Ecuador’s capital, Quito, might not be among the most visited capitals in the world, nonetheless, its stunning scenery together with a remarkable culture, place it among the most interesting destinations worldwide. It is the second-highest capital city in the world located at an altitude of 2,850 meters (9,350 feet). Amazing flora and fauna, incredible viewpoints, impressive surrounding volcanoes, charming cobblestone streets, exotic food and drinks, friendly people and the unique equator line, all compose a near to perfect place to visit. If you want to start getting familiarized with this city, follow us on this trip and check out the things to do in Quito, Ecuador, the City of the Heavens.
1. Wonder at the gothic-revival architecture of the Basílica del Voto Nacional
One of the most common but definitely worthy places to visit in Quito is the impressive Basílica Church. Being the largest church in the Americas, it is certainly quite an experience climbing its towers and taking in some incredible city views. Ecuadorian animals, like armadillos and iguanas, and also huge stained glass windows beautifully decorate the exterior of the church. If you are rather cool with heights, climb all the way up, otherwise, look for the cafe inside the church and enjoy a glass of beer overlooking the old town.
Basilica del Voto Nacional
Address: Quito 170130
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm; Sat - Sun: 6am - 6.30pm
Price: 2 USD
2. Visit the astronomical observatory of La Alameda Park
One of the oldest observatories in South America, the Quito Astronomical Observatory is a must-do for the astronomy buffs. This important attraction is located within the Alameda Park and operates both as a research institute and a fascinating museum (open to the public) featuring among others seismometers and vintage telescopes to keep you busy for hours. On clear nights, visitors may climb the building to look towards the sky through a large telescope.
Quito Astronomical Observatory
Address: Av. Gran Colombia S/N y Av. Diez de Agosto Interior del parque La Alameda
Website: Quito Astronomical Observatory
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 2 USD
3. Explore the contemporary clay artefacts at the Mindalae - Ethnohistoric & Crafts Museum of Ecuador
A pretty popular museum that showcases Ecuador’s culture through crafts related to the natives, the Mindalae is definitely one of the museums you can’t miss in Quito. All the amazing heritage of ancestral Ecuador is right there for you to discover and be amazed. The museum seems to organize a number of cultural activities throughout the year, as well as several workshops where participants may practice artisan techniques or learn about the country’s ancestral iconography.
Mindalae - Ethnohistoric & Crafts Museum of Ecuador
Address: Reina Victoria N26-166, Quito 170102
Website: Mindalae
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 9.30am - 5.30pm; Sat: 10am - 5.30pm
Price: 3 USD
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4. Enjoy a game of football at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium
If you want to raise your adrenaline up a little, then catch a soccer game at the Atahualpa Olympic Stadium. Many clubs or associations use the stadium for games, while it’s the main playing venue for the national team of Ecuador. Ecuadorians love football and can travel a long way to be able to watch their favorite team, so the atmosphere in the stadium can be pretty tense sometimes. But if you are into football, you will absolutely enjoy it.
Atahualpa Olympic Stadium
Address: Avenida Naciones Unidas, Quito 170135
Website: Atahualpa Olympic Stadium
Price: 5 USD
5. Explore the historic Old Town on foot (from USD 190.0)
Even if you are not in the mood to discover every little corner of Quito, there are no excuses for not taking a stroll around the beautiful Old Town. Quito was the first city (along with Krakow) in the world to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, thanks to its imperceptibly changed, lovely baroque buildings and colonial architecture, but also its colorful, cobblestoned alleyways. This delightful historic district also boasts churches, shops, and museums worth exploring, but sitting down at a coffee place watching the day pass by is a more restful option.
Quito Historical Center and Equator Line Private Day Tour
Duration: 8 hours 30 minutes
6. Satisfy your foodie soul at Plaza Foch
So, Plaza Foch is the place to be, if you are young at age and heart too. Located in New Town, this area is lined with numerous funky clubs, craft beer pubs, and restaurants, and it’s where locals and foreigners meet and hang out. Around here you might also witness dancers or musicians performing, while several local markets, spots for authentic Ecuadorian food and other charming shops are scattered around. The district won’t disappoint you in terms of entertainment or culinary cravings.
Plaza Foch
Address: Mariscal Foch, Quito 170143
7. Don't miss out on gold leaf decorations and wood carvings of the Church of the Jesuits
It took 160 years to complete this masterpiece, which nowadays, is considered as one of the finest examples of Spanish baroque architecture. The exterior and the interior of the 17th-century Church of the Jesuits are equally impressive, and a visit will convince you. Almost the entire central nave is decorated with gold leaf and wooden carvings, while some of the city’s greatest artisans created a number of paintings and sculptures.
