How To Spend 2 Perfect Days in Quito, Ecuador

Quito was my first stop on a three-week backpacking trip through Ecuador, and I went in with no real expectations. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous at first. I had spoken to several people who had visited before, and after hearing their stories about petty theft, I was a bit on edge. Needless to say, I’m so happy I went in with an open mind because Quito almost immediately stole my heart.

Sitting more than 9,000 feet above sea level, Quito is the second-highest capital city in the world! Its beautifully preserved historic center was also one of the very first places designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Between the colorful colonial architecture, incredible mountain views, delicious food, and proximity to some of Ecuador’s most unique experiences, Quito is so much more than just a jumping-off point for the rest of the country.

Two full days felt like the perfect amount of time to get a taste of what the city has to offer. If you’re planning your own trip, here’s exactly how I’d spend 2 perfect days in Quito, Ecuador!

Things to Know Before Visiting Quito, Ecuador

Before jumping into my 2-day Quito itinerary, here are a few things that are helpful to know before your trip:

• The elevation is HIGH: Quito sits around 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) above sea level, making it one of the highest capital cities in the world. If you’re coming from somewhere near sea level, you may notice the elevation almost immediately. Give your body some time to acclimate. Stay hydrated, take it easy on alcohol, and ideally spend a day or two in Quito before planning anything overly strenuous.
• You’re incredibly close to the equator: Quito sits just slightly south of the equator, which means the sun can be very strong, even when it doesn’t necessarily feel hot outside. Sunscreen is a must, and I’d recommend bringing sunglasses and a hat if you’ll be outside exploring all day.
• The weather can change quickly: Despite being so close to the equator, Quito’s high elevation keeps temperatures relatively mild year-round. Mornings can feel completely different from afternoons and evenings, so layers are your best friend. I’d also keep a lightweight rain jacket handy.

• Keep safety in mind: I personally felt very safe exploring Quito. But petty theft does happen! Being aware of your surroundings and belongings is important. I avoided walking alone at night and tried to have a general idea of where I was going before heading out. Walking around staring down at your phone for directions can make you look distracted, so check your route beforehand or step inside somewhere if you need to get your bearings.
• The U.S. dollar is the official currency: This makes things especially easy for American travelers! Ecuador has used the U.S. dollar as its official currency since 2000. I’d recommend carrying some smaller bills. Not all markets and small businesses accept cards.
• Spanish goes a long way: You can certainly visit Quito without being fluent in Spanish, but knowing some basic phrases is incredibly helpful. English isn’t something I would count on everywhere, particularly once you venture outside of the most touristy areas.

Where to Stay in Quito

Quito has a great variety of accommodations for just about every type of traveler and budget. There’s a huge backpacker community here, which made it perfect for me as a solo traveler. Staying somewhere social gave me the opportunity to meet other travelers and make friends along the way. But if hostels aren’t your thing, don’t worry! Quito also has plenty of beautiful boutique hotels and more elevated stays.

Here are a few options depending on your travel style and budget:

Backpacker/Hostel Stay: The Secret Garden Quito

This is where I stayed during my time in Quito, and I had such a great experience! I opted for a private room, so I still had my own clean and comfortable space while getting all the social benefits of staying in a hostel.

One of the BEST parts of The Secret Garden is its rooftop. It has one of the best views you’ll get of Quito! It’s also the perfect place to hang out and meet other travelers. They offer family-style dinners that you can sign up for each night, which was another great way to make friends as a solo traveler.

They also offer a free daily walking tour of Quito, which ended up being one of my favorite things I did during my stay! If you’re traveling solo or simply looking for an affordable and social place to stay, I can’t recommend The Secret Garden enough.

Boutique/Mid-Range Stay: Casa Santa Clara – Colonial Boutique Hotel

If you’re looking for something a little more private and elevated while still maintaining plenty of historic Quito charm, Casa Santa Clara is a beautiful mid-range option. The hotel has a cozy boutique feel with colorful colonial-inspired interiors and puts you right in Quito’s historic center, which is perfect if you want to spend your days exploring the city on foot.

View Casa Santa Clara on Booking.com

Elevated Stay: Plaza Grande Hotel

For a more luxurious stay, it doesn’t get much more centrally located than Plaza Grande Hotel. This elegant hotel sits right on Plaza Grande in the heart of Quito’s historic center, surrounded by some of the city’s most iconic architecture and attractions. If you’re looking to splurge a little and want a beautiful, upscale home base for your two days in Quito, this would be my pick.

