Things to do in Quito
The unmissables
Most booked
Cotopaxi from Quito: Volcano Hike, Limpiopungo Lagoon & Refuge★ 4.90 (1,548) · 12h
Top rated
Quito gastronomic walking tour: Tastings and colonial churches★ 4.95 (1,315) · 3h 30m
Best value
Baños Day Trip from Quito: Casa del Árbol Swing & Devil’s Cauldron★ 4.95 (772) · 14h
Recommended (7)
Quilotoa Day Trip from Quito: Lagoon Hike & Tigua Art Stop★ 4.90 (662) · 11hUS$ 59View ›
Quito City Tour: Double-decker bus with bilingual guide★ 4.58 (597) · 2hUS$ 15View ›
Private Quito City Tour: Teleferico, Basilica & Equator Line★ 4.95 (593) · 8hUS$ 155View ›
Mindo Cloud Forest Day Tour from Quito: Hummingbirds & Cable Car★ 4.86 (560) · 8h–9hUS$ 123View ›
Cotopaxi: Horseback Ride & Hike Day Trip, Non-Touristy Route★ 4.97 (543) · 9h 30mUS$ 130View ›
Otavalo Market & Peguche Falls Day Trip from Quito with Local Music★ 4.82 (453) · 12hUS$ 69View ›
Cotopaxi Volcano Full Day Tour: All Park Entrances Included★ 4.96 (452) · 12hUS$ 69View ›Top rated (10)
3 Hours Local Food Tour in Quito: Huecas Street EatingA 3-hour guided food tour in Quito that takes you into huecas—family-owned eateries where locals eat—to taste dishes and hear the stories behind them straight from the people who cook. The guide leads a small group on foot through neighborhoods where the food is real and the payment goes directly to the kitchen, building an understanding of Quito's culture through what people actually eat every day.Is it for me?You order and pay at each stop as you go, which means you're learning to navigate Quito's food culture the way someone who lives here does—making real choices instead of following a preset menu. This suits anyone who wants to eat like a local and understand a place through the people who feed it, rather than collect a tasting experience.
Quito: Private Day Tour, Middle of the World & Cable CarYou’ll wander Quito’s historic center with a local guide, sample Ecuadorian chocolate, ride a cable car above volcanoes, and stand right on the Equator line. Expect warm smiles from locals and small surprises along the way—like balancing an egg or catching your breath at 4,000 meters. This private day trip from Quito lets you set your own pace and soak it all in.
Quito Old Town: Walking Tour with Church History & Local Food TastingsYou walk through Quito's colonial center visiting four major churches — the golden Jesuit baroque, the oldest church with South America's first brewery underneath, the Gothic Basilica, and the Independence Plaza where the city's history is written in the buildings around you. Local food tastings are included, and if you visit Monday through Friday, you climb to the roof of Ecuador's first university for a view that ties the whole morning together.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to understand Quito's colonial architecture and history through the buildings themselves, not just walk past them — the churches are the story, and the food tastings ground it in the city's everyday life. The walk covers cobblestones and involves climbing, so plan for steady legs and comfortable shoes.
Mindo Cloud Forest: Birdwatching, Waterfalls & Butterfly FarmYou drive from Quito into the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds by hand at San Tadeo, walk through a working butterfly farm, hike to Nambillo Waterfalls through the mist, and taste artisanal chocolate in Mindo town. Lunch, all entry fees, an air-conditioned vehicle and a national guide are included. The full day runs from 8am to around 5pm, and it's built to work for any fitness level.Is it for me?Pick this tour if you want to see the cloud forest, feed hummingbirds, and hike to a waterfall without arranging transport, guides, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule gets you through five stops and back to Quito in a single day.
