What To Do In Quito: 10 Places You Need To See

We’re aiming high today—almost 10,000ft above sea level high! That’s where we’ll find Quito, the Ecuadorian capital city built over an ancient Incan city. Can you feel our excitement?

What if we tell you Quito is surrounded by eight of the country’s nineteen volcanoes? And that it was one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. And that the climate is like spring in New York all year round.

If you’re as excited as we are about this elegant city—and its seamless blend of Spanish and indigenous architecture, culture, and art—then welcome to Quito!

We’ve put together a list of the ten attractions that rocket the capital of Ecuador to the top of travellers’ must-see lists. Add them all to your travel itinerary—we promise you won’t be disappointed!

Things to do in Quito: 10 Places You Need To See:

1. Visit the Old Town

Firstly, the old town (or historic center) is the reason Quito was the first cultural World Heritage site recognized by UNESCO. It is—officially—the best preserved Spanish Colonial capital in Latin America. It is the second UNESCO World Heritage site, overall—only the Galapagos Islands received this prestigious title before Quito. When you take the time to walk its streets, it’s easy to see why. Architectural gems are everywhere. Churches, convents, monasteries, museums—el Centro Histórico is a treasure trove of historical goodness.

If you have a few days to spare, you could easily spend them pounding the pavement and getting (happily) lost in this area. The streets are buzzing with life as the locals— Quiteños —go about their business in the delightful shadow of Spanish Colonial and Latin American history.

If you don’t have that much time, we recommend taking a day to explore the wide open main squares—ideal for people watching and enjoying a coffee from one of the many cafes dotted around the old town. Plaza de la Independencia, Plaza San Francisco, and Plaza Santo Domingo are the biggest and most easy to find, and a great checkpoint if you’re travelling with a group.

Don’t miss the smaller—but no less beautiful—Plaza del Teatro. You’ll find it at the doorstep of the Sucre Theatre on Guayaquil Street. The street entertainers are fun to watch, there are always little stalls selling their wares, and it offers a great backdrop for all your travel blog selfies.

 

If you enjoy some religious architecture with your adventure, the historic Center has everything to offer. Visit the ornate and awe-inspiring Iglesia de San Francisco and Iglesia de la Compania, where it feels like everything is dipped in gold.

Or check out Iglesia de Santo Domingo. Santo Domingo church is home to the image of the Virgin, a gift from Charles V of Spain. If you go, be sure to check out the spectacular views from the rooftop.

Quick tip (and a quick history lesson) for navigating in the Old Town:

Keep in mind that, as a historic site, most streets in the old town have two names. If you get confused, the green plaque tells you the official street name (the one you’ll see on your map app) and the ceramic tile has the street’s historic name. As an example, Calle Sucre is also signposted as Calle de Algodón.

There’s also Calle García Moreno. This one has a much more intriguing history:

When the Spanish colonized Quito, city planning was a nightmare. They had to fill in ravines and creeks to create the classic European grid-style city layout. That move essentially wiped out a sacred Incan path that connected the temple of the Inca sun god to the temple of the Inca moon goddess.

To further concrete their decimation of ancient traditions, they built Catholic churches along the route. Large stone crosses were erected in the streets as public altars for the faithful, and reminders to the (unfaithful?) rest. These sat side by side with local cantinas and bars. The street became known as Calle de las Siete Cruces—the street of the Seven Crosses.

Fast-forward almost three centuries to Ecuadorian president, Garcia Moreno, who had just entered his third term in office. The piously conservative president made a lot of enemies, outlawed all religions except Catholicism, abused the powers of the secret police, and made it illegal to form a secret society.

In 1875 he was attacked by a machete-wielding Faustino Rayo, and shot by several of Rayo’s companions, on the streets of Calle de las Siete Cruces. Despite the president’s unpopularity, the street was renamed to Calle García Moreno.

2. La Ronda

It’s been a big day. So what to do in Quito if it’s peace and quiet you’re looking for?

La Ronda might not be the place for that. This street wakes up when the sun goes down!

In the 17th century, La Ronda gained notoriety as a gathering place for artists, poets, and free-spirited bohemian romantics. Over 200 years it built up and spread out, home to bars and brothels and artists’ studios. If you were about that extravagant life in 19th century Quito—you were hanging out on La Ronda.

