Panama City, Panama
Best places to shop in Panama City
4 markets, malls and shopping districts in Panama City — what to buy, when to go, and the tourist traps to avoid at each one.
Last updated 2026-08-11
1. Mercado de Mariscos and Casco Viejo
Photo: Davis Sánchez · Pexels License · source
The seafood market by the water with its ceviche counters, and the restored colonial quarter's boutiques and galleries behind it.
Where: MarketMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 06:00–17:00; Casco Viejo shops 10:00–20:00Cost: Budget–Mid
2. Multiplaza Pacific and Albrook Mall
Photo: Deyvi Darinel · Pexels License · source
Multiplaza for international luxury, Albrook for one of the largest malls in Latin America at everyday prices.
Where: MallMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 10:00–21:00Cost: Budget–Luxury
3. Guna molas and Panamanian craft
Photo: Rodolfo Quirós · Pexels License · source
The reverse-appliqué textile panels made by Guna women of the San Blas islands, sold in Casco Viejo and at the artisan markets.
Where: Street ShoppingMap: Open in Maps Best time: Daily 10:00–19:00Cost: Mid-rangeTip: A genuine mola is hand-stitched in several layers and takes weeks; printed imitations are flat and cheap. Turn it over and look at the stitching.
4. Colón Free Zone
Photo: United States Post Office Department · Public domain · source
The second-largest free trade zone in the world — wholesale electronics, textiles and goods, an hour from the city.
Where: OutletMap: Open in Maps Best time: Monday to Friday 08:00–17:00Cost: Budget–MidWatch out The zone is wholesale and largely closed to casual retail buyers, and the surrounding city of Colón has serious street-crime problems. Go with an organised transfer or not at all.
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