What to do in Quito

Activities, attractions and tours

Quito which includes a city and landscape views
Calle La Ronda featuring night scenes and street scenes as well as a large group of people
La Merced Church featuring a fountain, a statue or sculpture and a square or plaza
Foch Square showing street scenes as well as a small group of people
Basilica of the National Vow showing a city

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Top places to visit

1. Monument to the Equator

While Quito may not be unique in its position on the equator, the Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World) Monument made it the most famous example of a city in two hemispheres. The monument is built on the historic site where a French explorer calculated the line of the equator in 1736. Visit the 98-foot (30-meter) monument and stand with one foot in each half of the world.
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Mitad del Mundo Monument featuring a square or plaza, a monument and a park

2. La Mariscal Craft Market

Peruse intriguing handicrafts and see artisans at work while you browse the stalls of the Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal (La Mariscal Craft Market). Shop for anything from clothing and jewelry to art, children’s toys and textiles. Over 100 stall holders ply their trade in the animated Mercado Artesanal La Mariscal, one of Quito’s best markets for crafts and souvenirs.
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La Mariscal Craft Market which includes interior views, street scenes and markets

3. Foch Square

Experience the wide-ranging and energetic nightlife of Quito amid the bright lights of the vivacious Plaza Foch (Foch Square). Once a rundown intersection in the Mariscal district, today this entertainment square is the beating heart of Quito’s nightlife scene. It’s where locals and tourists alike come to eat, drink, dance and mingle in the bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Plaza Foch is also the setting for live music events and a weekly artisan market.
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Foch Square featuring street scenes and a square or plaza

4. TelefériQo Base Station

A ride on the Quito Cable Car (TeléferiQo Quito) presents a breathtaking journey to the slopes of Rucu Pichincha, a peak on the active yet safe Pichincha Volcano. Admire the views across Quito’s sprawling city center and spot rugged Andean peaks. Follow walking trails to viewpoints and a small chapel. Afterwards, enjoy some family-friendly fun at a small amusement park. The TeléferiQo Quito is one of South America’s highest cable cars and travels from around 9,843 feet (3,000 meters) to a vertigo-inducing 13,451 feet (4,100 meters).
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Quito Cable Car which includes a gondola

5. Independence Square

Independence Square (Plaza de la Independencia, also known as Plaza Grande) is the civic heart of historic Quito. Flanked by historic sites such as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito, Carondelet Palace (the presidential palace), the Municipal Palace and the Archbishop’s Palace, the square is the perfect base from which to visit all the sites of Quito Old Town.
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Independence Square which includes street scenes and a square or plaza as well as a large group of people

What to do in Quito


Popular places to visit

Explore areas of Quito

La Merced Church showing a square or plaza and a church or cathedral

Quito Historic Center

4/5(9 area reviews)

Churches, museums and shopping are just a few things travellers like about Quito Historic Center. Sights like Carondelet Palace and Independence Square are spots to explore, and you can get around the greater Quito area at San Francisco Station.

Quito Historic Center
La Carolina featuring a park and a pond

La Carolina

Discover local flora and fauna at the botanical gardens and reptile house, join a game of Ecuadorian soccer and enjoy the sights at this central urban park.

La Carolina
Quito which includes a church or cathedral, heritage elements and interior views

Centro Histórico

While you're in Centro Histórico, take in top sights like Calle La Ronda and jump on the metro at San Francisco Station to see more of the city.

Centro Histórico
Foch Square showing dining out, street scenes and modern architecture

La Mariscal

4/5(16 area reviews)

La Mariscal is known for its ample dining options, and you can make a stop by Foch Square and La Mariscal Craft Market while in the area.

La Mariscal
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La Floresta

La Floresta is noteworthy for its restaurants, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Abya Yala Museum and Trude Sojka Cultural House.

La Floresta
Guapulo featuring a castle

Itchimbia

While you're in Itchimbia, take in top sights like General Rumiñahui Coliseum or House of Ecuadorian Culture, and hop on the metro to see more of the city at El Ejido Station or La Alameda Station.

Itchimbia

Day trip destinations from Quito