Must-see attractions in Quito

  • Central nave and altar inside La Compania de Jesus (Church of the Society of Jesus).

    Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús

    Quito

    Capped by green-and-gold domes, La Compañía de Jesús is Quito’s most ornate church and a standout among the baroque splendors of the Old Town. Free guided…

  • TelefériQo

    Quito

    For spectacular views over Quito’s mountainous landscape, hop aboard this sky tram, one of the world's highest aerial lifts, that takes passengers on a 2…

  • Casa Museo Guayasamín

    Quito

    In the former home of the legendary painter Oswaldo Guayasamín (1919–99), this wonderful museum houses the most complete collection of the artist's work…

  • Capilla del Hombre

    Quito

    One of the most important works of art in South America, Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamín’s Capilla del Hombre stands next to the Casa Museo…

  • Palacio de Gobierno

    Quito

    The low white building on the northwestern side of Plaza Grande is the seat of the Ecuadorian presidency. Visitors can enter by joining a free guided tour…

  • Museos Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana

    Quito

    Newly reopened following a full-scale makeover, Museos Casa de la Cultura encompasses three museums in a single bright, modern space. The expansive Museo…

  • UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1900:  Pre-Columbian civilization, La Tolita culture - Ecuador, 5th century b.C.-5th century A.D. Golden sun mask. From La Tolita Island.  (Photo By DEA / G. DAGLI ORTI/De Agostini/Getty Images)

    Museo Nacional

    Quito

    Located in the circular, glass-plated, landmark building of the Casa de la Cultura is one of the country’s largest collections of Ecuadorian art, with…

  • Quito Cathedral, porch dome

    Catedral Metropolitana

    Quito

    On Plaza Grande's southwest side stands Quito's cathedral. Although not the most ornate of the Old Town’s churches, it has some fascinating works by…

  • QUITO, ECUADOR - JAN 1, 2015: Church and Monastery of St. Francis in the historic center of Quito. Historic center of Quito is the first UNESCO WOrld Heritage site; Shutterstock ID 255015763; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Museo Franciscano

    Quito

    To the right of the Iglesia de San Francisco’s main entrance, and within the Convent of St Francis, this museum contains some of the church’s finest…

  • La Virgen de Quito, El Panecillo, Quito, Ecuador

    El Panecillo

    Quito

    Topped by a 41m-tall aluminum mosaic statue of La Virgen de Quito (Virgin of Quito; completed in 1976), with a crown of stars, angelic wings and a chained…

  • Ecuador, Quito, Independence Square and Metropolitan Cathedral

    Plaza Grande

    Quito

    While wandering around colonial Quito, you'll probably pass through the Plaza Grande several times. Its benches are great for soaking up the Andean…

  • Monasterio Museo del Carmen Alto

    Quito

    The Monasterio Museo del Carmen Alto, built in 1653 and still home to an order of 20 Carmelite nuns, now houses an interesting museum. Exhibits explore…

  • Jardín Botánico

    Quito

    Parque La Carolina’s most popular attraction is this peacefully set botanical garden with native habitats covering páramo (high-altitude Andean grasslands…

  • Museo de la Ciudad

    Quito

    This first-rate museum depicts daily life in Quito through the centuries, with displays including dioramas, model indigenous homes and colonial kitchens…

  • Cumandá Parque Urbano

    Quito

    The Old Town's old bus terminal has been converted into a sparkling covered cultural center and sports complex with a volleyball court, soccer pitch,…

  • Casa del Alabado

    Quito

    Housed in an elegant colonial-era home, this privately owned museum with contemporary displays showcases an impressive collection of pre-Columbian…

  • Quito Observatory

    Quito

    Opened by President García Moreno in 1864, this four-sided observatory is the oldest on the continent. It houses a museum of 19th-century pendulums,…

  • Parque Itchimbia

    Quito

    Sitting high on a hill above the Old Town, this grassy park boasts magnificent views of the city, running and cycle tracks and a children's playground. It…

