I had no idea what to expect once I first visited Quito. The capital of Ecuador and residential to 2 million people, the town had a grittiness thereto that jogged my memory tons of Naples that was juxtaposed by beautiful and historic architecture.

While the region around Quito was Inca territory through the 15th century, the town itself dates from 1534 when Spanish settlers led by Sebastián de Benalcázar enslaved the natives and colonized the world . the town has been standing ever since.

Enveloped by mountains and perched at 2,850 meters (9,350 ft) above water level , Quito usually gets ignored as travelers head elsewhere within the country (i.e. The Galápagos). However, from the gorgeous historical town square to the lively restaurants and parks to the gorgeous mountains, there's plenty to ascertain and do here for a couple of days. confirm you spend a few of days here. Quito isn’t really a touristy city so you'll get a true common sense of Ecuadorian culture here!

Here’s an inventory of my favorite things to try to to during your visit to Quito:

1. Take a Free Walking Tour

The best thanks to get an edge during a new destination is to require a free walking tour. You’ll get a crash program in history, culture, food, and far more. It’s the primary thing I do whenever I arrive during a new city.

Free Walking Tour Ecuador offers daily free walking tours (as well as paid food and cultural tours) which will offer you a solid introduction to Quito. Tours last a few of hours and canopy all the most sights in town. better of all, they’re free — but just make certain to tip your guide at the end!

2. Hike the Bread Roll



The Bread Roll hill overlooking Quito, Ecuador

El Panecillo, or “The Bread Roll,” may be a small hill overlooking the town . Standing just over 200 meters (656 ft), it offers a gorgeous panorama of the town and surrounding mountains. Before the Spanish arrived within the 16th century, it had been home to an Inca temple. Today, a huge aluminum statue of Mary Mary (known because the Virgin of Quito), inbuilt 1976, towers over the town . attempt to arrive early within the morning for the simplest views (since the altitude is high, and clouds are common).

3. Wander the Old Town

Quito is home to at least one of the best-preserved historic centers altogether of Latin America . The narrow streets are lined with centuries-old buildings, and therefore the entire area was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site back in 1978. There are many cafés, colorful old buildings, churches, plazas, and more. It’s a pleasant place to walk around and desire you’ve stepped back in time. Many of the buildings go back to the 1600s!

4. See Plaza de San Francisco



The spacious San Francisco Plaza in Quito, Ecuador

Saint Francis Square is where you’ll find the Church and Convent of St. Francis, the city’s oldest building. It dates to the 1500s and took almost 150 years to be completed. It’s baroque in design and is one among the most important historical structures in Latin America . The plaza itself is large and makes for a pleasant place to people-watch. it had been built on ancient Incan ruins (including those of Emperor Atahualpa’s 15th-century palace).

5. Visit the financial institution National Museum

The Museo Nacional de Banco Central del Ecuador, aka the Bank Museum, sounds pretty boring. whilst a fanatical museum-goer and history buff, I had low expectations. Fortunately, i used to be pleasantly surprised. The museum features a huge collection of over 1,500 items and artifacts from pre-Inca times (some over 6,000 years old). Its exhibitions showcase the history and progression of Ecuador throughout history, covering everything from art to religion to economics and everything in between. It’s a huge museum, during which you'll easily spend a couple of hours. It’s also one among the foremost popular things to try to to in Quito (and it’s super affordable too).

Avenida Patria, +593 2-381-4550, muna.culturaypatrimonio.gob.ec. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10am–5pm. Admission is $2 USD.

6. Cross the Equator



The Mitad del Mundo equator monument near Quito, Ecuador

You can’t visit Ecuador — named after the equator — without visiting the equator itself. First, visit the “fake” equator, the 30-meter-tall Mitad del Mundo monument inbuilt the late 1970s within the wrong spot (modern GPS made the error known).

The “real” equator may be a few hundred meters away, at The Intiñan Solar Museum. Here you'll officially straddle the hemispheres and visit alittle museum that pays homage to indigenous Ecuadorian culture and history. They even have some fun science experiments that only work when you’re at the equator also .

7. Relax in Parque Metropolitano

This is the most important green space within the city. Spanning over 1,700 acres, the park is home to hiking trails, campsites, bike paths (and rentals), and delightful cloud forests for hiking and bird-watching. you'll easily spend a couple of hours or a whole day here. Pack a lunch, bring a book and a few walking shoes, and enjoys the natural beauty and views of the encompassing mountains and landscape.

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

8. Take each day Trip to Cotopaxi Volcano



The snow-capped Cotopaxi volcano near Quito, Ecuador

Approximately 50km (31 miles) from Quito is that the world’s highest active volcano. Located in Cotopaxi park and standing 5,897 meters (19,348 feet) tall, it’s a well-liked location for outdoor activities like hiking , hiking, horseback riding, and camping. Since 1738, there are over 50 eruptions (it was actually closed to visitors in 2016–17 thanks to an eruption). When the weather is obvious , you'll see the volcano from Quito (it really is imposing).

The park itself is free (you just got to show your passport to enter). you'll book each day tour for around $65 USD or arrange it yourself for around $20 USD. Expect to spend 2–7 hours hiking to the summit, counting on where you begin (you can drive part high to decrease the duration). make certain to spend a while in Quito acclimatizing to the altitude before doing the hike.

9. Explore La Mariscal

This is a well-liked area for shopping and enjoying the city’s nightlife. It caters tons to the tourist/expat crowd, and that i couldn’t walk five feet without seeing a BBQ place or Irish pub. It’s modern, trendy, and crammed with bars and posh restaurants. the homes within the area are colorful, and there are a couple of open-air markets worth browsing also . In short, it’s a pleasant place to explore during the day and fun for an evening out once the sun goes down.

10. Tour the García Moreno Prison Musem

This abandoned prison was pack up in 2014, after over 150 years operational . Today, it’s an eye-opening museum that highlights the challenging conditions of prison life in Quito over the past century. The guides are former guards who will tell you all types of frightening stories while walking you round the grounds. Many of the cells are still filled with prisoners’ items and belongings. It’s really interesting but also a touch unsettling too. It definitely provides some nuance to the city’s history.

Vicente Rocafuerte. The museum keeps odd hours and has minimal contact information. Ask your hotel/hostel staff for details.

11. Take each day Trip to Laguna Quilotoa




The massive crater lake Laguna Quilotoa near Quito, Ecuador

This stunning crater lake is three hours from the town . made up of a former volcano that collapsed from an eruption, the resulting crater crammed with water and is an absolutely beautiful sight. you'll hike, swing off the sting of the crater lip, and even rent kayaks and paddle round the water (rentals cost around $3 USD). Day tours bring an extended day (most last 12 hours), so consider staying within the region overnight if you'll . Expect to pay around $50 USD for each day trip. Most also include a quick stop at Cotopaxi also .