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We visited the castle with a group of 15 friends. The tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. She gave us lots of info about the history and architecture as well as events that are held there. Loved it!

We went here to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. The food was so delicious. The portions were very generous and the service was superb! The grounds are impeccable and beautiful. I highly recommend going here for dinner or attending any function that is held here.

We attended the Garden Party fundraiser and had a great time! The castle and the grounds were amazing, and the event was a lot of fun.

The history of Oheka Castle is literally captured right on its very walls in photos and momentos. The tour guide takes you through the history as well as the various rooms and gardens at Oheka Castle. The tour weaves you through the years of being built by its original owner, through its varied past and onto it's current state of restored beauty.

We wanted to go on the tour, but it was fully booked for the next 4 days. Well, our only way to gain entrance to Oheka Castle was to make a lunch reservation at their restaurant. We told the gatekeeper that we had a lunch reservation, and the gate swung wide open for us to enter. The food at the restaurant was delicious and reasonably priced at lunch. Because there was no event scheduled at Oheka Castle that day, restaurant guests were welcome to wander around and take photos in the beautiful formal gardens, grand double staircase, library, ballrooms, and other main level rooms.

Wanted to visit Oheka for awhile as it is part of Long Island history and is seen in quite a bit of tv/film footage. Made the tour reservation 2 months in advance as tour is only available once a day, and if they do have events, then you might not be able to tour the castle. Just to gave you an idea, few months ago I wanted to visit and called and was informed all the tours were booked 1 months ahead. By the way, you WILL need reservation to get inside the gate either restaurant, tour, or staying there overnight. They have someone that checks the name before anyone can enter but once you enter it is very relaxed feeling. The day we went, it was pouring down rain before the tour but was sunny once the tour started. We also parked in the 2nd lot, which was self parking. The actual tour itself was 1 hour, but before or after that you are free to wonder around the ground area. If the weather is good, I can totally see spending easily 1-2 hours walking inside & outside taking photos. The tour does include viewing one of the suite rooms, we saw the Carnegie suite. Also included is the ballroom, the new ballroom that was added on later for events, the restaurant, the library for Otto, and Addie's room which is like a sitting room. Aside from that you are shown various photos with brief history. Except the structure, almost all the items were new, not original to the castle. Our guide knew the brief history but if someone asked more detailed information, she didn't know. The Charlie Chaplin room was reserved that day so we didn't see it. Finally, you are treated to tea and cookies as bonus to the tour. Since there is a limit on amount of people, they do not rush you which is great considering the tour is $25!

Once we got past the gatekeeper who seemed intent on trying to discourage us from visiting, we had a great time. Beautiful castle, grounds and very friendly staff. Terrific lunch, salads, soups and sandwiches $10-$18 range.

It's one of the largest family owned castles in the country. It's beautiful. If you're on Long Island it would be wonderful to see.

ONe of the most Famous Gold Coast Mansions of today as well as yesterday. You must take the tour to discover this incredible mansion. You must hear the story of the man that built it and how it has been restored. See for yourself why a Jonas bother was married there and Royal Pains is often filmed there. Discover which famous singer had a video shot there.Best of the LI Mansions and j a short drive out o Manhattan.

There is a lot of history at the castle and it is just lovely to walk around and learn about it. Everyone who works there is very helpful and informative.

I love this home.. Wish I could have seen it in its heyday! Everyone there is very friendly. First went there when I was working on a tv show that was filming there, and got an exclusive behind the scenes look at everything. I'd love to stay overnight!

So this is how the other half lived.:) Tour has great- guide was well versed and very informative. At the end of the tour there was coffee, tea, and treats- a lovely touch. The tour is included with packages if you stay at the hotel.

This property will take you back to a time when government taxes were not an issue...reminding me of the Mansions along the Cliff Walk in New Port, RI

My wife and I drove for more than an hour to visit this place. When we got there, a lady at the gate told us we couldn't drive in, not even to have a quick look at the building from the outside. I explained that I was from England and would not have the opportunity in the near future to visit this historic landmark again, but she said that we'd have to do an official tour. I explained that I was very interested in the house from an academic point of view, but nothing could move her. I asked if she could call someone to try and get permission for us to drive briefly up to the hotel and have a quick look, but she wouldn't do that either. She was very polite the whole time, but I'm sure she could have called someone to let us have a quick look from the outside. Sometimes exceptions have to be made and a little flexibility is a good thing. We drove away very disappointing. As an academic from the UK living on Long Island, such buildings are extremely interesting to me; especially as most historic buildings are allowed to rot and collapse in the USA. It's sad that they wouldn't let us in for a few minutes, especially after driving such a long way. Perhaps we should have checked their website first, but we didn't think for one moment that we wouldn't be allowed in for a few minutes. After all, it's a hotel, not Buckingham Palace. We were thinking of staying at the hotel for a night, but not anymore.

