Plaza de la Independencia
Main square of the old town, with the cathedral, the presidential palace and the archbishop's palace around it. A monument to independence stands at its centre, and people gather here to relax and chat.
Quito
A UNESCO-listed colonial old town, churches filled with gold and the equator monument named Middle of the World stand in this high Andean capital.
Attractive locations
Church of the Society of Jesus
Jesuit church in the old town, its interior covered in gold-leaf carving from floor to ceiling. The stone façade is heavily carved too.
Basilica of the National Vow
Large neo-Gothic basilica, whose gargoyles take the form of Ecuadorian animals such as tortoises and iguanas. Visitors can climb the towers for views over the old town rooftops.
El Panecillo
Hill rising above the old town, topped by a statue of the Virgin Mary. The lookout gives a wide view of the rooftops and the surrounding volcanoes on a clear day.
Church and Convent of San Francisco
Large church and convent on its own sloping plaza in the old town, begun in the 1500s and among the oldest in the city. A richly decorated interior and cloister are central to colonial Quito.
Mitad del Mundo
Monument and visitor complex north of the city marking the equator, with a tall tower, small shops and exhibits. Visitors pose with one foot in each hemisphere along a painted line.
Cotopaxi Volcano
Snow-capped, cone-shaped volcano south of Quito and one of the highest active volcanoes in the world. A road climbs to a car park, and a walk leads up toward a refuge. Access depends on volcanic activity.
Airports
Mariscal Sucre International Airport UIO
It is about 20 km in a straight line from Quito.
Cotopaxi International Airport LTX
It is about 77 km in a straight line from Quito.
Lieutenant Colonel Luis A. Mantilla International Airport TUA
It is about 145 km in a straight line from Quito.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Ecuador page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan17.2 °C139 mm
- Feb17.3 °C143 mm
- Mar17.5 °C176 mm
- Apr17.7 °C177 mm
- May17.8 °C122 mm
- Jun17.5 °C58 mm
- Jul17.5 °C34 mm
- Aug17.7 °C25 mm
- Sep17.8 °C38 mm
- Oct17.4 °C76 mm
- Nov17.2 °C90 mm
- Dec17.2 °C100 mm
Driest months: Jul, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Feb, Mar, Apr.
Costs
Prices here are about 43% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
festival
Fiestas de Quito
Music and parades feature in this festival of the city.
festival
Fiestas de Quito
Music and parades feature in this festival of the city.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Ecuador
Helps with: The UN migration agency in Ecuador. It works to protect people on the move, supports lasting solutions to displacement, and does emergency preparedness work with government and partners.
Who qualifies: Migrants and displaced people in Ecuador, and government or other partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +593 2 393 4400
Address: Julio Alarcón Ayala E5A y Alfonso Pereira, Edificio Zaigen, piso 12, Quito, Ecuador
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in Ecuador. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911