Things to Do in Quito
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Quito, Ecuador, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Quito. Second-highest capital city on the planet, and it shows the second you climb any stairs, one of the best-preserved colonial old towns in Latin America, sitting close enough to the equator that the country was named for it. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Quito: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the acclimatisation. Three main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
Quito's High Altitude
Quito is one of the highest capital cities in the world, sitting at an elevation of roughly 2,850 metres, worth taking this seriously, mild altitude effects, shortness of breath, headaches, are common for the first day or two, particularly if you're arriving from somewhere closer to sea level.
Take it easy on your first day, stay hydrated, and don't be surprised if a normal amount of walking feels harder than expected initially, this typically improves within a day or two as you acclimatise.
Quito's Colonial Old Town
Quito's old town was among the first cities declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, largely for its well-preserved colonial architecture, dozens of churches, plazas, and colonial-era buildings packed into a compact, walkable area, La Compania de Jesus, with its lavishly gilded interior, is worth prioritising among the many churches.
It's worth a proper unhurried day, this old town rewards slow exploration rather than a rushed checklist, Plaza Grande and the surrounding streets give a good sense of the layered colonial history throughout.
Best time Morning, before the heat and crowds build
Address Old town, Quito
The Equator Monument
Just outside Quito lies a monument marking the exact location of the Equator, worth a half-day trip, the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) monument offers exhibits on the line's history and demonstrations of equator-related physics experiments, water draining differently on each side, for example.
Note that modern GPS measurements have shown the historical monument sits slightly off the true equatorial line, a nearby smaller site marks the more precisely calculated location, worth visiting both if that kind of detail interests you.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am–6pm
Getting there About 30 minutes from central Quito
Best time to visit Quito
June through September gives the driest, most comfortable weather for the amount of walking this list involves, though Quito's equatorial position keeps temperatures relatively stable year-round regardless of season.
The wetter months (October through May) still allow for comfortable sightseeing, worth simply planning around afternoon showers rather than avoiding certain months entirely.
Getting around Quito
Quito's trolleybus system covers the city reasonably well, and the old town is walkable once you're there, though the altitude and hilly terrain make for a slower pace than you might expect elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Quito worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly for the old town's colonial architecture, one of the best-preserved in Latin America, and the Equator monument nearby adds a distinctive, easy day trip.
- How many days do you need in Quito?
- Three days covers the old town and the Equator monument comfortably, allowing time to acclimatise to the altitude.
- Is Quito expensive?
- No, generally affordable, food, local transport, and most attractions remain reasonably priced by international standards.
- What is Quito famous for?
- Being one of the highest capital cities in the world, its well-preserved colonial old town, among the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Equator monument marking the line the country is named for.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
