How to Get Around Quito

How transport works in Quito

Historic centre is walkable + steep — pace yourself the first 48h at altitude. Trole + Ecovía electric-bus trunk lines US$0.35 run Colón ↔ Old Town ↔ south. Metro Line 1 (opened 2023) US$0.45 runs Quitumbe ↔ El Labrador (15 stations) — game-changer. Taxis + Uber + Cabify + InDriver all cheap (US$2–6 in centre). Airport (UIO — Mariscal Sucre in Tababela) 40 km east — Aeroservicios shuttle US$8 / 45 min; taxi US$25–35 / 45 min; new expressway.

Your options compared

• Metro Line 1

  Opened 2023 — 15 stations Quitumbe ↔ El Labrador — game-changer for north-south travel; US$0.45.

• Trole + Ecovía BRT

  Electric-bus trunk lines running Colón ↔ Old Town ↔ south; US$0.35.

• Taxi / Uber / Cabify / InDriver

  US$2–6 city trips — always safer than street taxis, especially after dark.

• Walking

  Old Town compact but steep + high-altitude — pace yourself first 48h.

Passes and tickets

No integrated pass — pay individual metro + BRT + bus rides in cash or contactless.

Local transport tips

Use apps (Uber + Cabify + InDriver + DiDi) instead of street taxis, especially after dark.

Arriving from the airport

• Mariscal Sucre (Tababela) (UIO)

  45 min via new expressway — Aeroservicios shuttle US$8; taxi + Uber + Cabify US$25–35.

Do you need a rental car?

Inside Quito a car is usually a liability — parking and traffic cost more than transit. A rental earns its keep for day trips and regional drives, so compare rates only for the days you actually leave the city.