Comparison · Medellín vs Quito · Colombia / Ecuador
Medellín vs Quito
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Juan Gómez, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Choose Medellín for Eternal spring climate, Metrocable, free sights and a milder winter; choose Quito for Colonial Old Town and Equator line. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 783 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 783 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Medellín
- June–August and December–February
- Best time for Quito
- June–September
Side by side
| Medellín | Quito | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Colombia | Ecuador |
| Known for | Eternal spring climate, Metrocable and Comuna 13 | Colonial Old Town, Equator line and Andean volcanoes |
| Best time to visit | June–August and December–February | June–September |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$150 | $80–$150 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | January, 28°C (82°F) | July, 20°C (68°F) |
| Coldest month | October, 27°C (81°F) | January, 19°C (66°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MDE, EOH | UIO |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Medellín for…
Eternal spring climate, Metrocable, free sights and a milder winter. Medellín fills the narrow Aburrá Valley at about 1,500 metres, which gives it mild weather all year and the nickname 'City of Eternal Spring'. Colombia's second city is known for its transformation since the 1990s: a clean metro system with cable cars…
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
| # | Medellín | Quito |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaza Botero | Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace |
| 2 | Museo de Antioquia | Church of La Compañía de Jesús |
| 3 | Palacio de la Cultura Rafael Uribe Uribe | Church and Convent of San Francisco |
| 4 | Comuna 13 and the outdoor escalators | Basílica del Voto Nacional |
| 5 | Metrocable ride | Calle La Ronda |
Food compared
| Medellín | Quito |
|---|---|
| Bandeja paisa | Locro de papa |
| Arepa paisa | Hornado |
| Arepa de chócolo | Llapingachos |
| Mondongo | Empanadas de viento |
Which is cheaper?
Medellín and Quito cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $80–$150 in Medellín and $80–$150 in Quito (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Medellín on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 783 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Medellín or Quito cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $80–$150 in Medellín and $80–$150 in Quito (estimates).
+Is Medellín or Quito better for a first trip?
Pick Medellín for Eternal spring climate, Metrocable, free sights and a milder winter, or Quito for Colonial Old Town and Equator line.
+How far is Medellín from Quito?
About 783 km in a straight line.