Quito is the capital of Ecuador and a fun city to explore. It’s the city where I saw the most international tourists, but since so many people are heading to the Galápagos Islands, many end up spending at least one day in Quito during their trip. From colonial architecture to seemingly endless churches and cathedrals to chocolate and more, there’s a lot of interesting things to fill up one day in Quito.
One Day in Quito, Ecuador
Of course this is not the only way to spend one day in Quito, but it’s what I recommend. This is not the exact itinerary that I followed, since I spent a few days in the city. So I took my favorites and put them together into this one day itinerary.
Let’s get started.
Mid Morning – Basilica del Voto Nacional
Start your one day in Quito off with one of the most recognizable landmarks of the city. Basilica del Voto Nacional is not just a beautiful building, but it also gives you a great view of the city. Despite its Gothic architecture style, construction on this basilica first began in 1892. Nearly 100 years later, in 1988, the basilica was consecrated. Technically, it’s still not finished, but it definitely gives the appearance of being finished.
Before you go inside, take a look at the exterior of the basilica. Note that instead of traditional gargoyles, you’ll find birds and animals that are native to Ecuador. Each animal represents a different region in Ecuador.
If you continue walking around the exterior of the cathedral, you’ll find the vehicle that was used to transport Pope John Paul II through the city of Quito during his 1985 visit. He also struggled with the elevation in the city and this vehicle was what he used to get around.
If you just want to visit the interior of the church, it costs $2 and the ticket can be purchased from the main entrance. If you want to climb the towers, it costs $4 and your ticket can be bought in at the ticket office to the left of the cathedral. With your ticket, you have the ability to climb to both towers as well as the “condor nest” (the spire in the middle of the church). The views from the top are excellent and give you 360 views of the city. Though I also loved the close up view of the stained glass rose window, so make sure to watch for the signs.
Note that some of the climbs can be steep and through narrow passageways. I thought it was completely fine, but I know that those with claustrophobia might get a little anxious.
Late Morning – Plaza de San Francisco
Head to Plaza de San Francisco after your visit to Basilica del Voto Nacional. Here, you’ll find another beautiful church (San Francisco Church), but photos aren’t allowed so I can’t show you how beautiful the interior of this building actually is. You’ll just have to go and see for yourself.
Surrounding the church is a large plaza that has a few people watching opportunities (though I think the people watching is better at Plaza Grande). You’ll also find some shops and restaurants here too.
I took a walking tour in Quito and we finished at Plaza de San Francisco. Specifically, we finished in Yumbo Chocolate Shop. We sampled some chocolates (and I’m sure they will let you sample even if you aren’t part of a tour) and got a fantastic view of the square.
Lunch
Take a break for some lunch. Where you go is up to you, but there are loads of options. For something cheap, try to find a local restaurant and you’ll get a menu del dia which typically includes soup, a main dish, and a drink for less than $3. For something a little more, it’s not hard to find somewhere to go.
While exploring Quito, I popped into the former bishop’s residence. This area has been converted from lavish religious accommodation to a small little mall with a few stands and restaurants.
Early Afternoon – Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus
It’s time for another church and this one is a stunner. Known colloquially as the “Gold Church”, the Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus, is covered in gold. As you step inside, it seems that nearly every surface is covered in gold.
Despite all of the gold, it’s only about 50 kilograms total. Don’t get me wrong. That’s still a lot of gold, but it’s less than you probably expect after seeing it. Most of the gold is the thin gold leaf, which is how they are able to have so much gold decor with not hundreds of kilograms of gold.
Entrance to Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus is $6. To enter the church, you’ll have to walk up to the gate. It’s almost certainly closed, but a security officer will let you inside. Enter the church and purchase your ticket. Keep this ticket as you’ll have to show it when you try to pass through the gate to enter back to the street.
Mid Afternoon – Museo de la Moneda
Nearby the Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesus is a nice, free museum. Museo de la Moneda is a free museum that offers a look at Ecuador’s currency before they converted to the US dollar. The money museum takes place on the bottom level of the building, but the two floors above it have a some interesting exhibits too.
Note that nearly all of the signs in this museum are in Spanish, but the museum is free so that’s less of a concern to me. Plus the building itself was nice so I think it’s a great addition to your Quito itinerary.
Also note that you must have a valid ID to enter. They asked for a passport, but I was able to give my US Driver’s License (as I left my passport at the hotel).
Late Afternoon – Santo Domingo Church
Wrap up your exploration of Quito with one more church. Santo Domingo Church is a church I just happened to stumble upon while I was out wandering Quito’s Old Town. But it’s free to enter and if I’m honest, I think it’s one of the most beautiful churches in the city. I enjoyed the Gold Church too, but this church I think was even better. Since it was free, so that’s a win in my book.
Evening – Traveler’s Choice
The evening is yours to explore. That said, it’s important to note that there’s not a lot of things going on in the historic center of Quito at night. As a solo female traveler, I tend to not go out at night for safety reasons, but talking to some other travelers, they were shocked at how quiet the streets seemed at night. But the choice of what to do for your evening is completely up to you.
More in Quito, Ecuador
Quito surprised me and turned out to be one of my favorite big cities in South America. The historic old town is beautiful and is fun to wander. Beyond that, there’s plenty of great day trips in the area.
I took a guided day trip to Cotopaxi where we climbed to Cotopaxi base camp and took a short bike ride through the national park.
For independent travelers, you can visit Mitad del Mundo, which marks the equator line and is just north of Quito.
If you’re in Quito on a Saturday, consider visiting Otavalo Market. It’s a long day trip, but it brings you to the largest artisan market in South America which is a great place to pick up your souvenirs.
How to Get Around Quito, Ecuador
If you’re just exploring the historic center of Quito, you don’t need public transportation. This area of the city is completely walkable.
However, Quito itself massive and it can take more than an hour to get from one side of the city to the other. Since the bus stations are all on the edge of the city, you’ll likely need some kind of transportation at some point during your trip.
Terminal Quitumbre sits at the southern end of Quito and is the main bus terminal for all of the buses heading to the south of the country. Terminal Ofelia is in the north of the city and serves Mindo and provides connection buses to Mitad del Mundo. Terminal Carcelen connects to Otavalo and has a bus to the airport.
Quito has a metro, but it doesn’t run the whole length of the city (yet!). It does connect Terminal Quitumbre with the historic center, which can be very handy for tourists. To reach either of the northern bus terminals in Quito, be prepared to take a combination of buses and metros.
If you’re traveling in a group, a taxi or Uber may be a better option. At the time of writing, a taxi/Uber from the historic center to the northern terminals is $7 to $8. To reach the airport, expect to spend nearly $25 for a taxi/Uber.
Final Thoughts
Even if you’re just visiting Ecuador for the Galápagos Islands, I think it still makes sense to spend just one day in Quito. Explore the city and get a taste of Ecuador before continuing on the rest of your trip. Who knows, you might be like me and find that you enjoy the city a whole lot more than you were expecting.
Continue Your Adventure
More South American Capitals: Consider visiting other big cities in South America, like Bogotá, Colombia, Lima, Peru, Santiago, Chile, or Buenos Aires, Argentina.
