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Quito · Mixed

The best of Quito in one morning

If you only have a few hours, this is your route. It covers five must-see stops in the old town, all a few minutes apart on foot, and leaves you in front of one of Quito's most famous views: García Moreno street with the Virgin of El Panecillo at the end. Best done in the morning, when the churches are open and the sun lights up the façades.

  • 5 stops
  • 1.3 km
  • 1 h 30 min
  • Free
Start with GPS Read about this stop 1
Quito's Plaza Grande seen from above, with gardens, palm trees and the central monument

The route

Stop by stop

  1. 1 Plaza GrandeQuito's living room: the government, the Church and the city council face each other around a garden of palm trees.
  2. 2 Basilica of La MercedThe tallest tower of colonial Quito and a Virgin to whom the city entrusts its earthquakes.
  3. 3 Church of La Compañía de JesúsSeven tonnes of legend and one certainty: few churches in the world shine so brightly inside.
  4. 4 San Francisco and the Quito SchoolIn this monastery, Indigenous and mestizo artists learned the trade that filled the Americas with Virgins and Christs.
  5. 5 Arco de la Reina and El Carmen AltoA colonial arch over the street of the Seven Crosses, the house of a saint and the best view of El Panecillo.

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Start with GPS

Guide mode

Walk it with GPS.

Open guide mode on your phone: you’ll see your position and the distance to each stop, and we’ll let you know when you arrive. Then read or listen.

Start with GPS

  1. Turn on your location

  2. Walk to the spot

  3. Check the photo and listen

What you’ll discover

The best of Quito in one morning

Quito's living room

The Plaza Grande and the four powers that surround it.

Golden art

La Compañía, La Merced and the Quito School at San Francisco.

The great view

The Arco de la Reina with El Panecillo in the background.

Keep exploring

More routes in Quito

Back to Quito
HistoryFrom Rumiñahui's fire to the cry of 1809 Mysteries & legendsQuito of devils, roosters and ghosts

Itineraries

How many days do you have in Quito?

We’ve planned it day by day for you: which routes to walk and in what order, what else to see and where to eat.

1

Quito in 1 day

All three routes in one full day: the highlights, the history and the legends at dusk.

See the itinerary 2

Quito in 2 days

A gentler pace: the three routes over two days, plus extra sights and where to eat.

See the itinerary 3

Quito in 3 days

The city in depth: one route a day, extra museums and neighbourhoods, and a day for good food.

See the itinerary