I loved Quito, Ecuador’s pretty colonial capital city. Tt’s a relaxed place with a slow pace of life but brimming with culture, beautiful architecture, friendly locals and intriguing attractions. Here are my top things to do in this wonderful city…
1. Explore Quito’s Old Town
The Old Town is a beautiful must-see part of Quito. Known as the city’s historic district, it features attractive Colonial squares, a large collection of fabulous restaurants and places to shop. Honestly those hilly cobblestone streets are home to some of the most unique architecture you’ll see in this part of the world, especially the awe-inspiring religious buildings. Don’t miss the Presidential Palace if you want to explore the area on foot, but you can also use the hop-on-hop-off bus and enjoy the numerous churches, museums, and many other sites along the way.
2. Eat Ceviche
You can’t visit Quito and not eat ceviche – this is one of their most famous dishes. You can find it in numerous cafes, diners, and restaurants, and it consists of fresh raw fish that has been cured in juices such as lemon and lime juice. Because it’s raw, it should always be freshly prepared and eaten immediately. It is usually seasoned with chili peppers, onions, and numerous spices.
3. Take a Trip to Fundacion Iglesia de la Compañía
If you love history, old churches, or architecture, you’ll love this beautiful place. It is a Jesuit church that offers both Baroque and Quiteno-colonial art, resulting in some of the most ornate fixtures found in all of Ecuador. Between the artwork, the gilded columns, and the super-fancy golden altars, you won’t run out of things to see while you’re here. Intricately designed from top to bottom, you’ll have to spend at least an hour inside of the church to view everything it has to offer. Every inch of the place is filled with beauty, and it costs next to nothing to get in – usually less than $6.
4. Check Out the Craft Beer at Bandido Brewing
If you’re a beer aficionado, you owe it to yourself to visit Bandido Brewing Company. In addition to offering tons of craft beers that truly offer something for everyone, you can also eat some great pizza and enjoy the décor because this brewing company is housed in a facility that used to be a convent! The atmosphere is super friendly, the beer selection is fantastic, and the prices are very reasonable, making this a great place to visit when you’re worn out from visiting tourist attractions and need to relax and get something to eat and drink.
5. Take a Ride on the TelefériQo in Quito
This cable car goes all the way up to 12,000 feet (4,000 meters) and provides you with some of the most extraordinary views of the city you can imagine. While you’re up in the air, you can see far away and enjoy some magnificent buildings and tourist attractions. If the skies are clear, you can even see Cotopaxi and a few other volcanoes that are located near the city. Once you get to the very top, you can enjoy the gorgeous panoramic views and even hike to the Pichincha Volcano and find one of several cafes to enjoy some coffee and relax for a while.
6. Visit the Monastery of San Francisco
The Plaza de San Francisco is a 16th century Roman Catholic San Francisco church and monastery that offers a tall, very regal-looking building, great architecture, and a perfect place to visit if you love history. It is set on a cobblestone street and is conveniently located near numerous restaurants and other attractions, mainly because in pre-Columbian times, it was a successful commercial center. Most of it dates back to the 1530s, and you can take the one-hour guided tour if you want to learn more about it and don’t wish to walk through it by yourself.
7. Stay at Casa Gangotena
This grand upscale boutique hotel is housed in a gorgeous three-story building complete with 31 rooms, and as well as a first-class service it also offers fine colonial style furnishings combined with modern amenities. The hotel is certainly an eye-catcher, especially with its extraordinary design and the fact that it takes up an entire block! When you’re in Quito and want to stay somewhere very unique then head to Casa Gangotena.
8. Check Out the City Views at El Panecillo
Quito is indeed an extraordinary city, and one of the easiest ways to view what it has to offer is to visit El Panecillo, which is a very large hill that has a winged Virgin Mary at the very top. Located near the old town, it is easy to get to if you use a taxi, and once you get to the top, you’ll be amazed at what you see down below. The Virgin Mary statue is one of the iconic features of this beautiful city, and the hill itself is one of the most popular tourist attractions there.
9. Dine at Cuchara de San Marcos
This restaurant also has a hotel nearby and offers delicious foods that stress more natural ingredients. The atmosphere is charming, the staff is very professional and knowledgeable, and the prices are very reasonable. Their specialty is Italian food, so you can enjoy some of the best carbonara, alfredo, and cappuccino that you’ve ever tasted!
10. Go to Museo Nacional
This is a must-see attraction in Quito as you’ll get to find out about the about the history of the area as well as a collection of interesting Art & cultural artefacts throughout history. Keep a special eye out for the pre-Columbian gold and ancient ceramics on display here.
Written by Becky Moore of GlobalGrasshopper.com
