We are Ecuadorian guides who live and work in Quito, and our office sits on the edge of the historic center. Every week we walk these plazas with travelers, eat in these markets and drive the roads to Cotopaxi and Otavalo, so this list is what we actually recommend to friends, including the few popular spots we think you can skip.

What are the best things to do in Quito? Top 10 at a glance

If you only have a short stay, start with these ten. Prices are for foreign adults as of 2026 and can change, so treat them as a guide.

How many days should you spend in Quito?

Two full days covers the Old Town, one viewpoint and a museum or two. Three days lets you add the TelefériQo, a neighborhood like La Floresta and a relaxed market lunch. With four or five days you can use Quito as a base for day trips, which is what most of our guests do before heading to the Amazon or Galápagos.

Take it easy on day one. Quito sits at about 2,850 m, and many travelers feel short of breath, get headaches or sleep badly the first night. Read our guide to preventing altitude sickness (soroche) in Quito and save the TelefériQo and Cotopaxi for day two or later.

Old Town essentials: what to see in Quito’s historic center

Quito’s historic center was among the very first sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978, and it is still a living neighborhood with markets, schools and government offices. For a step-by-step route, see our one perfect day in Quito Old Town itinerary.

1. Take a free walking tour of the Old Town

The easiest way to understand the historic center is to walk it with someone who grew up here. Our three-hour tour covers the main plazas and colonial churches, stops at a local market and includes a chocolate tasting. It is the best first-morning activity: you get oriented and learn which streets to use.

2. Plaza Grande and the Presidential Palace

Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia) is the political heart of the country, framed by the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and Carondelet, the presidential palace. The palace has offered free guided visits for years; bring your passport and ask at the entrance for the day’s times, since schedules change. On Monday mornings you may catch the changing of the guard.

3. Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús

This Jesuit church, finished over about 160 years, is covered inside in gold leaf and is the one church we tell everyone not to miss. Entry is around $4–6 for foreigners, and it opens weekdays from 9:30 with shorter weekend hours. Photos inside are not allowed.

4. San Francisco church and plaza

Plaza San Francisco is the largest square in the Old Town and a great place to sit and watch the city. The church and convent are among the oldest in South America, and the museum and cloister are worth an hour if you like colonial art.

5. Casa del Alabado pre-Columbian museum

A beautifully designed museum of pre-Columbian art in a restored colonial house on Calle Cuenca. It opens Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00, and the adult ticket is $10 as of 2026. Allow about 1.5 hours.

Where are the best viewpoints in Quito?

6. TelefériQo cable car and the Rucu Pichincha hike

The TelefériQo lifts you from the city’s west side to about 3,945 m on the slopes of Pichincha volcano. The standard ticket for visitors without an Ecuadorian ID is $9, and it runs daily, from 10:00 on Monday to Thursday and from 8:00 Friday to Sunday (official hours and fares). Go early, because clouds usually roll in by late morning. Fit, acclimatized hikers can continue to the Rucu Pichincha summit (about 4,700 m), a 5–6 hour round trip; start before 10:00 and turn back if the weather closes in.

7. El Panecillo

The winged aluminum Virgin on El Panecillo hill watches over the Old Town, and the view down the length of the city is excellent. The grounds are free, and there is a small fee to climb inside the monument. Go by taxi (a few dollars from the Old Town) and do not walk up the stairs from the Old Town, which are known for robberies. More history in our guide to the Virgin of El Panecillo.

8. Basílica del Voto Nacional towers

This neo-Gothic basilica has gargoyles shaped like Ecuadorian animals, from tortoises to armadillos. According to the basilica’s official site, the nave costs $2 and the towers $4 for foreign adults, with the towers open weekdays 9:00–17:00. The climb ends on steep ladders above the clock tower, so skip the last stretch if you are not comfortable with heights.

9. Itchimbía Park

A free hilltop park east of the Old Town with a glass-and-iron cultural center and wide views of the historic center and the volcanoes. It is quieter than El Panecillo and good at sunset. Take a taxi up and back rather than walking the steep streets after dark.

Which museums in Quito are worth visiting?