Quito: Colonial Old Town, Teleferico & Equator Line Full DayYou walk Quito's colonial core—Independence Plaza, the Cathedral, the gold-filled Compañía church, San Francisco—then ride the Teleferico cable car to 4,050 meters for panoramic views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. In the afternoon, you visit the Intiñan Solar Museum at the equator line for interactive demonstrations and photos straddling two hemispheres. Private transport, a guide, and water are included throughout the full day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Quito's colonial heart, ride the cable car, and stand on the equator—all in one day without arranging separate transport or tickets between stops. The private vehicle and guide handle the logistics, so you focus on the sights.
Quito: Full City Tour with Cable Car, Equator Line & All AdmissionsYou’ll climb basilica towers for city views, ride the Teleferico cable car up above Quito, stand on both hemispheres at Intiñan Solar Museum, wander centuries-old plazas with your local guide—and maybe taste real Ecuadorian chocolate along the way. Expect moments that stick with you long after you leave.
Cotopaxi Volcano Trek from Quito: Glacier & Limpiopungo LakeYou hike from 4,600m to a glacier at 5,000m on Cotopaxi, then bike down to Limpiopungo Lagoon for lunch. Transport, guide, and a traditional meal are included. The day starts at 7:30am and returns you to Quito by late afternoon. Bring warm layers and waterproof gear — altitude and weather change fast.Is it for me?Book this if you want to reach high altitude and see Cotopaxi's glacier without arranging transport, park permits, or timing yourself — the fixed schedule and included guide handle all three, leaving you to focus on the climb and the views.
Cotopaxi Volcano: Horseback Ride & Hike to José Ribas RefugeYou ride horses through highland grassland for 1.5 hours, then hike to a high-altitude refuge with views of the Andes, all guided by someone who knows the mountain. Lunch and entry fees are covered, and if the main hike feels too steep, you can choose the lagoon loop instead. Hotel pickup and return keep the logistics simple.Is it for me?Right for anyone who wants to see the Andes up close and doesn't mind a full, active day — the horseback section handles the beginner riders, the hike has a gentler alternative if you need it, and the guide paces the whole thing so you're not scrambling.
Quito: Equator Line & Teleférico Private Tour with PickupYou’ll walk right along the equator line near Quito, try your luck balancing an egg at Intiñan Solar Museum, then ride up into cool mountain air on Quito’s Teleférico cable car with a local guide. Expect laughs, odd science tricks, sweeping volcano views — plus hotel pickup and private transport so you can just enjoy being here.
Quito Street Food Tour: Hole-in-the-wall stands & local recipesYou’ll wander Quito’s real streets with a local guide who knows every shortcut and snack stall. Taste hot empanadas, exotic fruits, seafood bites, and finish with Ecuadorian chocolate and cocktails. Expect laughter, new flavors, and glimpses into everyday life most travelers miss.
Lowest price (10)
Quito Old Town: Small Group Cacao & Chocolate Tasting WalkYou’ll walk Quito’s Old Town with a small group and local guide, weaving through plazas and churches while hearing stories you’d never find online. Taste traditional candies and real Ecuadorian chocolate along the way — plus there’s time for questions or just people-watching on Independence Plaza. This tour leaves you with more than photos; it sticks with you long after.
Quito Night Tour: Old Town & Plaza Grande with Free TimeYou board a double-decker bus at 7pm and travel through Quito's illuminated Old Town, then spend 90 minutes on a guided walk through Plaza Grande and the Street of the Seven Crosses with your bilingual guide. After the walking tour ends, the time is yours to explore cafés, chocolate shops, and local restaurants at your own pace before returning to your pickup point.Is it for me?This works well if you want to see Quito's historic center at night without arranging your own transport or navigating unfamiliar streets after dark—the guide handles the route and timing, leaving you free to linger over dinner or a drink once the walking part ends.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Car & Hotel PickupYou get a named driver waiting at arrivals with a sign, a private car with Wi-Fi and AC, and luggage handling included. The driver coordinates with your actual flight time, so delays don't create a panic. You arrive at your hotel or airport on time without arranging transport yourself or haggling at the curb.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi negotiation at the airport and arrive at your hotel or flight without stress — the driver handles the timing and the route, so you don't have to learn the city or worry about getting there late.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Downtown DeliveryYou land, collect your bag, and find your driver waiting with your name on a sign. They handle the 50-minute drive to downtown Quito in a private, air-conditioned vehicle while you relax. Flight arrivals are tracked, so delays don't leave you stranded, and the bilingual driver can answer questions about the city along the way. The price is locked in before you book.Is it for me?Right for travelers arriving alone or in a small group who want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at a fixed price. The 50-minute drive is part of the service — it's how you get from the airport to your hotel without arranging transport yourself.