La Compañía de Jesus
Address: García Moreno N10-43, Quito 170401
Opening hours: Mon - Thu: 9.30am - 6.30pm; Fri: 9.30am - 5.30pm; Sat: 9.30am - 4pm; Sun: 12.30 - 4pm
Price: 5 USD
8. Shop for traditional goods at the Artisan Market
You can’t finish your trip to Quito without checking out the Artisan Market to buy the best souvenirs for you and your loved ones. And, unarguably, this market won’t let you leave empty-handed. Popular among tourists and locals alike, this is the biggest handicrafts market in Quito featuring products made by Ecuadorian skilled men and women. Unique items you will find here include alpaca sweaters, Ecuadorian chocolate, Panama hats, intricate jewelry and weavings, and leather bags as well.
Artisan Market
Address: Reina Victoria and Juan Leon Mera on Jorge Washington road, Quito 170150
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 7pm; Sun: 9am - 6pm
9. Hop on a cable car to enjoy panoramic views of the scenic landscape
Are you ready to ride a super exciting aerial gondola and gaze into the magnificent Andes? Then the teleferico is the way to go. The 18-minute ride will take you to an altitude of about 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) where the sweeping views will blow your mind. But there is more to see and do once up there, like horseback riding, hiking further up, relaxing at the platform gazing at the bustling city of Quito, or even taking a photo with a lovable llama. Make sure you are well-acclimatized before attempting the ride.
Teleférico Quito
Website: Teleférico Quito
Opening hours: Tue - Thu: 9am - 8pm; Fri - Mon: 8am - 8pm
Price: 8.50 USD
10. One foot on each hemisphere at Middle of the World monument
Mitad del Mundo or the Middle Earth is the official equator line, located about 22 km (13.7 miles) north of Quito, and a visit to this village is surely worth your time. The notorious, 30-meter-tall (98,4 feet) monument is located there and indicates the exact location of the equator, although in recent years the actual equator is found to be 240 meters (787 feet) north of that. Crossing the equator can be a really fun thing, thus tourists flock here to get a unique photo as a great souvenir. The grounds also feature small museums with different themes, a planetarium, souvenir shops, and several restaurants.
Middle of the World monument
Address: Manuel Cordova Galarza, Quito
Website: Middle of the World monument
Opening hours: 9am - 6pm (daily)
Price: 5 USD
11. Rejuvenate your soul amidst the lush greenery of Carolina Park
If you start feeling exhausted from the tension of the big city, then head to Carolina Park. It is a big park that you won’t believe is located right in the middle of the city. The park is a spectacular, recreational spot that attracts locals and tourists alike since it features many facilities and hosts a number of events. Among them, you will find one of the greatest skateparks, paddle boats to be rented for the tour of the park, along with running tracks, playgrounds, and gorgeous food stalls. The park pulses with life during the weekends when fun events take place.
Carolina Park
Address: Av. de los Shyris, Quito 170135
12. Embrace science at the Intiñan Solar Museum
Another equator attraction situated a few steps far from the Middle of the World Monument, supposedly being the actual equator line (yet it’s not!) is the Intiñan Solar Museum. This fascinating, open-air museum is indeed closer to where the equator passes through, and it aims to explain all about latitude through experiments. Thus, visitors go through several funny experiments, some of them being less plausible than others, yet all of them are quite exciting.
Intiñan Solar Museum
Address: Manuel Cordova Galarza, Quito
Website: Intiñan Solar Museum
Opening hours: 9.30am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 4 USD
13. Unleash your adventurous soul by hiking on the Pichincha Volcano (from USD 169.0)
If you’re up for some adventure and you want to test your limits, then go climb the Rucu Pichincha, as locals call it. In order to start hiking, you need to take the telefériQo and reach the top; from there you will follow the trail that will bring you to a breathtaking altitude of about 4,784 meters (15,695 feet). The hike takes three to four hours with the last hour being fairly the hardest. However, it’s certainly worth it, especially for hikers. Beware of the weird weather conditions up there and the high altitude.
Quito with Cable Car and Horseback Ride to Volcano: Day Tour
Duration: 8 hours
14. Ignite your love for art at the Guayasamín's La Capilla Del Hombre Museum
You might not know him, as with many things about Quito, but Oswaldo Guayasamin was perhaps the most famous painter in Ecuador. The Chapel of the Man is a very special building he created himself for exhibiting his artwork, and nowadays it operates as a museum. It is a must-visit for art lovers. The unique surroundings comprise of stunning sculptures, paintings, and architecture, that have a deeper purpose to pay homage to human rights, solidarity, and peace, just like the way Guayasamin envisioned it.
