Introduction
What to do
Where to eat
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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Where to Eat in Panama City

If you’re looking for affordable options, G. Foley's (3212 W 23rd Street) and Dreamers Restaurant & Bar (1136 Thomas Dr) are great picks.

When to visit Panama City

Panama City in November
Estimated hotel price
$91
1 night at 3-star hotel
Panama City in November
Estimated hotel price
$91
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 16 miles from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Panama City include American Airlines, Qatar Airways and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Chicago and takes around 2h 26m.

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 Turo and Ace, among others, in Pensacola.

Bus

Panama City’s bus station is located 1.8 miles from the city center.

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, Qatar Airways and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Chicago and takes around 2h 26m.

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 Turo and Ace, among others, in Pensacola.

Bus

Panama City’s bus station is located 1.8 miles from the city center.

Airports near Panama City

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

Airlines serving Panama City

Lufthansa
Good (7,136 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,358 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,008 reviews)
Delta
Excellent (7,946 reviews)
Iberia
Good (2,776 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,463 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (8,786 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,264 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,584 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (9,531 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,387 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (10,204 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,290 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,925 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (3,295 reviews)
Spirit Airlines
Good (8,052 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,785 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,489 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,088 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (882 reviews)
Show more
Find flights to Panama City

Where to stay in Panama City

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Ramada by Wyndham Panama City and Quality Inn & Conference Center. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Panama City, with prices from $58 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 153% 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
Hilton Garden Inn Panama City Airport
3 stars
Excellent (9.3, 244 reviews)
$145+
View
Hyatt Place Panama City Beach/Beachfront
3 stars
Excellent (9, 971 reviews)
$281+
View
Holiday Inn Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.7, 410 reviews)
$146+
View
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, 1112 reviews)
$118+
View
Days Inn by Wyndham Panama City Beach/Ocean Front
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 3331 reviews)
$182+
View
Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1368 reviews)
$210+
View

Renting a car in Panama City

Renting a car in Panama City costs $75 per day, on average, or $226 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 6401 West Bay Parkway, which is 16 miles from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 9% more expensive than at Panama City NW Florida Beaches.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. 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 Intermediate rental cars (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are, on average, 50% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Renting a car in Panama City costs $75 per day, on average, or $226 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 6401 West Bay Parkway, which is 16 miles from the city center.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 9% more expensive than at Panama City NW Florida Beaches.

Expect to pay $3.48 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 $41.79 and $55.72. 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 Intermediate rental cars (Hyundai Elantra or similar) are, on average, 50% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.

Best car rental deals in Panama City

Supplier choice

5 Adults, 5 Bags

$30/day

Supplier choice

Full-size

5 Adults, 2 Bags

$40/day

Full-size
Find car rentals in Panama City

Panama City Travel Guide - View the KAYAK Panama City city guide for the best Panama City travel tips. To help you organize your Panama City trip ideas, this Panama City visitors guide provides travel information and trip tips about how to get there, where to stay, what to do, where to eat and more.