First time · Quito
First time in QuitoQuito
Quito sits at about 2,850 m: keep day 1 flat and slow, do the old town in the morning while the sky is clear, and take a car, not a walk, after dark.
The honest verdict
Quito is a long north-south city in a high valley. The Historic Centre is a hillside grid of plazas, churches and steep cobbled streets; La Mariscal and La Carolina are the flatter modern districts to the north; Guápulo drops off a ridge to the east. The trips that go wrong are the ones that ignore altitude on day 1, walk the old town after dark, or plan an outdoor afternoon in the rainy months when clouds and showers arrive after 14:00. Four clusters cover a first visit; Otavalo, Mindo and Cotopaxi are trips away from one kept bed.
You will like
- Colonial churches and plazas
- Cool, dry days
- Mountain views from a cable car or a ridge
What wears you down
- Altitude headaches
- Steep streets
- Rain after 14:00
Five things not to miss
- 1Plaza Grande in the morningThe starting point for the old town, with the Presidential Palace and the cathedral, and quiet before 10:00.The starting point for the old town, with the Presidential Palace and the cathedral, and quiet before 10:00 AM.Best 08:00–10:00 · Free
- 2La Compañía de JesúsThe gilded Jesuit interior, the finest in the city; no photos, so look properly.Best Opening time · $5–7
- 3San Francisco church and plazaThe oldest church complex in the city, on a wide plaza with a convent museum.Best Morning · Church free; museum $3–5
- 4Calle La RondaThe narrow balcony street of cafés and crafts; live music at weekends.Best Late morning or weekend evening (by car) · Free; drinks extra
- 5Basílica del Voto Nacional towerA Neo-Gothic basilica with a climbable tower and animal gargoyles.Best Morning · $2–5
Where to stay on a first visit
- La MariscalFor: First visit, 3 nights, restaurants and easy taxisFlat, walkable at night to Plaza Foch, and 24-hour desks; car to the old town.
From the airport
Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)
- Fastest
- Airport taxi or booked car to the hotel door · about 60 min · about US$32
- Cheapest
- Airport shuttle bus to the city (timetable and last departure not confirmed; ask at the information desk) · about 80 min · about US$10
Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.
How long to stay
- 1 day
- A stopover or the day before a Galápagos flight
- 2 days
- The usual Quito stay before the Galápagos or a highland tour
- 3 days
- First visit with one day trip
Show 5 more blocksHideThree mistakes to avoid, Money and SIM, Etiquette, The best time to go, A first day
Three mistakes to avoid
- Hailing a taxi on the street after dark: unregistered or 'express' taxis have been used for robberies. Use an app, a taxi your hotel or restaurant calls, or one from a marked rank.(Scams)
- Churches: cover shoulders and knees; photography is banned inside many of them, including La Compañía.(Survive · red lines)
- Altitude: headache and breathlessness in the first 24–48 hours are common; rest, drink water and descend if symptoms worsen.(Survive · safety)
Money and SIM
- Budget day
- $25–45 excl. bed
- Paying
- US dollars are the currency. Cards work in hotels, malls and most restaurants; markets, buses, small cafés and many taxis want cash. Carry $1, $5 and $10 notes: change for a $50 or $100 note is hard to find, and shops often refuse worn or torn notes.
- Cash
- Ecuador uses US dollars. Keep $20 in small notes and coins for taxis and markets; withdraw at ATMs inside banks or malls in daylight, not on the street.
- SIM
- Tourist eSIM bought before you fly: No counter, no queue; data-only on most plans. Ride-hailing apps work with your home number.
Etiquette: the top three
- Churches
- Cover shoulders and knees; hats off; no flash. Photography is banned in La Compañía and some others: look for the sign.
- Greetings
- Say 'buenos días' or 'buenas tardes' when you enter a shop or taxi. A handshake or a cheek kiss is normal between acquaintances.
- Queues
- Orderly at banks and museums; looser at markets. Let the elderly and pregnant women go first on the metro.
The best time to go
Jun: Drier and sunnier; good visibility.
Dry season (Jun–Sep): Clear skies, volcano views, sunny mornings and cool nights.
A first day
Day 1 — Historic Centre morning, Mercado Central lunch
Start about 08:30
- 1Plaza Grande (Plaza de la Independencia)
- 2Cafetería Modelo
- 3La Compañía de Jesús
- 4San Francisco church and plaza
- 5Mercado Central
- 6Heladería San Agustín
Hotel or café 14:00–17:00 to rest at altitude; dinner in La Mariscal, car back.Hotel or café 2:00 PM–5:00 PM to rest at altitude; dinner in La Mariscal, car back.
Timed version: Quito in 3 daysYour Quito checklist
The money points and the first-timer mistakes from this page in one list. Tick each one when you have handled it.
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