Area guide · Panama City
Living in Casco Viejo: Apartments in Panama City's Old Town
San Felipe corregimiento, Panama City: the peninsula between the bay and Cinta Costera 3, from Plaza de Francia (south) to Plaza Herrera and Avenida B (west and north). This guide also covers the strip of Santa Ana next to Casco (Plaza de Santa Ana, Chinatown, Calles 12 to 14), which portals list as "Casco Viejo" or "Casco Antiguo". To the northeast, along Avenida Balboa, our Avenida Balboa guide begins; to the west lie El Chorrillo and, beyond Ancón Hill, Albrook.
What is it like to live in Casco Viejo?
Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo, the Old Town) is Panama City's historic district, in the San Felipe corregimiento: the city moved here in 1673 after Panamá Viejo was destroyed, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
People live in restored colonial and early-20th-century buildings turned into small condo buildings (Casa Garay, Star & Herald, La Merced, Cuatro Casas, Santa Familia), among plazas, churches, boutique hotels and the city's biggest cluster of restaurants and bars.
It is expensive and very walkable: 2-bedroom listings ask ~$1,750–2,500 a month to rent and around $4,000 per m² to buy. In exchange, there are few day-to-day services inside the neighborhood (one small supermarket, no chain gyms or private schools) and the Metro is ~1.2 km away.
Pros
- Living inside a World Heritage Site, in restored buildings with high ceilings, balconies and bay views.
- Everything on foot: dozens of restaurants, cafés, bars, plazas, museums and theaters.
- C982 Green Route with electric buses to the 5 de Mayo Metro for B/. 0.25.
- Plenty of furnished units in small buildings, handy for newcomers and long stays.
- A very pet-friendly neighborhood: 21 terraces and cafés verified by Pet Friendly Panamá.
Things to know
- Expensive: median ~$4,000/m² for sale (2-bedrooms), versus ~$2,575 in El Cangrejo.
- Few everyday services inside the neighborhood: one small chain supermarket, no chain gyms or private schools.
- Noise from bars, events and tourism, especially at night (several bars stay open until 2:00 am on weekends).
- Scarce parking and narrow streets; the Metro is ~1.2 km away.
- Renovations must follow Casco Antiguo rules (Executive Decree 51 of 2004).
Reference prices · October 2026
Apartments for rent in Casco Viejo: prices
| Type | Asking range /month | Most common |
|---|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bedroom apartment (48–120 m²) | $750 – $2,200 | ~$1,350 – $1,900 |
| 2-bedroom apartment (93–256 m²) | $1,650 – $4,000 | ~$1,750 – $2,500 |
| 3-bedroom apartments and penthouses (205–326 m²) | $2,600 – $7,500 | ~$3,100 – $6,000 |
Apartments and houses for sale in Casco Viejo: prices
| Type | Asking range |
|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bedroom apartment (29–128 m²) | $160,000 – $600,000 (typical ~$195,000–380,000 (median ~$278,000); Casco View (45–53 m²) $170,000–195,000; Grand Central (off-plan, 29–42 m²) $184,294–192,249; Plazuela de Alfaro (~50 m²) $273,790–278,300; La Cuadra (66–95 m²) $294,000–398,000; Star & Herald (86 m²) $320,000; PH Jerónimo (90 m²) $375,000–390,000; Casa Variedades (81 m²) $386,000; Plaza Novena (66 m²) $431,000; Casa Garay (111 m²) $600,000.) |
| 2-bedroom apartment (40–303 m²) | $160,000 – $1,899,000 (typical ~$370,000–780,000 (median ~$565,000); Balcones (78 m²) $160,000; Casa Variedades (109 m²) $507,000; Casa Cordovés de León (100 m²) $565,000; Casa Malecón (188 m²) $570,000; Mansión Baluarte (pre-sale, 104 m²) $606,375; Portales (196 m²) $780,000; La Cuadra (155–210 m²) $790,000; Casa La Merced (250 m²) $905,000; La Moderna (262 m²) $1,048,000; 303 m² $1,899,000.) |
| 3-bedroom apartments and penthouses (88–326 m²) | $540,000 – $2,500,000 (typical ~$700,000–1,200,000 (median ~$975,000); Casa Jerónimo $540,000; La Moderna (168 m²) $672,000; Star & Herald (201 m²) $699,000; Cuatro Casas (281 m², three levels) $975,000; Casa Dawson (284 m²) $1,099,000; Plaza Novena penthouse (164 m²) $1,145,000; Casa Remón (260 m²) $1,200,000; Santa Familia $2,100,000–2,500,000.) |
| Asking price per m² (2-bedrooms) | $2,700 – $5,900 / m² (Middle 80 % of listings (our own calculation); median ~$4,000/m² (1-bedroom: median ~$4,400/m²). Seafront buildings and penthouses are at the top end.) |
Asking-price ranges from Casas24 listings (location "Casco Viejo, San Felipe") checked on October 30, 2026; the same apartment listed by several agents was counted once. They are not closing prices or an appraisal. We excluded listings in Amador, a whole building, a plot and sales posted as rentals. The portal location includes the strip of Santa Ana next to Casco.
