1Old Town (UNESCO) + La Compañía church
Largest + best-preserved Spanish colonial historic centre in the Americas. Plaza Grande + Jesuit La Compañía (USD 5, 7-tonnes of gold leaf). 2 hours.
Photo: Mihai Petre, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) · Ecuador
12-Hour Layover in Quito: What To Do
By AirConnect Editorial
Photo: Atlantic Ambience on Pexels.
Quick answer
Can you leave the airport on a 12-hour layover in Quito?
Entry
Visa-free for 90 days for US, UK, EU, Canada, AU, NZ, Japan, Korea + 100+ nationalities. Yellow fever certificate required from endemic countries.
Into town
Aeroservicios bus to old town: 60 min, USD 8.
Time outside
6–8 hours exploring
Times from UIO arrivals. Check entry rules for your passport before you fly.
Top Quito: Where to Go
The sights in Quito worth leaving the airport for.
1landmark
TelefériQo cable car + Cruz Loma
4,100m cable car up Pichincha volcano — Andean panorama. USD 9. 1.5 hours. Altitude warning: 2,850m base.
3Mitad del Mundo (Equator monument)
0°0'0" monument 26km north of Quito — straddle both hemispheres. USD 5. Add Intiñan Museum for the real equator (USD 4). 1.5 hours.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
food
La Ronda alleyway + canelazo
Quito's most atmospheric old-town alley — colonial cafes + canelazo (hot cinnamon-aguardiente drink). USD 3-5. Best evenings.
Itinerary ideas for Quito
Pick the plan that fits the time between your flights.
12 hours
You are here12 hours in Quito
6–8 hours exploring
Insider tip
UIO is 18km from centre — but at 2,850m altitude even airport-only stops can give mild altitude headaches. For under 6-hour layovers: stay airside. For 8+ hours: Old Town + La Ronda. Aeroservicios bus (USD 8) is the budget option. Wear layers — chilly evenings.
Into Quito
Getting to Quito City Centre
| Mode | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aeroservicios bus to old town | USD 8 | 60 min |
| Taxi (yellow, metered) | USD 25–35 | 50–70 min |
| Cabify / Uber app | USD 20–30 | 50–70 min |
Eat like a local
Eat Like a Local in Quito
Llapingachos (potato cakes). Ceviche de camarón. Locro de papa (potato-cheese soup). Hornado (roast pork). Pilsener + Pilsener Light beer.
12 hours in Quito
12-Hour Itinerary
1
0–60 min
Clear passport control and head into Quito
Take Aeroservicios bus to old town (60 min, USD 8).
2
1–4 hrs
Old Town (UNESCO) + La Compañía church
Largest + best-preserved Spanish colonial historic centre in the Americas. Plaza Grande + Jesuit La Compañía (USD 5, 7-tonnes of gold leaf). 2 hours.
3
4–6 hrs
TelefériQo cable car + Cruz Loma
4,100m cable car up Pichincha volcano — Andean panorama. USD 9. 1.5 hours. Altitude warning: 2,850m base.
4
6–8 hrs
Eat like a local
Llapingachos (potato cakes). Ceviche de camarón. Locro de papa (potato-cheese soup). Hornado (roast pork). Pilsener + Pilsener Light beer.
5
8–10 hrs
Mitad del Mundo (Equator monument)
0°0'0" monument 26km north of Quito — straddle both hemispheres. USD 5. Add Intiñan Museum for the real equator (USD 4). 1.5 hours.
6
10–12 hrs
Back to Mariscal Sucre International Airport
Head back to Mariscal Sucre International Airport by Aeroservicios bus to old town (60 min, USD 8). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Your questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa for a 12-hour layover in Quito?
Visa-free for 90 days for US, UK, EU, Canada, AU, NZ, Japan, Korea + 100+ nationalities. Yellow fever certificate required from endemic countries. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Is 12 hours enough to leave Mariscal Sucre International Airport?
6–8 hours exploring. Getting into Quito by Aeroservicios bus to old town takes 60 min each way.
How do I get from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to Quito centre?
Aeroservicios bus to old town: 60 min, USD 8. Taxi (yellow, metered): 50–70 min, USD 25–35. Cabify / Uber app: 50–70 min, USD 20–30.
Where can I leave my bags in Quito?
Luggage storage near Mariscal Sucre International Airport and in Quito is listed in our Quito luggage storage guide.
Getting out of Mariscal Sucre International Airport
Skip the taxi rank and lock in your fare before you land.
Pre-book a fixed-price transfer
Our pickDriver waits at arrivals with your name, tracks your flight, and the price you see is the price you pay. English-speaking, fixed price. No surge, no haggling at 2am.
Check transfer pricesRenting a car instead? Compare rentals with free cancellation.Things to do in Quito
Lock in a few experiences before you go — the good ones sell out.
Tours, tickets & day trips
Our pickGetYourGuide has the deepest catalogue for Quito and free cancellation on most experiences — book now, decide later.
Browse QuitoJust need timed-entry attraction tickets in Quito? Try Tiqets.Want a private driver-guide? Trip.com Private Tours in Quito.Trains & buses from Quito
Compare overland routes — often cheaper, more scenic and skip the airport queue.
Photo: Engin Akyurt on Pexels.
Hotels near Quito Airport
With 12 hours, a day-use hotel room is worth it — shower, sleep, and recharge before your next flight.
Find hotels in Quito
Hotels, hostels & more · Expedia
Search hotels
Also useful for your Quito trip
Stay connected abroad — no roaming bills
Buy a travel eSIM before you fly and install it by QR code.
Airlines that fly to Quito
See each airline’s route map: where else it flies from UIO.
Aeroregional route mapAvianca Ecuador route mapLATAM Airlines Ecuador route mapAeromexico route mapAir Europa route mapAmerican Airlines route mapArajet route mapAvianca Costa Rica route mapAvianca El Salvador route mapCopa Airlines route mapDelta Air Lines route mapIberia route mapJetSmart Perú route mapKLM Royal Dutch Airlines route mapLATAM Airlines Colombia route mapLATAM Airlines Perú route mapQatar Airways route mapSKY Airline route map
Airport lounges at Mariscal Sucre Airport
Wait for your flight in a lounge — one membership covers lounges at airports across the country and worldwide.
Quito travel deals
Weekly layover, flight + hotel deals. No spam.
How a layover in Quito works
01
Check you can leave
Visa-free for 90 days for US, UK, EU, Canada, AU, NZ, Japan, Korea + 100+ nationalities. Yellow fever certificate required from endemic countries.
03
Back in time for your flight
Head back to Mariscal Sucre International Airport by Aeroservicios bus to old town (60 min, USD 8). Be at the airport at least 2 hours before your flight.
Ready for Quito?
Tours, tickets and day trips that fit between your flights.