Quito, a huge metropolis in the foothills of the Andes, is home to several historical sites and cultural landmarks. The largest and best-preserved historic centre in the Americas may be found in the capital of Ecuador, which was founded by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century on the site of an ancient Incan city.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Quito
Many churches, museums, and colonial palaces line the cobblestone walkways, each showcasing a unique blend of European and indigenous architectural styles.
Nightclubs, hip restaurants, and upscale boutiques are just some of the city’s many contemporary highlights. Quito’s many parks and plazas are lovely places to unwind and plot out your next adventure.
1. Basilica del Voto Nacional
Ecuador’s greatest basilica is the best example of neo-Gothic architecture in the Americas, therefore you should definitely check it out. The concrete cathedral’s construction started in 1887, and it was designed to resemble Notre Dame de Paris.
The building is decorated not with gargoyles but with native creatures of Ecuador, such as monkeys, iguanas, tortoises, and pumas. The interior is notable for its mosaic floor and an altar dedicated to the Virgin Mary in a side chapel. The views of Quito and the surrounding volcanic mountains are well worth the effort of climbing the tower to reach them.
2. Parque La Carolina
The Park La Carolina is a favourite among both visitors and natives as a place to unwind and have fun in Quito. The large piece of land in the heart of the city’s commercial core was transformed from a farm into parkland in the 1940s.
There are a lot of places to get some exercise, including on a running track, cycling path, basketball court or soccer pitch. Leisurely strolls are encouraged on manmade islands in a lake. There are also paddle boats for rent. The Jardin Botanico, located near La Carolina, showcases flora native to all of Ecuador’s biomes. Around 1,200 varieties of these tropical blooms are on display in a spacious orchidarium.
3. Plaza Foch
Plaza Foch is the epicentre of Quito’s nightlife. The streets around the square are home to dozens of taverns, nightclubs, and restaurants. You can also find a lot of the locals hanging out there. The place to be for young people from Thursday through Saturday.
This section of Quito is more expensive than others in the city, but the wide variety of fun things to do here makes up for it. Live music, karaoke, and dancing ensure that everyone has a good time. You may also discover some of Quito’s top pizza joints, tapas lounges, and fine dining establishments in and around Plaza Foch.
4. La Capilla Del Hombre
La Capilla Del Hombre is an art museum created by renowned Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamn and dedicated to the people of Latin America. The startlingly modern building may be found in Bellavista, perched on a hill above the city.
Guayasamn depicted the struggle of his people against political oppression through paintings and sculpture. The “Chapel of Man,” finished three years after his death in 1999, is an ideal setting for his deeply touching paintings. There is a larger collection of the artist’s work and other works from pre-Columbian and colonial Ecuador in the nearby Museo Guayasamn.
5. Calle La Ronda
La Ronda, one of the few remaining pre-Columbian streets in Quito, provides a nice alternative to the city’s ubiquitous taxis and tour buses. Less than three city blocks in length, the pedestrian-only route is ideal for a leisurely stroll.
La Ronda was revitalised in 2007 and now features a collection of art galleries, boutiques, and family-owned cafes. Residents also received funding for home improvement grants. Above the present-day cobblestone path are charming wrought-iron balconies adorned with flower pots and flags.
6. TeleferiQo
From the heart of the city, travellers can quickly reach the top of Cruz Loma, located on the eastern slope of the Guagua Pichincha Volcano, via the recently built TeleferiQo tramway.
The gondola ride’s starting point is inside the brand-new VulQano amusement park, which is also a major draw for visitors. Be sure you’re used to the altitude before attempting the aerial tramway in Quito.
The ride in the six-person gondola up 1,100 metres (3,620 feet) takes about ten minutes. At the peak, you can rest and get your bearings at the café. Wearing warm clothes will allow you to take in the stunning cityscape without being too cold.
7. El Panecillo
The city of Quito is built on a series of hills, so there are beautiful views to be had almost anywhere you go. nonetheless, the view from El Panecillo is so expansive that it demands your attention. The hill, which overlooks the city from all directions and was named after the Spanish bread panecillo, is situated in the city’s geographic centre.
Although tourists can walk to the peak of El Panecillo, most opt to take a taxi. The peak is crowned with a massive statue of the Blessed Mother. It is noteworthy for depicting the Lady with wings and is made from 7,000 individual pieces of aluminium. This style of depiction is very common in the northern Andes.
8. Plaza Grande
It would take a full day to explore the Plaza Grande and still not see everything there is to see. Royalty, dictators, and presidents have all ruled from the palaces and government buildings that surround Plaza Grande since the early 1600s.
The former presidential house Carondelet is now a museum, while the Cathedral of Quito dates back to the 16th century; it is Ecuador’s oldest Catholic church. The Hotel Plaza Grande and the Archbishop’s Palace are both accessible to the general public. The Heroes de la Independencia stands in the plaza as a tribute to the people of Ecuador who fought for independence from Spanish.
9. San Francisco Church
San Francisco de Quito was constructed in the 1570s, making it one of the first churches in the Americas. It took over 150 years to build, and architects borrowed ideas from Renaissance, Mannerist, Mudejar, and Baroque styles.
Despite bearing the name of the patron saint of ecology, Saint Francis, this church’s nave, chapels, and altar are lavishly decorated with gold. In 1734, Bernardo de Legarda of Quito created the winged Mary that presides over the main altar. The choir, with its stunning Moorish décor from the 16th century, can be accessed through the nearby museum.
10. La Compania de Jesus
The most magnificent cathedral in Quito, La Compania de Jesus displays the wealth of the influential Jesuit order in the region during the 16th century. The elaborate interiors of this building, which took 160 years to complete beginning in 1605, have made it famous.
The inside of the church, including the walls, ceiling, and eleven altars, was decorated with around a half a tonne of gold. Every inch of the tall nave is covered in either gold leaf, gilded plaster, ornate mosaics, or wood sculptures. Mariana de Jess de Paredes, the patron saint of Ecuador, was born in Quito and her ashes are entombed beneath the high altar.
