Your English-language guide to Metro Q, Ecuador's first metro. A single line runs 22.5 km entirely underground through 15 stations, linking Quitumbe in the south with El Labrador in the north in 34 minutes — a trip that takes well over an hour and a half by road.
New to the Quito Metro? These are the pages most visitors need first.
Transfers to the bus corridors are not free — each system charges its own fare.
UNESCO World Heritage since 1978. The San Francisco monastery and square, La Compañía, Plaza Grande and La Ronda are all minutes from San Francisco station.
Quito's largest green space: botanical garden, Vivarium and boating lake, ringed by the financial district. Served by La Carolina and Iñaquito.
The Quito Astronomical Observatory, founded in 1873 and one of the oldest in the Americas, sits in La Alameda park, with the Basílica del Voto Nacional close by. Get off at La Alameda.
| Day | Opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday to Friday | 05:30 – 23:00 |
| Saturday | 07:00 – 23:00 |
| Sunday and holidays | 07:00 – 22:00 |
Trains run roughly every 5–10 minutes depending on demand. Children under 5 travel free.
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| About the Metro | History, technical data, the trains, the planned extension |
| Line 1 | The route, the 15 stations, connections, interactive map |
| Stations | All 15 stops with links to individual station guides |
| Map | Interactive map, station order, journey times |
| How to use it | Step by step, from buying a card to leaving the station |
| Fares | Prices, who qualifies for reductions, the Metro Q card |
| Schedule | Hours by day, frequency, peak times, holidays |
| What to see | Sights, museums and parks station by station |
| Historic centre | The old town in detail, with a half-day route |