  • Santuario de Guápulo

    Quito

    In an elegant square in Guápulo stands the neighborhood’s centerpiece, the 17th-century Santuario de Guápulo, surrounded by sheer valley sides. It has an…

  • Plaza San Francisco

    Quito

    Walking from the Old Town’s narrow colonial streets into this open plaza reveals one of the finest sights in all of Ecuador: a sweeping cobblestone plaza…

  • La Ronda

    Quito

    La Ronda is a colorful cobblestone street featuring colonial houses mostly given over to souvenir shops, bars and restaurants, and carefully restored for…

  • Centro de Arte Contemporáneo

    Quito

    Inside a beautifully restored former military hospital, this excellent museum showcases cutting-edge multimedia exhibits as well as top modern-art shows…

  • Museo Alberto Mena Caamaño

    Quito

    Get a glimpse of Quito’s early colonial history through wax figures depicting the city's key events, including the massacre of August 2, 1810 when some…

  • QUITO, ECUADOR- MARCH 20, 2015: Inside La Carolina park in Quito, Ecuador. Beautiful green outdoors with some tall office buildings marking the city presence.; Shutterstock ID 320378906; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

    Parque La Carolina

    Quito

    North of Mariscal Sucre lies expansive Parque La Carolina. The attractively landscaped park fills on weekends with families who come out for paddleboats,…

  • Plaza Santo Domingo

    Quito

    Plaza Santo Domingo, near the southwest end of Calle Guayaquil, is a regular haunt for street performers. The plaza is beautiful in the evening, when the…

  • Convento de San Diego

    Quito

    Overlooking the Old Town, this beautiful 17th-century Franciscan convent sits in a quiet courtyard behind thick walls. Inside, you’ll find outstanding…

  • Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco

    Quito

    Construction of the convent, the city’s largest colonial structure, began only a few weeks after the Spanish establishment of Quito in 1534, but wasn't…

  • Centro Cultural Metropolitano

    Quito

    Just off Plaza Grande, this beautifully restored building houses the municipal library and lecture rooms, and hosts temporary art exhibitions.

  • Convento San Agustín

    Quito

    This monastery is a fine example of 17th-century architecture, with unusual Moorish arches decorated with hundreds of golden pineapples. Many of the…

  • Basílica del Voto Nacional

    Quito

    On a hill in the northeastern part of the Old Town looms this massive Gothic church, Quito's largest, built over several decades beginning in 1892. Rather…

  • Iglesia La Merced

    Quito

    This 18th-century church boasts the highest tower in colonial Quito and a wealth of fascinating art, including paintings that show volcanoes erupting over…

  • Mirador de Guápulo

    Quito

    The views from the lookout platform are magnificent: on a clear day, you can see Volcán Cayambe and Cerro Puntas as well as the upscale suburb of Cumbayá …

  • Capilla de Cantuña

    Quito

    The Cantuña Chapel houses a small art collection from the Quito School. It’s shrouded in one of Quito’s most famous legends, that of the indigenous…

  • Cima de la Libertad

    Quito

    Up the flanks of Volcán Pichincha, this monument offers one of the finest views of the city. It was built at the site of the May 1822 Batalla de Pichincha…

  • Monasterio Museo Santa Catalina de Siena

    Quito

    Guided tours (in Spanish) of the museum at this fully functioning Dominican monastery, founded in 1592, take in 18th-century religious paintings, some of…

  • National Assembly

    Quito

    Between Parque Alameda and Parque El Ejido stands the National Assembly building, the equivalent of the Houses of Parliament or the Capitol Building. A…

  • Parque La Alameda

    Quito

    Breaking up the New Town's sea of concrete and glass is this welcome splash of greenery, containing the Quito Observatory and a small boating lake. A few…

  • Museo del Agua-Yaku

    Quito

    Housed in a stunning modern glass building on the lower slopes of Pichincha, at the site of the city's first water distribution tanks, this museum tells…

  • Parque El Ejido

    Quito

    Northeast of La Alameda, the pleasant, tree-filled Parque El Ejido is a popular spot for impromptu games of soccer and volleyball. The park teems with…

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