One Day In Quito: What To Do, Eat, See & Explore (2023)

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Thinking of spending a day in Quito? You’re in the right place! Quito is a great city and is often the first stop for many backpackers travelling Ecuador.

From being able to visit the ‘middle of the world’, to exploring the Old City, trying local foods and enjoying the buzz of La Floresta, Quito has a lot to offer a first-time visitor.

In the following post, I explain all of the best things to do in Quito, even if you only have one day. From safety concerns to day trips, where to eat and where to stay, I’ve got you covered. So, let’s get started!

Still got a question about spending one day in Quito? Let me know over on Instagram or shoot me an email at jennie(@)jenniewanders.com!

🇪🇨 Other Ecuador posts:

• Banos To Guayaquil (Ecuador) Complete Guide & Routes
• Banos To Cuenca (Ecuador) Full Guide & Routes
• 2 Weeks In Ecuador: Routes, Itineraries & Guides!
• Quito To Cotopaxi: FULL Guide, Routes + Tips
• 10 Days In Ecuador: Route, Itinerary & Tips

One Day in Quito: A Summary

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and is the second-highest city in the world (just after La Paz in Bolivia). Sitting at just under 2850m (9350ft), Quito is the oldest of all South American capitals and even became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1978.

Many backpackers in South America start their Ecuador journey in Quito. As it has the country’s main airport, it’s easy to travel both in and out from. It’s also a great base for some of the country’s most beautiful locations; such as Mindo, Cotopaxi, Banos and the incredible Amazon Rainforest.

Quito is also one of the most affordable cities we have ever visited, and as most of it can be seen independently/on foot, we were able to save a bit of money and explore Quito on a budget!

If you only have a day, you don’t need to worry about travelling around the city and seeing all of the different areas. I strongly advise you to pick the Old Town (Historic Centre), as this is where the most vibrant and lively areas are.

Another big question when searching for information on Quito that seems to pop up is safety. Safety at night, safety during the day, solo travel in Quito and more. Keep reading to find out my opinion on safety in Quito, and how you can ensure you stay is as safe as possible.

One Day in Quito Itinerary

How to spend a morning in Quito

Explore the Old Town. You can either do this independently, or via a free walking tour with Community Hostel (this starts at 10 am every day, and they meet on the rooftop).

If you’re exploring by yourself, I recommend starting at Plaza Grande and Plaza San Francisco. The streets will be full of musicians, buskers, vendors, street food and more. You can also visit one of the many churches in the Old Town and admire their architecture.

Then grab lunch at one of the cute cafes in the Old Town, or head to a supermarket and have a picnic. We loved Magnolia Cafe Arte in the Old Town, but there are plenty to choose from.

Food prices are affordable in Quito, so you can expect to dine out in a restaurant for less than £10-12 ($12-14 USD) per person. If you’re having a picnic, you can either choose one of Quito’s parks or save it for the next activity!

How to spend an afternoon and evening in Quito

Head to Quito’s TelefériQo, the main station for the Quito cable car. This takes you even higher in altitude (another 1100m!), and you’ll get to see Volcán Pichincha up close.

At the top, you can enjoy your picnic, admire the views of the city below or embark on a hike (although you may want to adjust to Quito’s altitude before doing this!)

In the evening, enjoy a family-style dinner at Community Hostel, followed by their social evening activities! They run events such as karaoke, quizzes, salsa lessons and more. Or, if that’s not your thing, hang out in their large communal area and watch TV, or admire the views on the rooftop!

Not your thing? Head to Bandido Brewing for dinner instead. This is right next to Community Hostel, so you don’t need to worry about walking far at night. It’s a quirky, old-style brewing pub serving American food – we loved it!

Other things to do in Quito

If you don’t want to spend your time in Quito at a 4000m altitude on the side of a volcano, or you’re worried about altitude sickness, you can pick one of these alternate options to do:

• Book a ‘Middle of the World’ tour. Just 20 minutes out of the city, you can visit the exact point of the Equator line.
• Do some chocolate tasting at Republica del Cacao, or book a chocolate tour.
• Head to the Astronomical Observatory for some stargazing.
• Party at La Mariscal in the evenings.
• Stroll around the Museo Nacional.
• Admire the Basilica Del Voto Nacional, the 115m tall church
• Take a salsa class!
• REST because the altitude is a lot (don’t feel guilty about doing this. It’s a high city!)

Where to stay in Quito

Quito is a big city. Whilst we were there, we stayed in two different areas; the main Historic Centre and La Floresta.

If you’re staying short term, I recommend the city centre. This is the main cultural ‘hub’ (although there is nothing going on at night) and has a lively atmosphere during the day.

For digital nomads and those staying over 2 nights in Quito, I recommend La Floresta. This is a buzzing part of Quito full of bars, restaurants and cafes.

