Metropolitan Cathedral
Place · Casco Viejo
The old town's main church on Plaza de la Independencia: twenty minutes inside, then the square; go before the heat.
- Twin towers
- Plaza de la Independencia
- Free
- Free entry
- Works with kids
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 9Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…Street taxis often quote a tourist price and do not use m…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- Panama ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Panama's National Migration Service or a Panamanian consulate; proof of onward travel and funds may be asked for.
- Panama ↗Do not travel independently in the Darién; the UK and other governments warn against parts of it, and there is no road crossing to Colombia.
- Panama ↗Guna Yala (San Blas) is governed by the Guna people: visitor fees apply, and photography of people usually needs permission and payment. Book through Guna-run or licensed operators.
- Panama City and the Canal ↗Check the Canal Authority's daily ship schedule before you plan the locks: the visit is worth most when a ship is due.
- Panama City ↗Street taxis often quote a tourist price and do not use meters: book through a ride-hailing app or the airport taxi counter, and agree the fare before you get in.
- Panama City ↗May to November brings heavy afternoon rain: plan outdoor stops for the morning and keep the afternoon for indoor stops.
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Map & directions
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Plan
Open now, best time to go, opening hours
Go now?
hours and prices: check on the day- Open
- Hours unknown
- Crowds
Quietest around 08:00–09:00 · go before 10:00
MonTueWedThuFriSatSunQuietest Mon–Thu · busiest Fri–Sun · desk estimate
- Tickets
- Adult: Free; donations welcome
- Time to spend
- 15–25 min · up to 40 min if you linger
Best time to go
Tour groups mid-morning.
By weekday: quietest Mon–Thu, busiest Fri–Sun.
Opening hours
- Note
- Opening hours are not printed until verified.
- Hours note
- Daytime; hours change on holy days. Check.
Which month is quietest
- Janpacked
- Febpacked
- Marpacked
- Aprpacked
- Maybusy
- Junbusy
- Julheavy
- Augheavy
- Sepbusy
- Octbusy
- Novbusy
- Decheavy
Quietest May–Jun · Sep–Nov · busiest Jan–Apr.
Estimate: desk reasoning from season, weekend and school-holiday patterns; not counted. Holidays and events move these weeks.
Weather here, next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
Getting in, access, sensory load, what to bring, and where to go if it does not work
Getting in
- Stop
- Plaza de la Independencia, Casco Viejo
- Ticket
- free · official site
- Stairs
- none of note
- Shoes
- Shoes on.
Accessibility
- PartialStep-free entrance · none of note
- NoLifts
- NoAccessible toilet
- YesRamps · Steps at the entrance; check the side ramp.
- PartialWheelchair
- PartialStroller · caution
Sensory load
- Sensory load2/5 Low
- Peak crowd3/5 Medium
Exposure: medium
What to bring and the rules
- Clothing that meets the dress rule · Shoulders and knees covered.
- A small bag · Small bags.
- Shoulders and knees covered.
- Small bags.
- No flash; ask during services.
Rules and prices change: check the official site before you go.
Bailouts
- heat: Plaza de la Independencia benches (shade)
Nearest rescue anchor: A — Plaza de la Independencia benches (shade)
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where it is, how to get there from your hotel or from where you stand, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
Tickets, prices and entry
Know before you go
- Cover shoulders and knees.
- Go before 10:00 for shade and calm.Go before 10:00 AM for shade and calm.
- The plaza is the hub of Casco Viejo; the museum is next door.
Best time of day
Go before 10:00. Plan 15–25 min inside.
quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate for an ordinary weekday; weekends and holidays run one level higher
Tickets & entry
- Where to buy
- No ticket needed.
- Dress code
- Shoulders and knees covered.
- Bags & lockers
- Small bags.
- Photos
- No flash; ask during services.
- What's closed
- Services and SundayscheckVisiting may be limited; check.
- MiddaycheckMay close for lunch; check.
“Check” dates move year to year: confirm on the official page for your date.
| Ticket | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Free; donations welcome | — |
| Tower or extras | check | — |
What to see, in order
01
Main nave and altar
Restored interior; quiet in the early morning.
02
Plaza de la Independencia
The square in front, with benches and shade.
03
Museo del Canal Interoceánico
Across the square; a separate ticket, air-conditioned, good in heat.
How to do it well
- 1Arrive before 10:00 when the plaza is calm and cooler.
- 2Dress to cover shoulders and knees for the church.
- 3Walk on to Plaza de Francia by Calle 3a.
Facilities
- toilets
- Cafés on the square; the cathedral has none for visitors (field-verify).
- tickets
- Free entry (donation welcome); the canal museum sells its own ticket.
- shade
- The plaza has some tree shade and arcades.
Time on site, inside and your plan
Time on site
Minimum
10min
Worthwhile
15min
Typical
25min
p95
40min
How much time do you have?
Enough for a typical visit (25 min).
With the other 5 min, these are a walk away (their own visit time is on their page):
- Panama Canal Museum1 min on foot · 4 min spare
- Plaza de la Independencia cafés1 min on foot · 4 min spare
Visit times are typical figures, not promises; queues and closing times can change them.
Inside, in order
Main nave and altar
Restored interior; quiet in the early morning.
Plaza de la Independencia
The square in front, with benches and shade.
Museo del Canal Interoceánico
Across the square; a separate ticket, air-conditioned, good in heat.
Step-free check, who it suits, facilities
Step-free check
- Step-free entrance: partly · partlynone of note
- Lifts: no · no
- Accessible toilet: no · no
- Ramps: yes · yesSteps at the entrance; check the side ramp.
- Wheelchair: partly · partly
- Stroller: partly · partlycaution
Steps at the entrance; check the side ramp.
Who it suits
| Traveler | Fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Church fans | good | The main church of the old town. |
| Anyone in a hurry | ok | Twenty minutes. |
| Wheelchair users | caution | Steps and cobbles. |
Skip it if
- A service is running and you cannot return.
Rules on site
- silence
- Quiet inside.
With kids
- with kids
- Short and cool; quiet inside.
- child price
- check
Combine with
Combine with
- 1 minPanama Canal Museum
- 1 minPlaza de la Independencia cafés
- 7 minIglesia de San José
- —Plaza de Francia (10 min walk)
Walk the Casco Viejo area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes
Best photo time
Best photo time today
Sun times for today load in your browser.
Deep dive
Questions, photos, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
When was it built?
Construction ran from the late 1600s to the late 1700s.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I climb a tower?
Check; access changes.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Is it free?
Yes.
How long do I need?
20 to 30 minutes.
Photos
Photos
Metropolitan Cathedral Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Deep dive
Sources
- officialAutoridad de Turismo de Panamá
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Source: Price
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates. The official site has the current price.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best hour
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The quietest window written into this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.
Source: Bag rating
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
Rated for the whole walking cluster, from desk research, not for this entrance.