Sightseeing Highlights in Quito

October 29, 2026

Travel advisory, as of October 2026. Ecuador has declared an internal armed conflict against criminal gangs, and rolling states of emergency apply in several provinces. Pichincha, which includes Quito, is under one until mid-November 2026. Quito had a night curfew in May 2026, and curfews can return at short notice. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to several coastal provinces and the strip along the Colombian border; Quito lies outside those areas. Street crime and express kidnappings are real risks, so use registered taxis or ride apps, especially at night and for El Panecillo. Read the FCDO advice for Ecuador and check travel.state.gov before you book.

Quito’s best sights are visual: colonial plazas, hilltop viewpoints and big churches in a UNESCO-listed old town. Most can be seen in daylight over two days. The city is about 2,850 m above sea level, so allow time for climbs and stairs, and carry sunscreen and a hat, because the equatorial sun is strong even under cloud.

Plaza de la Independencia

Also called Plaza Grande, this is the civic centre of Ecuador. It is framed by the Palacio de Carondelet, the presidential palace, the Palacio Arzobispal, the Municipal Palace and the 16th-century Catedral Metropolitana, where independence hero Antonio José de Sucre is buried. The Independence Monument honours the events of 10 August 1809. The plaza is busy by day. Keep bags zipped and phones in front pockets.

El Panecillo and the Virgin of Quito

El Panecillo is a hill of about 3,016 m between the old town and the south of the city. Its 41 m monument of the Virgin was assembled from roughly 7,400 aluminium pieces in 1976, from a design by Spanish sculptor Agustín de la Herrán Matorras, based on Bernardo de Legarda’s 18th-century winged Virgin. The views over the old town are among the best in the city. Go by taxi, ride app or the Quito Tour Bus, never up the stairs from the old town, because the quiet hillside lanes have a record of armed robberies. The hill grounds are free, and a small fee of about $1 is reported for the interior museum and balcony. Opening hours differ by source, so check before you go.

Basílica del Voto Nacional

Often described as the largest neo-Gothic basilica in the Americas, this church stands on Carchi and Venezuela streets in San Juan. Its gargoyles show Ecuadorian animals, such as Galápagos tortoises, blue-footed boobies, iguanas, pumas and armadillos, in place of European monsters. You can climb through the roof space on wooden rafters and steep iron ladders to the clock towers and the condor tower for a striking view of the old town and El Panecillo. Entry to the church is about $2 for foreigners and the towers cost about $4 more. Hours are daytime only, and the stairs and ladders are steep, so wear shoes with grip and avoid the climb if you are unwell with altitude symptoms.

Parque Itchimbía and the Palacio de Cristal

The park covers about 54 hectares on a ridge east of the historic centre, at roughly 2,910 m, and has broad views over the old town. The Palacio de Cristal is an iron and glass hall whose structure came from Belgium and reuses the frame of the old Santa Clara market. It is now a cultural centre. Pack a layer, as the ridge is windy.

A good day plan

Start at Plaza Grande in the morning, walk to the Basílica, then eat lunch near Plaza de San Francisco. Take an app ride to El Panecillo in the afternoon for the light, and finish at Itchimbía if energy allows. Return by app or registered taxi, not on foot, once the streets thin out in the evening.

Tickets and viewpoints

If you prefer a guided overview, compare options through a search such as Quito sightseeing tours . The FCDO advice covers current crime warnings for the old town.