Maximize Your 3 Days in Quito: A Quick Guide

Though often used as an entry point for the Galapagos, Quito is a pretty amazing city in its own right. Frankly, even if your ultimate destination isn’t the Galapagos, I’d recommend staying at least 3 days in Quito. Not only is it set in some gorgeous natural surroundings, it’s basically a nexus point for a ton of different cultures. There are so many well-preserved historical landmarks and easy access to a huge variety of day trips. And if you are planning to head for an island vacation as your next stop, Quito is a great way to start your trip on a high note.

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Where To Stay in Quito

For my visit, I stayed at Ikala Quito Hotel. Rather than try to inflate itself with super fancy gimmicks or decorations, it offers pure, simple comfort.

It’s right in the city, slightly removed from the center but still close to some good sightseeing, like Parque El Ejido (which hosts weekend art exhibitions) and Foch Square.

Cozy hotel dining area with stone walls, a long stone bar counter with high chairs, dark wooden tables set with glassware, leather dining chairs, wrought-iron candleholders, and warm recessed lighting in a tray ceiling.

Modern hotel bathroom featuring a walk-in glass shower with a rainfall showerhead, gray stone tile walls, a mounted metal towel rack above the toilet, and a granite countertop vanity with a square vessel sink, illuminated by a large mirror with built-in lighting; toiletries and a wall-mounted hairdryer are neatly arranged.

Elegant hotel common area at night with large windows showcasing a city skyline view, featuring white sectional sofas with turquoise accent pillows, potted plants on low walls and side tables, ornate black wrought-iron railings, and a circular recessed ceiling with ambient lighting.

Street view of a sunny urban corner featuring the Ikala Quito Hotel, a white multi-story building with stone accents, balconies, Ecuadorian flags, manicured topiary trees along the sidewalk, and a backdrop of city buildings and distant mountains under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.

Spacious hotel room with warm yellow walls and dark wood floors, featuring two double beds with ornate carved headboards, a seating area with an upholstered armchair, ottomans, a colorful painted coffee table, and decorative wall niches displaying small ceramic sculptures.

PHOTO CREDITS: IKALA QUITO HOTEL VIA HOTELS.COM

PLANNING A TRIP TO QUITO SOON?

Below are some of the best tours, hotels, and more to kickstart your plans!

Popular Tours & Activities in Quito

Top Places to Stay in Quito

Luxury: Hotel Plaza Grande
Mid-Range: La Quinta by Wyndham Quito
Budget: Ikala Quito Hotel

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Get Your Next Trip at an Amazing Discount

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As a special treat to my readers, you can use the booking code GD300 to get a $300 discount applied to your next invoice with them.

How to Maximize 3 Days in Quito

Getting Around Quito

Onto Quito itself; this is a popular city, and options for transportation abound. Here’s a quick rundown:

By Bus: Here, keep in mind two points: one, you have to pay bus fare in cash with small change; and two, watch out for pickpockets. Keep your backpack/purse/wallet in front of you and hold on tight.
By Metro: The metro is another decent option, though it has the same danger of pickpockets if you’re careless with your valuables. The line snakes through the length of Quito, so you can pretty much anywhere.
By Taxi/Uber: Yes, Quito has Uber, and the official taxis here are yellow. Though a bit pricier, I’d honestly recommend this over public transportation, if only to give you a bit of peace of mind so you don’t have to worry about some rando stealing your belongings.
By Rental Car: Renting a car is not a bad option, but it kind of depends on where you want to go. Quito itself is pretty easy (just crowded), but for day trips, you’ll likely be traversing a lot of mountain roads, some of which might get pretty narrow. So, you mainly just have to ask yourself if you’re comfortable with that or if it’s going to stress you out.
By Tour: If you want an option to reduce transportation-related stress as much as possible, fill up your days in Quito with small group tours. Hands down, the best choice for day trips outside of Quito.

History and Culture: Exploring Old Town and La Floresta

If you’ve only got 3 days in Quito, you have to hit the ground running. Quito has one of the best-preserved historic centers in Latin America—so much so that in 1978, it was the first city named a World Heritage Site.

