Quito 3-Day Itinerary

How this 3-day Quito plan works

Quito essentials weekend

Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Quito rather than in transit. 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.

Day by day

• Day 1

  Day 1 — Arrive + rest (altitude); Old Town walking tour + La Compañía church + Plaza Grande evening.

• Day 2

  Day 2 — Basílica del Voto Nacional towers + Mitad del Mundo Equator + Museo Intiñan + Otavalo weavers demo.

• Day 3

  Day 3 — TelefériQo cable car to Pichincha + La Ronda evening + canelazo warm cocktail.

Where to base yourself

• Centro Histórico (Old Town)

  UNESCO colonial core — Plaza Grande, Cathedral, La Compañía, San Francisco — Casa Gangotena (Quito's flagship), Illa Experience Hotel, Casa El Edén.

• La Mariscal + La Floresta

  Backpacker + expat + nightlife (Mariscal) meets bohemian + film-cafés (Floresta) — mid-range boutiques + Airbnb dominate; safety varies at night.

• La Carolina + Iñaquito

  Modern financial + park district — Swissôtel, JW Marriott, Hilton Colón, EB Hotel Quito Airport hub.

• González Suárez

  Upscale ridge overlooking Guápulo valley — Le Parc Hotel, Dann Carlton, Casa Aliso boutique.

Best time to run this itinerary

June–September dry season (16–20°C days, cold nights 5–10°C) — sunny + peak. December–February mostly dry + cooler. March–May rainy afternoons but clear mornings + fewer crowds. Equator means near-constant 12h daylight year-round. Quito is a year-round destination — pack layers always (sun at altitude is intense; nights are cold).

Before you go

• Rest at 2,850 m altitude 24h before hiking or Pichincha cable car — coca tea (legal) + hydration help most travellers.

• Use Uber + Cabify + InDriver for all city trips — cheap (US$2–6) + safer than street taxis, especially after dark.

• Old Town free walking tour 10:30am + 2pm from Plaza Grande (tip US$10–15) — the fastest orientation to colonial Quito.