Panamá Viejo
Panamá Viejo
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- AndMHGilroy, California264 contributionsInteresting, but not for all peopleIf you are interested in history, it's worth a trip. other than the cathedral tower it is a large area full of ruins. It was a moderate size town with 7 convents that all appeared large. The Museum is interesting, but mainly a reading one rather than one of many items. on display. It takes a while to get there (30 mins from Casco Antiqua) but only costs around $5 on Uber.Visited February 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten March 2, 2024
- Thecatsmum4Kettering, United Kingdom2,727 contributionsInformative site on past Panama CityWorth a visit whilst in the city of Panama, the site is predominently ruins, but you can climb the remaining church tower with views over the new city. There is a museum on site which gives further insight into the past. Accessable for disabled visitors as there is a small road train from the gate to the museum.Visited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten March 28, 2024
- Just JoeNapa, California330 contributionsOriginal Panamá site, GREAT ruinsIf you can spare the time and like old ruins & associated museum, then go here. LOTS of Panama history, this is the original Panama City site from 500 years ago. Short open air Shuttle takes you from ticket office to museum and ruins. Very thorough anthropological museum and walking through the ruins is awesome. Free Wi-Fi and you can Uber there and back. RECOMMEND!Visited December 2024Traveled soloWritten December 15, 2024
- Yogi C15 contributionsMust Visit For Understanding Crux Of Panama!The approx. $17 ticket includes the museum & walking through the old Panama City ruins surrounding the museum as well as downloadable English audio guide. Transport from ticket center cum library/gift shop to the museum included, though it’s a 10-12 minute walk which can also be accomplished on foot. Wear comfy shoes since the area can often be bit muddy. Carry an umbrella/raincoat since it can always rain. Tour the museum first to get extensive understanding about the ruins & everything else in context of the history of Panama pre & post Spanish conquest. Everything is well presented & written in English as well. One can easily spend 45 minutes to 1.5 hours in the museum itself. Proceed to the ruins outside. Explore at leisure. Make sure to climb right up to the top of the old tower for city views & extra exercise:) Can take 1.5-2 hours for covering all ruins, including reading through info, taking pics etc. There’s also a little cafe outside & a museum gift shop.Visited December 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten January 4, 2025
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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785 reviews
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Terrible
5
sussexrowmark
Rye, UK516 contributions
Dec 2022
A piece of history, in the early 1500s Panama Viejo was the first city on the Pacific to be settled by the Spanish. The ruins were largely plundered for use elsewhere after being burnt down by buccaneer Henry Morgan. We enjoyed walking through the trees and around the museum. No guide required - take a taxi and read the information by the exhibits.
Written December 31, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phutty
Tallinn, Estonia1,402 contributions
Feb 2020
This historical site on the outskirts of the city centre is worth taking an Uber to, just as it's worth making use of the free shuttle to ferry yourself around the site, which otherwise requires a lot of walking in limited shade under a blazing sun.
The museum at the heart of the complex does a good job of contextualising the site and showcasing the lives and customs of the indigenous (and later foreign) population, with some interesting displays on interment rituals and the ultimate fate of the settlement at the hands of Morgan - and, indeed, the pirate captain's own ironic fate. The ruins themselves are what they are, though picking through them does throw up the odd atmospheric moment, and climbing the tower is a must for both the views and the significant drop in temperature. While at the base of the tower you'll almost certainly spot iguanas, too.
There is an unexciting but much-needed café on site. WiFi, if you need it, is available in the book store by the front entrance (ask staff for the password).
The museum at the heart of the complex does a good job of contextualising the site and showcasing the lives and customs of the indigenous (and later foreign) population, with some interesting displays on interment rituals and the ultimate fate of the settlement at the hands of Morgan - and, indeed, the pirate captain's own ironic fate. The ruins themselves are what they are, though picking through them does throw up the odd atmospheric moment, and climbing the tower is a must for both the views and the significant drop in temperature. While at the base of the tower you'll almost certainly spot iguanas, too.
There is an unexciting but much-needed café on site. WiFi, if you need it, is available in the book store by the front entrance (ask staff for the password).
Written February 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MsKiesha
Alexandria, VA2,825 contributions
May 2023
If you love learning about the history of different cultures and customs this is a really great exhibit. The ruins are very clean and humbling. The staff were really great and I appreciated the air in the museum and the ride from entrance to museum because it was very hot.