Sources (listings checked in October 2026): Casas24 – apartamentos de 1 recámara en alquiler en Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Casas24 – apartamentos de 2 recámaras en alquiler en Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Casas24 – apartamentos de 3 recámaras en alquiler en Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Casas24 – apartamentos de 1 recámara en venta en Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Casas24 – apartamentos de 2 recámaras en venta en Casco Viejo, San Felipe, Casas24 – apartamentos de 3 recámaras en venta en Casco Viejo, San Felipe.
Getting around Casco Viejo
- Metro: it does not reach Casco. The nearest station is 5 de Mayo (Line 1), ~1.2 km from Plaza de la Independencia. Fare B/. 0.35.
- Bus: MiBus C982 Green Route (Metro 5 de Mayo–Casco Antiguo) loops through Casco via Plaza Herrera, Avenida A, Plaza de Francia, Plaza Bolívar and Avenida B, with 100% electric buses since August 2026; fare B/. 0.25; Monday–Friday 4:30 am–11:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday 7:00 am–11:30 pm.
- Car: Cinta Costera 3 wraps around Casco and links it with Avenida Balboa and the Corredor Sur. Streets are narrow and cobbled, and parking is limited (street spots and paid lots): many buildings have no parking or very few spaces.
Utilities in Casco Viejo
- 💡Electricity
- Naturgy (Edemet)
Naturgy (Edemet): the San Felipe district, where Casco Antiguo is, appears in its official concession-area table (as does Santa Ana). - 🚰Water
- IDAAN (often included in the condo HOA fee)
- 📶Internet & phone
- +Móvil (Cable & Wireless Panamá) · Tigo Panamá
Panama's two operators; fiber depends on the building: check your address with each. - 🔥Gas
- Tropigas · Panagas
25 or 100 lb cylinders (Tropigas, Panagas). Tall towers often have central gas run by the building or do not allow cylinders: ask the management. - 🗑️Garbage collection
- AAUD (Autoridad de Aseo)
Panamá district: the garbage fee comes on the IDAAN bill.
Estimate my monthly cost Utilities guide: how to set up electricity, water, gas and internet →
🛂 Moving from abroad? Residency for foreigners · buying or renting as a foreigner
Properties in Casco Viejo
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Condo buildings (PH) and gated communities in Casco Viejo
Each building and gated community has its own page with verified amenities (pool, gym, 24-hour security, gatehouse, backup generator…), map, nearby places and the homes brokers list there.
