For a mere $4USD you can buy ticketed access to the basilica main area as well access to the towers. It's a great way to explore the edifice and can get a little interesting when you get near the top on the steep ladder. Some gift shops available as well as a couple of small cafes in the towers that offer snack service and craft beer and wine. When do you ever get to drink in church??

The Basílica looks like it was built hundreds of years ago but was, in fact, completed in the late 20th Century. There is therefore not a lot of history here, but it’s a soaring structure that dominates Old Quito. The most interesting feature is gargoyles shaped like local animals. I did not have enough time to climb the towers and I think a tour by a knowledgeable guide would be helpful to appreciate it. I liked that it was empty on a weekday morning when I visited.

The Basilica was the start of our walking tour of the Old Town. The art and history of this church are fascinating. But the best fun was being able to climb the infrastructure and see both the interior and out to the rooftop and amazing views of Quito. If you are already a little breathless from the city altitude, there is an elevator. There are also shops and rest stops on a few floors.

Really enjoyed this Basilica. The lines are so classic European cathedral, I almost forgot I was in Ecuador. I climbed up into the block towers and the views were outstanding. Tip, take the elevator up part way if you don't want to walk up the whole way. A sunning Rose Window and just enjoy the majesty of the place.

You need to pay to visit the Basilica (worth it) and then go back outside to the other end of the building to re-enter for the tower climb (really worth it). The views of the city are great and you can even get coca tea in the clock tower concession. Weird but cool!