10. Capilla del Hombre and Casa Museo Guayasamín

Oswaldo Guayasamín is Ecuador’s best-known painter, and this chapel-museum in the Bellavista neighborhood holds his huge, powerful works about Latin American history. Entry is around $10 and covers the chapel and his former house, with guided visits in English and Spanish. Allow 2–3 hours and combine it with a taxi to Guápulo afterward.

11. Chocolate tasting

Ecuador grows some of the world’s finest cacao, and several small chocolate shops in the Old Town offer tastings and short workshops. Our walking tour includes a tasting, and if you want more, a dedicated chocolate class usually runs 1–2 hours.

Food and markets: what to eat in Quito

12. Lunch at Mercado Central

Mercado Central is where Quiteños go for a filling lunch: corvina fried fish, locro de papa (potato and cheese soup), hornado (roast pork) and fresh fruit juices, usually $3–6 a plate. Go for lunch between 12:00 and 14:00; many stalls close by mid-afternoon. Here is our guide to eating at Quito’s Central Market.

13. Mercado San Francisco

Smaller and older than Mercado Central, this market is known for its herbal healers who perform limpias (cleansing rituals) and for fresh juice stalls. It is a short walk from Plaza San Francisco and easy to combine with a morning in the Old Town.

14. Street food and the Friday Foodie & Beer Tour

Empanadas de viento, humitas, tamales and colada morada are all easy to find in the center. If you want a guided tasting across different regions of Ecuador, our Friday evening tour is the fun way to do it. Browse our list of Ecuadorian street foods you must try first.

Which Quito neighborhoods should you explore?

15. La Ronda

This narrow cobbled street on the southern edge of the Old Town is lined with craft shops, cafes and small bars with live music. Daytime is calm; evenings, especially Thursday to Saturday, are livelier and a good place to try canelazo, a warm cinnamon drink. The street is patrolled and fine at night, but take a taxi back rather than walking the empty surrounding blocks.

16. La Floresta

A residential neighborhood with street art, independent cafes, craft beer bars and the Ocho y Medio art-house cinema. It feels far less touristy than La Mariscal and is good for an afternoon coffee and dinner.

17. Guápulo

Guápulo clings to a steep hillside below La Floresta, with a white colonial church at the bottom and views over the valley. Walk down in daylight, visit the church, and take a taxi back up, because the climb is hard at this altitude.

18. La Mariscal and Plaza Foch

The main nightlife area, full of bars, clubs and international restaurants. It is fun for a night out but has the most petty crime in the city, so keep your phone in your pocket and use registered taxis or ride-hailing apps after dark.

Where can you find nature inside Quito?

19. Parque Metropolitano Guangüiltagua

One of the largest urban parks in South America, with eucalyptus forest trails, picnic areas and viewpoints over the Tumbaco valley and, on clear mornings, Cotopaxi. It is free and a good low-key acclimatization walk. Go in the morning and stay on the main trails.

20. Parque La Carolina and the Botanical Garden

La Carolina is Quito’s central park, busy on weekends with football games, joggers and families. Inside it, the Jardín Botánico has an orchid collection and native Andean plants for a small entry fee.

Getting around is easier since the Quito Metro opened: a ride costs $0.45 as of 2026 and it crosses the city in about 30 minutes, with stops at San Francisco in the Old Town and La Carolina.

What are the best day trips from Quito?

Quito is the best base in the country for day trips. These are the ones we run most often.

21. Mitad del Mundo and the Intiñan Museum

The official equator monument at Ciudad Mitad del Mundo costs $5 for adults (official ticket page). The GPS equator actually runs a couple of hundred meters away, and the small Intiñan Museum nearby (around $5–6 with a guided tour) is where you will see the water and egg demonstrations. It takes about an hour each way by car. Our Mitad del Mundo guide explains the history.

22. Cotopaxi National Park

Cotopaxi, one of the world’s highest active volcanoes at 5,897 m, is about 1.5–2 hours south of Quito, and park entry is free. Most visitors hike from the car park toward the José Rivas refuge and walk around Limpiopungo Lagoon at about 3,800 m. Go on a clear morning, and see our Cotopaxi and Quilotoa guide for independent options.

23. Quilotoa crater lake

A turquoise lake inside a volcanic crater at around 3,900 m, about 3.5 hours from Quito. The hike down takes 30–45 minutes, and the climb back up is hard at this altitude (a mule costs about $10). It is a long day by bus, so many people join our Quilotoa Crater Lake tour (from $57.50, Tue/Thu/Sun) or combine it with Cotopaxi on the 2-day adventure.