- PH Casa Cordovés de León — Condo building (PH)
- PH Casa Garay — Condo building (PH)
- PH Casa Variedades — Condo building (PH)
- PH Casa Zarak — Condo building (PH)
- PH Casco View — Condo building (PH)
- PH Condominio La Merced — Condo building (PH)
- PH Cuatro Casas — Condo building (PH)
- PH La Moderna — Condo building (PH)
- PH Plazuela de Alfaro — Condo building (PH)
- PH Portales — Condo building (PH)
- PH Santa Familia — Condo building (PH)
- PH Star & Herald — Condo building (PH)
Places in Casco Viejo
Schools, supermarkets, clinics, transport and more: each category has its own page and each place its own page with prices (when published), hours, sources and map.
Schools in Casco Viejo
- Escuela Bilingüe Simón Bolívar — Public school, kindergarten to 6th grade. Free public education. ~0.2 km from the center.
- C.E.B.G. República de México — Public basic-education school. Free public education. ~0.2 km from the center.
Supermarkets in Casco Viejo
- Supermercados Rey Casco Antiguo — Small Rey inside Casco. Hours: check. ~0.3 km from the center.
- El Machetazo (Santa Ana) — Supermarket and store in Santa Ana. Hours: check (OSM: Mon–Sat 6–21, Sun 7–20). ~0.6 km from the center.
Transport in Casco Viejo
- Estación 5 de Mayo (Metro Línea 1) — Metro Line 1; connects with route C982 to Casco. ~1.2 km from the center.
- Zona paga MiBus 5 de Mayo (Estación Marañón) — Start of C982 to Casco; also C640, S420 and V180. ~1.1 km from the center.
- Parada MiBus Barrio Chino (Avenida B) — C982 Green Route (electric) to 5 de Mayo Metro. ~0.5 km from the center.
Gyms & sports in Casco Viejo
- Casco Yoga Panamá — Drop-in $20; 10 classes $150 (3 months). ~0.2 km from the center.
Parks & recreation in Casco Viejo
- Plaza de la Independencia (Plaza Catedral) — Pedestrian square with benches and trees facing the Cathedral. Free. ~0.0 km from the center.
- Plaza de Francia y Las Bóvedas — Pedestrian square with an obelisk and busts, by the sea. Free. ~0.4 km from the center.
- Plaza Herrera — Square with benches. Free. ~0.2 km from the center.
- Plaza Bolívar — Square with benches and a monument. Free. ~0.2 km from the center.
- Cinta Costera 3 (Viaducto Marino) — Seafront promenade and park area. Free. ~0.6 km from the center.
Clinics & health in Casco Viejo
- Hospital Santo Tomás — Public MINSA hospital, 24 h ER. ~1.5 km from the center.
- Centro de Salud de San Felipe (MINSA) — Public primary care. Hours: check. ~0.1 km from the center.
- Policlínica Presidente Remón (CSS) — CSS polyclinic for insured patients. Hours: check. ~0.9 km from the center.
- Farmacias Arrocha (Santa Ana) — Chain pharmacy in Santa Ana. Hours: check. ~1.0 km from the center.
Restaurants in Casco Viejo
- Finca del Mar — Mediterranean. ~$32 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.3 km from the center.
- Cascomar — Spanish / tapas. ~$42 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.2 km from the center.
- El Enemigo Steakhouse — Steakhouse / Panamanian fusion. ~$45 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.1 km from the center.
- Fonda Lo Que Hay — Panamanian / fusion. ~$37 per person (Degusta). ~0.2 km from the center.
- La Fishería Seafood (Casco Antiguo) — Seafood. ~$31 per person (Degusta). ~0.2 km from the center.
- La Pulpería (Casco Antiguo) — Tapas / international. ~$25 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.2 km from the center.
- MAHALO Cocina y Jardín — Healthy / international / vegetarian. ~$26 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.3 km from the center.
Pet friendly
- Finca del Mar — Mediterranean. ~$32 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.3 km from the center.
- Cascomar — Spanish / tapas. ~$42 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.2 km from the center.
- El Enemigo Steakhouse — Steakhouse / Panamanian fusion. ~$45 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.1 km from the center.
- La Pulpería (Casco Antiguo) — Tapas / international. ~$25 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.2 km from the center.
