Banks: 08:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday; 08:00 to 12:00, Saturday
Post Offices: 08:00 to 16:00, Monday to Friday
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday
Museums: times vary according to the venue
Business Offices: 07:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday

Visiting Panama City comes with a number of caveats suggesting that it can be a slightly risky place to take a trip if you are not altogether sensible. Warnings include steering clear of the run-down neighbourhoods around the old quarter as you may well run into and become the target of miscreants, especially after dark. Additionally a significant presence of thieves in the city means that pick-pocketing and bag snatching is common so visitors need to be attentive to where and how they carry their cash and personal effects. Visitors renting a vehicle during their stay in Panama City should be wary as to where they choose to park it and should at all costs, avoid leaving anything of value on display inside.

Electricity: 120V AC, 60Hz

Panama City offers no viral epidemics or serious levels of disease of any nature however; Hepatitis A and Typhoid injections are recommended for all travellers and additionally if you plan to come into close contact with animals for whatever reason, a rabies shot is also advisable. Malaria is not a risk in Panama City.

Water from the mains is chlorinated and considered safe to drink however it may not agree with the digestive systems of all visitors so bottled water, which is readily available, is perhaps the best option. Levels of hygiene in restaurants and at takeaways and roadside vendors in particular, may not be of a standard considered acceptable in Europe or the US; hence it pays to use a little judgement when deciding where to eat. The bars and restaurants of popular hotels are generally more conscientious when it comes to cleanliness than other places. Health care in Panama City is considerably higher than in other parts of the country and visitors with travel insurance should have no problems availing themselves of the services of competent hospitals with high standards of treatment.

Hospital Nacional, Panama City
Tel: +507 207 8100

Spanish is the official language of the country of Panama and of its capital, Panama City also. English is, however, widely spoken and opportunities to make use of a Spanish phrasebook are rare.

The Balboa (PAB) is the official currency in Panama and is a volume consisting of 100 centavos. Currency is issued in coin form only with denominations of PAB10 and 1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 centavos. American dollars are also widely accepted in Panama City and across the country.

If you already have US dollars, then there is little need to exchange them as there are few places in the city that won’t accept them. Alternatively purchase US Dollar traveller’s cheques which you will find can be exchanged easily at bureau de change counters across the city and also most banks and some hotel desks. Banks invariably offer the best exchange rates and the widest selection of exchange services.

There are no restrictions on the import and export of either foreign or local currency. Visitors however carrying amounts of over US$10,000 into or out of the country must make a declaration to immigration.

Duty free allowances permit visitors to take 500 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 500g of tobacco and three litres of alcoholic beverage into or out of the country.

Panamanians dress smartly as a rule, making every effort to show or appear above their status where possible. Visitors with unkempt appearances will do little to blend in or gain the respect of locals and so should dress accordingly in smart casual clothing at all times except on the beach. Beachwear is strictly for the beach and even shorts are considered taboo in restaurants and public places in the city. Panamanians are staunch Roman Catholics and visitors should bear this in mind, making all efforts to avoid behaviour that might offend the religiously inclined.

Dining Etiquette
Dining etiquette has been heavily influenced by US interests in the city hence North American table manners are largely appropriate. Ostentatious behaviour has no place at the dinner table and formality and basic good manners are prerequisites. Visitors should wait to be seated by their host and should not begin to eat or drink until all guests are seated and the host him/herself has done so. As in most countries, it’s polite to bring a small gift for your host, preferably something from your home country although flowers, chocolates or wine are normally considered appropriate.

Visas are required by all except those listed below who may enter on a valid passport only (provided they have an onward ticket): Citizens of Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay and the UK (except for UK passports issued in Hong Kong).

Panama City Tourism Office can be contacted by telephoning: +1 800 962 1526.