24. Otavalo market

Otavalo’s Plaza de los Ponchos is one of the biggest Indigenous markets in South America, open daily with the largest market on Saturdays. Buses leave from Quito’s Carcelén terminal about every 20 minutes and take roughly 2 hours for around $2.50–3. Read our complete Otavalo market guide before you go. Our Otavalo Indigenous Market tour runs Tuesdays and Saturdays from $57.50 with lunch.

25. Mindo cloud forest (and Papallacta hot springs)

Mindo is a cloud forest town about 2 hours north-west of Quito, known for birdwatching, hummingbirds, waterfalls, zip lines and chocolate. Buses run from the La Ofelia terminal for about $3–4, or join our Mindo Cloud Forest tour on Fridays from $57.50; more in our Mindo guide. If you prefer a lazy day, Papallacta’s thermal pools sit about 1.5 hours east at around 3,300 m, and the public pools cost roughly $10–11.

What can you skip in Quito?

Honestly, we would skip the double-decker hop-on bus unless mobility is an issue, since the Old Town is best on foot. Walking up to El Panecillo is not worth the risk. And if you are short on time, pick either the Basílica towers or the TelefériQo for the big view, not both on the same day.

Where should you stay to explore Quito?

Stay in or near the Old Town if sightseeing is your priority, or in La Floresta or La Mariscal for cafes and nightlife. Our where to stay in Quito guide compares the neighborhoods, and our own Community Hostel is right next to where the walking tour starts.

Plan it with us

Start with the free walking tour on your first morning, then let us know which day trips fit your dates. Message our local team on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832 or email info@communitytravel.ec, or drop by our office at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo. You can see all our trips on the tours page.

Frequently asked questions

Het bericht Things to Do in Quito: 25 Picks from Local Guides (2026) verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.

Updated September 2026 by our local guides in Quito.

Morning: Explore Quito’s UNESCO Old Town

Start your morning in the Old Town, the historic center that in 1978 became one of the first two places, together with the Galápagos, on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. Begin at 9:00 at the Basílica del Voto Nacional, the neo-Gothic church whose gargoyles are Ecuadorian animals such as tortoises and iguanas. Climbing its towers gives you the best overview of the city before you walk it. Entry is around USD 5 in cash, according to 2026 visitor reports.

From there, walk about 10 to 15 minutes to our meeting point on Pedro Fermín Cevallos for the 10:30 walking tour. It takes you to Plaza Grande, the city’s historic main square framed by the Presidential Palace (Carondelet) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, and on to Plaza San Francisco and the San Francisco Church, one of the oldest and most striking colonial churches in South America. Joining a guided walking tour is the easiest way to cover the highlights while learning the history behind each plaza and church facade.

Midday: Local Markets and Ecuadorian Food

For lunch, go to the Mercado Central on Avenida Pichincha, the Old Town’s best-known food market, a short walk from Plaza Grande. The food courts serve Ecuadorian classics at local prices: locro de papa (potato and cheese soup), fritada, yahuarlocro, and the market’s famous corvina, fried fish with potatoes and ceviche, for around USD 6. Finish with a fresh tropical fruit juice from the market stalls.

The market’s food courts are busiest between 12:30 and 13:30 and wind down by mid-afternoon: it opens at 7:00 and closes around 15:00 Monday to Saturday and 14:00 on Sunday. A guided food tour is a great shortcut if you want to try several dishes without guessing where to go. Our Central Market food guide lists what to order, and our guide to Ecuadorian street food covers the snacks you will see on every corner.

Iglesia de La Compañía de Jesús, two blocks from Plaza Grande, is the church most visitors remember: its interior is covered in gold leaf. Foreign adults pay USD 6 (students USD 3), per Quito’s official museum network. Then walk back to Plaza San Francisco for the Museo Fray Pedro Gocial, which gives you the cloister, the colonial art collection and the choir of San Francisco for USD 6, daily from 9:00 to 17:00.

Afternoon: Panecillo Hill and City Views

In the late afternoon, take a taxi up El Panecillo, the hill topped with a large aluminum statue of the Virgin of Quito, for sweeping views over the Old Town and the volcanoes beyond. The viewpoint is free, and you can climb inside the monument’s base to a higher balcony for about USD 1 until 18:00. It is one of the best photo spots in the city and a good way to get your bearings.

