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
$98
2 travelers
Flight to Panama City
3 nights at hotel
Panama City in February
Estimated package price
$98
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, Delta and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Indianapolis 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 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, Delta and Southwest. The shortest domestic flight to Panama City departs from Indianapolis 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 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.

Airlines serving Panama City

Lufthansa
Good (7,948 reviews)
KLM
Good (1,508 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,912 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,457 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,196 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,579 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,650 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,761 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,562 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,727 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,966 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,391 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,954 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,285 reviews)
LATAM Airlines
Good (1,911 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (1,189 reviews)
Frontier
Okay (2,978 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (1,788 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (1,212 reviews)
Aeromexico
Good (1,543 reviews)
Show more

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 $56 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 13% 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

Hilton Garden Inn Panama City Airport
3 stars
Excellent (9.3, 286 reviews)
$148+
Hyatt Place Panama City Beach/Beachfront
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 2061 reviews)
$180+
Holiday Inn Panama City By IHG
3 stars
Excellent (8.8, 435 reviews)
$136+
Hilton Garden Inn Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 263 reviews)
$144+
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Panama City
3 stars
Excellent (8.3, 1281 reviews)
$88+
Casa Loma
2 stars
Excellent (8.2, 4841 reviews)
$134+

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 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 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 1% 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. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Panama City, while also 45% 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 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 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 1% 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. Full-size (Toyota Camry or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Panama City, while also 45% cheaper than other types, on average.