compact (Nissan Sentra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Jeep Wrangler or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Panama City costs $55 per day, on average, or $164 if you want to rent if for 3 days. Alamo, Avis and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to rent a car in Panama City is the Hertz branch at 6300 West Bay Parkway, which is 25 km from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 6% more expensive than at Panama City NW Florida Beaches.

Expect to pay $3.26 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 $39.07 and $52.09. The most frequently booked car type in Panama City is Compact (Nissan Sentra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy rental cars (Jeep Wrangler or similar) are, on average, 48% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Panama City

Compact SUV

4 Adults, 2 Bags

$33/day

Compact SUV

Intermediate SUV

5 Adults, 3 Bags

$34/day

Intermediate SUV
Find car rentals in Panama City