I have visited other mansions in the area and paid more or less the same entry fee. However, $25 to see a bridal venue is overpriced. It has not been a residence for more than 70 years - no original furnishings remain; the interior is beautiful - but so is every 5 star hotel I have ever been in (and it is classified a 5 star hotel). We visited the lower floor (ballroom, old ballroom, library, Charlie Chaplin bar, restaurant), the basement (that speaks for itself) and an outside garden, none of the guest rooms. The docent was unable to find (or did not think we should have) a place to talk to the group that was relatively quiet; we missed at least half of what she said. We stood in one room as blurry enlarged prints of the past and present states of the premises were lifted for us to view (sometimes upside down - they cannot even put an arrow to indicate to their docents the direction they should be shown?). She ended up talking to 2 or 3 people primarily in a group of about 20. We got coffee, tea (made with tepid water), a nice mousse sample and cookies which the tour participants had to unwrap in a room with a nice view yet a dull atmosphere watching the caterers and vendors pass through the room to prepare for an evening wedding. Given the number of historic homes in the area with more history/intrigue/interest/beauty, I would not recommend this tour to anyone (unless the price was more reasonable rate for what they provide - maybe $8). Of course, perhaps the rave reviews on this page are from those who paid for the lunch inclusion making the lunch the primary purpose for the visit rather than the tour. Go to Kykuit, Sagamore, Westbury. Oheka has potential but the current state of the tour leaves the interest level at zero.

We went yesterday and if you look at the photos on TripAdvisor - then you see the tour. Saw a ball room and the restaurant. Little historic information. NOTHING in the home is original. We basically paid $25 + tax for an advertisement to use the property for a special event. Coffee and cookies stuck in a side room and not the reason we went. Constantly being moved out of the way for the staff (they have tours EVERY DAY). Ode to Gary who saved the property. They should not compare themselves to the Biltmore either.Do not bother with this tour. Oheka should just ask for donations rather than disguising donations as a 'tour' admission price.

If you have heard of the Gold Coast of Long Island this is what they are talking about. Built by Otto Herman Kahn about 100 years ago. Second largest private home in the U.S. You can stay in the hotel or have a meal as well. It is surrounded by his personal golf course which is no longer part of the property.

It was a very informative tour and the tour guide seemed to know everything about the castle. Highly recommend checking it out if you have the opportunity.

A must if you visit the Huntington area.Oheka is the second largest castle in the United States. The present owner,Mr. Melieus and his daughter,Kelly have done a beautiful job restoring it. It has become a venue for beautiful weddings,gala events,and romantic weekends.They have also filmed television shows and music productions there. Hope you love it as much as I do !!

Went for the holiday tour, and while we loved what we saw, there is so much MORE that we had hoped and expected to see! This is a 240 room mansion, and we only got to see 10 rooms........ We walked around outside and looked in some windows, so we saw some more, but they should really open it up to more things to see!!

I was very excited to visit Oheka Castle. I booked a tour with my family for a Sunday morning. They were setting up for a wedding, which was very distracting. The tour guide tried to give a history of the castle, but due to all of the noise from set-up, it was difficult to hear. We were not able to visit multiple rooms, due to the wedding. We also were moved out of the library so that the groomsmen could have lunch and take photos. I would recommend that if you do decide to take a tour, find out if there is a wedding going on. I don't think it was fair to either (the wedding party or the tour) to have spent money and not get the full experience. The grounds and castle are beautiful. Make sure you spend enough time and bring a camera!

The tour today at Oheka Castle was such a great treat! The castle is beautiful and they were setting up for a wedding, which was gorgeous. The tour was listed as an hour, but I'd definitely recommend leaving more time.

We were there for a 50th HS reunion from when Oheka was a school. We did not stay overnight there, as we decided to attend late and there were no more rooms. We did have lunch there with a classmate and the food was very good, though the service was very slow. The extensive buffet for the evening's event was excellent. The staff were first rate with helpfulness, friendliness, and efficiency. There isn't a lot left of the interior that is original; many changes and reworking the building's interior due to extensive vandalism when it was abandoned many years ago. The furnishings, though not original, are appropriate to a castle, and the history tour is very interesting.

We attended a wedding here. What a spectacular venue! The food, ambiance, service , and comfort were all first class. We stayed 3 nights - the beds were comfy, the and rooms were clean. We were very impressed!