Old Town, also known as the Colonial Town or Centro Historico, is home to some beautiful architecture. This can be easily seen in places like Plaza Grande and old, ornate cathedrals like La Compañía de Jesús. The Old Town is also very walkable, so you don’t have to worry about transport while you’re there.

Also, repeat readers will know I’m a sucker for street art. You can find some colorful murals right in the Old Town, but to get a proper taste, I’d suggest a visit to the artsy La Floresta neighborhood.

Charming colonial street scene with brightly painted yellow and pastel buildings, white-trimmed balconies overflowing with colorful flowers, red clay tile roofs, and palm trees peeking over the rooftops under a clear blue sky.

Colorful daytime scene in Quito’s Old Town with crowds of people gathered around colonial-style buildings featuring wooden balconies, a bright yellow facade, and a white-domed church with green roofs and a cross in the background, all under a vibrant blue sky with scattered clouds.

Night view of the illuminated entrance to a historic cathedral in Quito's Old Town, featuring grand stone archways, statues atop the structure, stained-glass windows, and a palm tree on the left, all set against a dark black sky.

PHOTO CREDIT: DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Adventure and Outdoor Fun with Volcanos and Equators

If adventure’s more your thing, Quito offers the perfect chance to experience some geological marvels first-hand.

First, climb up the side of Pichincha Volcano. Or, if you prefer, hitch a ride on Quito’s cable car, Teleférico. Both lead to the same place at Pichincha’s peak, and both offer an amazing view of the city.

Next is the Middle of the World or Mitad del Mundo. It’s perfect for anyone who’s ever wanted to have a foot in both the northern and southern hemispheres at the same time. The Monument to the Equator is also very impressive and Instagrammable.

Also, on your way back from the Middle of the World, consider a visit to Casa Agave if you have the time. You can learn a lot about the agave plant and try some specialty cocktails.

Cable car from the Quito TelefériQo soaring over the city, with panoramic views of densely packed buildings, green parks, and distant forested hills under a hazy blue sky.

Hikers walking along a dirt trail through grassy hills leading toward the rugged, rocky peak of Pichincha Volcano under a partly cloudy sky in Quito, Ecuador.

View of the Middle of the World Monument (Mitad del Mundo) in Quito, Ecuador, with a large stone monument topped by a globe, flanked by busts of historical figures, palm trees, and visitors walking along a paved path under a bright blue sky.

PHOTO CREDIT: diego_cue and Timwryan, CC 3.0 and DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Tack on Day Trips to Your 3 Days in Quito

One of the great things about Quito is it’s the perfect launching point for day trips. So, while the Old Town and the Middle of the World are loads of fun, I’d definitely recommend checking out nearby locales, as well.

Mindo: the Birds and Butterflies

One of the absolute must-sees in the area is the Butterfly Sanctuary in Mindo. Be sure to visit in the morning—I’d recommend aiming for a 9:00 a.m. arrival. This is when the butterflies are most active; you’ll get a one-of-a-kind chance to feed them and, if you’re lucky, watch one emerge from its cocoon.

Aside from the sanctuary, Mindo is chock full of lush green valleys brimming with waterfalls galore. It’s also a great chance to see birds and other critters (snakes, frogs, various mammals) in their natural habitat.

Lush green landscape of Mindo, Ecuador, featuring dense cloud forest vegetation, rolling hills, scattered trees, and distant mountain ranges under a clear blue sky.

PHOTO CREDIT: DEPOSITPHOTOS.COM

Check out Otavalo for Markets and Lagoons

Otavalo’s another great stop with two big standouts. First is the weekly Saturday market, which offers a wide array of colorful clothes, accessories, and trinkets. To be honest, markets aren’t really my thing, but Jeff loves ‘em.

Alternatively (or additionally), you can snag some great pictures at Cuicocha Lagoon, a crystal blue lake with a small, hilly islet surrounded by jagged mountains.