How to Spend 1 Day in Quito, Ecuador

Quito is the capital city of Ecuador and was originally founded on an ancient Incan city. If you are exploring any part of Ecuador, you will likely spend at least some time in Quito. The city is centrally located and is the perfect jumping off point for many places in Ecuador. If you have time, it’s worth spending a few days in town, but even with a shorter visit you can see plenty of things with 1 day in Quito.

The city is nestled in the high hills of the Ecuador Andes and is an an altitude of 2,850 meters (9350 feet). Quito is best known for the well preserved colonial era buildings from the 16th and 17th century included churches, the cathedral, the Plaza Grande Square and more.

Below you can see suggestions on the best things to see in Quito as well as general information to help you plan your trip for one day in Quito. This article is meant as a snapshot of the best things to do in town.

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Overview of 1 Day in Quito

With a single day in Quito, you will spend most of your time walking around and exploring the Old town. This is the perfect place to start and you can see suggestions below on some of the best places to visit in the Old Town of Quito. When you search for ideas of what to do in Quito, you will often find suggestions for many different day trip to places outside the city. If you have multiple days, this is a great option since there are many day trips just outside the city.

Below you can find suggestion of things to do in the Old Town of Quito, Things to do in the great Quito Region, and suggestions for day trips from Quito.

With just one day in Quito I would recommend starting the day by walking around Old town and exploring the Basilica, visiting the churches and grabbing lunch near the Plaza. After lunch choose one of the activities in the Great Quito region. If you have any additional time choose from one of the many amazing day trips from Quito.

Best Things to do in Quito Old Town

Walk the Historic Center

The historic center, or Old Town of Quito is the best place to start your time is the city and should be where you start your 1 day in Quito. This part of the city is laid out mostly in a grid making it easy to walk except for the hills in the area. If you are walking around on your own, make sure to visit some of the popular sites in this part of town including:

• Basilica del Voto Nacional
• Plaza Grande
• Iglesia Compañía de Jesús
• Iglesia San Francisco
• La Ronda

This is a great article that highlights the best things to do in the Old Town of Quito

Take a Free Walking Tour

Like many cities, you can find excellent (and free) city tours. These tours are the perfect way to learn more about the city and also a great chance to ask about the best places to eat or hidden gems.

See Free City Tours of Quito.

Basílica del Voto Nacional

The most obvious place to visit in the Old town of Quito is the Basílica del Voto Nacional. This large and impressive cathedral is visible from all over the city and it costs just a few USD to enter and climb up the stairs into the Basilica.

Calle de La Ronda

There are many lovely streets to wander around through the Old Town of Quito, but the La Ronda is probably the most beautiful. The street is narrow and is one of the oldest streets in town. Wander the street and check out some of the shops and restaurants.

Watch the Changing of the Guard

Like so many other cities, Quito has a changing of the guard ceremony that occurs every week on Monday. The history of the tradition dates back to when Ecuador gained it’s independence from Spain in 1812.

The ceremony takes place Monday morning at the Palacio de Carandolet, the Presidential Palace.

Visit the Many Churches

If you are wandering around the Old town of Quito, it’s worth exploring some of the many churches. Most of these churches are walkable and open. When visiting the churches in town, make sure that you dress appropriately, including covering your shoulders.

Things to do in Greater Quito

With a full day, an early start and a bit of ambition, it’s possible to spend the afternoon of your 1 day in Quito exploring some of the areas outside of the Old Town in Quito. The attractions below require a bit more walking or even a taxi or bus ride.

Mitad del Mundo Monument

This monument is more than just what you see. Inside the monument is home to a small museum with a variety of items that celebrate Ecuadorian culture such as clothing and examples of the locals activities. You will also find a planetarium, a model of the city, and several restaurants.

Take the Teleferiqo

This gondola takes you from the edge of the city of Quito to the lookout Cruz Loma on Pichincha Volcano. The trip takes 20 minutes and takes you to 3,945 m (12,943 ft). From here you can hike the rest of the way to the summit. There are several hiking trails here and if you get a clear day – remarkable views.

See the official site of the Teleferigo.

Museo Templo del Sol Pintor Ortega Maila

This museum is home to an active and living museum of the history and culture of Ecuador. You can find many demonstrations and performance including healing rituals, traditional dances, and chants. This is a great way to explore Incan culture.

Parque Carolina 

This is a lovely urban park in Quito. The park is centrally located and covers 165 acres with botanical gardens, a lake, children’s library, playgrounds, bike paths, skate parks, and even a printmaking museum within a 1940s Douglas DC-6 Ecuadorian Air Force plane. 

Parque Itchimbia 

This is another lovely park located in Quito on the side of Ichimbia hill in Quito’s Historic Centre. The park offers good views of the city and the volcano.

Central Market

This large market in Quito has been operating for almost 70 years and is the perfect place to find delicious Ecuadorian food. You will find a number of stalls selling plenty of different food items.

