Old Town Quito tour: Golden church and domes with bilingual guide

Inside the golden church and up to its domes, with a guide who knows what most visitors miss

A half-day guided tour of Quito's Old Town takes you inside the golden church at the heart of the city and up its domes to see the altar and Plaza de San Francisco from above. Your bilingual guide shows you the interior of important buildings and the peace of the convents, places most tours skip, and you can buy handmade products made by the nuns. All entrances are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Quito's historic churches and views

• Visit golden church in Quito
• Explore church domes and altar
• Enjoy view of Plaza de San Francisco
• Visit second church and domes
• Enjoy best view of Quito

The experience

The tour centers on the golden church, a structure that took 163 years to build and holds details most visitors never see. You'll walk inside the church itself, then climb the stairs to the domes where the altar sits close enough to study, and the view opens across the Plaza de San Francisco and the entire historic center of Quito. The guide speaks both English and Spanish, so language is not a barrier.

Beyond the famous landmarks, the route takes you to places that keep their secrets: the interiors of convents and important buildings where the city's real life happens. You can buy products the nuns make by hand, and that money supports their mission directly. Quito is much more than walls and buildings, and this tour finds what lies inside them.

The walk takes four hours and requires climbing stairs to reach the domes, so a moderate level of fitness helps. Children from age five are welcome. Public transportation options are nearby if you need them, and the guide can point you toward what comes next in your day.

What’s included

• Bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• all entrances to the church, domes and convents.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Quito Tour Bus

Is this one for you?If you're arriving in Quito with a free afternoon or it's your first time in the Old Town, this tour works without a car. The guide handles the route and you walk the historic center on foot. The four-hour length fits between a morning arrival and an evening flight, and the bilingual guide means you don't need Spanish to understand what you're seeing.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the golden church in Quito, and why does climbing to its domes matter?

The golden church is the centerpiece of Old Town Quito, built over 163 years and filled with details most visitors miss. Climbing to the domes lets you see the altar up close and look out across the Plaza de San Francisco and the entire historic center from above. A view you cannot get from the street.

Can I visit the convents and buy things made by the nuns on this tour?

Yes. The tour takes you inside convents and other important buildings where you can see how the nuns work. You can buy handmade products they make, and the money goes directly to support their mission.

How long does the tour take, and what kind of fitness do I need?

The tour runs four hours. You'll climb stairs to reach the domes, so at least a moderate level of physical fitness helps. Children from age five can join.