Where to stay · Quito · Ecuador
Where to stay in Quito
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Centro Histórico. Colonial plazas, churches and monasteries on steep cobbled streets. Best alternatives — families: La Carolina; budget: La Mariscal; nightlife: La Mariscal.
Key facts
- First visit
- Centro Histórico
- Families
- La Carolina
- Budget
- La Mariscal
- Nightlife
- La Mariscal
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Centro Histórico | Colonial plazas, churches and monasteries on steep cobbled streets |
| Families | La Carolina | Business hotels, malls and the city's biggest central park |
| Couples | Centro Histórico | Colonial plazas, churches and monasteries on steep cobbled streets |
| Budget | La Mariscal | Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city |
| Luxury | La Carolina | Business hotels, malls and the city's biggest central park |
| Nightlife | La Mariscal | Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city |
| Food lovers | La Floresta | Street art, independent cafés and some of Quito's most creative restaurants |
| Solo travellers | La Mariscal | Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city |
| Shopping | La Carolina | Business hotels, malls and the city's biggest central park |
| Quiet stays | San Marcos | A quiet, residential corner of the Old Town with painted houses and small cafés |
Quito neighbourhoods in detail
$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and couples
Centro Histórico
The Old Town spreads around the Plaza Grande, with the Carondelet Palace, the cathedral and the archbishop's palace on its sides, and Plaza San Francisco two blocks away. Boutique hotels in restored colonial mansions put you within walking distance of nearly every major church and museum, and the San Francisco Metro station links it to the north.
- Good
- Walk to the main sights; Atmospheric colonial hotels; Metro link to the north
- Watch out
- Quiet and less safe on side streets after dark; Fewer restaurants open late; Steep hills at altitude
- Nearby
- Plaza Grande, La Compañía, Plaza San Francisco, Calle La Ronda
$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and culture
San Marcos
San Marcos lies on the eastern edge of the Centro Histórico around its small church and the Calle Junín, a street of restored two-storey houses with wooden balconies. It is calmer than the plazas a few blocks west, has a few artisan workshops and guesthouses, and is close to the Itchimbía park viewpoint.
- Good
- Quiet, local feel; Pretty colonial streets; Short walk to the main plazas
- Watch out
- Very limited dining choice; Taxis advisable at night
- Nearby
- Calle Junín, Parque Itchimbía, Plaza Grande
$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
La Mariscal
Mariscal Sucre, usually just called La Mariscal, is the traditional backpacker district, with tour agencies, language schools, international restaurants and the bar cluster around Plaza Foch on Calle Reina Victoria. It is convenient for buses and taxis to both the Old Town and the north, but its streets need care at night.
- Good
- Cheap hostels and hotels; Tour agencies for day trips; Lively bars
- Watch out
- Pickpocketing and street crime reported at night; Noisy at weekends
- Nearby
- Plaza Foch, Parque El Ejido, Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal
$$ · Best for food lovers, couples, solo travellers and quiet stays
La Floresta
Just east of La Mariscal, La Floresta is a residential barrio of low houses and murals where many of the city's acclaimed chefs, coffee roasters and craft breweries have opened. The independent Ocho y Medio cinema is a local landmark, and the area is a short taxi ride or a steep walk from Guápulo.
- Good
- Excellent cafés and restaurants; Calmer than La Mariscal; Local character
- Watch out
- Few hotels; Farther from the Old Town
- Nearby
- Ocho y Medio cinema, Guápulo, La Mariscal
$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays and culture
Guápulo
Guápulo tumbles down the slope beneath Avenida González Suárez towards the Machángara valley, with its domed sanctuary church at the bottom and a viewpoint at the top beside the Hotel Quito. Small bars and guesthouses cling to the lanes, and it feels far from the city traffic despite being minutes from La Floresta.
- Good
- Village atmosphere and views; Quiet nights; Close to La Floresta's restaurants
- Watch out
- Very steep streets; Limited transport; taxis needed
- Nearby
- Santuario de Guápulo, Mirador de Guápulo, La Floresta
$$$ · Best for families, luxury, shopping and first-timers
La Carolina
The financial district around Parque La Carolina has international hotel chains, the Quicentro and El Jardín shopping centres and many mid-range restaurants. The park itself has a botanical garden, paddle boats and sports fields, and the La Carolina and Iñaquito Metro stations make it easy to reach the Old Town.
- Good
- Modern hotels and services; Park for children; Metro to the Old Town
- Watch out
- Commercial, less character; Heavy traffic on main avenues
- Nearby
- Parque La Carolina, Jardín Botánico de Quito, Quicentro Shopping
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and luxury
Cumbayá
Cumbayá lies about 400 metres lower than central Quito, in the valley on the road to the airport, so it is a little warmer and sunnier. Its old plaza is ringed by restaurants and cafés, and the Chaquiñán trail along a former railway line is popular for cycling and walking.
- Good
- Milder climate and lower altitude; Closer to the airport; Relaxed suburban feel
- Watch out
- 30–45 minutes by road to the Old Town; Car or taxi needed
- Nearby
- Chaquiñán trail, Parque de Cumbayá, Tumbaco
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Centro Histórico | $$ | Plaza Grande, La Compañía, Plaza San Francisco, Calle La Ronda |
| San Marcos | $$ | Calle Junín, Parque Itchimbía, Plaza Grande |
| La Mariscal | $ | Plaza Foch, Parque El Ejido, Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal |
| La Floresta | $$ | Ocho y Medio cinema, Guápulo, La Mariscal |
| Guápulo | $$ | Santuario de Guápulo, Mirador de Guápulo, La Floresta |
| La Carolina | $$$ | Parque La Carolina, Jardín Botánico de Quito, Quicentro Shopping |
| Cumbayá | $$$ | Chaquiñán trail, Parque de Cumbayá, Tumbaco |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Quito for first-time visitors?
Centro Histórico. The Old Town spreads around the Plaza Grande, with the Carondelet Palace, the cathedral and the archbishop's palace on its sides, and Plaza San Francisco two blocks away.
+Where should families stay in Quito?
La Carolina: Modern hotels and services.
+Which area of Quito is best for a budget stay?
La Mariscal ($): Hostels, travel agencies, bars and Plaza Foch in the north-central city.