Travel tips · Quito · Ecuador
Quito travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Quiteños are courteous and fairly formal, with strong Catholic traditions alongside indigenous Andean culture, visible in festivals, markets and the Kichwa language heard in the region. Daily life starts early, and the city quietens down by mid-evening outside the nightlife districts.
Key facts
- Language
- Spanish and Kichwa
- Currency
- USD
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Municipal tap water is treated, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered…
- Emergency
- 911
Things to know
- Greet people with 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' before asking anything in shops or offices.
- Ask before photographing people, particularly indigenous vendors and families in markets.
- Dress modestly in churches, which are active places of worship.
- A single kiss on the right cheek is the usual greeting among acquaintances; a handshake is fine on first meeting.
- Bargaining is expected at craft markets but not in shops or restaurants.
- Book Plaza Grande and Carondelet Palace ahead: Free tours of the Carondelet Palace are offered on many days but need registration with identification at the palace entrance.
- Ecuador uses the US dollar; bring small notes, because $20 bills can be hard to break and $50 and $100 notes are often refused.
Tipping
Restaurants often add a 10% service charge to the bill; leaving a little extra in cash for good service is appreciated. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but rounding up is common, and guides on day tours usually receive a tip.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buenos días | Good morning |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much is it? |
| La cuenta, por favor | The bill, please |
| Chévere | Great, cool |
| Achachay | How cold! (Kichwa-derived exclamation) |
What to wear
Dress in layers: mornings can be sunny and warm, afternoons wet and evenings cold. A rain jacket, sunscreen and a hat are essential because the equatorial sun is intense at altitude.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Municipal tap water is treated, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water, which is widely available.
- Emergency number
- 911
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good across the city; local SIM cards and eSIMs are easy to buy, and most hotels and cafés have Wi-Fi.
- Time zone
- America/Guayaquil
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.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Ecuador's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Quito?
Restaurants often add a 10% service charge to the bill; leaving a little extra in cash for good service is appreciated. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but rounding up is common, and guides on day tours usually receive a tip.
+Can you drink the tap water in Quito?
Municipal tap water is treated, but most visitors drink bottled or filtered water, which is widely available.
+What plugs are used in Quito?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Quito?
Spanish and Kichwa.