View Plaza Grande Hotel on Booking.com

Day 1: Get Familiar with Quito

Your first day in Quito should be all about getting familiar with the city, getting your bearings, and experiencing the energy of the Historic Center. You’ll cover quite a bit of ground today, but most of it can be done at a leisurely pace—which is especially helpful as your body adjusts to Quito’s high elevation!

Morning: Take a Free Walking Tour

One of the BEST ways to start your time in Quito is with a walking tour. If you’re staying at The Secret Garden, you don’t even have to go far. The hostel offers a free walking tour that kicks off right outside. The tour itself is free, but don’t forget to bring some cash to tip your guide at the end!

I’ve taken my fair share of walking tours while traveling, and this was easily one of my favorites. You’ll wander through the vibrant streets of Quito’s Old Town, learn some fascinating history, see some of the city’s most impressive architecture, and get your bearings for the rest of your stay.

One of my favorite stops was the Centro Cultural Metropolitano, a gorgeous cultural center in the heart of Old Town. We even had a little dance lesson here on the rooftop, where we also got some incredible views of the city.

Our final stop included an Ecuadorian chocolate tasting, where I ended up buying several chocolate bars to take with me. Ecuador is known for its cacao, so consider this your introduction to something you’ll probably be eating quite a bit of during your trip. This was the perfect end to the tour!

Afternoon: Explore Quito’s Historic Center On Your Own

After your walking tour, don’t rush off to your next activity. Give yourself a few hours to wander around Quito’s Historic Center on your own.

Chances are, you’ll pass a few places during the tour that you’ll immediately want to return to and explore at a slower pace. Wander the colorful streets, pop into shops, revisit some of the plazas and churches you passed earlier, and simply take in the atmosphere of Old Town.

Solo traveler tip: A walking tour is also one of the easiest ways to make friends when you’re traveling alone! I met other travelers on mine who I could continue exploring with afterward, so don’t be afraid to ask if anyone wants to grab lunch or keep wandering together.

Speaking of lunch, find yourself some empanadas! You’ll find plenty of little local spots throughout the Historic Center where you can grab a freshly made empanada and juice. It’s inexpensive, delicious, and something you absolutely need to try while traveling through Ecuador.

Late Afternoon: Climb the Basílica del Voto Nacional

Save one of Quito’s most memorable experiences for the end of your first day: climbing the Basílica del Voto Nacional.

You’ve probably already spotted it several times by this point. The enormous neo-Gothic church towers over Quito’s Historic Center and is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. In fact, its two main towers rise approximately 80 meters above the plaza.

But don’t just admire it from the outside. You can actually climb up into the Basilica!

Take your time making your way through because there is SO much to see. One of the first levels gives you an incredible elevated view over the nave below, where you can really appreciate the soaring arches, pews, altar, and stained-glass windows. As you continue upward, you’ll even come across a little café where you can grab a beer or snack while overlooking the city. But don’t stop there!

Keep making your way toward the upper viewpoints. You’ll cross above the nave and eventually encounter increasingly steep stairs and ladders as you climb higher into the towers. If you’re afraid of heights, consider this your warning—the final portion is STEEP! But if you’re comfortable with the climb, the views from the top are absolutely breathtaking. You’ll be rewarded with panoramic views across Quito, the Historic Center, and the mountains surrounding the city.

I recommend visiting in the late afternoon when the light over Quito is especially beautiful. Just make sure you check the Basilica’s current visitor and tower hours before planning your day. Current listed hours vary by day and can end before sunset, so I wouldn’t plan on arriving right before closing.

Day 2: See Quito From a Different Perspective

After spending your first day getting to know Quito’s Historic Center, spend day two experiencing a completely different side of the city. Today is all about incredible views, a little adventure, and a few experiences that will take you beyond the streets of Old Town.

Morning: Ride the TelefériQo

Start your second morning with one of the coolest ways to see Quito—from nearly 13,000 feet above sea level!

The TelefériQo is a cable car that takes you from the edge of Quito high up the eastern side of Pichincha Volcano to Cruz Loma. It’s located about a 20–30 minute drive from the Historic Center, depending on traffic. We took an Uber, which I found to be an affordable and incredibly easy way to get around Quito.

