13 Best Things to Do in Quito, Ecuador

When I visited for the first time I didn’t know what to expect Quito. The capital of Ecuador, with a population of 2 million, the city’s resilience reminds me a lot of Naples (This is another city that looks gritty but also has beautiful and historic architecture).

While the area surrounding Quito was Inca territory until the 15th century, the city itself dates back to 1534, when Spanish settlement led by Sebastián de Benalcázar The invaders enslaved the natives and colonized the area. The city has stood ever since.

Surrounded by mountains with an altitude of 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above sea level, Quito is often overlooked when travelers head to other parts of the country, mainly the Galapagos Islands.

However, there’s plenty to see and do here, from beautiful historic town squares to lively restaurants and parks to beautiful mountains. Make sure you spend a few days here. Quito isn’t really a touristy city, so you can get a good introduction to Ecuadorian culture here!

To help you plan your trip, here is my list of the best things to do in Quito:

1. Free walking tour

The best way to get established in a new destination is with a free walking tour. You’ll get a crash course in history, culture, food, and more. Whenever I arrive in a new city, this is the first thing I do because connecting with a local tour guide is the best way to get insider information.

Free walking tour of Ecuador Free daily walking tours (as well as paid food and cultural tours) are offered to give you a comprehensive overview of Quito. The tour lasts a few hours and covers all the main attractions in the town. Best of all, they’re free! However, be sure to tip your tour guide at the end.

If you’re a foodie like me, you can too Take a city food tour. This is a great way to enjoy delicious local food while taking in the scenery.

2. Hiking Rolls

El Panecillo, or “The Bread Roll,” is a hill overlooking the city. At just over 200 meters (656 feet) high, it offers beautiful panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains. Before the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, it was the site of an Inca temple. Today, a huge aluminum statue of the Virgin Mary, also known as Our Lady of Quito, built in 1976, towers over the city. Try to arrive early in the morning for the best views (since the altitude is high and it’s often cloudy).

3. Stroll around the Old Town

Quito is home to one of the best-preserved historical centers in Latin America. The narrow streets are lined with centuries-old buildings, and the entire area was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site back in 1978. There are many cafes, colorful old buildings, churches, squares, etc. It’s a great place to wander and feel like you’ve stepped back in time. Many of the buildings date back to the 1600s!

4. Visit Plaza San Francisco

St. Francis Square is home to the Church and Convent of St. Francis, the oldest building in the city. It dates back to the 1500s and took nearly 150 years to complete. Designed in the Baroque style, it is one of the largest historic buildings in Latin America. The square itself is huge and a great place to people watch. It is built on ancient Inca ruins (including the 15th-century palace of Emperor Atahualpa).

5. Visit the National Museum of the Central Bank

The Central Bank Museum of the National Bank of Ecuador, also known as the Bank Museum, sounds boring. Even as an avid museum buff and history buff, my expectations were low. Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised. The museum houses more than 1,500 objects and artifacts from pre-Inca times (some over 6,000 years old). Its exhibitions illustrate the history and progress of Ecuador, covering everything from art to religion to economics and everything in between. This is a huge museum and you can easily spend a few hours in it. It’s also one of the most popular things to do in Quito (and super affordable too).

Avenida Patria, +593 2-381-4550, muna.culturaypatrimonio.gob.ec. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

6. Crossing the Equator

You cannot visit Ecuador, named after the equator, without visiting the equator itself. First, visit the “false” equator, the 30-meter-high Mitad del Mundo monument, built in the late 1970s in the wrong location (an error discovered by modern GPS).

The “real” equator is just a few hundred meters away at the Intiñan Solar Museum. Here you can officially cross the hemisphere and visit a small museum that pays homage to Ecuador’s native culture and history. They also have some fun science experiments that only work if you’re at the equator.

7. Relax in Metropolitan Park

This is the largest green space in the city. The park covers more than 1,700 acres and features hiking trails, campgrounds, bike trails (and bike rentals), and beautiful cloud forest for hiking and bird watching. You can easily spend a few hours or a whole day here. Pack a lunch, a book and a pair of walking shoes and enjoy the natural beauty and views of the surrounding mountains and landscape.

The park is open daily from 6am to 6pm. The entrance to the park is located on Guanguiltagua Street in the Batán Alto neighborhood. Admission is free.

8. Day Trip to Cotopaxi Volcano

About 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Quito is the world’s tallest active volcano. It is located within Cotopaxi National Park at an altitude of 5,897 meters (19,348 feet) and is a popular location for outdoor activities such as climbing, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. More than 50 eruptions have occurred since 1738 (it was actually closed to tourists in 2016-2017 due to an eruption). On a clear day, the volcano can be seen from Quito (it’s really impressive).

The park itself is free (just show your passport to enter). You can book a day trip Approximately $75, or make your own arrangements, approximately $20. The hike to the summit is expected to take 2 to 7 hours, depending on where you start (you can drive up the mountain to reduce the duration). Before hiking, be sure to spend some time in Quito to acclimate to the altitude.

9. Explore La Mariscal

This is a popular area for shopping and enjoying the city’s nightlife. It caters very much to tourists/expats and I couldn’t walk five feet without seeing a grill or Irish pub. It’s modern, stylish, full of bars and fancy restaurants. The area’s houses are colorful and there are some open-air markets worth visiting. In short, it’s a great place to explore during the day and a great place to hang out after sunset.

10. Visit the Garcia Moreno Prison Museum

The abandoned prison closed in 2014 after more than 150 years in operation. Today it is an eye-opening museum that highlights the challenging conditions of prison life in Quito over the past century. The tour guides are former guards who will tell you all kinds of scary stories as they show you around the grounds. Many cells are still filled with prisoners’ belongings and belongings. It’s really funny, but also a little disturbing. It does provide some nuance to the city’s history.

Vicente Rocafuerte. The museum’s opening hours are irregular and contact information is sparse. Please ask your hotel/hostel staff for details. Admission is free.

11. Day trip to Lake Quilotoa

This stunning crater lake is a three-hour drive from the city. It consists of a former volcano that collapsed due to an eruption, creating a crater filled with water and absolutely beautiful to see. You can hike, swing on the crater rim, or even rent a kayak and paddle on the water (rentals are about $3). Day trips can take a long day (most take 12 hours), so consider staying overnight in the area if you can. Expect a day trip to cost around $50-70. Most also include a short stop in Cotopaxi.

12. Visit the Museo Templo del Sol Pintor Cristobal Ortega Maila

It is a cultural showcase and tribute to Andean culture, housed in a magnificent museum built by indigenous artist and sculptor Ortega Maila. The museum is built of large stones and looks more like a castle than a traditional gallery. You can marvel at his 500 incredible works and view artifacts from across the region. There’s even a meditation room, with tea and aromatherapy sessions available at the entrance.

Manuel Córdova Galarza E28 y, +593 98 484 1851, facebook.com/MuseoTemplodelSolOficial. Open daily from 9am to 8pm.

13. Take a day trip to Baños de Agua Santa

Baños is a town with incredible natural surroundings, offering stunning panoramic views, hot springs, lush mountain cliffs and cascading waterfalls. There’s still a lot to do here. You can swim, explore caves, zipline, paraglider, whitewater rafting, and more. Don’t miss the Ruta de las Cascadas (Highway of Waterfalls) to admire the waterfalls flowing along the spectacular mountain passes. The drive is just over three hours, so it’s best to spend the night here if you can.

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I enjoyed my time here Quito. There’s rich culture and architecture, great food, and lots to see and do. Don’t just use it as a jumping off point for flights to the Galapagos Islands – it’s worth spending a few days exploring and getting to know this amazing and interesting city!