Exploring neighborhoods Quito
 

We have 2 full days in Quito at the end of May. Day 2 will be a tour of the city with a private guide.

When we travel, we love to capture the local colors by walking neighborhoods.

If we stay to the day light hours, don't take cameras etc, will we be safe to just walk around randomly, getting lost, and seeing how the locals live, eat, work?

Also, if anyone reading this post happens to have a recommendation for vegetarian restaurants in the Old City, that would be great.

I appreciate your help

We spent a month in Quito in 2013 living in a "local neighbourhood". I can't say we ever felt in anyway unsafe anywhere in the city during the day. Nighttime, is entirely different. The streets magically empty after around 9.00pm and so it can seem less safe although we came to no harm.

With only a day, i wouldn't have thought walking around randomly was the best way to see the city. I would be inclined to see what places aren't covered by your tour and schedule them for your extra day. For some "local action" check out the main market - great for exploring and the fruit juices on offer there have to be tasted. We return in May and i am already salivating at the thought of a tree tomato juice!

Since you have a private guide, I would just ask them where you might spend the next day on your own. Always a good idea to also ask your hotel about walking routes. There are also tip-based walking tours I believe, so that might be another option.

There may be some areas where even without a camera you are targets. Don't carry anything, certainly not a purse or backpack. Hide a bit of cash in your shoe or bra.

In general, stick with the center of the old town around the Plaza Grande and don't head too far south (getting much beyond Santo Domingo . La Ronda is a bit commercialized now but there are some interesting artisan shops..eg the tin man.

For a traditional restaurant I enjoyed Heladeria San Augustin in the old town and I love this little coffee shop at the edge of Mariscal, for me a very typical place.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura..._Province.html

You could also do the HO HO bus which stops for a while up at the Panecillo Hill, or go up the Teleferico early in the morning (but take a taxi for that one).

Thank you both for the feedback. It is much appreciated. I somehow believe I will have more energy than I probably will, getting into town around midnight!

Then the HOHO is a good idea, especially if you just Hop On!

HOHO makes me laugh! For some reason, it makes me think of 'clap on clap off' (an old commercial)