The cable car ride itself takes around 15–20 minutes, climbing from approximately 10,200 feet to nearly 13,000 feet above sea level. Unfortunately, we had a pretty cloudy day when we visited, which isn’t uncommon when you’re this high in the mountains. But the ride was still such a fun experience! The clouds would shift enough for us to catch glimpses of the city below, and we still managed to get some beautiful views from the top.

If you’re lucky enough to visit on a clear day, you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over Quito and the surrounding Andes. You may even be able to spot some of Ecuador’s famous volcanoes in the distance.

Once you reach Cruz Loma, don’t immediately turn around and head back down. There are walking trails and viewpoints, and you can continue hiking farther up the mountain if you’re feeling adventurous. You’ll also find a café where you can warm up with a coffee, grab a snack, and use the restroom.

One important tip: Don’t underestimate how different the weather can feel at the top! Quito may feel comfortable when you leave your hotel, but you’re gaining several thousand feet of elevation. Bring layers even if you don’t think you’ll need them—and don’t forget sunscreen. You’re extremely close to the equator AND nearly 13,000 feet in the air!

Afternoon: Visit the Middle of the World

After coming down from the TelefériQo, spend your afternoon heading to one of the most unique attractions near Quito—the Middle of the World!

This was one of my favorite excursions during my time in Quito. I booked the tour directly through The Secret Garden, which made everything incredibly easy. Our bus picked us up right outside the hostel, and we had a guide with us throughout the experience.

Located just outside of Quito, Mitad del Mundo, or “Middle of the World,” is centered around Ecuador’s location along the equator. And yes, you’ll get an opportunity to stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern!

Our tour took us to two equator attractions, and they’re very different experiences!

Museo de Sitio Intiñan

Our first stop was the Intiñan Museum. While the equator is obviously a big focus, there’s so much more to experience here. Our guide taught us about Ecuador’s history, the Amazon region, and some of the country’s many Indigenous cultures and traditions. It was incredibly fascinating and much more immersive than I expected.

You’ll also get to participate in some fun demonstrations centered around the equator. One of the most memorable was attempting to balance an egg on the head of a nail, which I did not succeed in doing, but others in my group did! And, of course, you’ll get your obligatory photo standing on the equator!

The demonstrations about balance, water movement, and other supposed effects of being directly on the equator are really fun to participate in. Just keep in mind that some are better thought of as entertaining demonstrations rather than hard science. But that certainly didn’t make the experience any less fun.

Ciudad Mitad del Mundo

From there, we continued to the much larger Ciudad Mitad del Mundo, home to the enormous Equator Monument you’ve probably seen in photos of Quito. The monument was constructed to mark the location of the equator based on historical measurements. With the arrival of modern GPS technology, however, measurements showed that the geographic equator doesn’t run exactly through the monument. The commonly cited discrepancy is roughly 240 meters.

So, technically, when you’re standing at the famous monument, you’re not quite standing at 0° latitude! That little geographical plot twist made visiting both locations even more interesting.

Evening: Visit the Virgin of El Panecillo

Finish your second day in Quito with one more incredible view of the city at El Panecillo, the hill topped by the enormous winged Virgin Mary that you’ll likely have spotted throughout your time in Quito.

Some Middle of the World tours include a stop at El Panecillo on the way back into the city, which ours thankfully did! I definitely recommend double-checking what’s included when booking your tour, especially if this is somewhere you want to visit.

If your tour doesn’t stop here, it’s still absolutely worth making the trip on your own. One important tip: take an Uber or taxi to the top rather than walking. I was advised by several locals and other travelers not to make the walk up the hill because the route passes through areas where tourists can be more vulnerable to theft. An Uber is inexpensive and will bring you directly to the main visitor area.

Once you’re at the top, it’s a completely different experience. You’ll find little shops selling souvenirs and trinkets, places to grab a snack or drink, and, most importantly, some remarkable panoramic views over Quito.

The monument itself stands approximately 41 meters (135 feet) tall, including its pedestal. What makes this particular depiction of the Virgin Mary so interesting is her enormous angel wings. She’s based on the Virgin of Quito, an 18th-century sculpture by Bernardo de Legarda, and stands on a globe with a serpent beneath her feet.

