Quito itinerary: 1 to 6 days
Plans for one to six days in Quito, day by day: the TelefériQo, the Basílica del Voto Nacional, Carondelet Palace and Plaza de la Independencia first, then La Compañía, the Cathedral and San Francisco, El Panecillo, La Capilla del Hombre, and day trips to Pululahua and Cotopaxi as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Quito in 1 day
Day 1
TelefériQo
Cable car from the western edge of Quito up the slopes of Pichincha volcano to about 3,900 m, with trails and views over the city.
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Large neo-Gothic basilica begun in 1892, with gargoyles of Ecuadorian animals and towers that visitors can climb.
Carondelet Palace
Seat of the Ecuadorian government on Plaza de la Independencia, with free guided tours of the state rooms.
Plaza de la Independencia
Quito's main square, framed by the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, with an independence monument in the centre.
Quito in 2 days
Day 1
TelefériQo
Cable car from the western edge of Quito up the slopes of Pichincha volcano to about 3,900 m, with trails and views over the city.
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Large neo-Gothic basilica begun in 1892, with gargoyles of Ecuadorian animals and towers that visitors can climb.
Plaza de la Independencia
Quito's main square, framed by the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, with an independence monument in the centre.
Carondelet Palace
Seat of the Ecuadorian government on Plaza de la Independencia, with free guided tours of the state rooms.
Church and Convent of St. Francis, Quito
Sixteenth-century church and convent on a wide plaza, one of the oldest in South America, with a museum of colonial art.
El Panecillo
Hill south of the old town crowned by a large aluminium statue of the Virgin of Quito, with views over the city.
Day 2
Cotopaxi National Park
National park around Cotopaxi, a snow-capped volcano of 5,897 m, with Limpiopungo lagoon, páramo and trails toward the glacier.
Quito in 3 days
Day 1
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Large neo-Gothic basilica begun in 1892, with gargoyles of Ecuadorian animals and towers that visitors can climb.
Carondelet Palace
Seat of the Ecuadorian government on Plaza de la Independencia, with free guided tours of the state rooms.
Plaza de la Independencia
Quito's main square, framed by the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, with an independence monument in the centre.
Church of the Society of Jesus
Jesuit church known as La Compañía, with an interior covered in gold leaf, among the finest baroque churches in the Americas.
Cathedral of Quito
Cathedral on Plaza de la Independencia with colonial paintings and the tomb of Antonio José de Sucre; the roof offers views over the square.
Church and Convent of St. Francis, Quito
Sixteenth-century church and convent on a wide plaza, one of the oldest in South America, with a museum of colonial art.
Parque La Carolina
Large city park in modern Quito with a lake for pedal boats, sports fields, a botanical garden and a vivarium.
Day 2
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Monument and park on the equator line 26 km north of Quito, with museums and shops; the small Intiñan Museum nearby is worth a visit too.
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Reserve inside one of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world, with farmland on the crater floor and a viewpoint on the rim.
TelefériQo
Cable car from the western edge of Quito up the slopes of Pichincha volcano to about 3,900 m, with trails and views over the city.
El Panecillo
Hill south of the old town crowned by a large aluminium statue of the Virgin of Quito, with views over the city.
Day 3
Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Museum of pre-Columbian art in a 17th-century colonial house of the old town, displaying around 500 archaeological pieces.
La Capilla del Hombre
Museum and monument by painter Oswaldo Guayasamín on Latin American history, next to his house museum in Bellavista.
Quito in 4 days
Day 1
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Large neo-Gothic basilica begun in 1892, with gargoyles of Ecuadorian animals and towers that visitors can climb.
Carondelet Palace
Seat of the Ecuadorian government on Plaza de la Independencia, with free guided tours of the state rooms.
Plaza de la Independencia
Quito's main square, framed by the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, with an independence monument in the centre.
Church of the Society of Jesus
Jesuit church known as La Compañía, with an interior covered in gold leaf, among the finest baroque churches in the Americas.
Cathedral of Quito
Cathedral on Plaza de la Independencia with colonial paintings and the tomb of Antonio José de Sucre; the roof offers views over the square.
Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
Museum of pre-Columbian art in a 17th-century colonial house of the old town, displaying around 500 archaeological pieces.
Church and Convent of St. Francis, Quito
Sixteenth-century church and convent on a wide plaza, one of the oldest in South America, with a museum of colonial art.
Day 2
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Monument and park on the equator line 26 km north of Quito, with museums and shops; the small Intiñan Museum nearby is worth a visit too.
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Reserve inside one of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world, with farmland on the crater floor and a viewpoint on the rim.
TelefériQo
Cable car from the western edge of Quito up the slopes of Pichincha volcano to about 3,900 m, with trails and views over the city.
El Panecillo
Hill south of the old town crowned by a large aluminium statue of the Virgin of Quito, with views over the city.
Day 3
Parque La Carolina
Large city park in modern Quito with a lake for pedal boats, sports fields, a botanical garden and a vivarium.
La Capilla del Hombre
Museum and monument by painter Oswaldo Guayasamín on Latin American history, next to his house museum in Bellavista.
Day 4
Cotopaxi National Park
National park around Cotopaxi, a snow-capped volcano of 5,897 m, with Limpiopungo lagoon, páramo and trails toward the glacier.
Quito in 5 days
Day 1
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Large neo-Gothic basilica begun in 1892, with gargoyles of Ecuadorian animals and towers that visitors can climb.
