What To Do, What To See, And Which Vegan Restaurants To Visit In Quito, Ecuador

Quito is a busy and relentless city in Ecuador. It sits at a what feels like a high altitude for many and acts as a gate to international travel and travelers. While I’ve heard many tourists say that they didn’t enjoy Quito, I beg to differ. The vegan food was on point and affordable, the old town beautiful, and the art district incredibly intriguing. In this guide we will go over how to get to Quito from a neighboring country, what to do, see, eat, and experience in Quito, as well as safe and affordable ways to make your way around the massive city in Ecuador.

What To Know Before You Go To Quito, Ecuador

Before we dive into fun activities in the area, I want to mention a few things that I did to prepare before flying into the country, since the Quito airport is where most travelers first touch down.

Preventing Altitude Sickness In Quito

First, I went to a doctor in the US and asked for a prescription for solid altitude sickness pills. A few days before we left for Ecuador I realized that I couldn’t just stop by the pharmacy and pick them up; a prescription is needed. Quito sits at a stunning 9,350 feet, so I didn’t want to chance feeling extremely woozy as soon as I stepped out for the plane.

I wanted to try my best to prevent altitude sickness (it was imperative for hiking the Quilotoa loop) so I took 2 pills 24 hours before we flew and every day that we were in Quito, per recommendation of the doctor. Not everyone will get altitude sickness, but in recent years I’ve been more prone to it so pulling all my resources together (drinking lots of water, taking pills, spending time acclimatizing my body) was extremely important.

Break Up Congestion Before You Board The Plane

If you’re slowly traveling throughout South America and you’re used to the high altitude, this message isn’t for you. If you’re flying directly from the US or another area of lower elevation, try your best to break up any congestion that you are experiencing before your flight. We left the US during our winter, so it t’was the season of runny noses and mucus. I sometimes get ear pain/ear blockage from congestion on flights, so to avoid that I went to the sauna on the same day as my flight to try and clear my sinuses out. I also read online that it’s helpful to take Ibuprofen before flying to to make any experiences like this less painful, and with the combination of the two I landed feeling fine.

Be Prepared For Rainy Weather In Quito

Before we left the states I purchased a sturdy used rain jacket and gave it a wash with a resealing solution. I’ve used the jacket all over the country now and am so glad that I spent the extra time and money to make sure that my rain jacket was operating at peak performance. If you’d like to make your rain jacket more water repellent pick up some solution at your local adventure store. Now, without further ado, let’s get into transportation, Quito’s vegan food scene, and more.

1. Transportation To & From Qutio

While many travelers fly into the city to begin their journeys through Ecuador, Quito is a main hub that you’ll most likely come back to en route to another destination in the country, or on your way out. You may be wondering how to get to Quito from another area of the country. Getting to Quito from anywhere in Ecuador is made easy through Bookaway, a travel site that enables travelers to find, compare, and book bus, train, ferry, and taxi tickets online. They currently have listings for over 80 countries, but their offerings for destinations throughout Ecuador is expansive. Traveling by bus in Ecuador is common and most times will end up being the most affordable option. But don’t take it from me, compare prices now and see for yourself using Bookaway!

2. Visit The Best Vegan Restaurants In Quito

Quito, like most big cities, has a lot of vegan food offerings. Like the very very vegan vegans that we are, we planned our days around vegan food spots that we wanted to try and that we found via HappyCow. If you’re new to vegan travel or aren’t sure how to find plant-based food, I highly suggest using HappyCow (it works all over the world!) on your next trip. It’s a website and app that allows you to filter through vegan-friendly spots in most places.

Pro Tip: If you find yourself in a place where nothing is coming up on HappyCow, you don’t have access to the internet to find local vegan options or end up at restaurant with few veggie options, check out my guide for eating plant-based at restaurants that are not vegan-friendly.

In Quito it says that there are currently 8 completely vegan restaurants, but you can use the “Vegetarian” or “Veg-Options” filters to expand your findings. These were my favorites, divided into helpful categories.