The statue is constructed from thousands of individual pieces of aluminum, making her appearance especially striking when the light hits!

After spending two days seeing the statue from different viewpoints around Quito, there’s something really cool about finally standing directly beneath it. And with the city and surrounding mountains stretching out below you, it’s the perfect place to wrap up your two days in Quito!

Where to Go After Quito

Quito is a great starting point for a larger Ecuador adventure! If you’re trying to decide where to go after your two days in the city, there are some absolutely incredible destinations within just a few hours of Quito. These were two of my favorites:

Cotopaxi

Cotopaxi is home to one of Ecuador’s most iconic landmarks: Cotopaxi Volcano, an active, snow-capped stratovolcano that rises an incredible 19,347 feet (5,897 meters) above sea level. It’s one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, and seeing that perfectly shaped, snow-covered peak towering over the surrounding landscape is something I’ll never forget!

One of my other favorite things about staying at The Secret Garden in Quito was that they also have a location near Cotopaxi. They offer transportation between the two properties, making it incredibly easy to travel from Quito directly to the mountains. The drive takes roughly two hours.

Being here feels like you’ve been dropped into a fairy tale. The mountain views are incredible, the hikes are challenging, and the entire property feels peaceful and completely removed from the outside world. If you love hiking, mountains, or simply being surrounded by nature, don’t skip Cotopaxi!

Mindo

Another one of my absolute favorite places in Ecuador, and an easy trip from Quito, is the little town of Mindo. Located in Ecuador’s cloud forest, Mindo feels like an entirely different world from Quito. Everything is lush, green, and overflowing with wildlife, and the town itself has such an incredible laid-back charm about it!

I originally planned to spend three nights in Mindo and ended up staying for five! There’s so much to experience here despite it being a relatively small town. You can hike through the cloud forest to beautiful waterfalls, visit butterfly sanctuaries, go birdwatching, and even feed hummingbirds, which may have been my favorite experience of all.

Enjoy Your Time in Quito!

I hope this guide has helped you plan your time in Quito—or maybe even inspired you to add it to your travel bucket list! Ecuador as a whole is such a special country, and chances are, if you’re planning a trip here, you’ll find yourself in Quito at one point or another.

Don’t treat it as just a place to fly in and out of! Quito is such a vibrant, beautiful city with so much to experience, and it almost immediately stole my heart. Give yourself a couple of days to explore, take in the views, eat some delicious food, and experience everything that makes this city so special.

As always, feel free to leave any questions or comments below. Happy travels!

FAQ’S
How many days do you need in Quito?

Two full days are enough to get a good introduction to the city, covering the Historic Center, the TelefériQo, and the Middle of the World, before heading on to other parts of Ecuador.
Is Quito safe for tourists?

Quito feels safe overall, but petty theft does happen. Staying aware of your surroundings, avoiding walking alone at night, and taking a taxi or Uber to spots like El Panecillo instead of walking are recommended precautions.
What currency is used in Quito, Ecuador?

Ecuador has used the US Dollar as its official currency since 2000, which makes things easier for American travelers. Carrying smaller bills is recommended, since not all markets and small businesses accept cards.
How high is Quito’s elevation, and will it affect me?

Quito sits around 9,350 feet (2,850 meters) above sea level. Travelers coming from near sea level may notice the elevation, so staying hydrated, taking it easy on alcohol, and allowing a day or two to acclimate is recommended.
Do I need to speak Spanish in Quito?

Fluency isn’t required, but knowing basic phrases is helpful. English is common in touristy areas but not something to count on once you venture further out.
What is the Middle of the World (Mitad del Mundo)?

Mitad del Mundo is a site just outside Quito centered on Ecuador’s location along the equator, including the Intiñan Museum and the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo monument. Due to modern GPS measurements, the actual geographic equator runs about 240 meters from the monument itself.
What is the TelefériQo?

The TelefériQo is a cable car that climbs from the edge of Quito up the eastern side of Pichincha Volcano to Cruz Loma, reaching close to 13,000 feet above sea level, with views over the city and surrounding Andes on a clear day.
Where should you go after Quito?

Cotopaxi (around a 2-hour drive, home to the snow-capped Cotopaxi Volcano) and Mindo (a cloud forest town known for waterfalls, butterfly sanctuaries, and birdwatching) are both popular next stops.

.