Some of the best accommodations in Quito include:

• Viajero Hostel (city centre): a beautiful hostel that includes free breakfast!
• Community Hostel (city centre): the perfect social hostel for the Amazon Rainforest tour!
• Secret Garden: (city centre): around a 15-minute walk to the main square, and is ideal for specific Cotopaxi tours.
• Hotel Stubel Suites & Cafe (La Floresta): a hotel with offers stunning views of the Guápulo Valley.
• NH Collection Quito Royal (La Floresta): a more luxurious stay with a health club, free WiFi and free breakfast.

Where to eat in Quito

Looking for the best brunch, lunch and dinner options in Quito? Here were some of our favourites, and some of the best-rated locations in Quito for food and drink.

🍳 Breakfast, brunch and lunch:

• Magnolia Cafe Arte: a lovely cafe in the Old Town for breakfast and lunch. The staff are the sweetest! (Old Town)
• Ocho Cafe: the perfect spot for coffee and breakfast. (La Floresta)
• Jervis: a cute coffee spot with tasty bagels and amazing cappuccinos (La Floresta)
• Coffee Zular: a brunch spot for good coffee and food (Old Town)
• Atavico Cafe: a busy breakfast and lunch spot serving amazing sandwiches (Old Town)

🍝 Dinner:

• Bandido Brewing Company: an excellent beer brewing pub with delicious food options. Happy hour is from 4-7 pm daily. (Old Town)
• YiYi Dumplings: a cute dumpling and dim sum cafe (La Floresta)
• El Hornero: a pizza and pasta spot (La Floresta)
• Sinners: for American-style pub food (La Floresta)

Budget for one day in Quito

Quito is an exceptionally affordable city. You can easily enjoy a day in Quito for under £30 ($35 USD). In this amount, you’d be able to eat in a restaurant at least once, buy drinks and explore the city by public transport.

	Accommodation (per night)	Food (per day)	Activities (some activities are free!)	Transport
Low-budget backpacker	Shared dorm: £8-15	£3-6	£0-50+	£0-£3 (public transport)
Mid-range backpacker	Private room: £30-60	£10-30	£0-80+	£0-10 (taxis)

Prices will vary and depend on the time of year that you are visiting Quito, but on average, it’s an affordable and cheap city to visit. Perfect for budget backpackers!

Is Quito safe?

Safety in any area of the world is subjective. An area that feels safe to me, might not feel safe to you. However, I can share my personal experiences and how I found Quito in terms of safety.

Before we arrived in Quito, we were told of how dangerous it was. I had a number of people message me on Instagram and warn me of the forthcoming protests and riots (which actually never happened, luckily). I’ll be honest; I was a little nervous about visiting Quito.

When we arrived at the Historic Centre at 9 pm on a Saturday night, the streets were deserted. And I mean not a single person.

This confused me a little for a capital city; I expected a bit little more life at this prime time on a Saturday night?! After seeing the streets so empty, we decided to stay in and watch a movie before heading out to explore Quito properly the next day.

The Historic Centre and main squares on Sunday were full of life. Buskers, musicians, artists, families, and friends; the area was full of happiness, life and joy. It was beautiful to see, and there wasn’t a moment we felt unsafe.

But we were warned by tourists and even locals themselves to not venture out at night. This was a big thing for us; the sun sets at 6.30 pm, and we’d need to eat dinner!

Luckily, both hostels we stayed in in Quito (Community Hostel and Viajero), either served family-style dinners or were right next to restaurants for us to use. This meant we didn’t have to wander too far after dark.

I’m sure some backpackers have walked around at night and found it safe, especially in party areas such as La Mariscal (and I’d love to hear from you if you did!). But from what we were told and warned, especially when it was locals, and what we saw with how the streets were, we decided to make the call to stay indoors. You decide for you and what you’re comfortable with.

So, is Quito safe? Yes, if you walk around during the day, and stick to the right areas (Historic Centre and La Floresta), use common sense and keep your wits about you.

Day trips from Quito

If you’re staying in Quito for longer than one day and want to head out of the city, I recommend the following day trips (or overnight trips).

• Amazon Rainforest tour (Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve): not a day trip, but so worth it if you have the luxury of time on your side! It’s a must-do, must-see and must-experience when in Ecuador. Find out more about visiting the Amazon from Quito here!

• Mindo: Mindo is a beautiful cloud forest just 2 hours north of Quito, and is the perfect day trip. Mindo can be visited either independently or with a tour – you can see how to get to Mindo from Quito here or book a day trip to Mindo here!

• Cotopaxi: Cotopaxi volcano is one of the most iconic sights in the country, and is a must-see for any nature fan. Again, you can either book a day trip to Cotopaxi, or travel there independently.

