Top 5: Museums in Panama City

Stuck on a layover in Tocumen? Head outside for a bit and check out the museums available in nearby Panama City and the surrounding area.

Museo de Panama Viejo

The Museu de Panama Viejo is actually a former archeological site and contains the ruins of the first European settlement of the Americas. The open-air museum offers numerous programs and activities for visitors that highlight the colonial era of the region and conservation efforts.

Natural Science Museum

The Natural Science Museum of Panama City is one of the best in the world. It features extensive collections and displays highlighting the country’s vast geological landscapes and the region’s wildlife. It places special interest on endangered plants and animals.

Afro-Antillean Museum

This wonderful specialty museum highlights the rich history of African colonization in Panama and how the culture contributed significantly to the country as it stands today. It’s small, but contains a great wealth of information integral to the region.

Museum of Contemporary Art

The MAC Panama is the best place to find contemporary works of art in the city. Here you’ll find modern pieces created by local artists, along with a few outsiders, that showcase the ingenuity and hard work of the country’s citizens. If there’s only one museum you visit, make it this one.

Biomuseo

The Biomuseo focuses on the natural history of the region and how the Panamanian Isthmus had an enormous impact on the world’s biodiversity. It contains eight galleries inside and a new biodiversity park outside where you can experience the flora firsthand. The building itself is pretty cool, too.