Affordable & Healthy Vegan Food:

Govinda Gopal – I highly recommend going to here for lunch. They serve up a solid cafeteria-style lunch that includes a main meal, soup, bread, dessert and juice for the set price of $3. Everything is always vegetarian, and they can easily make most things vegan. When we went during the week the entire lunch was vegan (they even had an awesome vegan queso!). We went back for dinner the same day, where you choose what you want from a menu and they make fresh it on the spot. Dinners there are usually around $3.50 and the vegan empanadas were killer. We were delighted and impressed with both meals!

Quinua – This place was such a sweet gem in Quito. After taking a 9 hour overnight bus from Puerto Lopez back to the big city, we showed up here an hour before they were opening and I deflated at the realization. Seeing the defeated look on our faces, they let us in early and soon served us breakfast. It was a huge plate of rice, veggies, and a mock meat with a vegan empanada on the side and tea to sip on. The food was simple yet filling, delicious, and healthy! In addition to their menu, they have a lot of organic natural body products and snacks. Breakfast was great – I bet their lunch and dinner offerings are even better! 

Delicious Food With A View:

Tandana – This is an 100% vegan restaurant in a vibrant location has incredible mission and delicious food offerings. When you visit restaurant you’ll find that there is an observation deck just outside the building that offers epic city views, but the vistas don’t stop there. When you step inside, you’ll find that all tables face a huge glass window that has that same dramatic and lush overlook. This restaurant supports local social justice causes, including animal rights and indigenous support.

It is one of the more expensive ones in the area, but I ordered a satisfying portobello sandwich with seasoned fries for $6 and my partner got the falafel for around $4. There are more expensive options on the menu (like pizza or pad thai) that cost around $8-$12, but it’s totally worth it. This is a queer-friendly space that deeply cares about nature and their local community. Tandana was about a 17 minute walk from some of the actives listed below in La Floresta district of Quito.

Cute & Cozy Cafe:

Vegano De Altura – This place had a great vibe and I was enchanted with the huge mural that covers the wall. They have solid options for lunch and dinner including sandwiches, cheviche, pizza, empanadas and more. The menu is quite small but everything that we had was delicious, and they have many veganized dishes of traditional Ecuadorian food. They also offer coffee and sweets, and it’s clear that everything is made with high quality ingredients by hand.

Biggest & Most Diverse Vegan Menus In Quito:

El Maple – Located in the Mariscal suburb, this vegetarian restaurant has it all. Their menu carries on displaying their wide offering of traditional Ecuadorian dishes, Mexican food, Italian food, and more. They serve up lasagna, burgers, sandwiches, rice and veggies, pizza, nachos, soup, milkshakes, ice cream, and more. I was delighted to realize that they have a whole vegan pastry case full of pies, cakes, and small desserts. In addition, there is a full organic health shop inside of the restaurant stocked with medicinal teas, organic body products, mock meats, and plant-based snacks.

Donde Gopal – This spacious veggie restaurant serves an affordable and filling vegan almuerzo as well as an extensive menu that will make your mouth water. It has traditional Ecuadorian dishes as well as sandwiches, pizza, desserts, bread, and snacks. There is a cute clothing store connected the restaurant as well as an organic shop that sells a lot of incredible menstrual tools like reusable pads, menstrual journals, menstrual cups, and more. This is a great place to buy vegan-friendly and organic shampoo, soap, conditioner, toothpaste, low-waste body products/household products and more. They don’t have a complete breakfast menu but you can order juice, coffee, tamales, and empanadas before lunch.

Check Out More Vegan Restaurants In Quito

I can highly recommend each of the restaurants listed here in this blogpost, but don’t let that stop you from trying out some others. There are 8 fully vegan restaurants in Quito, so be sure to follow your heart (and stomach!) and try out what looks good to you. I sadly didn’t make it to the Formosa restaurant, but it is highly rated on HappyCow and will be the first place that I go if I ever return to Quito.

3. Walk Through Floresta, Quito’s Hippest Neighborhood

This cool part of Quito is called “La Floresta” due to the high concentration of wildflowers there. The Culture Trip informs us that about 20 years ago, “due to its attractive nature and low cost of the area”, a community of writers, artists, and creatives began to make a home there.

These days when you take a stroll through La Floresta you’ll be surrounded by chic cafes, art galleries, punk graffiti and impressive street art, large murals draping the walls, and classical homes. Here’s what you don’t want to miss while you’re there.

