Discover Quito

Quito brings together historic sites, cultural offerings, parks, and market routes, offering different ways to explore the city. The city was founded in the 16th century on the ruins of an Inca city and lies at an altitude of 2,850 m. When planning a stay, it is worth matching your interests with the specific themes and dates of the city’s offerings.

History and cultural venues

At the Museo Alberto Mena Caamaño, also known as the Museo de Cera, episodes from the independence movement are depicted with life-size figures. The presentation focuses on historical scenes and figures at full scale. If you are interested in this kind of presentation, it offers a specific point of connection with Quito’s history.

The Centro Cultural Itchimbía is a glass-and-steel building. Its program includes exhibitions, fairs, concerts, and international events. The range therefore extends from exhibitions to events with different cultural focuses. If you are planning to attend a particular concert or fair, check the current dates before your trip.

A central location opposite Plaza Grande has spaces for temporary exhibitions and historic libraries. This allows you to distinguish between different cultural themes: the episodes from the independence movement depicted at the Museo Alberto Mena Caamaño, changing exhibitions at the location opposite Plaza Grande, and the event program at the Centro Cultural Itchimbía.

Parks and city routes

The parks appeal to different interests. Parque Extremo has ramps for skateboarders and cyclists. Parque Lineal del Río Machángara follows the river and has paths surrounded by vegetation for walking and cycling. The two parks therefore have different features in focus: ramps at Parque Extremo and riverside paths at Parque Lineal.

A park’s history can also be an interesting part of exploring the city: Parque del Bicentenario opened in 2013 on the former site of Mariscal Sucre Airport. This year refers to the park’s opening; the site is described as a former airport. Along with the parks whose ramps or paths are the main features, it offers another point of interest shaped by history.

Market routes and local themes

The Quito Markets Route lists experiences involving medicinal herbs, traditional cleansing rituals, and tastings of herbal water. Fruit tastings are also included. Fresh produce from Ecuador and paila ice cream are also listed on the route. It therefore covers both herb- and ritual-related themes and items related to fruit and local produce. Check in advance which activities are taking place on your visit date and how participation is possible.

The Quito Markets Route also lists handicrafts, traditional handicrafts, and pottery. These are themes on the route; they do not automatically mean that a workshop or an offering is available at a specific market. The Ruta García Moreno has a different cultural focus: it takes place on the last Friday of every month in the Centro Histórico and includes a cultural program organized by the Zonal Manuela Sáenz. If you would like to coordinate your trip with this date, compare your planned travel dates with the current event date.

Visitor information during your stay

Four strategically located tourist information points support visitors during their stay in Quito and its surroundings. Services include tourist information materials, lockers, a handicrafts shop, and free internet. As service details may change, ask locally for current locations and the availability of services.

For your planning, it helps to first decide what you want to focus your visits on: an event with a specific date, an exhibition, the market route, or the different park offerings. This lets you compare your travel dates with the relevant program information before looking for a hotel in Quito.

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Go to the main travel overview: Ecuador.