Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal)
Plaza de la Independencia Calle 5a Este, Panama City, PAN
The eponymous canal is one of Panama’s major claims to fame, and many travelers either venture through it on a cruise or visit it from Panama City. But the Panama Canal Museum (Museo del Canal), located in the heart of the capital, provides another way to learn about this feat of engineering and its impact on Panama.
More than just a museum about the Panama Canal, the Panama Canal Museum recounts the history of Panama as a whole, from pre-Columbian times to the present. The importance of the isthmus as a transit route led to the creation of the Panama Canal, and this is the lens through which the museum presents the exhibits and artifacts.
The museum can be visited independently or on a group or private guided tour of Panama City. Guided tours also typically include visits to Casco Antiguo’s heritage sites and often to the Panama Canal itself, particularly the Miraflores Locks and its visitor center.
Entry tickets are more expensive for foreigners than for local Panamanians. Kids aged five and under are free.
Guided tours in Spanish or English can be provided for groups.
There’s an onsite gift shop where you can get canal-themed souvenirs.
Don’t get confused: the Panama Canal Museum is in Panama City’s Casco Antiguo neighborhood, which isn’t anywhere near the Panama Canal and the Miraflores Locks many travelers visit. This neighborhood is popular with travelers, so you can easily find your way to the museum on foot or by taxi when exploring the area. The nearest metro station is 5 de Mayo, but it’s not that close.
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from morning until early evening. The last tickets are sold 30 minutes before closing, but it’s recommended to schedule more time than this for your visit. The best time to visit Panama City, in general, is during the dry season, between December and April.
The Panama Canal Museum is housed in an attractive blue-and-white late-19th-century building in the historic neighborhood of the UNESCO-listed Casco Antiguo (also called Casco Viejo). This is arguably the most exciting and attractive part of Panama City, with many old buildings and churches. Visitors to the museum should also check out Independence Square, the National Theater, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral (among others) on a guided or independent walking tour.
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