The street’s official name changed many times over the decades, but by the end of the 19th century, La Ronda was in ruin. Its buildings were neglected, its bohemians had moved on, and it had become just another street lost to history. When Quito began restoring its central township in 2006, the area was revitalized—locals and visitors returned to see if La Ronda had rediscovered the magic of her youth. And she has.

To discover everything La Ronda has to offer—get there at sunset. Thursdays to Sundays you’ll be one of hundreds of people navigating the cobblestone street to enjoy live music, livelier bars, and bustling restaurants. Want more action? Do a little salsa dancing in one of La Ronda’s dance clubs, or get your photo taken with Freddie Kruger, Jack Sparrow, or whichever other character the local street performers are dressed as that night.

There is more to do on La Ronda than party, though. If you look closely, you’ll discover a courtyard filled with craft shops, art galleries, and even museums.

3. El Panecillo

El Panecillo—panecillo is literally a type of bread—is a little hill with a big vantage point. From the top, you can admire everything that Quito has to offer. It will take you 10 minutes to Uber from the old town to the top of El Panecillo, but you can also get dropped off at the base—there are stairs—if you want to make the hike to the top on foot.

As if the breathtaking views of Quito aren’t enough, El Panecillo is also home to the Virgin of El Panecillo (see our blog post about the Virgin of the Panecillo in our Community Adventures Blog).

Built by Spanish artist Agustin de la Herran Matorras in 1976, and inaugurated by the 11th archbishop of Quito, this 145ft tall madonna stands atop her globe pedestal at the top of the hill. You can see her from almost anywhere in the city, but up close you can enjoy her details in full. Like the seven thousand pieces of aluminium used to create her, or the snake she is crushing with her foot. She is also—according to local lore—the only madonna in the world with angel wings. At her base there is a bronze placard which explains that she represents the Woman of the Apocalypse. Both the medieval and modern Roman Catholic Church interpret the Woman of the Apocalypse as the Virgin Mary.

4. The Teleférico

Even if you’re the type of traveller who prefers to stride it out rather than catch a ride anywhere, we promise you—you want to catch a ride in the teleférico! It is easily one of the city’s most beloved attractions—it’s affordable, provides amazing views and perfect photo ops, and carries you right up the side of a volcano. It also takes you to the starting point of the Ruca Pichincha hike.

Pro tip: The summit of Ruca Pichincha sits at around 15,000 feet. The end of the line for the teleférico is 13,000 feet, so you’re in for quite a hike. Be sure you are prepared, and that you have your route well planned out.

The teleférico—cable car, in English—opened in 2005 as a tourist attraction, and is structured just like any other cable car or gondola you’ve ridden. The beauty of this specific cable car is where it takes you. When you dismount at the top, you are at Cruz Loma on the face of the Pichincha volcano. From here you can admire the views, have a snack, hike, bike, or go on the giant ‘Swing in the Clouds’.

If you want to go for a spin on the teleférico, get there early. The crowds start to build up in the late morning, and you may end up queuing for a long time since the trip to the top takes 20 minutes.

5. Mitad del Mundo

Did we mention that the equator runs past Quito? It does!

About 12 miles from Quito, the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) marks the spot where the equator crosses Ecuador. The name of the park literally means ‘The Equator’ and a large monument marks the equatorial line for a unique photo opportunity…sort of.

The thing is, when Charles-Marie de la Comdamine and his team of French expeditioners marked out the equator in the 1700s, they were a ¼ mile off the mark. So the 100 foot tall monument (and the marker line to indicate the equator) is not quite where it needs to be. Still, this is a great story to tell friends and family, and a beautiful spot to visit on a sunny Quito day.

Mitad del Mundo also has smaller monument markers, a viewing platform, and a museum to round out your visit. You can visit recreations of traditional homes of the Amazon and Andes, or visit a Cocoa museum.

Be sure to check out the interactive exhibit that explains the science and myths about the equator. If all this touring has built up a bit of a thirst, the Museo de la Cerveza Artesanal has tours of its brewery, and sells artisanal beers.

(See also our Mitad del Mundo blog post in the Blog of Community Adventures).

6. Museums

There are a lot of pre-packaged museum tours available in the city if you want to see everything in one fell swoop, but we’ve got our list of must-sees for this category.