The wedding reception room was set up, a fund-raising event was going on, hotel guests checked in an out, and we took the tour of the second largest private home built in America. It's history as Otto Kahn's family home to school to abandoned hangout to current hotel/home is the subject of the tour. On the tour you see various rooms - the library, hotel suites, restaurant, original ballroom, wander the grounds a bit and they even provide refreshments for you at the end of the tour in the Charlie Chaplin room. The owners actually live here and are slowly restoring it to it's former glory. One way is to feature it on TV's Royal Pains. Nice job.

They serve dinner at Oheka Castle...just delicious. The food delicious, service first rate and the ambiance very grand. You walk into the front doors of the castle and are immediately greeted by a stunning sweetheart staircase which leads you up to the dining level. It's beautifully decorated. The menu is very extensive, but wait to hear the specials for the evening before you place your order. Wine list very good. We really enjoy the entire experience and can't wait to go back.

This is truly a castle. Incredible grounds, incredible building, incredible architecture, incredible history. Dining has been outstanding every time I have eaten there, wait staff and hosts are first rate. The guest rooms are a step back in time into an age where luxury and attention to detail mattered.

Oheka is in a constant state of improvement, as it was a building that had been neglected and on the edge of ruin before it was purchased and brought back to life. The tour focuses on that. You learn the history of the man (the original owner/builder, Otto Hermann Kahn) and the building, what happened to it after the family let it go, the changes it went through and the revitalization of it now. Currently the one of the top locations for weddings on Long Island, it is also used for shooting the USA Network show, Royal PainsTour is about an hour, and you can have a light lunch afterwards or if not, they serve coffee/tea and cookies for those who don't chose lucnh. It's daily at 11:00, and I think it's just M-F, as most weekends it's booked with wedding parties.

Huge mansion which is only second to Vanderbilt in Ashville NC. This historic place once hosted great parties of all the movie greats of the 20's and 30's and now is available for any type of event or affair for the select few who demand the most elegant of locations, but also is the home base for filming of hit TV series Royal Pains which still films there to this day.

This was part of a Groupon we had and we enjoyed both our stay, the restaurant, and this tour. Our guide seemed to be well versed in the history and renovation, they provided coffee and cake after the tour and gave an opportunity to ask additional questions, they also gave you complete access to the grounds and did not chase you out or off the property when the tour was done. You were also free to enjoy the restaurant and lounge areas. We probably enjoyed the tour more because we had stayed at the hotel and were intrigued but overall it was worthwhile.

I had visited the Old Westbury Gardens mansion last April and loved it. Coming to OHEKA I expect the same and was sadly disappointed. I am a sophomore in college and am writing a research paper on Otto Kahn and OHEKA and was aware of how much the tour guide left out. Yes, she told the overall history of the house but didn't know a lot of facts that she should of (and it wasn't me - who knew more than her - asking the questions, so that says something). Besides the history parts that she didn't mention/know, she could have provided a lot of interesting tidbits about Otto Kahn's life to add to the overall story but didn't. She seemed uninterested in the photos she was showing the group and held them up for 2-3 seconds, without point anything out. Her tour was scattered and didn't follow any specific timeline (she jumped from the fire that inspired the faux walls in the library to Otto's history starting in Germany and back to the restoration). She also continuously mentioned rooms and then continued on to say But we can't see those because there are people rooming there. Overall, we saw the lobby, library, garden, and dining room, not much. I understand Melius has spent millions restoring the home but it seemed very cold and tacky. Even my mother, who did not know nearly as much information as I did (provided I am researching the subject), she continuously turned to say to me This is nothing like the Old Westbury Gardens mansion tour. We didn't even stay for the refreshments afterward (the little that there was) we were that disappointed.Overall, if you don't already know the information prior, as I did, the tour is interesting. Even then, I would not go back. We barely saw any rooms, the tour guide seemed disengaged and didn't try to make it into an interesting story, and we were not encouraged to stay and walk around the grounds afterward.HOWEVER, if you are interested in seeing a Gold Coast Mansion, I HIGHLY recommend Old Westbury Gardens. It is far more beautiful than OHEKA, you see the entire home and the majority of the grounds (whatever isn't included on the tour you are more than welcome to walk around on your own afterward), and the tour guides there seem enthusiastic about the information and make it more of a storytelling session filled with historical facts. On the plus side, you get all of that (way more than at OHEKA) for only $10 rather than $25.

