Quito vs. Bogota: Which Andean Capital Deserves Your Vacation Days?
I've lost count of how many times someone has asked me: "Should I go to Quito or Bogota?" And every time, I give the same slightly annoying answer: it depends. But let me actually break this down properly, because after spending serious time in both cities, the differences are bigger than most people realize.
Both sit at punishing elevations — Quito at 2,850m and Bogota at 2,640m. Both will knock the wind out of you on day one. Both have colonial old towns, incredible food scenes, and serve as launching pads for mind-blowing nature. But that's where the similarities end.
Getting There
Quito's Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) sits 37 km outside the city, which is frankly annoying. The fixed-rate taxi costs $25-30 from the counter inside arrivals, or you can grab the Aeroservicios shuttle for $8. Either way, you're looking at 45-60 minutes to reach the center.
Bogota's El Dorado (BOG) is much closer to the action — about 13 km from the historic center. But Bogota's traffic is legendary for all the wrong reasons, so that shorter distance can still eat an hour during rush.
Winner: Bogota (barely, and only if you avoid peak hours)
Old Town Character
Here's where Quito pulls ahead and doesn't look back. Quito was the first city ever inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — in 1978, the same year as Krakow and the Galapagos. And you feel it. Plaza Grande is flanked by the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, and the Archbishop's Palace, all within spitting distance.
The star attraction? La Compania de Jesus Church, covered in 7 tonnes of gold leaf inside. Entry is $5 and no photos are allowed, which honestly makes the experience better — you just stand there, mouth open. The Basilica del Voto Nacional, with its gargoyles shaped like Galapagos iguanas and tortoises, charges $2 and gives you panoramic city views from the clock towers.
Bogota's La Candelaria is charming and covered in street art, but it doesn't have the same density of jaw-dropping colonial architecture. It's grittier, more bohemian. That's its appeal.
Winner: Quito (and it's not even close for colonial architecture)
Food
I'll be honest — neither city is going to win a culinary heavyweight fight against Lima or Mexico City. But both punch above their weight.
Quito's move is the almuerzo — a set lunch at local restaurants that includes soup, main course, juice, and dessert for $2.50-3.50. Look for signs saying "Almuerzo $3" around the old town. The locro de papa (potato soup with avocado and cheese) at Café Mosaico, a hillside restaurant overlooking the old town, is something I still think about. Mains there run $8-15.
And then there's the evening scene on La Ronda Street, a narrow cobblestone lane that comes alive after 7PM with artisan chocolate shops and canelazo bars. That hot cinnamon canelazo for $2-3? Absolute lifesaver on a cold Quito night.
Bogota's street food scene is arguably more exciting — arepas, empanadas, and ajiaco (chicken and potato soup) are everywhere and cheap. But for sit-down dining, Bogota's restaurant scene has exploded in Zona G and Usaquen.
Winner: Tie (Quito for value, Bogota for variety)
Day Trips
This is where Quito destroys the competition. You've got Cotopaxi — one of the world's highest active volcanoes at 5,897m, just 50 km south. Day tours run $60-80 and include hiking to the refuge at 4,864m. The mountain bike descent through the paramo grasslands afterward is a rush.
Then there's the TeleferiQo cable car ($8.50) that takes you to 4,050m on the flanks of Pichincha volcano. The Mitad del Mundo equator line is 23 km north — $5 for the monument, another $5 for the Intinan Museum with its quirky equator experiments.
The Mindo cloud forest is 2 hours away, dropping 1,600m in elevation into a biodiversity hotspot with 500+ bird species. And the Quilotoa crater lake — that turquoise lagoon at 3,914m inside a volcanic caldera — is one of Ecuador's most spectacular sights. You can kayak on it for $3-5.
Bogota has Zipaquira's salt cathedral and Villa de Leyva, both excellent. But the sheer variety around Quito is unmatched.
Both cities carry a Level 2 advisory (Exercise Increased Caution). In Quito, pickpocketing is common around Plaza Grande, La Mariscal, and on trolleybuses. Use a money belt and avoid walking alone after dark in La Mariscal. Uber and inDrive work well for safe transport — short trips cost $2-5.
Bogota has improved dramatically but still has tougher neighborhoods to navigate. Honestly, I've felt slightly safer in Quito, but both require standard urban awareness.
Winner: Quito (marginally)
Budget
Quito wins here partly because Ecuador uses the US dollar — no mental currency conversion, no getting ripped off at exchange booths. A $3 almuerzo, $2 church entries, $8.50 cable car ride — everything feels cheap by American standards.
Bogota is also affordable, but the Colombian peso fluctuation means your budget can shift. Accommodation in both cities is comparable — mid-range hotels run $40-80/night.
Winner: Quito (USD convenience plus genuinely low prices)
The Altitude Factor
Both cities will mess with you, but Quito at 2,850m is 200m higher than Bogota. Locals swear by coca tea (legal in Ecuador) for adjusting. If you feel dizzy or nauseous, rest — symptoms usually pass in 24-48 hours. Skip alcohol on day one.
Winner: Bogota (slightly lower, slightly easier)
The Verdict
Category
Quito
Bogota
Getting There
Close
Winner
Old Town
Winner
Close
Food
Tie
Tie
Day Trips
Winner
Good
Safety
Winner
Close
Budget
Winner
Good
Altitude
Close
Winner
If you're a first-time South America visitor with 7-10 days, Quito is the better choice. The UNESCO old town is more spectacular, the day trip options are insane, and using USD eliminates currency headaches. Plus, it's your gateway to the Galapagos.
If you want more of a city experience — nightlife, street art culture, a bigger food scene — Bogota has Quito beat.
But if I had one week and could only pick one? I'm getting on the plane to Quito. That $3 almuerzo and the view from 4,050m on the TeleferiQo — no contest. For more details, see our Quito travel guide.
