Transportation
Schedules and fares are subject to change.
Airport to City Access
Train, bus, taxi, and other options to the city center
From Tocumen International Airport (PTY), central Panama City is about 25 km away, roughly a 30–45 minute drive depending on traffic. The easiest options are Uber or an official airport taxi, which uses a fixed coupon fare bought at the airport. Agree the fare in advance and prefer app-based rides for clarity.
- Distance
- About 25 km to the centre
- Time
- 30–45 min by car
- Options
- Uber or coupon taxi
- Official airport taxis use a fixed coupon fare
- Uber is convenient and transparent
Public Transportation
Metro, bus, tram, and how to use them
Panama City has the Metro de Panamá, the first metro in Central America, with several lines, plus the MetroBus network. Both use the tarjeta metro contactless transit card, which you top up and tap to ride. The metro is clean and quick for the routes it covers, while MetroBus fills the gaps.
- Metro
- Metro de Panamá (several lines)
- Bus
- MetroBus network
- Card
- tarjeta metro for both
- The metro is the first in Central America
- Top up the tarjeta metro and tap to ride
IC Cards & Travel Passes
Discount passes and rechargeable transit cards
The tarjeta metro is the shared transit card for both the Metro de Panamá and MetroBus in Panama City. Buy and top it up at stations and authorised points, then tap it at the gates or on the bus to pay. One card covers both systems, so it is the simplest way to get around the capital.
- Card
- tarjeta metro
- Covers
- Metro and MetroBus
- Top up
- Stations, authorised points
- Buy and reload at metro stations
- One card works for both metro and bus
Car Rental & Driving
License requirements and traffic rules
Panama drives on the right. An International Driving Permit alongside your home licence is recommended. Panama City has heavy traffic and aggressive driving, so a car is often more hassle than help in the capital. A rental makes more sense for reaching beaches, mountains and other regions.
- Drives on
- The right
- Licence
- IDP recommended
- City
- Heavy traffic in the capital
- A car is often unnecessary in Panama City
- Rentals suit trips to beaches and regions
Intercity Travel
Long-distance buses, trains, and ferries
Long-distance buses are the backbone of intercity travel in Panama, mostly leaving from the Albrook bus terminal (Gran Terminal de Transporte) in Panama City. Frequent services reach destinations across the country. Buses are affordable, though journeys to the far provinces can be long, so check schedules in advance.
- Buses
- Long-distance network
- Hub
- Albrook terminal
- Reach
- Destinations nationwide
- Most long-distance buses leave from Albrook
- Buses are affordable but can be slow
Domestic Flights
Budget airlines and booking tips
Domestic flights, mainly with Air Panama, save a lot of time to resort areas such as David, Bocas del Toro and other regions. Most domestic flights leave from Marcos A. Gelabert Airport (Albrook, PAC) in Panama City rather than the international Tocumen. Book ahead, as planes are small and seats fill up.
- Airline
- Air Panama and others
- Routes
- David, Bocas del Toro, etc.
- From
- Albrook (PAC), not Tocumen
- Flights save time to far resorts
- Book ahead as planes are small
Transportation Tips
Advice for safe and efficient travel
In Panama City, use the tarjeta metro for the metro and MetroBus, and prefer Uber over street taxis for safety and clear pricing. Allow extra time for heavy traffic, and use the metro to skip jams on the routes it covers. For beaches and provinces, combine long-distance buses from Albrook with domestic flights when time is short.
- City card
- tarjeta metro
- Rides
- Uber over street taxis
- Traffic
- Allow extra time
- Use the metro to avoid jams where it runs
- Combine buses and domestic flights for regions