is widely known as ‘a bargainer’s paradise’ because of its free trade zone. Shopping in the city is one of the best experiences for tourists. Panama´s oldest and most fascinating venue for local shopping has always been and remains to be in the area of Calidonia and Avenida Central. Here tourists mingle with locals and strive to bargain with peddlers to get the best prices ever. It is advisable to dress casually when shopping at Calidonia, Avenida Central or San Miguelito, leaving behind your valuables and jewelry. At these local stores you will find excellent bargains as well as experience a bit of the local tradition and culture. Hawkers lay down their wares on the foot paths and call out to shoppers to come and have a look at their merchandise.
The oldest shopping mall in Panama is El Dorado mall located at the Via Ricardo J. Alfaro, commonly known to locals as “Tumba Muerto”. One of the biggest outdoor shopping malls of Central America is in Panama! This huge outdoor complex, known as “Centro Commercial Los Pueblos” is located near the Tocumen International Airport and has more than 250 establishments. The biggest, enclosed, air conditioned mall in Panama is Albrook mall, which is located close to the Marco A. Gelabert Regional Airport.
Two of the most upscale malls located in are Multi Centro Mall and Multi Plaza Mall, both easily accessible and in the heart of Panama City. Multi Centro Mall is located on Avenida Balboa and Multi Plaza Mall, located just a few minutes away if you are traveling by car, is in the Punta Pacifica area. In Multi Plaza you will find top brand name stores, such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton.
There are other small malls as well, where tourists often go to just to have a peek and go window shopping. You can get bargain items at these smaller malls and the advantage is that these malls are less crowded than Los Pueblos or Albrook Mall.
You can find gourmet restaurants, food courts, department stores that have special divisions for men, children and women, clothing stores specially for expecting mothers, new born babies and teen ages, shoes, electronics, a supermarket and even a casino when you go shopping at most of these malls in Panama.
Going to any of these malls is not a problem at all, since transportation is easily available in city. Taxis can be flagged down on the street or you can call one of the many Taxi companies to send a cab for you. Public transportation (local buses) are also available, but one should proceed with caution when riding the “Diablos Rojos”, which is what the public buses are called by the locals.
