Avenida Central, Panama City

One of Panama City’s main avenues, Avenida Central originates in Casco Viejo, between Plaza Santa Ana and Plaza Cinco de Mayo, and runs right up to the banking district. Although this part of the city is not a definite “must see” for most tourists, and furthermore, some guidebooks even suggest to avoid it, a little stroll down to the Central will bring you to the pedestrian mall that is well worth checking out.

Don't expect to find here the habitual sterile clean and scrubbed supermarket feel. What you get is a live bustling market on the avenue that is lined with small shops on both sides. You will find real people going about their daily lives, checking out the stuff on sale, haggling for bargains. The shops have on offer anything from bird feed to candy to electronics and clothing. If you come from the city and want to find some stuff at a reasonable price, this is the place. A simple stroll down here would be just as entertaining even if you don't buy anything. Agreed that it is not a picture perfect, but it definitely is the place really interesting and full of energy and life.

From dirt cheap to prohibitively expensive and everything that lies in between you will find here. If you have time in hand and wish to downshift and unwind to small town ways, this is the place to be. Get a snow cone or stop and feed the pigeons. Get a bit adventurous and explore the place, you never know what kind of a surprise is in store here for you.