Perched at 2,800 metres above sea level with a beautiful backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the city of Quito is a great place to spend a few days before discovering the rest of Ecuador’s mainland or the enchanting Galapagos Islands. Whilst three days is generally a good amount of time to see the city’s best bits, it is good to have some insider knowledge.

During my six months living in Quito, I explored the ins and outs of the city, and got to know the places that aren’t on the tourist trail. The thing I love about Quito is the variety of neighbourhoods – in La Floresta you can meet owners of local art galleries and have a coffee in a beautiful old cinema, whilst in Parque Metropolitano you can hike on nature trails with views of Quito. Ecuador is small so day trips from Quito are also a great option, whether it’s perusing South America’s largest indigenous market or spotting rare bird species in the cloud forest.