Chapel Of The Man Museum
Address: Mariano Calvache E18-94 and Lorenzo Chávez
Website: La Capilla del Hombre
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
Price: 8 USD
15. Visit the greenhouse at Quito Botanical Gardens
When you decide to spend some time at the Carolina Park, make sure you pay a visit to the mesmerizing Quito Botanical Gardens, situated within the park. Even if you’re not that much into flowers and gardens, it might be pretty interesting to see the diversity of Ecuador’s exotic flora. The large garden features, among others, several greenhouses, like the orchid and the Amazonian ones, a rose garden, a Japanese zen garden, a kids’ section, and last but not least the most fascinating greenhouse with carnivorous plants!
Quito Botanical Gardens
Address: Interior Parque de, Quito 170135
Website: Quito Botanical Gardens
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 4.45pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 4.45pm
Price: 3.50 USD
16. Discover Quito’s Crystal Palace in Itchimbia Park
Climb up a fair amount of steps beyond the Old Town and you will find yourself in the perfect selfie spot near a huge Quito sign. Soak in the beautiful city vistas while enjoying a picnic and your kids are having fun at the playground. Or you may also visit the Crystal Palace, a massive architectural gem, whose iron pieces were shipped from Belgium about a century ago, and glass walls cover the building. A lot of events are hosted here regularly, like book fairs or cultural events for adults and kids alike.
Crystal Palace
Address: Jose Maria Aguirre, Quito 170136
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 5am - 6pm; Sat - Sun: 9am - 3pm
17. Walk down the unique Canelazo on La Ronda street (from USD 65.0)
La Ronda is one of the prettiest and most picturesque pedestrian walkways easily accessed from the Old Town. The famous street is lined up with unique 17th-century buildings, a few shops, and multiple second-level cafes with the cutest balconies. Head there on an afternoon to catch a balcony table and don’t forget to order the local specialty canelazo, a warm alcoholic beverage made of cinnamon-sugar water, some local fruit juice and aguardiente (sugarcane alcohol). And of course, take a charming photo as a memory.
Quito Old Town Private Walking Tour - Local Market - Fruits & Chocolate Tasting
Duration: 4 hours
18. Wonder at La Floresta's street art (from USD 89.0)
La Floresta might not be the most touristic place to visit, however, thanks to a number of fine restaurants, noticeable art galleries, and especially a thriving street art scene, it has gained considerable popularity among visitors. Interesting graffiti and murals can be seen across the whole area which actually makes for some great photos. When you’re done exploring the artistic side of it, look for a venue with live music, or try some pure Ecuadorian food.
Half-Day Quito Ecuador Urban Small Group Bike Tour
Duration: 4 hours
19. Go bird watching at the Mindo Cloud Forest (from USD 100.0)
If you are tight on time you might as well skip this trip, but if there is time, definitely go for it. Mindo Cloud Forest is a thrilling rainforest-like environment just a two-hour drive from Quito that can keep you entertained and active for a good number of hours. Among the activities offered here are zip lining, river tubing, canyoning, and of course bird watching since there are more than 500 bird species in the area. For nature and adventure lovers, this might be a small piece of heaven on earth, and you can even decide to stay longer and explore the chocolate factory and the butterfly garden!
Quito to Mindo Cloud Forest: Eco Adventure Private Day Tour
Duration: 9 to 10 hours
20. Witness the changing of the guard outside the Quito Presidential Palace
If you happen to be in Quito on a Monday, then fit a visit to the Presidential Palace into your itinerary. At 11 am a grand ceremony of the changing of the guards starts right outside of the Palace and attracts many tourists. The most exciting thing about this process is that the President comes out and waves to the people, although it might not happen every single Monday. During the ceremony, you will see guards on horses parade through, as well as a marching band.
Quito Presidential Palace
Address: Carondelet Palace, García Moreno, Quito 170401
Opening hours: Mon: 11am
21. Get sprawling views of Quito atop El Panecillo hill (from USD 75.0)
Yes, El Panecillo (the little loaf of bread!) is one of the best spots to enjoy marvelous vistas of the city, and on clear days also of the surrounding volcanoes. The hill sits on the middle of the city so it’s pretty obvious from many points, while you can reach it by taxi or on foot as long as you keep yourself safe. The lovely attraction up there is a large statue of Virgin Mary which is surprisingly decorated with angelic wings and can be visited during the day.
Quito Colonial City Private Tour Including El Panecillo
Duration: 4 hours 30 minutes
Enjoy the Andean foothills
Do the above things to do sound like a lot to manage? Well, even if you can do 10 out of them, you will get the feel of this vivid city, but if you have spare time you won’t regret doing all of them! So, if you travel to Quito let us know which activities you enjoyed the most.
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