Quito sits at nearly 2,850 meters, so take it slow on your first day, drink plenty of water and go easy on the alcohol until you've adjusted.
Discover Local Quito: What to Do Around Mercure Quito
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Quito, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Quito in 5 picks
La Ronda
This cobbled colonial street lights up at dusk with lanterns, live music and canelazo stalls. Duck into a doorway workshop to watch an artisan press chocolate or bind a book by hand, then grab an empanada de viento fresh off the griddle.
Centro Histórico de Quito
One of the largest and best-preserved historic centers in the Americas, all gilded churches and steep stone streets. Start at Plaza Grande, then follow the crowds into La Compañía de Jesús to see its gold-leaf interior glow.
Mercado Central de Quito
Skip the tourist menus and eat where the market porters eat. Locro de papa (potato and cheese soup) and fresh-pressed juices line the stalls from early morning, and nobody looks twice if you eat standing up.
Mitad del Mundo
Straddle the equator line at the monument built to mark 0°0'0", about 25 minutes north of the city. Bring a coin and try the egg-balancing trick locals swear only works right on the line.
TelefériQo
Ride the cable car up the slopes of Pichincha volcano for views over the whole Quito valley. Mornings are clearest before the clouds roll in, so go early and pack a jacket - it's cold up there even on a warm Andean day.
FAQ
It's about a 40-minute drive from the historic center, but it's an easy half-day trip if you want to say you've stood in both hemispheres at once.
Start with locro de papa or hornado - both are Quito comfort food staples you'll find in nearly every market and traditional restaurant.
Where to sleep
See Mercure hotels in Quito, all within reach of these picks.