Bordered by the Presidential Palace, and the Cathedral, this square is certainly worth a stroll. Maybe you will see the presidential motorcade! A peaceful place to relax for a few minutes, but do not wear leather shoes, or you will be pestered by the shoeshine boys!
A lot of things go on here from protests to cultural activities, depending on when you are there. There are some great shops in very interesting dungeon like alcoves. Would have liked to have a beer and snack in a patio as it seems the perfect place but there was very little choice. One of the alcoves shops had nice food and drinks but was not reliably open and the alternatives seemed to be an expensive hotel but everyone was great and the plaza felt safe. Even the stray dogs were nice - especially a couple who were obviously bonded.
A pretty square to lounge about it, and a nice café on one side to drink teas made with real leaves. Less good is being asked often to have one's shoes polished which can be a bore after a while.
We enjoyed several visits to this fun, music-filled plaza near the President's Palace. Good restaurants nearby.
This Plaza Grande is almost as beautiful as the others I have seen in South America and Madri. I felt save in this place. It's very clean. You can seat and watch people coming and going. Interesting!
A good place to pass through and mingle with locals and tourists. There are some cafes at the corner with desserts, local sweets and coffee. Across the street the tourist center office is available for any questions, maps, souvenirs and clean bathrooms! a good stopover but not a lot to do except hang out and enjoy local sights and sounds.
A great square in the midst of government and church authority where Ecuadorans gather to relax, to protest, to play games, and sing. We enjoyed our many encounters with the people of Quito and Ecuador. Its a great place to relax between visits to the many historic sites within walking distance of the plaza. There are a number of good eateries in the vicinity as well.
While visiting old town, the Plaza Grande is a must. Bring your camera. The area is know for pick-pocket activity so know who's around you! It's not dangerous, but if not careful you could lose your purse or wallet.
The view from the Mayor's office was lovely. You get the "life and energy of the people of Ecuador" there.
A pleasant open square, with a few cafes, but nothing on the scale of similar squares in other South American / Spanish cities. Definitely worth visiting whilst in Quito, but don't expect to spend hours here. In terms of safety, like many of the key attractions in Quito, there was a very visible Police presence, which probably kept some of hawkers at bay. Be mindful of the unofficial shoe shine boys, who were working as a bit of a pack and who gave the impression of using shoe shining as a sideline to their main activity. We sat at a cafe and watched a couple of them edge closer and closer to a tourists camera bag, despite being repeatedly shooed away by the cafe owner.