Go by taxi, not on foot. The stairs and streets that climb the hill from the Old Town pass through neighborhoods where robberies of tourists are regularly reported, and our guides never walk groups up. A taxi from Plaza San Francisco costs about USD 3 to 5 each way; ask the driver to wait 30 minutes, or use a ride-hailing app to book the ride back. Our full guide to El Panecillo covers the statue’s history.

Evening: Craft Beer and Traditional Bites

Wind down on La Ronda, the restored colonial street below the Panecillo, with an evening food-and-drink crawl through Quito’s historic center. Sample Ecuadorian craft beer alongside traditional bites like empanadas de viento, and try canelazo, the classic warm cinnamon-and-fruit drink, usually spiked with sugarcane liquor, that is perfect for the cool Andean evenings. La Ronda is liveliest from Thursday to Saturday night, with music drifting out of small bars and cafés.

Practical Tips for Your Day in Quito

The three things that matter most are comfortable shoes, layers and cash in small bills.

• Wear comfortable shoes: Old Town’s cobblestone streets and hills add up quickly, and this itinerary keeps you on your feet most of the day.
• Bring a light jacket and a rain layer; Quito’s weather shifts fast between strong sun and cool cloud, and afternoon showers are common.
• Carry small bills. The Basílica, the Panecillo monument and most market stalls take cash only.
• Stick to main plazas and well-traveled streets, especially once it gets dark, and use taxis or a ride-hailing app after 19:00 rather than walking between neighborhoods.
• Give yourself a slower pace on your first day if you have just arrived. Quito sits at 2,850 m, and its altitude can make even easy walking feel more tiring than usual. Our altitude sickness guide explains how to ease in.

How much do Quito’s Old Town sights cost in 2026?

Most of the Old Town is free to walk, and the paid sights on this itinerary add up to about USD 18 per foreign adult, plus taxis and food. Prices and hours below are as of 2026; churches can close for services and holidays.

Is Quito’s Old Town safe to explore in one day?

Yes, the Old Town is safe to explore by day if you use normal city precautions. The main plazas, the pedestrian streets around Plaza Grande and La Ronda have a visible police and municipal presence, and they are busy with local families. The risks are mostly pickpocketing in crowds and on buses, and robbery on quiet side streets and the climb to El Panecillo.

Keep your phone in a front pocket, carry a copy of your passport rather than the original, and take a taxi for the Panecillo and after dark. Our Ecuador safety guide for 2026 goes into more detail, and on the walking tour our guides point out which streets to avoid.

Can you add the TelefériQo to one day in Quito?

You can, but only by dropping something else, so we suggest it for a second day. The TelefériQo cable car climbs from 3,117 m to 3,945 m on the slopes of Pichincha, and you need a taxi to reach the base station on the west side of the city. With the ride, a short walk at the top and transport, allow three hours.

If the morning is clear and you are already acclimatized, you can swap the Basílica for the TelefériQo: it opens at 8:00 from Friday to Sunday, but only at 10:00 Monday to Thursday. Clouds often cover the ridge by early afternoon. Tickets cost USD 9 for foreign adults on the official TelefériQo site.

See the highlights in one morning or afternoon with our Free Walking Tour of Quito, which includes a market stop and a chocolate tasting, and then use the rest of this itinerary to fill your day. For other trips from the city, browse all our tours.

Related guides

• Authentic Ecuadorian Food at Quito’s Central Market
• The Virgin Looking at Quito: El Panecillo
• Altitude Sickness in Quito: How to Prevent and Treat Soroche
• Ecuadorian Street Foods You Must Try
• Ecuador Travel Facts and Figures 2026

Plan it with us

We are Ecuadorian guides with our office on the edge of the Old Town, and we walk these streets every day. Drop by before or after the walking tour for maps, taxi advice and day trips at Pedro Fermín Cevallos N6-78 y Olmedo, message us on WhatsApp at +593 97 953 3832, or email info@communitytravel.ec.

Frequently asked questions

Het bericht One Perfect Day in Quito: The Ultimate Old Town Itinerary verscheen eerst op Community Adventures Ecuador.