Written May 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Timothy C
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • Solo
In the rest of the world ruins are free. These are ruins with a small museum that takes five minutes to visit. Panama charges $17 for this sad excuse of a tourist site, and the pathways are still unfinished. Someone is making a killing from this. Unless you are happy to throw your money away then don't bother. It's a few walls with a few signs giving descriptions of the first Spanish attacks and settlement.
Written November 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ImagineNoHell
Philadelphia, PA77 contributions
Dec 2019
If you like to learn about the history of a place, this has enough for a few hours. This is the first city of Panama, before Captain Morgan, yes, that Captain Morgan, sacked the city and it had to move to a new place, Casco Viejo. You pay at the door and there's a tram that takes you inside. Most of the ruins weren't taken care of so it's really not much left, but it gave me pause always to see places in ruins. To the locals this is a lot of money, but I enjoyed the two little museums and reading about the history. The church tower was worth a climb to the top, but you have to walk up the stairs.
After visiting PV, go to the artisans marketplace next door. Be ready to bargain, hard. Be willing to walk away. You can find the same things scattered around the city, so it helps if you know the prices going in.
After visiting PV, go to the artisans marketplace next door. Be ready to bargain, hard. Be willing to walk away. You can find the same things scattered around the city, so it helps if you know the prices going in.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen S
London58 contributions
Feb 2020
If you come to Panama City and are interested in its history, you should visit Panama Viejo and its museum. In the other hand, if ruins are not your thing, maybe pass on it.
Clearly, only a few of the more durable stone buildings are left and even these have been used as sources of ready cut stone. However, with some imagination and the help of the artists' impressions of how the ruins looked in their prime, it is worth a visit.
There isn't a lot of shade, apart from the museum, so it's best to go either early or if there's some cloud, and take some water as the little cafe mainly sells coffee and sugary drinks.
Clearly, only a few of the more durable stone buildings are left and even these have been used as sources of ready cut stone. However, with some imagination and the help of the artists' impressions of how the ruins looked in their prime, it is worth a visit.
There isn't a lot of shade, apart from the museum, so it's best to go either early or if there's some cloud, and take some water as the little cafe mainly sells coffee and sugary drinks.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna M
Encinitas, CA567 contributions
Feb 2020
We only had a few days in Panama City. I was very happy we chose to visit the Old City. The buildings were classic. It was interesting to walk the streets and view some of the building that were in ruins and others that had been preserved.There were multiple restaurants and bars and plenty of small shops offering locally made items. The plaza had many booths of local artists and we found beautiful molas to buy.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rochelle F
Randolph, NJ1,240 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
We have seen most of sites in Panama City and the day was nice so ventured here. No need to have a guide unless you are a history buff. The site has beautiful trees and there is shade around them
There is some signage in both Spanish and English which describes the various ruins. It is worth climbing the tower as there are 3 levels of lookouts
Which give you a different perspective.
The museum is also interesting. Signs are in both languages which is helpful. We went on a Sunday and there was a tram which took us from visitor center to
The tower part but if not you can easily walk it.
There is some signage in both Spanish and English which describes the various ruins. It is worth climbing the tower as there are 3 levels of lookouts
Which give you a different perspective.
The museum is also interesting. Signs are in both languages which is helpful. We went on a Sunday and there was a tram which took us from visitor center to
The tower part but if not you can easily walk it.
Written January 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DW123418
New York City, NY239 contributions
May 2022
There isn't that much to do in Panama City so we ventured out to visit the site of Viejo Panama. It's a hot and sticky walk through the ruins aren't much to look at and there is very little signage to explain. The modern museum at the end of the walk is definitely the best part of this site. Some moderestly interesting exhibits about the colonial and pre-colonial history of Panama.
Written June 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelingSoccerLoon
Saint Paul, MN7,991 contributions
Oct 2021
Ruins of the original settlement near Panama City destroyed by the pirate Henry Morgan in the 1600's. Nice strolling amongst the ruins and climbing to the top of the church tower. Museum was closed due to Covid when I visited. Allow 1-2 hr for the visit. If you're short on time, Casco Viejo, Miraflores Locks and a trip to Monkey Island on Gatun lake should all be a priority over a visit here. $15 entrance fee.
Written May 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. I'm seeing reviews from the same date some of which say they couldn't see it because of the refurbishment and others posted pictures of the inside. Is the Cathedral currently closed? If so, is there an estimate of how long it will be closed. We don't go until February and I would love to see it and climb the stairs.
Written September 10, 2016
Hello, there was some construction going on around there but it didn't affect the cathedral. We went on August so it may be an issue now. Enjoy your trip.
Written September 15, 2016
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