Panama City › Metro
Two lines, one card
Panama City Metro Map and Guide
This Panama City metro map covers both operating lines and the branch out to the airport. The system is clean, air-conditioned, and genuinely cheap. A ride costs 35 to 85 cents. Below the map, you will find what it costs, how to pay, and where it actually takes you.
Where does it go?
Navigate Panama City by Metro
What it costs
Fares and How to Pay
Fares depend on which lines you use, not on how far you ride. Metro de Panamá sets one price for Line 1 and another for Line 2. A single journey touching both lines gets a combined price. Nothing here is distance-based, so a two-stop hop costs the same as riding to the end.
| Trip | Fare |
|---|---|
| Line 1 only | $0.35 |
| Line 2 only, including the airport branch | $0.50 |
| Both lines in one journey, downtown to the airport included | $0.85 |
| Retired or pensioned, Line 1 / Line 2 | $0.24 / $0.35 |
| MetroBús card, one time purchase | $2.00 |
THE CARD
One card covers trains and buses
The Tarjeta MetroBús costs $2 and arrives empty, so load it before your first ride. It is sold for cash only, at station windows and authorized points of sale. The minimum top up is $0.50. That same card pays your MiBus bus fare.
NO CARD NEEDED
Or just tap a bank card
Both operating lines accept contactless Visa and Mastercard straight at the gate, along with Apple Pay and Google Pay. The fare is identical and there is no surcharge. In practice that means you can ride on arrival day, before you sort out anything local.
RETIREES
Pensionado rates cut it by 30%
Retirees, pensioners, people over 65, and people with disabilities pay $0.24 on Line 1 and $0.35 on Line 2. The discount needs a personalized card, issued against your resident cédula. Renewal runs early each year. In 2026 the window was January 26 to February 28.
Three lines, two running
The Lines
The two operating lines meet at San Miguelito, where separate Line 1 and Line 2 stations sit alongside each other. That is the only transfer point between them, so almost every cross city trip runs through it.
Line 1
Albrook to Villa Zaita, 15 stations
Line 1 opened in April 2014 and runs roughly north-to-south for about 16 km. It links the Albrook bus terminal to Panamá Norte, passing 5 de Mayo, El Cangrejo, and the Transístmica corridor. End-to-end takes around 26 minutes.
Line 2
San Miguelito to Nuevo Tocumen, 16 stations
Line 2 opened in April 2019 and runs entirely elevated for 21 km. It serves the eastern suburbs along Vía Domingo Díaz, out past Hospital del Este. The airport branch splits off at Corredor Sur. End-to-end takes about 35 minutes.
Line 3
Opening 2028
Albrook to Ciudad del Futuro, under construction
Line 3 is a monorail to Panamá Oeste, and it includes a tunnel under the Canal. Test running began in April 2026 on the western section. The operator is targeting commercial service in 2028. It carries no passengers yet.
The 85-cent airport run
Getting to Tocumen by Metro
The airport branch opened in March 2023. It runs 2 km from Corredor Sur station to a stop beside Terminal 2. From a central Line 1 station the whole trip costs 85 cents. By contrast, a taxi from the airport to the city center runs a fixed $30.
- Board Line 1 and ride north to San Miguelito.
- Cross to the Line 2 platform and continue east to Corredor Sur.
- Switch to the airport branch. Trains leave about every 10 minutes.
- Ride two stops, past ITSE, to Aeropuerto. The branch itself takes about 5 minutes.
Luggage is allowed on the branch, within the system size limit. Allow around 40 minutes from a central Line 1 station, plus waiting. The station sits beside Terminal 2, so Terminal 1 means a short walk or the airport shuttle. If you are running late, or carrying more than one large bag, take a rideshare instead.
Before your first ride
What to Know Before You Ride
HOURS
5am to 11pm on weekdays
Trains run Monday to Friday from 5:00 am to 11:00 pm. Saturday service ends at 10:00 pm. Sundays and holidays run from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Holiday timetables shift, so check the operator’s notices before a long weekend.
