What is the distance from Panama City Pacifico Airport to the centre of Panama City?
The distance to the city centre (Iglesia del Carmen in Bellavista) is 15 kilometres / 9.3 miles, the journey time is approximately half an hour.
From BLB Airport to Panama City City centre by Taxi
Public transport
Bus to Panama City
It is possible to travel by bus between the airport and Panama City, although just a few tourists use this travel option. On the main road in front of the airport (Panama Pacifico Boulevard, other side of the road) is a bus stop where you can take the bus to Albrook Bus Terminal. It is a 10-minute walk from the terminal. The bus runs between Veracruz and Panama City via Howard. Travel time from Panama City Pacifico Airport to the Albrook bus station is approximately 40 minutes. Buses run mainly in the morning and afternoon on weekdays, in the evenings and at weekends you have fewer options. Tickets are cheap and available from the bus driver.
Top 5 attractions in Panama City and surroundings
1. Panama Canal and Miraflores Visitor Center, ticket price is 20 PAB / USD
2. Panamá Viejo (ancient ruins) and Casco Viejo
3. San Blas Islands, book a day trip!
4. Isla Taboga, book a day trip with a catamaran!
5. Embera Indian Village Tour
Public transport Panama City
In Panama City you can travel by taxi and public transport, i.e. metros and buses. The prices are low, for a taxi ride you usually pay no more than a few dollars. Public transport is the cheapest option. A one-way ticket costs 0.35 PAB / USD for the metro and 0.25 PAB / USD for the bus. The Metro de Panamá network consists of two metro lines, Line 1 (14 stations) between San Isidro and Albrook and Line 2 (16 stations) between Nuevo Tocumen and San Miguelito. The metro in Panama is mainly used by locals, not so much by tourists. Estación 5 de Mayo is closest to Casco Viejo, it’s a 15 minute walk from here. In order to use the metro and/or bus you must be in possession of a public transport card, a Tarjeta Metro, MetroBus or RapiPass costs 2.00 PAB / USD and is available on the metro stations and Albrook Bus Terminal. You must top up the card with money. It’s possible to share your card, if you do not have a card yourself, you can ask a fellow passenger to pay for you. Bus rides in Panama City are operated by MetroBus and MiBus, in addition you can travel by buses (diablo rojo / chicken bus) that are privately owned and for which you also pay 0.25 PAB / USD.
Public transportation to Miraflores Locks
The Panama Canal (Miraflores Locks) is the most visited landmark in the country, accessible by taxi and bus. There is a direct bus service from Albrook Bus Terminal to Miraflores Locks, namely bus line C810 operated by MiBus. The bus departs from platform Bahia 4 at Albrook Bus Terminal and takes you in 20 minutes to the bus stop outside the visitor centre entrance. Albrook Bus Terminal is easily accessible from all parts of the city by bus and metro line 1. A one-way trip by bus costs 0.25 PAB / USD, but you can only pay with a card for public transportation.
Book a taxi
