City Guide: Panama City

Panama City reaches beyond the present.

Sitting at the gateway to Colon, Panama City is used to living from a level of commerce that has brought foreign influence to the city. Consequently, Panama City became fast moving with skyscrapers and postmodern influences and today it is home to the new Balboa avenue, an impressive banking area and Punta Paitilla.

Panama City literally anticipates the future and you can see this approach for yourself on your trip there. Be it a room in cheap hotel in Panama City to a luxury-appointed room all are available at Booked.net. Our listings include maps, photos and secure forms.

Soon after arrival you will see that Panama City is not as postmodern as it pretends to be. The city is the centre of tension between the old and new. Typical examples of Colonial Baroque style as the Casco Viejo in the old town dates back to 1673, but Panama City takes efforts to show that it is no more lost in its past and instead skyscrapers own the skyline. 

Attractions include; 

• St Andrews State Park, a beautiful green area to take it easy in the city

• Visual Arts Center offers contemporary art

• Pine Log State Forest, a gathering place in summertime for picnics

• Museum of Man in the Sea offers exhibits on the history of diving

From cultural sites to water parks, golf courses, scuba diving, snorkeling and watersports Panama City will keep you entertained throughout your stay. A destination for fun-seekers, Panama is a place to indulge in such extremes such as a touring the Gulf Coast via boat or helicopter or swimming with dolphins. But when these activities make you tired turn your focus to Panama's historic heritage.

It happened that the explorer Balboa first crossed Pacific and then Pedro Arias de Avila established Panama City in 1519. He undertook a successful venture as Panama became important center of government, but suffered from the attacks by English pirate Sir Henry Morgan. 

Even though the city was back to normal life three years later, Panama managed to return its prominence only by the 1850s when the railroad reached the city. Since then Panama City has taken a new role of business center. 

With the times the city has evolved into the richest hub in Central America anticipating a very optimistic future. Today it is a space for foreign investments and new businesses in the area. It means that Panama City is undergoing a boom from its very center to its rougher edges. So there is no need to book a hotel opposite your favorite attraction or in the city's heart as Panama is pretty enough from center to suburbia.

 Booked.net can take the hassle out of finding accommodation for you.