Quito

Andean Charm Meets Colonial Splendor

Quito stands at high altitude in Ecuador’s Andes, with colonial architecture and vibrant markets lining steep streets. The city sits near active volcanoes and the equator line, giving it unique weather patterns year-round. Visitors find a mix of historic churches, museums and local food stalls serving ceviche and llapingachos. Outdoor activities include hiking to nearby peaks or exploring cloud forests. Quito’s public transport connects neighborhoods across dramatic elevation changes, making walking both practical and scenic for those who enjoy city life with mountain views.

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City in Ecuador

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 5.9

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	6

Read details

3/5

English is spoken in most tourist areas, hotels, and by tour operators. However, it is less common among the general population, so knowing basic Spanish phrases is helpful.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Quito Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Read how our scores work

Outstanding for colonial history and mountain scenery. Explore preserved old town streets, visit churches and museums and ride cable cars for Andes views.

Place score

6.9

Best at:

Street food

Historic sites

Guided tours

Walkable

Local cuisine

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

💻 8

Digital Nomads

Ecuador – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	120 V, 60 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	US Dollar (USD) £1 ≈ US$1.33
Cashless info:	Rating 4/5 Cashless payments are becoming more common in Ecuador, especially in urban areas. However, cash is still widely used, particularly in rural regions. Credit cards are accepted in larger establishments. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Ecuador, though not mandatory. A 10% tip in restaurants is common, and small tips are also welcome for taxi drivers and hotel staff.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Ecuador, and alcohol consumption is confined to licensed establishments like bars and restaurants.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, including restaurants and public transport. Smoking is allowed in designated outdoor areas.

Independence Day (10 August)	National holiday celebrating Ecuador’s independence
Christmas (25 December)	Celebrated with family gatherings, festive meals, and fireworks

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 911
Taxi apps:	Uber
Other:	Ecuador is known for its diverse landscapes, including the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountains, and the Galapagos Islands. It offers a mix of nature, culture, and adventure for travellers.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Quito, Ecuador

🌧️

Jan

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Feb

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Mar

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Apr

⛈️

May

🌦️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - Feb., May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Fiestas de Quito, the city's main celebration, runs late November to 6 December

Weather is mild year-round at 2,850 m altitude, mornings are usually clear and rain comes in the afternoon

Don't miss

🏛️ Explore the historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site
🚠 Ride the TelefériQo for stunning Andean mountain views
🌍 Visit the Middle of the World monument and stand on the equator line
🍤 Taste ceviche made with fresh Ecuadorian seafood
🛍️ Wander around La Ronda street and shop local crafts
📸 Climb up El Panecillo hill for panoramic city photos

You've been here?

Why travel to Quito?

Quito’s UNESCO-listed historic center is a treasure trove of colonial architecture, beautiful churches and bustling plazas. It’s also the perfect base for exploring nearby natural attractions like the Cotopaxi volcano and the Equator Line at Mitad del Mundo. While it offers incredible experiences, travelers should be prepared for the altitude (2,850 m) and take it easy the first few days to avoid altitude sickness.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Casa del Alabado Pre-Columbian Art Museum
2 Church of the Society of Jesus
3 Basílica del Voto Nacional o del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús
4 TelefériQo
5 Plaza Grande
6 Mitad del Mundo
7 La Ronda Street
8 Parque La Carolina

🎡Places for activities

1 City Museum
2 Plaza de la Independencia
3 Museo del Banco Central
4 Parque la Carolina
5 TelefériQo
6 Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
7 La Ronda

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Cotopaxi
2 Volcán Pichincha
3 Parque La Carolina
4 Parque Metropolitano Guangüiltangua

🛍️Shopping

1 Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal
2 El Jardín Shopping Mall
3 Market
4 Santa Clara Market
5 Centro Comercial Iñaquito
6 Quicentro Shopping
7 Reset Market

🎈Events

Fiestas de Quito (December)
Semana Santa (Holy Week)
Independence Day Celebrations (August)
Festival de la Luz (August)
Virgen del Quinche Festival
Carnival in Quito (February/March)
Quito International Art Biennial
Christmas Markets
Ecuadorian Film Festival
Quito Music Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Acclimatize to high altitude over first two days slowly.
Ride TelefériQo cable car up Pichincha volcano for sweeping city views.
Explore UNESCO Old Town Plaza Grande, La Compañía church with gold interiors.
Climb Basílica del Voto Nacional towers featuring Ecuadorian animal gargoyles.

How to travel to Quito

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) is the main gateway to Quito, with direct flights from North and South America and Europe. Taxis and airport shuttles offer transport to the city center (about 45 minutes).

Access summary

From Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO): Taxi or bus, about 45–70 minutes.
From Guayaquil: Buses 6–8 hours; direct flights around 1.5 hours.
From Bogotá: Nonstop flights to Quito typically about 1.5–2 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Quito

Quito offers a range of accommodations, from charming boutique hotels in the historic center to modern hotels in La Mariscal. Hostels are available for budget travelers and Airbnb is popular too.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

NH Collection Quito Royal

8.7

Wyndham Quito Airport

9.5

Holiday Inn Quito Airport By IHG

Le Parc Hotel, Beyond Stars

8.9

Termas de Papallacta

8.8

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Quito

Quito's public transport includes buses and the new Metro de Quito. Taxis and ride-sharing apps like Uber are widely available. Walking is ideal in the historic center but avoid wandering at night alone.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-52 %

Daily expenses in Quito are around 52% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-4 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to USD) is 4% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£33	£74	£208
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£16	£33	£99
🚕 Transportation per day	£2	£4	£19

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£15
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£3.70
🍟 Fast food combo	£6
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5.50
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.90

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.26
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£12
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£0.60

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£5
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£33
🤧 Cold medication	£5
💇 Basic haircut	£7.50

Safety information overview

General safety

Quito is relatively safe, but petty crime like pickpocketing can occur, especially in crowded places. Stick to well-lit areas at night and avoid displaying valuables.

Health & Medical

Quito has good healthcare facilities, with private hospitals providing high standards of care. Travelers should be cautious of altitude sickness and stay hydrated.

Accessibility

The historic center has many cobblestone streets and steep hills, which may be challenging for those with mobility issues. Newer areas and major attractions are more accessible.

Tap water

Tap water is not considered safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water and avoid ice in drinks unless you are sure it is from purified water.