A Travel Price Comparison for Florida Destin vs. Panama City for Families, Resorts, Beaches, and Couples

Should you visit Destin or Panama City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Destin and Panama City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Destin

Destin is a beautiful, relaxing, and peaceful beach town. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the beaches, shopping, and food.

Panama City

Panama City is a fun-filled, active, and cosmopolitan beach town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for beaches, shopping, and nightlife.

Destin and Panama City: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Destin or Panama City?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Panama City. Although Destin and Panama City are popular destinations, Panama City has more sights and attractions for tourists. Panama City is very popular for its nightlife and music, while Destin attracts visitors for its resorts. Panama City is more touristy than Destin and is known for its watersports, sandy beaches, and year-round beach weather. It is also well known for Pier Park. Destin is famous for its powdery sand and turquoise water, its kid-friendly environment, and its local waterfront seafood restaurants.

How is Destin different from Panama City?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Panama City and Destin. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is the Food Better in Destin or Panama City? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Local dishes at restaurants are fun to try in both Destin and Panama City.

Destin offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The area has great seafood including crab chowder, seafood gumbo, and fried fish. You can find wonderful local restaurants that have waterfront views and menus that feature freshly caught seafood. Many restaurants also have kid-friendly menus. During peak season, reservations are recommended.

Panama City has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. There are many waterfront restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood. Head to town for a charming atmosphere or grab a bite at a casual eatery. Fried seafood is popular when eating out but you'll also find plenty of options for land-lovers. Most restaurants also have kid-friendly menus.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Nightlife?

Panama City is notable for nightlife. However, Destin is a mediocre beach town for nightlife and partying.

Panama City has plenty to do after the sun goes down. The nightlife is particular crazy during spring break, when the town fills with students. Head to the famous Club La Vela or Spinnaker for music and fun at night.

Destin doesn't offer many options. The region is more popular as a family-friendly beach destination than it is for it's nightlife. Head to the Harbor area for the most lively nightlife.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Music?

Panama City is very good for live music. However, Destin is not a live music destination.

Music lovers will find a few good venues in Panama City. A popular way to enjoy music in the area is to find a restaurant with a lounge where local musicians perform.

Destin is not a live music destination.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Resorts?

Destin is a great destination for its resorts. Also, Panama City is still popular, but not quite as popular for its luxury resorts.

Destin is a popular resort destination that attracts visitors from everywhere. Popular options include the Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, as well as Hilton Sandestin Beach, Golf Resort & Spa. Most of the accommodation in the area is in the form of condos that include a kitchen and separate bedrooms. Most of these complexes also have pools, hot tubs, and even kids clubs.

Panama City has a few great resort options. Most people stay in condos that are VRBO's or Airbnbs, but there are resorts in the area as well.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Beaches?

Destin and Panama City are excellent choices for a beach vacation.

Destin is a very popular place to visit for its beaches. This area is famous for its powdery white sand, beautiful blue waters, and calm waves. The beaches are large enough that they never get incredibly crowded, but you will find the largest crowds during the summer months. These beaches are particularly popular with families and seniors.

You'll have a great beach vacation in Panama City. With miles of long white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters, this area's beaches offer a beautiful escape. Head to the area's state parks for the most natural experience. These include St. Andrews State Park and Camp Helen State Park. A day trip to Shell Island is also popular.

Is the Shopping Better in Destin or Panama City?

Both Destin and Panama City are nice shopping destinations.

Destin is a great destination for shopping. In the shopping centers around town you'll find a number of unique boutique shops that are fun to explore. They have boutique-style beach clothes, local art, and any beach supplies that you may have forgotten.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Panama City. There are a number of malls and shopping centers in the area.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Families?

Panama City is terrific for its family-friendly activities. Also, Destin is not as famous, but is still a good beach town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Panama City is one of the most popular family destinations. This area has large sandy beaches, waterparks, amusement parks, and marine parks. Kids will enjoy playing around at WonderWorks, cooling off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark, and learning about marine life at Gulf World Marine Park. There are also many watersports and water activities that are fun for the whole family.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Destin is very family-friendly. The area has beautiful sandy beaches, calm waters, and plenty of activities for kids like Big Kahuna's Water Park. This is one of the more kid-friendly areas in Florida and many families return year after year with their kids. There are also many condos available for rent and kids can have their own room, kitchens are available for meal preparation, and there are washers and dryers to clean clothes. Many of these condo complexes also have kid-friendly pools

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Couples?

Panama City is notable for romance. Also, Destin is not as famous, but is still a good beach town to visit for its romantic activities.