Museo Casa del Alabado, on Casa Gangotena, exhibits over 600 Ecuadorian artefacts year-round. The Alabado exhibition is thoughtfully curated to showcase the art and skill that went into creating these pre-Columbian works. Everything is arranged according to a theme, instead of by age, which turns history into a visible storyline running from BC-times up to when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s.

Casa del Alabado is open every day except Wednesday.

Museo de la Ciudad, on Garcia Moreno, is located in the city’s very first hospital. It tells the story of Quito’s beginnings—de la Ciudad meaning of the city, in English. Find out more about the first people who lived here. Explore the arrival of the Incas and the city the built, and learn more about how the arrival of the Spanish impacted the area. We also get a glimpse into early colonization, and the city’s fight for independence. The museum has a great interactive exhibit to teach us the city’s rich history in an interesting and explorative way.

Museo de la Ciudad is open from Tuesdays to Sundays. Better yet, it’s free on the last Saturday of each month!

Centro Cultural Metropolitano de Quito, in front of the Presidential House, is Ecuador’s one and only wax museum. It also has short-term exhibits, to add variety for regular visitors. The curators at CCMQ have secured internationally acclaimed art exhibits from around Ecuador and larger Latin America, and offer a beautiful blend of old and new architecture styles. This is one of Quito’s most popular museums.

CCMQ is open from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, and for several hours on Sundays.

7. Parks in Quito

If you want to see how Quiteños pass their time, head to a local park and chill out for a few hours.

One of our favorites is Parque El Ejido, best known for its pop-up art market, beautiful greenery, and wide open spaces. You can also hire kids’ bikes and motorized toy cars, if you’re travelling with your miniatures in tow. Another one is the Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park, the biggest park in the city.

Parque Urbano Cumanda is an indoor park and art exhibit. It houses murals art large art displays, and is a great way to wind down on a hot day.

8. La Mariscal

La Mariscal doesn’t get the same kind of attention as the old town or La Ronda, but it’s the perfect antidote to museum overload. Is that a thing?

La Mariscal, and its wide open Plaza Mariscal Foch, are made to entertain you. This is the place to go to shop, dance, dine, and hunt for unique crafts and antiques. There are also street entertainers scattered around Foch to make you laugh and cheer. Mariscal’s open-air craft market—which attracts vendors from across Ecuador—sell candles, jewelry, hand-made knick-knacks, and vintage finds.

If you stick around La Mariscal after dark, the clubs come alive. You might even catch a live concert every once in a while.

9. Botanic Gardens

Parque La Carolina is Quito’s version of Central Park. A lush green oasis in the center of the concrete jungle. Many sporting events are hosted here—including American football and soccer—and there is a science museum for kids. It is home to a small reptile and amphibian zoo, too.

Parque La Carolina is also home to the Quito Botanic Gardens, which was created in an effort to protect indigenous plants of the Andes. A tour of the gardens won’t take too long, and in addition to the fascinating native flora, you can find over 1,000 species of orchid here.

10. Quito Zoo

Although the Quito Zoo looks like it comes in at #10 on our list of what to do in Quito—we could easily give it the #1 spot.

The zoo is managed by the Zoological Foundation of Ecuador, a not-for-profit NGO. Its goal is to protect animals that have been the victim of illegal trade and hunting, which is prevalent in South America. The zoo is small and well maintained, enclosures are well vegetated and thoughtfully designed, and the prevailing message is one of land conservation and protection for the animals who are being displaced or hunted.

Quito Zoo is home to the largest collection of native fauna in Ecuador. It funds research projects and education programs to promote public awareness of its endangered species, and operates one of the largest veterinary programs in Latin America.

Quito Zoo is open from Tuesday to Sunday. It is located in Guayllabamba, north of the city of Quito. To go there you have to go to the Bus Station “La Ofelia” in the north of the city to take a bus in direcction Cayambe. There are 2 bus companies going to Guayllabamba: Foor del Valle and Pinchincha. In Guayllabamba you have to leave the bus and take a taxi (or pick-up taxi) to the Zoo. (Link: La Ofelia in Google Maps).

Conclusion

Feeling dizzy from all the excitement Quito has to offer? Maybe it’s just the altitude up here.

Now you can see how much Quito has to offer, I hope you’ve got at least all of these spots on your Quito To Do list.

Been here, done this? Comment below and tell our community what you loved most about Quito!