Enjoy The Food & Art Scene

My partner and I wandered into La Floresta district on accident, in search of vegan food. Obviously, as you can see from the beginning of the guide, we found what we were looking for and more. Vegano De Altura is located super close to all of these attractions, so it’s nice to stop by there for lunch or dinner before or after you’re done exploring the neighborhood.

Stop By An Abandoned Building In The Heart Of The Neighborhood

You may be surprised that there is an epic abandoned building right in the heart of this colorful and buzzing neighborhood. It’s decorated with graffiti and gushing with plants that decided to take control of the crumbling building. The building isn’t super special on its own, but the location and art that plasters the walls separating it from you make it something to pause and take in. The abandoned building is located right next to a tiny bookstore and sweet indie movie theatre/cafe, which leads me to my next suggestion.

Drink Coffe & Watch A Film At Ocho Y Media Theatre

The Ocho y Media Theatre was named after a 1963 film by Federico Fellini and has an alternative/independent style. It is said to offer a variety of programs in its three film salons including foreign films. It is part cinema and part cafe, and the two join forces to offer a bright and cozy bohemian hangout in Quito, even on the rainiest of days.

Visit A Punk/Activist Art Gallery

The NUDO street art project was something that my partner and I happily stumbled upon in La Floresta district. Looking to get off the damp sidewalk and out of the rain, the rainbow installation outside caught our eye. Upon arriving we learned that it is home to resident urban artists and even sells some artwork, pins, stickers, and more. The art was very edgy, political, and beautiful. The art project is located at Vizcaya y Lugo N24 – 323 esquina, 2do piso (second floor).

4. Spend A Day In Quito’s Historic District

The historic district in Quito is like another world, especially after coming from La Floresta neighborhood. Surrounded by old towering buildings and historic architecture, you’ll be transported to another time, if only for a few hours. Here there are too many churches to count, and a lot of them have free entrance or cost $5 per person.

A local told us that we couldn’t miss the Basilica del Voto Nacional (an incredibly impressive church), so we decided to go all out and pay $4 per person to climb to the top and take in sweeping views of Quito. I had no idea how exhilarating and exciting the tour would actually be! It is a self-guided tour, and you can either take a lot of steps up 15+ floors or take a ride in the elevator. You actually get to see what the huge arches that decorate the church look like from the inside, bask in the glow of incredible stain-glass art, and catch a bird’s eye view at the top of the church’s towers. Bring good walking shoes and leave your fear of heights at home for this one!

If you take this tour and still want more, my suggestion to you is to just wander around and see what you see. The area ends up being bigger than you think, and meandering around by foot (if you’re able) is a great way to explore the area.

Govinda Gopal, the restaurant that we discussed earlier in this guide, is conveniently located in the historic district and makes a mean vegan lunch, fresh bread, and snacks for the road. I highly recommend stopping when you’re ready to refuel.

5. Take A Day Trip From Quito To Cotopaxi, Quilotoa, Otavalo, Or Mindo

If you’re short on time or are a fan of day trips, I highly recommend visiting Otavalo, Mindo, Quilotoa, and Cotopaxi. (If you’re a hiker, check out my complete guide to hiking the Quilotoa Loop) I visited them all during my time in Ecuador and they each had something special and significant to offer.

If you’re frugal and up for an adventure, you can take local transportation to all of these places. But a day trip won’t be enough because public transportation is so slow. Instead, check out these guided day tours:

6. Visit The Casa Museo Trude Sojka, The Most Moving Museum That I’ve Ever Experinced In Quito

The House Museum of Trude Sojka is the most genuine, moving, and impressive museum that I’ve ever been to in my life. Ran by Trude’s daughter Anita and granddaughter Gaby, it is an emotional walk through the life of an incredible artist, woman, and Holocaust survivor. Trude’s daughter Anita has divided the house (that she still lives in) into different parts of Trude’s life that thoughtfully displays artwork that clearly expresses what she was feeling in each stage of her life as she worked through her own suffering, devastation, rebirth, liberation, and contentment. This is a living, breathing Holocaust memorial and beacon of hope and peace.

You must schedule a museum tour in advance and the intimate tours last about 2 hours. There is a suggested donation of $3-5 per person, and you can email the museum at casaculturaltrudesojka@gmail.com or text/call them on WhatsApp +593998733572 to schedule your tour or request more information. If you only have one day in Quito, this deserves to be at the top of your list.