RUSH HOUR
Avoid 7 to 9 and 5 to 7
Peak crowding is real, especially on Line 1 heading toward the city center. Trains still arrive every few minutes. Even so, you may not fit on the first one that shows up. Off-peak, the same trip feels like a different system.
WHAT YOU CAN BRING
Bags yes, bicycles no
Bags up to 100x75x65 cm are allowed, which covers most checked luggage. Bicycles are not permitted. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome, and stations have elevators. Eating and drinking on board are not allowed.
COMFORT AND APPS
Air conditioning, WiFi, and Google Maps
Stations and trains are air-conditioned, which matters more than it sounds in April. WiFi is available in stations. The official Metro de Panamá app covers both lines, and Google Maps and Moovit both handle route planning well.
Find your station
Which Station Serves Your District
Metro access is one of the six scores in our district comparator. In practice, it moves rent more than most people expect. Here is what serves each district we cover. Walk times vary, so treat a station as the starting point for a look, not a guarantee.
| District | Stations |
|---|---|
| Ancón | Albrook, 5 de Mayo (Line 1) |
| Bella Vista | Iglesia del Carmen, Vía Argentina (Line 1) |
| Betania | El Ingenio, 12 de Octubre (Line 1) |
| Casco Viejo | 5 de Mayo (Line 1), a 12 to 15 minute walk |
| Juan Díaz | El Crisol, Brisas del Golf (Line 2) |
| Parque Lefevre | Fernández de Córdoba, Vía Argentina (Line 1) |
| Pueblo Nuevo | Fernández de Córdoba, Pueblo Nuevo, 12 de Octubre, El Ingenio (Line 1) |
| San Francisco | Fernández de Córdoba, Vía Argentina (Line 1) |
Pueblo Nuevo is the standout. Four Line 1 stations sit on or just beyond its borders. As a result, going car free there is realistic rather than aspirational.
Common questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Panama City Metro cost?
Line 1 is $0.35, and Line 2 is $0.50. A single journey on both lines costs $0.85, which is also the downtown fare to the airport. Retirees, pensioners, people over 65, and people with disabilities pay $0.24 and $0.35 with a personalized card. Fares are line-based rather than distance-based. A short hop costs the same as riding to the end.
Can I take the Metro to Tocumen Airport?
Yes, and it is the cheapest connection in the region at 85 cents from downtown. Take Line 1 north to San Miguelito, transfer to Line 2, then switch to the airport branch at Corredor Sur. Branch trains run about every 10 minutes, and the branch ride itself takes 5 minutes. Luggage is allowed. Budget around 40 minutes of travel plus waiting.
Do I need a Metro card, or can I use my bank card?
Either works. Contactless Visa and Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are all accepted right at the gate. The fare is the same, and there is no surcharge. That makes the Metro usable on your first day in the country. The Tarjeta MetroBús still earns its $2 if you plan to ride buses too, since one card covers both systems.
Is the Metro safe?
By local standards, it is one of the safer ways to move around the city. Stations are staffed and monitored, and the trains are modern and well lit. Standard pickpocket precautions apply during rush hour, when carriages get genuinely packed. Late at night, most residents switch to a rideshare rather than walking to and from a station.
When does Line 3 open?
Not for a while yet. Line 3 is a monorail running west to Arraiján and Ciudad del Futuro, including a tunnel under the Canal. Test running started on the western section in April 2026. The elevated portion is targeted for 2027 and the underground portion for 2028. That is when the operator plans to begin commercial service. Any map showing Line 3 as a working line is ahead of reality.
Which parts of Panama City does the Metro not reach?
Quite a few of the areas expats look at first. Costa del Este, Punta Pacífica, Paitilla, and the Amador Causeway all sit off the network. Casco Viejo has no station of its own, though 5 de Mayo is a 12- to 15-minute walk. Beach towns like Coronado are outside the system entirely. For those, plan on MiBus, a rideshare, or a car.