Panama City Beach

Travel Guide

Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach showing signage
Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach is known for its soft white sand and sparkling waters, and thriving surf culture and stunning beaches. 

Panama City Beach, along Florida’s Emerald Coast, has 27 miles (43.5 kilometres) of beautiful green water, crystal-quartz beaches, abundant sea life and many family-oriented attractions.

Walk along one of America’s most picturesque beaches or hang out in a local café. While it has undergone a period of rapid development in recent years, and high rises now dot the skyline, Panama City Beach still retains a laid-back atmosphere. 

Surfers and sunbathers alike will find top spots to do their thing. If you’re not content to simply hit the surf, there are plenty of places to organise extreme sports excursions or rent a boat. Go parasailing, ride a Jet Ski or board a sailing boat. 

Kids will love the many fun and water parks in town. Play golf and navigate the maze at Coconut Creek Family Fun Park or zoom down a slide at Shipwreck Island Water Park. To see some wildlife, take a trip to the ZooWorld Zoological Conservatory. If you’re in the town centre and want a place to relax or kick a ball, check out Frank Brown Park. There are baseball and soccer fields, plenty of spaces for picnics, and the Panama City Beach Aquatic Centre.

To explore less-developed parts of the shoreline, head to St. Andrews State Park. There are trails through the dunes, plenty of near-deserted beaches, the Grand Lagoon, and even camping grounds. For something a little more relaxed, hop on a tour boat to see some of the area’s famous sites. Spot dolphins as you head over to Shell Island. Small and deserted, it’s a place to collect shells, swim and fish. You can even renr a pontoon for the day. 

Panama City Beach attracts thousands of holiday makers every year. With a beach to match any other in the country, activities for leisure and thrill seekers alike, and an addictive beach-bum vibe, there’s no reason to wonder why.

Where to stay in Panama City Beach

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Rosemary Beach

Rosemary Beach is popular for its beaches, and if you're looking for more to see and do, you might think about a trip to Rosemary Beach or Alys Beach.

Rosemary Beach
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Seacrest

Seacrest is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Alys Beach and Seacrest Beach.

Seacrest
St. Andrews State Park which includes tranquil scenes and forest scenes

Lower Grand Lagoon

While visiting Lower Grand Lagoon, you might make a stop by sights like St. Andrews State Park and Thomas Drive.

Lower Grand Lagoon
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Inlet Beach

Inlet Beach is noteworthy for its beaches, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Rosemary Beach and Camp Helen State Park.

Inlet Beach
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Seacrest Beach

While there might not be top attractions in Seacrest Beach, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Seacrest Beach
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Alys Beach

While visiting Alys Beach, you might make a stop by sights like Alys Beach and Rosemary Beach.

Alys Beach
Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
2 out of 5
17255 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff in ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,488 reviews)
"Location on the beach was excellent. The room itself was dated, very basic but adequate. The bathroom didn't have an exhaust fan, so it remained steamy and damp."

Reviewed on 8 Jul, 2025

Palmetto Beachfront Hotel, a By the Sea Resort
Boardwalk Beach Hotel
Boardwalk Beach Hotel
2.5 out of 5
9600 S Thomas Dr, Panama City Beach, FL
The price is S$320 per night from 11 Jul to 12 Jul
S$320
11 Jul - 12 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free parking, 2 outdoor pools, and 2 restaurants. Our guests praise the clean rooms and the overall ...
6.4/10 (1,888 reviews)
Vacation "2025"
"The room was clean and updated the housekeepers was generous kind and willing to help anyway they could the pool was clean the pool area was clean and maintained I'll definitely stay again"

Reviewed on 7 Jul, 2025

Boardwalk Beach Hotel
Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach
Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach
3 out of 5
15325 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
The price is S$232 per night from 3 Aug to 4 Aug
S$232
3 Aug - 4 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star beach hotel in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7/10 Good! (2,198 reviews)
"Everything at the property was great."

Reviewed on 6 Jul, 2025

Radisson Beachfront Hotel - Panama City Beach
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Shores of Panama Beach Resort
Shores of Panama Beach Resort
3.5 out of 5
9900 South Thomas Drive, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Pier Park and Shipwreck Island ...
5.8/10 (845 reviews)
"Our reservations a suite got lost and Expedia called Shores of Panama and they gave us a large condo on the beach immediately and welcomed us in. Clean, nice personal. One complaint is the parking deck, it was not designed for southern big travel vehicles. Like full size trucks and SUV, but for foreign ..."

Reviewed on 15 Jun, 2025

Shores of Panama Beach Resort
Tidewater Beach Resort by Panhandle Getaways
Tidewater Beach Resort by Panhandle Getaways
3.5 out of 5
16819 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 outdoor pools, and a beach locale. Popular attractions Pier Park and Frank Brown Park ...
7.2/10 Good! (161 reviews)
Beautiful room.
"Room looked like the pictures which was a pleasant surprise! No false advertising. The bedroom was beautiful and the kids lived having their own room, and we loved having separate bathrooms. There was a drip coffee and a k-cup machine (so you know what kind of coffee to buy). The rocking chairs on ..."

Reviewed on 27 Jun, 2025

Tidewater Beach Resort by Panhandle Getaways
Tidewater Beach Resort
Tidewater Beach Resort
3.5 out of 5
16819 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL
Stay at this 3.5-star beach condo in Panama City Beach. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Pier Park and Frank Brown Park ...
8/10 Very Good! (699 reviews)
"The resort was Awesome lots of room loved the Balcony facing the ocean. The pools and hot tubs were clean and Cool. Everyone was very helpful and nice. If I must leave a complaint it would be the slow elevators."

Reviewed on 23 Jun, 2025

Tidewater Beach Resort
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Panama City Beach

3.3
Guest rating
5 - Excellent
1
5 - Excellent 14%
4 - Good
2
4 - Good 29%
3 - Okay
3
3 - Okay 43%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
1
1 - Terrible 14%

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Wollten Minigolf spielen, das war so teuer, dass wir es sein liessen. Für eine 4-köpfige Familie 60 Dollar. Etwas zum Essen zu finden ist nicht ganz einfach. Es wimmelt von Hamburger-Schuppen, aber als Westeuropäer hat man das irgendwann gesehen

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

Lovely beaches, lots of hotels and restaurants, St Andrews State Park was amazing, good base for exploring further east down the coast.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller

Looks like the ideal beach and location for teenagers/young adults. There are so many buildings right up along the beach. We prefer the other beaches in the area for our young family.