7. Get Some Fresh Air & Reconnect With Nature In Quito’s Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park

If you’re looking for a break from the exhaust fumes, noise, and hustle of the city, catch your breath in the Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park. It’s one of the biggest parks in Latin America and is ideal for hiking, walking dogs (there is a dog park inside the park), jogging, having a picnic, playing with kids (there are multiple playgrounds) biking, and more. The park is bigger than New York’s Central Park, and in my opinion, way cooler. I was amazed how fast we went from the loud and crowded city into lush nature, surrounded by relaxing fields, healthy forest, and birds of all sorts.

Directions To Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park

When it comes to directions on how to reach the park, Community Hostel says: “The main entrance is in the street of Guanguiltagua. Here you can enter with a car (there are 2 main oarking areas). There are other entrance points: in the Manrique Lara Street (pedestrian and bike entrance), in the Mariano Calvache and Colegio 5 de Junio Stree close to the ‘Capilla del Hombre’ (Museum with art from Oswaldo Guayasamin) and the Fderico Paez Street (close to the main entrance). It is open from 5:30am to 5:30pm (for cars).”

Is Guangüiltagua Metropolitan Park Safe?

The park felt very safe during the day with security cameras monitoring some areas, an active staff on site, and panic buttons throughout the park. Our local host told us that it was best to go with no money or phone, but to me it felt like there was little threat of robbery. The nighttime is a different story though – only go during daylight hours and ask your host for additional safety tips.

8. Visit The “Middle Of The World” In Quito

I didn’t do this activity myself but it’s a must on many traveler’s bucket lists who come to Quito. Another backpacker told me that it was underwhelming, but if you’re set on going, here’s how you can visit the Middle of the World and enjoy some other guided activities in Quito:

Bonus Tip: How To Get Around In Quito

After reviewing all of these fun actives in Quito at your disposal, you’re probably wondering the best way to get around. There are a couple options that are budget-friendly and that we found most satisfying. It seems that there are few options when leaving the airport, so we took the $25 taxi ride into the city (this is the normal price for taxis leaving the airport and entering Quito).

Take An Uber, Skip The Taxis

Once we were there we found Uber extremely affordable, with most rides around the city only amounting to a few dollars or less. We were told by our host that Uber was the safest way to get around the city due to the tracking of your trip in the app. She told us that taxis were most dangerous and expensive, and that if we ever took one to be vigilant of the driver taking the long way around to run up the meter. EasyTaxi and Cabify were viable options as well.

Bus It Like A Local

If you’re traveling on a really (like really really) small budget, taking a local bus is your best option. I had to use my phone and Google Maps to find out which line we needed to take, but once onboard the ride was quite easy. It costs $0.35 to catch a ride on the local busses, making it extremely affordable. I felt safe riding during the day but would use more caution later in the day, and regardless of the time always be attentive to your valuables.

You Have Your Quito Trip Planned Out, Now What?

I spent a little over a month in Ecuador and fell in love with the country. Now I’m creating alternative guides to help you do the same. Check out my guides to Ecuador including some popular places like Baños (did I mentioned that I jumped off a bridge there?!) and the Quilatoa Loop.

If you’re not an Ecuador local, be sure to snag some travel insurance for your upcoming (or event current travels. I highly recommend SafetyWing which is great for digital nomads and budget travelers. If you’re using points to book your flight to Ecuador, you need to know about Point.Me. It’s an awesome resource that allows you to maximize your credit card points/miles when booking flights, and brings up flight options that use the smallest amount of points that Google Flights and other flight search engines won’t show you. 

And oh, if you any issues with your flight (delayed flight, missing baggage, etc.) be sure to file a FREE claim with AirHelp and get money back. I once had a flight delayed for a couple of hours and got reimbursed with AirHelp for $213. They speak 17 languages and their global staff of over 350 includes the world’s largest team of lawyers specialized in air passenger rights. Combined with local knowledge from a network of law firms across 30 countries, they are uniquely placed to help air passengers all around the world. That means that you can file a claim regardless of what country you’re in which airlines you use.

Stay unruly, and happy travels!