Panama City is a very popular place to visit for couples. The beautiful beaches and romantic restaurants make for a great romantic getaway. This is the perfect place to take sunset walks along the beach and sample freshly caught local seafood.

Destin makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. For a relaxing beach vacation, this is a nice option for couples. A lot of the accommodation is in the form of condos, so it may not have the romantic resort vibe you're going for though. There are many great seafood restaurants and quiet beaches that have beautiful sunsets.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Students?

Panama City is notable for students. However, Destin is a mediocre beach town for its student-friendly activities.

Panama City is very popular with students. It's not the spring break destination that it once was, but you'll still find students hanging out around the spring holidays.

Destin is a decent spot for students. It is more a family-friendly destination than a spring break destination. If you're looking for a place to cut loose and blow off some steam, then there are better options in Florida.

Is Destin or Panama City Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Panama City is a moderate beach town for its public transit. However, Destin is a mediocre beach town for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit is generally limited in Panama City. Most people need a car in Panama City but there is a trolley service that connects major tourist areas.

Public transit is quite limited in Destin. There is almost no public transit so a car is essential. Some condo complexes do over golf carts to get around the grounds.

Is Destin or Panama City a more walkable city?

Neither Destin or Panama City are walkable places.

Destin is not a walkable beach town. The area is very spread out and not walkable so you'll need a car to access restaurants and most forms of entertainment.

Panama City is not a very walkable beach town. There's often construction and the streets aren't designed for pedestrians.

For even more information, also check out Is Destin Worth Visiting? and Is Panama City Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Panama City or Destin?

How long in Destin or Panama City?

Both Destin and Panama City have a number of activities to choose from. In our opinion, Panama City has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Panama City than Destin. In general, 5-7 days is a good amount of time for Destin, and 3-7 days is enough time in Panama City.

Families should spend more time in Panama City than Destin. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Panama City, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Panama City than Destin. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Panama City that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Panama City than Destin if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Panama City.

One day in Destin or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the relaxing beach town of Destin. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Panama City. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Destin or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and food when visiting the relaxing destination of Destin. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. This beach town offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Panama City is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Destin or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the beautiful beach town of Destin. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Panama City. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Most people come for the beaches. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Destin or Panama City?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and food when visiting the destination of Destin. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this beach town.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the cosmopolitan destination of Panama City. This beach town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Walking Tours in United States of America, The Best Tours Under $1000 in United States of America, The Best Luxury Tours to United States of America, and The Best Tours for Seniors to United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Destin and Panama City, we can see that Panama City is more expensive. And not only is Destin much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Destin would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Destin and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Panama City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Panama City than you might in Destin.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Destin Expensive? and Is Panama City Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Destin or Panama City?

Panama City has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Destin. When comparing the sizes of Destin and Panama City, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Destin or Panama City?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Destin or Panama City in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Destin and Panama City. The beaches and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Destin this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Panama City for the beaches, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Destin is around the same temperature as Panama City. Typically, the summer temperatures in Destin in July average around 82°F (28°C), and Panama City averages at about 82°F (28°C).

Panama City receives a lot of rain in the summer. Destin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Destin usually receives around the same amount of rain as Panama City. Destin gets 7.4 inches (189 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 7.3 inches (184 mm) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Destin or Panama City in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Destin as well as Panama City. Many travelers come to Destin for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Panama City in the autumn for the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Destin is generally around the same temperature as Panama City. Daily temperatures in Destin average around 69°F (21°C), and Panama City fluctuates around 71°F (22°C).

Destin receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Destin usually gets more rain in October than Panama City. Destin gets 4.2 inches (107 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.4 inches (86 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Destin or Panama City in the Winter?

Both Panama City and Destin are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Destin in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Panama City for the shopping scene and the cuisine during these months.

Destin is cooler than Panama City in the winter. The daily temperature in Destin averages around 50°F (10°C) in January, and Panama City fluctuates around 52°F (11°C).

It's quite rainy in Destin. In January, Destin usually receives more rain than Panama City. Destin gets 4.6 inches (117 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 3.9 inches (99 mm) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Destin or Panama City in the Spring?

Both Panama City and Destin during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Destin for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Panama City because of the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Destin is around the same temperature as Panama City. Typically, the spring temperatures in Destin in April average around 68°F (20°C), and Panama City averages at about 68°F (20°C).

Destin usually gets more rain in April than Panama City. Destin gets 3.4 inches (87 mm) of rain, while Panama City receives 2.7 inches (69 mm) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Panama City and Destin