Quito Airport Transfer: Private Pickup & Hotel DropoffYou get picked up by name at Quito Airport arrivals, driven straight to your hotel with luggage help, and skip the taxi negotiation entirely. The driver waits up to 90 minutes from landing, so delays are covered as long as you call ahead. The whole thing costs a fixed price with no surprises at the end.Is it for me?Book this if you land in Quito and want to avoid the taxi rank and price haggling — the fixed cost and named driver mean you know exactly what to expect before you land, which is what makes the first hour of travel actually relaxing.
Quito Old Town Walking Tour: Market, Church & Ice CreamA small-group walking tour of Quito's UNESCO-listed Old Town led by a local guide, visiting the Central Market, Independence Plaza, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the gold-filled Church of the Society of Jesus, with a stop at La Ronda and a hands-on ice cream making session using South American fruits and plants. The tour runs four hours and welcomes children from age 6 with an adult.Is it for me?Choose the small-group option if you want a guide who knows the stories behind each stop and the flexibility of a shared pace; book the private tour if your group prefers to move at your own speed and skip the market or the ice cream if you'd rather spend more time at the churches.
Quito Airport Shuttle: Shared Transfer to City HotelsYou book online, land at Mariscal Sucre, meet your driver within the hour, and ride a shared minivan to your Quito hotel with air conditioning and a professional at the wheel. No taxi negotiation, no rental car hassle, no solo-traveler markup. The fixed price and licensed service mean you know exactly what you're paying before you arrive.Is it for me?Book this if you're arriving alone or with a small group and want to skip the taxi stand—the shared model and fixed price take the negotiation out of ground transport, and online booking means one less thing to arrange once you land.
Mitad del Mundo hop-on hop-off tour: Choose your stopsA hop-on hop-off tour of the Middle of the World near Quito where you choose which attractions to visit and how long to spend at each stop, riding a double-decker bus with a bilingual English and Spanish guide. The tour runs 2 to 6 hours depending on which stops you select; entrance fees to individual sites vary by option and are paid separately.Is it for me?Choose this tour if you want to set your own pace instead of following a guide's schedule — you hop off when something catches your eye and rejoin the bus when you're ready to move on, which works best if you're traveling solo or with people who move at the same speed.
Quito Old Town: Food & Culture Walking Tour with ChocolateYou’ll stroll Quito’s historic center with a local guide, tasting Ecuadorian chocolate and fresh empanadas along cobbled streets. Explore iconic churches like La Compañía de Jesús and San Francisco Church, soak up lively plazas, and share laughs over food stories. This walk leaves you feeling like you’ve seen more than just buildings—you’ve felt the city breathe.
Quito Airport Transfer: Hotel Pickup & Local Guide TipsYou get picked up at the international arrivals gate and driven directly to your hotel in Quito's historic center, or vice versa for your departure. Your driver is a local guide who offers tips on where to eat and what to see around the city. All taxes, fuel and airport fees are included in the price, and infant seats are available. No waiting for a taxi or negotiating rates—just a fixed transfer with someone who knows Quito.Is it for me?Book this if you want to skip the taxi queue and arrive at your hotel without arranging transport yourself; the driver waiting at arrivals and the fixed price mean your first hour in Quito is already settled.