This castle tour is worth every penny. We were a small group and the tour guide was able to speak to each of us individually and answer all questions. The house it self is gorgeous. The artwork is beautiful. The grounds were European in style and well maintained. The history of the castle is fascinating. the available guest rooms are luxurious. I wish I could afford to stay there. I'd visit the castle again and take the tour.

Tour lady had alot of knowledge of the place and the area. Alot of intresting stuff to be learned about the castle.

My wife and I visited the Oheka castle in mid September. Our tour guide was Lori who did an excellent job explaining the history and every day operation of the mansion through the years. The tour is very laid back. You are allowed to take pictures of the rooms inside the mansion. The tour is an hour long but very informative. If you are in the Long Island area definitely plan a visit to this great home.

An amazing entrance into an even more amazing former gold coast home. Breathtaking. If only I could afford to stay there.

Oheka Castle is a beautiful castle with expansive grounds that you are free to wander around and explore. There were lots of events on during the summer, so as long as you are not disruptive you are free to wander parts of the building. I enjoyed a delicious lunch in one of their dining rooms. The staff was prompt and pleasant and answered questions to the best of their ability. The food was very reasonably priced for fine dining in a castle. I had chicken and arugula sandwich and the group I was with split the calamari and the crab cakes as appetizers. The history is interesting but I couldn’t find anything explaining it so look that up ahead of time if you are a history buff. It is also where Royal Pains is filmed if you are a fan of the show.

Visiting Oheka Castle, one gets to see a beautiful location now used for the TV show Royal Pains, and other movies. The best part is hearing the story of Otto Herman Kahn and learning why he built it, and all the famous visitors that came to his parties. The Chaplin room is fascinating.Tea and coffee are offered at the end of the tour. The rooms are beautiful and luxurious.

This is the second largest private home in the United States and it has a very interesting story behind it. It can be toured if you call ahead and can be there at the time of the tour which is around 11:00AM and if there is nothing else being done at the mansion that the tour would interfere with.The tour was informative and lasted a couple hours. We had lunch following and it was excellent and on the upscale side. You can have weddings etc. there or just stay like a hotel if rooms are available.

While staying 4 nights on Long Island we booked a tour here.Oheka Castle is on par with the Newport RI mansions tours. But I enjoyed this one more.It is a private residence, hotel, and function hall, and a movie set for the program Royal Pains as well as other shows. Because of the expense of the property, this is how the owner raises money to pay for the upkeep.The tour was $25 which included self serve tea or coffee and cookies after the tour in the main ball room. We enjoyed that and opted for the tour and lunch additional $25 (plus tip and tax)The tour guide was quite good. We learned about the history and saw many of the rooms which are now common space. Each room was quite elegant. Because the house fell into shambles none of the furnishing are original. The grounds are beautiful. After the tour, we were free to walk around the grounds or rooms to take more pictures. We was one hotel room. WoW.Lunch was elegant. We could order any two courses. I chose jumbo shrimp wrapped in bacon and grilled. Fantastic. The filet minion sandwich was the best. It was so big I needed to bring half home. We dined in a small room overlooking the gardens. So beautiful. The service was top notch. A 5-Star The Oheka owner of the castle came and greeted each table. He was so nice!!! Just a regular guy who loves what he does. He has spent 30 years restoring his home, rents out rooms, fancy weddings are held here as well as other functions.I have been to many historical homes and I truly enjoyed the tour and elegant lunch.

Long Island! Gold Coast! Oheka ! Three names - one amazing celebration of your soul, whatever you do there - getting tour or dining... If you live in New York or around, if you are a guest in our great and huge city, Oheka must be on a must list. Many thanks to Otto Kahn, who built this unique castle, but even more thanks to the family which had revived the castle which was destroyed. And still working on it. We were lucky to have a tour with a super-professional guide Ms. Lora. Sorry, I could be wrong, because what she did was a great 1 hour show with history, drama and soul involved. If you plan to see Oxeka, make reservation for the tour with a lunch, - you will double your pleasure, because after you've received a big wave of a great mood a lunch in their stylish, well arranged restaurant is amazing koda for hours you spent in Oheka. Not only Ms. Lora ! Many thanks to Mr. Ernie Avallone, the real Master of bar and restaurant service, he added his own magic... Without him we (me and my wife) will never know what is Mozarella En Carrozza or Capellini Frutti. We were on a tour in a middle of May - the weather was perfect, and if you see my photo gallery you'll most probably catch the aura of this place and without any doubt 'll follow our idea.

You will learn so much about the castle, what it was, what it became and how Gary Melius brought it back to life and it's full slender.

