Holiday in Quito

City in Ecuador — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇪🇨

Country

Ecuador

Type

City

Best time to travel

June to September — drier months. Quito has 'eternal spring' year-round (10-20°C). December to May is slightly wetter.

Budget/day

Getting there from Germany

Flight from Frankfurt/Amsterdam to Quito (UIO) via Bogotá, Madrid, or Panama, approx. 14-17 hours.

About Quito

Quito, Ecuador's capital, was the first city ever to be declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site — even before Venice and Paris. Located at 2,850 meters in an Andean valley, surrounded by volcanoes, the old town is a baroque dream with gilded churches, colonial squares, and architecture that blends the heritage of the Spanish Conquista and the indigenous Quechua culture. The Basilica del Voto Nacional offers a stunning view of the city from the bell tower, overlooking the snow-capped Cotopaxi. At the equator monument Mitad del Mundo, you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere. The Mariscal area pulses with backpacker bars and international restaurants. Tours to Cotopaxi, the Amazon rainforest, the Avenue of the Volcanoes, and the Galápagos Islands start from Quito.

Culture
90
Urban
85
Nature
75
Adventure
75
Safety
60

Top 5 highlights in Quito

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Old Town (Centro Histórico)

The first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world — colonial plazas, 40 churches, and the presidential palace.

2

Basílica del Voto Nacional

Neo-Gothic basilica with Galápagos animals as gargoyles — climbing the bell tower is adventurous.

3

Mitad del Mundo

The equator monument — stand with one foot in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern Hemisphere.

4

TelefériQo

Cable car to 4,100m up the Pichincha volcano — one of the highest viewpoints in the world.

5

Cotopaxi (Day Trip)

The highest active volcano in the world (5,897m) — hike to the refuge at 4,800m in breathtaking scenery.

Hotels in Quito

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

Über 700.000 Hotels
Kostenlose Stornierung
Bestpreis-Garantie
Hotels in Quito vergleichen

* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.

Reise-SIM für Quito

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Quito

Recommended travel time

June to September — drier months. Quito has 'eternal spring' year-round (10-20°C). December to May is slightly wetter.

Summer

10-21°C year-round

Winter

10-20°C, slightly more rain

How much does a holiday in Quito cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

20-35 €

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

90-250 €

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

Book a package holiday to Quito

Compare thousands of package holidays to Quito and find the best deals with flight & hotel.

Compare package holidays now

4 travel tips for Quito

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

Altitude sickness: At 2,850m, the thin air can be noticeable — start slowly, drink plenty of water, Coca tea helps.

Sunday = Ciclovía: On Sundays, main roads are closed to cyclists — rent a bike and experience the city car-free.

Old Town vs. Mariscal: Centro Histórico for culture during the day, Mariscal for nightlife and restaurants in the evening.

Cotopaxi Tour: Guided day tours from 50 € — book early, weather at the volcano is unpredictable.

Food & drink in Quito

These specialties you must try!

Locro de Papa — Creamy potato soup with cheese and avocado — Quito's soul food, especially on cool days.
Hornado — Whole pig roasted in a wood oven with Llapingachos (potato pancakes) — the festive dish of the highlands.
Ceviche de Camarón — Ecuadorian shrimp ceviche in tomato sauce — different from the Peruvian version, both delicious.
Empanada de Viento — Fried, airy empanadas sprinkled with cheese and sugar — best at the market.
Canelazo — Hot drink made from Naranjilla fruit, cinnamon, and liquor — perfect against the Andean air.
Suitable for:UNESCOVolcanoesEquatorColonialAltitudeAdventureAndes

Ready for Quito?

Plan your Quito holiday now with our free tools.

All destinations in EcuadorAll destinations in South America