Comparison · Bogotá vs Quito · Colombia / Ecuador
Bogotá vs Quito
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Bogotá for Museo del Oro, Monserrate and free sights; choose Quito for Colonial Old Town and Equator line. Quito is generally less expensive, and the two are about 731 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 731 km
- Less expensive
- Quito
- Best time for Bogotá
- July–August and December–March
- Best time for Quito
- June–September
Side by side
| Bogotá | Quito | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Colombia | Ecuador |
| Known for | Museo del Oro, Monserrate and La Candelaria | Colonial Old Town, Equator line and Andean volcanoes |
| Best time to visit | July–August and December–March | June–September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $90–$170 | $80–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | January, 20°C (68°F) | July, 20°C (68°F) |
| Coldest month | May, 19°C (66°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BOG | UIO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bogotá for…
Museo del Oro, Monserrate and free sights. Colombia's capital sits on a high plateau at about 2,600 metres, backed by the forested Eastern Hills and the white church on Monserrate. The colonial La Candelaria district holds the Museo del Oro, the Museo Botero, Plaza de Bolívar and the city's street…
Choose Quito for…
Colonial Old Town and Equator line. Quito sits at about 2,850 metres in a long Andean valley beneath the Pichincha volcano, and its colonial centre was among the first places listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. The Old Town packs gilded churches, monasteries and plazas into a grid…
Top sights compared
| # | Bogotá | Quito |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Museo del Oro | Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace |
| 2 | Monserrate | Church of La Compañía de Jesús |
| 3 | Plaza de Bolívar | Church and Convent of San Francisco |
| 4 | Museo Botero | Basílica del Voto Nacional |
| 5 | La Candelaria street art | Calle La Ronda |
Food compared
| Bogotá | Quito |
|---|---|
| Ajiaco santafereño | Locro de papa |
| Chocolate santafereño | Hornado |
| Changua | Llapingachos |
| Tamal | Empanadas de viento |
Which is cheaper?
Quito is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $80–$150 per person there, against $90–$170 in Bogotá (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Quito on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 731 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bogotá or Quito cheaper?
Quito is usually less expensive: about $80–$150 a day mid-range against $90–$170 (estimates).
+Is Bogotá or Quito better for a first trip?
Pick Bogotá for Museo del Oro, Monserrate and free sights, or Quito for Colonial Old Town and Equator line.
+How far is Bogotá from Quito?
About 731 km in a straight line.