Quito City Tour: Double-decker bus with bilingual guide

See Quito's landmarks and neighborhoods without arranging the route yourself

A hop-on, hop-off bus tour of Quito with a live bilingual guide covers the city's north neighborhoods, Old Town, and major churches including the Basilica of the National Vow and San Francisco Church, with a 20-minute stop at Panecillo hill for views across the city. The double-decker format and two-hour loop let you step off at any stop to explore on your own, then board the next bus. A guide in English and Spanish travels with you; infants can ride in a stroller and service animals are welcome.

The Experience

You arrive in Quito with a free afternoon or a morning to see the city without renting a car or negotiating with taxis. The double-decker bus picks you up at Naciones Unidas Boulevard and loops through the neighborhoods and landmarks most visitors want to see—the Basilica of the National Vow, San Francisco Church, the craft market, La Ronda Street in the Old Town, and the hilltop viewpoint at Panecillo. The bus makes a scheduled 20-minute stop at Panecillo so you can step out and look across the city; from there you can stay or board again when the next bus arrives.

The hop-on, hop-off format means you control the pace. If a church or street catches your eye, you get off and spend as long as you want there, then catch the following bus when you're ready to move on. The whole loop takes about two hours, but you're not locked into that—you can ride the full circle, or step off at three stops and skip the rest. A bilingual guide rides the bus and talks through what you're seeing in English and Spanish, so you know what the buildings are and why they matter.

Infants can ride in a stroller or on an adult's lap, and service animals travel free. The bus itself is the main thing you're paying for—entry to the churches and attractions is separate, so you can choose which ones to visit and which to skip.

What’s included

• Double-decker bus transport around the city.
• bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
• a 20-minute stop at Panecillo hill for views across Quito.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Quito Tour Bus

Is this one for you?If you're new to Quito or have a few hours between other plans, the hop-on, hop-off bus gives you the main landmarks and neighborhoods without having to map out the route or wait for a guide to gather a group—you board when you're ready and step off whenever something interests you.

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Top questions

What stops does the Quito Tour Bus make?

The bus runs a loop through Naciones Unidas Boulevard, the craft market area, the churches of San Francisco and the Society of Jesus, the Old Town, and Panecillo hill, where it stops for 20 minutes so you can get out and take in the views.

Can I get off the bus and rejoin it later?

Yes—that's the whole point of the hop-on, hop-off format. Step off at any stop to explore, and board the next bus that comes through when you're ready to continue.

How long does the full loop take?

The complete circuit takes about two hours, but you don't have to ride the whole thing; you can hop off at any stop and skip the rest of the route.

Is the guide in English?

The guide is bilingual and speaks both English and Spanish throughout the tour, so you'll hear commentary in both languages as the bus moves through the city.

What's included in the ticket?

The ticket covers the double-decker bus transport and the bilingual guide; entry to churches and attractions is not included, so you pay separately for any you want to visit.

Can I bring a baby or a stroller?

Infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap, and service animals are allowed on the bus.