Virgin of El Panecillo

Overlooking the historic center of Quito, the Virgin of El Panecillo sits on the hill above the city. You can visit the statue and take in the view out across the city of Quito.

You can find an even longer list of things to do in Quito at Explorer’s Away.

Map of Things to do with 1 Day in Quito

Day Trips from Quito

If you have time to explore more of the region around Quito, you can find many local (and excellent day trips). With just 24 hours in Quito, you will need to prioritize your time in the city. These day trips are best if you have more than one day in Quito.

Papallacta Hot Springs

This is an excellent day trip from Quito. Spend the day relaxing in the hot springs just an hour from the city high in the Andes Mountains. This lovely hot spring town also has opportunities for hiking and beautiful views of the nearby hills and volcano.

Book a day trip tour from Quito

Quilotoa

Just a few hours south of Quito, Quilotoa Crater Lake is a stunning lake inside the crater of the westernmost volcano in Ecuador. This is a great day trip from Quito and most tours make several other stops along the way. This is also a great place to hike and you can walk right around the entire crater if you have a few hours.

Book a Day trip to Quilotoa Crater.

Cotapaxi

The beautiful volcano of Cotapaxi is just a short distance south of Quito. You can find many day trips to Cotapaxi and you can choose from biking, hiking or horseback riding adventures. Note, that being able to see the volcano is highly dependent on the weather. The weather tends to be better earlier in the day.

Book a day trip to Cotapaxi.

Fuya Fuya Hiking Day Trip

Another gorgeous hike and lovely crater lake, a day trip to Fuya Fuya is a fun adventure. This is a good hike that can feel challenging at elevation.

Book your Fuya Fuya Tour.

Mindo Cloud Forest

This biodiverse and beautiful forest nestled in the Andes of Ecuador is a wonderful place to visit, especially on a day trip from Quito. This is a great place for birding and you can find a butterfly farm, chocolate tours, zip lining and more.

Book a tour to Mindo Cloud Forest.

Valle de los Chillos

This beautiful valley is located just over the hill from Quito. It’s a great place to visit, especially if you are looking for place with a local feel full of markets and natural beauty.

See more about visiting Valle de los Chillos.

Things to Know About this Quito Itinerary

Below you can find some general information to help plan your 1 day in Quito.

How Long do you Need in Quito?

You should plan to spend between 1-4 days in Quito. The length of time depends on your other plans in Ecuador, as you can plan to visit some of the nearby attractions on a day trip tour from Quito or spend an overnight. If you are traveling around the area and will spend the night in Cotapaxi or the Mindo Cloud Forest, than you should plan to spend less time in Quito.

With 1 day in Quito, you will have time to visit the Historic part of town, enjoy some of the churches and plaza and spend the afternoon exploring some of the activities in the greater Quito area.

When is the Best Time to Visit Quito

Quito is a great year round destination and even though it’s on the equator, the elevation mean that the temperature remains cool throughout the year with the daytime temperatures in the upper 60’s. The best time to visit Quito is during the dry season between June-September.

No matter what time of year you visit, plan your activities for early in the day as the afternoons and evening tend to have more rain.

Altitude of Quito

Quito is located at 9,350 feet (or  2,850 m) making it the second highest Capital city in the world. The city sits on the slope of the Pichincha Volcano. If you are arriving from sea level, it’s best to give yourself a few days to acclimate to the elevation before setting off on anything too active. Make sure to drink plenty of water and be prepared to catch your breath more often when walking around town.

How to Get Around Quito

Depending on where you are staying or where you are trying to visit in Quito, the city is very walkable, especially the historic of the city. If you need to travel further, the easiest way to get around is to take a bus. These are frequent and affordable. See more about bus travel in Ecuador.

Taxis are also easy to find and affordable. Make sure the taxi drivers has the meter and doesn’t charge you a set fee. Taxis are also affordable.

You can also find drivers through Uber – this is how we got from the airport to the city and found it more affordable.

Best Places to Stay in Quito

Quito is an affordable place to stay and you can find a range of types of accomadations. If you are planning to stay in a hostel, budget about $10/night. You can find luxury accommodations for around $100/night. Below you can see a few suggestions on some of the best places to stay in Quito.

Budget

The Secret Garden Quito – This hostel is in a great location in Old Quito with a great rooftop terrace.

The Community Hostel – This is a popular hostel that is comfortable and has a great rooftop bar.

Midrange

Casa Alquimia – this is where we stayed. The room was comfortable and we were able to get all 5 of us into one room. Breakfast is served on the rooftop and was delicious.

Luxury

Hotel Casona 1914 – This is a beautiful hotel with excellent accommodations and a great breakfast.

Other Things to do in Ecuador

Once you’ve enjoyed 1 day in Quito, check out some of these other amazing destinations in Ecuador.

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