- MAHALO Cocina y Jardín — Healthy / international / vegetarian. ~$26 per person (Degusta). Pet friendly on the terrace. ~0.3 km from the center.
- Café Unido (Casco Viejo) — Pet-friendly specialty coffee. Price: check. ~0.2 km from the center.
- Tiempos Specialty Coffee — Pet-friendly café terrace. Price: check. ~0.2 km from the center.
🐾 Pet friendly
Pet-friendly Casco Viejo
Casco has one of the highest concentrations of pet-friendly terraces in the city: Pet Friendly Panamá lists 21 verified places (12 restaurants, 5 bars and 4 cafés), all with pets on the terrace or outdoors, not inside. Cobblestones and sidewalks get very hot at midday: walk early or at sunset, with water and a short leash, as sidewalks are narrow. There is no dog park inside Casco. Some buildings accept pets per their listings (Star & Herald, La Cuadra): if you need a dog-friendly apartment, tell us in your request.
- Finca del Mar · petfriendlypanama.com
- Cascomar · petfriendlypanama.com
- El Enemigo Steakhouse · petfriendlypanama.com
- La Pulpería (Casco Antiguo) · petfriendlypanama.com
- MAHALO Cocina y Jardín · petfriendlypanama.com
- Café Unido (Casco Viejo) · petfriendlypanama.com
- Tiempos Specialty Coffee · petfriendlypanama.com
Neighboring areas
Living in Avenida Balboa
Bella Vista district (corregimiento), Panama City. This guide covers the strip between Calle 50 (Av. Nicanor de Obarrio) and the sea: Avenida Balboa, the Cinta Costera, Marbella, La Cresta and traditional Bella Vista around Parque Urracá. Practical limits: Calle 50 and Vía España to the north (Obarrio, the banking district, Campo Alegre and El Cangrejo, in the same district, are not included), the Matasnillo river and Punta Paitilla to the east, Panama Bay to the south and Calles 38 to 40 Este and Hospital Santo Tomás to the west. The official boundary with Calidonia is Calle 42, but the towers on the avenue between Calles 38 and 42 are marketed as Avenida Balboa or Bella Vista and are included too.
Rent in Avenida Balboa · Buy in Avenida Balboa · Area guide →
Casco Viejo FAQ
How much does it cost to rent in Casco Viejo?
In October 2026, listings asked ~$1,350–1,900 a month for a studio or 1-bedroom (range $750–2,200), ~$1,750–2,500 for a 2-bedroom (range $1,650–4,000) and $2,600–7,500 for 3-bedrooms or penthouses. Most are rented furnished. These are asking prices, not closing prices.
How much does it cost to buy in Casco Antiguo?
In listings, a 1-bedroom asks ~$195,000–380,000, a 2-bedroom ~$370,000–780,000 (median ~$4,000 per m²) and 3-bedrooms or penthouses ~$700,000–1,200,000, with seafront units above $2 million.
Are Casco Viejo, Casco Antiguo and San Felipe the same?
In practice, yes: Casco Viejo and Casco Antiguo are names for the same historic district, which is the San Felipe corregimiento. Portals also list the part of Santa Ana next to it (Plaza de Santa Ana, Chinatown) as "Casco", and this guide includes it.
How do you get to Casco Viejo by public transport?
Take the Metro to 5 de Mayo station (Line 1) and then MiBus C982 Green Route, with electric buses that loop through Casco for B/. 0.25, from 4:30 am to 11:30 pm on weekdays and 7:00 am to 11:30 pm on weekends.
Which company supplies electricity in Casco Viejo?
Naturgy (Edemet): the San Felipe and Santa Ana districts are in its official concession-area table. Water is supplied by IDAAN and garbage is collected by AAUD (the fee comes on the IDAAN bill).
Is Casco Viejo good for living with a dog?
For going out, yes: there are 21 terraces and cafés verified by Pet Friendly Panamá. But there is no dog park inside the neighborhood, sidewalks are narrow and the cobblestones get very hot at midday; and not every building accepts pets.
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