• Middle of the World Equator Line: one epic day trip from Quito that’s only 20 minutes outside of the city! I recommend booking a tour for this rather than visiting independently. You’ll visit the literal ‘middle of the world’, be given an ‘Equator line certificate’ and play some fun games testing the surrounding magnetic fields!

• Quito cooking class: another tour located in the city itself, this is a great way to fill some time in Quito and to learn more about the local history and culture. I highly recommend booking a homestay cooking class similar to this one!

Onward travel from Quito

Most people plan a trip to Quito for a couple of nights at the start of their trip, especially as the main international airport is a good starting point in any Ecuador itinerary. But where should you go afterwards?

There are many options when deciding where to go after Quito. I have written a 3-week, 2-week and 10-day itinerary for Ecuador, with all options starting from Quito (or Guayaquil if you’re working in reverse).

Some other popular alternatives after Quito include:

• Quito To Cotopaxi: FULL Guide, Routes + Tips
• Quito To Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador Amazon Rainforest)
• Quito To Banos: FULL Guide + Route
• Quito To Mindo: BEST And Easiest Routes
• Amazon Tours Ecuador: BEST Cuyabeno Trip From Quito

What to pack for Ecuador

Packing for Ecuador is similar to most Central/South American countries, although you need to pack some warmer clothes for locations like Quito.

Luckily for you, I’ve written an entire, lengthy blog post about what to pack for Ecuador; from daily clothes to gadgets and tech, the right kind of backpack and things you may have forgotten. You can check out my full Ecuador packing list here!

One Day in Quito: FAQs

1) How much time do you need in Quito?

2-3 nights in Quito gives you enough time to see the best parts of the city, try some local food and learn about some of the city’s history.

If you’re visiting Quito for the first time, I recommend booking accommodation for 2-3 nights. It’s a great city, but there are so many other beautiful places in Ecuador to explore that deserve longer periods of time.

Related post: 2 Weeks In Ecuador: Routes, Itineraries & Guides! | 10 Days In Ecuador: Route, Itinerary & Tips | Ecuador Itinerary 3 Weeks: FULL Route + Guide

2) Is Quito a walkable city?

Yes, Quito is walkable. But, the city sits at a 2850m altitude, so we found it hard to walk around for long periods of time (especially after just being in the Amazon Rainforest, which is at a much lower altitude).

However, if you want to travel from one area to another area (ie. the Historic Centre to La Floresta, I recommend getting an Uber, tram or bus. This would be quite a long walk otherwise!

3) Is Quito safe during the day?

Safety is subjective, so I can only talk about my experiences in Quito when it comes to safety. Quito definitely felt safer to walk around during the day than at night, but there were areas where I would not have walked alone.

If you’re travelling solo (or even in a couple like we were) stick to the main areas, busy and well-lit streets. The main squares in the Historic Centre felt safe, and the roads full of restaurants and bars in La Floresta also felt safe.

When I went off course a little, I didn’t feel as safe. But as I said, safety is different for everyone.

My biggest tip is to stay in a hostel or hotel in one of these areas. This means you can just stick to the surrounding safe areas and do not need to wander into any unknown territories.

Skip to the section ‘Where to stay in Quito’ to find these specific hostels and hotels.

4) Is Quito a cheap city?

Quito is a relatively cheap city to visit. Street food and local dishes are extremely affordable, costing around $1-5 USD per person. Accommodation is also considerably cheaper than its neighbours Colombia and Peru. Transport such as Uber, taxis and buses around the city should not cost more than $1-12 USD per journey.

We found we spent considerably less in Quito than in other areas in Ecuador.

5) Do you need a SIM card to travel around Ecuador?

Yes, I highly recommend downloading an eSIM on your phone to ensure you can use it for directions and safety in Ecuador.

We found most of the cities to be chaotic and difficult to find local SIM cards. ESIMs are easy to download and ready to use within a few minutes of purchasing, so there’s no longer a need to hunt down free Wifi! ➡ You can check out the prices and packages for eSIMs here!

Don’t forget travel insurance for South America!

If you’re visiting South America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in South America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for South America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

One Day in Quito: In A Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about spending one day in Quito (Ecuador). When you’re planning a trip to Ecuador, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t seen my blog before, I write posts aimed at real-life travellers wanting authentic and down-to-earth information. 

I’m currently travelling around the world with my boyfriend (read more here!), creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Ecuador content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

🇪🇨 Other Ecuador posts:

• 10 Days In Ecuador: Route, Itinerary & Tips
• Ecuador Itinerary 3 Weeks: FULL Route + Guide
• Quito To Cotopaxi: FULL Guide, Routes + Tips
• Quito To Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve (Ecuador Amazon Rainforest)