A More Connected Historic Center Is Emerging in Panama City
Panama City’s historic center is changing through a series of improvements that are making it more walkable, accessible and active.
The official recognition of the Calle de los Sombreros adds another cultural attraction to Casco Antiguo. Located on Calle Primera near Plaza de Francia, the installation uses colorful suspended hats to celebrate Panamanian craftsmanship and encourage visitors to explore more of the neighborhood.
It is not an isolated project. Cultural streets, pedestrian events, public-space recovery and new transportation are beginning to connect Casco Antiguo with Santa Ana and the wider city.
Culture Is Bringing People Back to the Streets
The Calle de los Sombreros is complemented by the Calle de las Molas on Calle 2a, where traditional Guna textiles form part of a route featuring folklore, local artisans and cultural presentations.
Both attractions form part of Casco Peatonal, the municipal initiative that prioritizes pedestrians on selected streets on the final Sunday of each month.
The program connects Casco’s principal plazas through music, gastronomy, markets and family activities. According to the Municipality of Panama, it recorded more than 800,000 accumulated visits during its first year and generated an estimated US$15 million in economic activity.
These figures represent event attendance rather than individual tourists, but they demonstrate the scale of the benefits for restaurants, shops, artisans, transportation providers and cultural businesses.
The recovery of La Playita Las Garzas has added another public destination by restoring access to the waterfront near Casco Antiguo after decades without access.
Electric Buses Improve Access to Casco Antiguo
Five fully electric buses have joined MiBus route C982, connecting the Metro station at 5 de Mayo with Casco Antiguo and giving residents and visitors an alternative to entering the historic district by car.
The route passes Mercado de Mariscos, Plaza Herrera, Plaza de Francia, Teatro Nacional, Plaza Bolívar and Avenida B before returning to 5 de Mayo.
Each unit carries up to 60 passengers and includes low-floor access, wheelchair and stroller spaces, tactile and Braille signage, assistance buttons and a protected driver cabin. The buses also offer Wi-Fi, real-time telemetric monitoring and seven security cameras.
The Panama Tourism Authority acquired the five buses and two chargers through an investment of approximately US$1.4 million, financed as part of an Inter-American Development Bank tourism program.
Their electric operation reduces local emissions, engine noise and vibrations, which is particularly valuable in a pedestrian-oriented heritage district.
Avenida Central Carries the Revival Into Santa Ana
The Municipality of Panama is recovering an 850-meter pedestrian section between Plaza 5 de Mayo and Parque Santa Ana. The work includes removing signs and additions that conceal historic facades and coordinating improvements with residents, property owners and businesses.
This corridor connects the Metro, traditional markets, Santa Ana and the entrance to Casco Antiguo. It provides an opportunity to extend the energy already visible in Casco toward Santa Ana.
Gran Central Arrives at the Center of This Connection
Gran Central is being developed in Santa Ana, approximately two blocks from Casco Antiguo and directly across from Mercado San Felipe Neri.
The one-hectare project is conceived as a walkable, mixed-use district with residences, hospitality, shops and restaurants. Its location places it close to the electric bus connection, Avenida Central, Casco Peatonal, the traditional markets and the waterfront.
Gran Central is a private development, but its design supports the same principles behind the public initiatives: walkability, active streets and stronger connections between destinations.
The larger transformation is no longer limited to Casco Antiguo. Cultural attractions are bringing people into the streets, electric buses are improving access and Avenida Central is extending renewed activity toward Santa Ana.
Together with Gran Central, these initiatives are helping Casco Antiguo and Santa Ana function as one connected historic district.
5 Things to Know
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Cultural streets are driving foot traffic.
The new Calle de los Sombreros and Casco Peatonal events generated 800,000 visits and US$15 million in economic activity in their first year.
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Five electric buses now serve the area.
The new zero-emission vehicles connect the 5 de Mayo Metro station directly with Casco Antiguo’s main plazas.
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Avenida Central is being revitalized.
The municipality is recovering an 850-meter pedestrian corridor between Plaza 5 de Mayo and Parque Santa Ana.
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Waterfront access has been restored.
The recovery of La Playita Las Garzas gives the public a new waterfront destination near the historic center.
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Gran Central anchors the Santa Ana expansion.
The one-hectare mixed-use development connects Casco Antiguo, traditional markets, and new pedestrian routes.