Carondelet Palace
Seat of the Ecuadorian government on Plaza de la Independencia, with free guided tours of the state rooms.
Plaza de la Independencia
Quito's main square, framed by the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, with an independence monument in the centre.
Church of the Society of Jesus
Jesuit church known as La Compañía, with an interior covered in gold leaf, among the finest baroque churches in the Americas.
Cathedral of Quito
Cathedral on Plaza de la Independencia with colonial paintings and the tomb of Antonio José de Sucre; the roof offers views over the square.
Church and Convent of St. Francis, Quito
Sixteenth-century church and convent on a wide plaza, one of the oldest in South America, with a museum of colonial art.
Day 2
TelefériQo
Cable car from the western edge of Quito up the slopes of Pichincha volcano to about 3,900 m, with trails and views over the city.
Parque El Ejido
Park between the old town and modern Quito, known for weekend art and craft stalls and local games.
El Panecillo
Hill south of the old town crowned by a large aluminium statue of the Virgin of Quito, with views over the city.
Day 3
Parque La Carolina
Large city park in modern Quito with a lake for pedal boats, sports fields, a botanical garden and a vivarium.
La Capilla del Hombre
Museum and monument by painter Oswaldo Guayasamín on Latin American history, next to his house museum in Bellavista.
Day 4
Cotopaxi National Park
National park around Cotopaxi, a snow-capped volcano of 5,897 m, with Limpiopungo lagoon, páramo and trails toward the glacier.
Day 5
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Monument and park on the equator line 26 km north of Quito, with museums and shops; the small Intiñan Museum nearby is worth a visit too.
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Reserve inside one of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world, with farmland on the crater floor and a viewpoint on the rim.
Quito in 6 days
Day 1
Basílica del Voto Nacional
Large neo-Gothic basilica begun in 1892, with gargoyles of Ecuadorian animals and towers that visitors can climb.
Carondelet Palace
Seat of the Ecuadorian government on Plaza de la Independencia, with free guided tours of the state rooms.
Plaza de la Independencia
Quito's main square, framed by the Cathedral, Carondelet Palace and the Archbishop's Palace, with an independence monument in the centre.
Church of the Society of Jesus
Jesuit church known as La Compañía, with an interior covered in gold leaf, among the finest baroque churches in the Americas.
Cathedral of Quito
Cathedral on Plaza de la Independencia with colonial paintings and the tomb of Antonio José de Sucre; the roof offers views over the square.
Church and Convent of St. Francis, Quito
Sixteenth-century church and convent on a wide plaza, one of the oldest in South America, with a museum of colonial art.
Day 2
TelefériQo
Cable car from the western edge of Quito up the slopes of Pichincha volcano to about 3,900 m, with trails and views over the city.
La Capilla del Hombre
Museum and monument by painter Oswaldo Guayasamín on Latin American history, next to his house museum in Bellavista.
El Panecillo
Hill south of the old town crowned by a large aluminium statue of the Virgin of Quito, with views over the city.
Day 3
Parque La Carolina
Large city park in modern Quito with a lake for pedal boats, sports fields, a botanical garden and a vivarium.
Day 4
Cotopaxi National Park
National park around Cotopaxi, a snow-capped volcano of 5,897 m, with Limpiopungo lagoon, páramo and trails toward the glacier.
Day 5
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Monument and park on the equator line 26 km north of Quito, with museums and shops; the small Intiñan Museum nearby is worth a visit too.
Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve
Reserve inside one of the few inhabited volcanic craters in the world, with farmland on the crater floor and a viewpoint on the rim.
Day 6
Parque El Ejido
Park between the old town and modern Quito, known for weekend art and craft stalls and local games.
Watch: Quito in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Quito
June to September is Quito's drier season, with more sunshine for city walks and trips to the Equator monument and Cotopaxi. October to May is wetter, with afternoon showers in most months. Because of the altitude, temperatures stay mild all year, with cool mornings and evenings, and the Fiestas de Quito in early December bring parades and concerts.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Quito on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Quito on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Quito on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Ecuador from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Quito with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Quito
- Quito sits at about 2,850 m and the TelefériQo summit at about 3,900 m; take the first day easy, drink water and bring a warm layer and sun protection.
- Go up the TelefériQo early in the morning, when the sky is usually clearest; clouds often cover the volcanoes by afternoon.
- Free guided tours of Carondelet Palace need a passport or ID and fill up; book online or ask at the gate early in the day.
- Take a registered taxi or a ride-hailing car to El Panecillo rather than walking up the stairs from the old town, and visit in daylight.
- Cotopaxi is about two hours south of Quito; a full-day tour starting early is the simplest way to see it, and the summit is often clearest in the morning.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basílica del Voto Nacional: Krunchky ( talk ), Public domain
- Carondelet Palace: Taty2007, CC BY 3.0
- Casa del Alabado Museum of Pre-Columbian Art: Rubén Ramirez, CC0
- Cathedral of Quito: Quito magnífico, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Church and Convent of St. Francis, Quito: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Church of the Society of Jesus: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ciudad Mitad del Mundo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Cotopaxi National Park: Gerard Prins, CC BY-SA 3.0
- El Panecillo: Cayambe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- La Capilla del Hombre: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parque El Ejido: Quitolabicicleta, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Parque La Carolina: H3kt0r, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Plaza de la Independencia: Ángel M. Felicísimo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve: Pululahuawiki, CC BY-SA 3.0
- TelefériQo: AndrewDressel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
