First time · Quito

First time in QuitoQuito

Quito sits at about 2,850 m: keep day 1 flat and slow, do the old town in the morning while the sky is clear, and take a car, not a walk, after dark.

Everything here is a short version of the Quito guide. Prices and hours are estimates: check before you rely on them.

The honest verdict

Quito is a long north-south city in a high valley. The Historic Centre is a hillside grid of plazas, churches and steep cobbled streets; La Mariscal and La Carolina are the flatter modern districts to the north; Guápulo drops off a ridge to the east. The trips that go wrong are the ones that ignore altitude on day 1, walk the old town after dark, or plan an outdoor afternoon in the rainy months when clouds and showers arrive after 14:00. Four clusters cover a first visit; Otavalo, Mindo and Cotopaxi are trips away from one kept bed.

From the airport

Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO)

Fastest: Airport taxi or booked car to the hotel door · about 60 min · about US$32
Cheapest: Airport shuttle bus to the city (timetable and last departure not confirmed; ask at the information desk) · about 80 min · about US$10

Typical ride times and fares, 2026 desk estimates (check). Last services and night options are on the gateway page.

Airport-to-bed timings →

How long to stay

2 days: Historic Centre morning + La Mariscal / La Carolina afternoon
3 days: Four clusters, old town in the morning, Guápulo at the end
5 days: Four clusters + Mitad del Mundo or Otavalo day trip + one slow day

Itineraries by length →

Three mistakes to avoid

Churches: cover shoulders and knees; photography is banned inside many of them, including La Compañía.(Survive · red lines)
Altitude: headache and breathlessness in the first 24–48 hours are common; rest, drink water and descend if symptoms worsen.(Survive · safety)
Do not walk the Historic Centre's quiet side streets or the park edges after dark; take a car door to door.(Survive · red lines)

Scams and safety →

Money and SIM

Budget day: $25–45 excl. bed
Cash: Ecuador uses US dollars. Keep $20 in small notes and coins for taxis and markets; withdraw at ATMs inside banks or malls in daylight, not on the street.

Money, SIMs and apps →