Travel guide · Ecuador
Quito travel guide
Colonial churches, volcano views and the equator at 2,850 metres
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
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 of steep streets, while the modern north around La Mariscal, La Floresta and La Carolina holds most hotels, restaurants and nightlife. The equator monument, cloud forests, hot springs and Cotopaxi volcano are all within a few hours. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are June–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Ecuador
- Best time to visit
- June–September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- UIO
- Mid-range daily budget
- $80–$150 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Colonial Old Town, Equator line, Andean volcanoes and TelefériQo
Why visit Quito
- The Old Town has dozens of colonial churches and convents, including the gold-leaf interior of La Compañía and the vast San Francisco complex, within a few walkable blocks.
- The TelefériQo cable car lifts you to nearly 4,000 metres on the flank of Pichincha for views over the city and, on clear mornings, distant volcanoes.
- The Mitad del Mundo equator monument and the Pululahua crater are about an hour north of the centre.
- Day trips reach Otavalo's market, the Mindo cloud forest, Papallacta's hot springs and Cotopaxi National Park.
- Ecuador uses the US dollar and prices are moderate, from $4 set lunches to tasting menus in La Floresta.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Landmark · Centro Histórico
Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace
Officially the Plaza de la Independencia, Quito's main square is the political centre of Ecuador, with the white colonnaded Carondelet Palace, seat of the presidency, on one side and the Metropolitan Cathedral on another.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Centro Histórico
Church of La Compañía de Jesús
The Jesuit church on Calle García Moreno took more than 160 years to complete and is famous for an interior covered almost entirely in gold leaf over carved cedar, with Moorish-influenced patterns on its ceilings.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Art
Religious site · Centro Histórico
Church and Convent of San Francisco
Begun in the 1530s soon after the Spanish founded the city, the San Francisco complex is one of the largest colonial religious ensembles in the Americas.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
Viewpoint · El Panecillo
El Panecillo
A hill south of the Old Town is crowned by a winged aluminium Virgin of Quito standing on a globe, assembled in the 1970s from thousands of pieces.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Iconic
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Pichincha slopes
TelefériQo
One of the highest passenger cable cars in the world carries gondolas from the western edge of the city up to Cruz Loma, at about 3,950 metres on the slopes of Pichincha.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Active
- Kids
Landmark · San Antonio de Pichincha
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
About 25 km north of the centre, a 30-metre monument marks the equator line calculated by the French Geodesic Mission in the 18th century, surrounded by a park of museums, shops and restaurants.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Photo spot
- History
Where to stay
Centro Histórico is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and couples
Centro Histórico
Colonial plazas, churches and monasteries on steep cobbled streets
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
San Marcos
A quiet, residential corner of the Old Town with painted houses and small cafés
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
La Mariscal
Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city
$$ · Best for food lovers, couples, solo travellers and quiet stays
La Floresta
Street art, independent cafés and some of Quito's most creative restaurants
What to eat
- Locro de papa — A thick, creamy potato soup with fresh cheese, served with slices of avocado and often a spoonful of ají.
- Hornado — Whole roast pork, crisp-skinned and sliced at the counter, served with llapingachos, mote (hominy), avocado and a pickled-onion salsa.
- Llapingachos — Pan-fried potato patties stuffed with cheese, usually served with a peanut sauce, a fried egg, chorizo and salad.
- Empanadas de viento — Large, puffy fried empanadas filled with a little cheese and onion and dusted with sugar, eaten with a hot drink.
- Canelazo — A hot drink of cinnamon-infused water and naranjilla or other fruit juice, sweetened and spiked with aguardiente sugar-cane spirit; it is also sold without alcohol.
- Fanesca — A rich Holy Week soup of salt cod, squash and a dozen grains and beans, garnished with egg, fried plantain and empanadas.
When to go
The best time to visit Quito is the dry season from June to September, when skies are clearest for the TelefériQo and volcano day trips. The rest of the year is still mild, with sunny mornings and afternoon rain, and December adds the Fiestas de Quito. July and August are the busiest months, so book tours early.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | June–September | Sunny, windy and cool at night, with the best mountain views and hiking conditions; peak demand for tours and hotels. |
| Short rains | October–November | Bright mornings and afternoon showers, fewer visitors and the Day of the Dead traditions. |
| Festive season | December–January | Mixed weather with the Fiestas de Quito, Christmas and New Year celebrations; often a short drier spell around the holidays. |
| Main rains | February–May | The wettest stretch, with heavy afternoon downpours peaking in March and April, plus Carnival and Holy Week. |
Getting there and around
Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is at Tababela, about 35–40 km east of the centre, and the drive takes about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on traffic. Official airport taxis charge fixed fares by zone, posted at the exit; a shuttle bus runs to the former airport site at Parque Bicentenario in the north.
Quito is long and narrow, stretching north to south along the valley. The Metro line, opened at the end of 2023, runs along this axis and links the Old Town with La Carolina and the north; taxis and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps, especially at night.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Old Town, the Basílica, El Panecillo and the TelefériQo while you adjust to the altitude. Four days adds the equator and a day trip to Otavalo or Mindo; a week allows Cotopaxi and Quilotoa as well.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- Spanish and Kichwa
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Municipal tap water is treated, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water, which is widely available.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Restaurants often add a 10% service charge to the bill; leaving a little extra in cash for good service is appreciated.
Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common on crowded buses, in the Old Town and in La Mariscal at night; take taxis after dark and do not walk up the stairs to El Panecillo. At 2,850 metres, altitude sickness and strong sun affect many visitors, so rest on arrival and drink water.
Flights to Quito
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Quito?
Two days covers the Old Town, the Basílica, El Panecillo and the TelefériQo while you adjust to the altitude. Four days adds the equator and a day trip to Otavalo or Mindo; a week allows Cotopaxi and Quilotoa as well. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Quito?
The best time to visit Quito is the dry season from June to September, when skies are clearest for the TelefériQo and volcano day trips. The rest of the year is still mild, with sunny mornings and afternoon rain, and December adds the Fiestas de Quito. July and August are the busiest months, so book tours early.
+What is Quito known for?
Colonial Old Town, Equator line, Andean volcanoes, TelefériQo, Baroque churches, Ecuadorian chocolate and Gateway to the Galápagos. The Old Town has dozens of colonial churches and convents, including the gold-leaf interior of La Compañía and the vast San Francisco complex, within a few walkable blocks.
+Is Quito expensive?
Quito is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $80–$150 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Quito?
No. Taxis and the Metro handle the city, and day trips to Otavalo, Mindo or Cotopaxi are easier by bus or with a tour. Hiring a car only makes sense for an independent road trip through the highlands.