Every bit of the info on the tourHistory and origin Chaplin roomRestorationOld photosKids book was great

If you are looking for something different to do and you reside on Long Island do a tour of the castle and lunch.The total price is $50 and well worth the cost.Laura was our guide and was very informative both about the house and about Otto Kahn himself. We toured both sides of the interior of the house and the suites. After our tour we went to the dining room and Ernie wasour server. He was entertaining and informative. The food was delicious and we were able to eat in the Charlie Chaplan Room.Get a grouptogether and go. It is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Beautiful castle with a great story. Oscar Henry Kahn (therefore the acronym for OHEKA) was denied admittance at golf courses in Long Island because he was Jewish. He then built his own golf course and allowed whoever wanted to play (regardless of religion, nationality or race) the ability to do so. A wealthy industrialist, he built a beautiful castle fronting the golf course. We are fortunate to actually live within sight of the castle and golf course and have enjoyed the tour on many occasions

Attended a spectacular, over the top wedding. The facilities we used were lovely, food exceptional, including a desert room with boxes and bags for your take home treats. Excessive but a once in your life experience. Difficult for elderly guests to negotiate, long walks down back service hallways to an elevator. Be prepared. Would love the tour and especially would like to see the grounds in daylight.

After spending millions on restoring this historic venue, Oheka is now the most gorgeous and exciting venue on Long Island. Grand, spectacular, and wonderful. Extraordinary venue with magnificent rooms, and catering facilities. One of my children was married at Oheka and we will never forget the service, food, and experience. The management and staff are fabulous hosts.

We wanted to take a look at the hotel, but they were having a wedding, so we weren't able to.According to the tour brochure, a tour was $25-50. Probably worth it, but couldn't say for sure.If you're looking for it, best way to find it is by GPS address. It's hidden way in the back of a subdivision, only saw 1 small sign out on the highway.

Friendly and knowledgable tour guide. I would highly recommend this tour of Otto HErman Kan's castle...the monopoly man. Wow! The gardens..... :-)

It is important to know the history of the Castle to appreciate the place

A mansion tour was included with our Groupon stay... it was very interesting to learn more about the place but she showed us the same places we had been using at the hotel. She didn't ask if we had questions. Other than that it was nice and the cookies afterwards were delicious!

We had bought a Groupon package for the Oheka Estate (see my full review under hotels), and this tour was part of that package. It lasted almost 2 hours and led us through all areas of the estate. We saw all formal rooms (library, ladies' sitting hall, ball room, dining room, pantry, bar, bridal suite, pool room, basement, reception room, you name it...) plus went over the gardens and into the inner structure of the building. For example, we learned how they used cold breezes via tunnels under the building to cool down rooms in the summer when air conditioning had not been invented yet. Interesting!! We saw pictures of the buildings poor state when the current owner bought it, and it really is amazing how he brought the castle back to life! We also learned about the original owner of this estate, Otto Hermann Kahn, and his life. This tour is not for children, as it is quite long with 2 hours, but we loved it! Afterwards we enjoyed refreshments served in the dining room, there was tea and coffee and fresh cookies made in the castle's kitchen. Superbe!

A beautiful castle that might have been demolished as so many were. This takes you back to the Gilded Age, the age when F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby. Enjoy the informative tour and walk the grounds. Perfectly lovely.

Oheka Castle is a beautiful and fascinating place. We stayed at the hotel and took the tour. The tour is very interesting and I would highly recommend it to all, especially to history buffs and those who are a fan of the Great Gatsby!

Definitely take the tour! Ours was with Laura and she was a great source of information. It really brings to life the history of Oheka Castle---and even though I read all about it on the website prior to the tour, Laura was still able to add some really neat insights.

Wow. What can I say? Words are inadequate to express my revulsion for this dark stain on Planet Earth. It all started out so promising. While staying mid-Long Island, why not check out this castle/hotel for a possible future visit? Seemed like a good idea. Then a guy on the phone was welcoming so off we headed. Then imagine our surprise when we were greeted at the gate by Atilla the Hun. What, no appointment? Then please go away you dirty little insignificant peasants. You will not be granted admission through our golden gate. To be fair, it was really our fault! Our Rolls Royce was in the shop so we were slumming it in a 2008 Subaru. Subaru? What were we thinking? They don't even have a luxury brand! Our bad judgement. OK, the serious finish: as my name implies, I love 4-star properties. I can afford 5-star hotels but I can't stand the ATTITUDE and back side kissing that goes on at places with names like Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton. But if YOU enjoy a well placed kiss on your back side, I highly recommend the Oheka Castle.

Quito is another one of these South American cities, threat has countless of Plazas to go around. That being said, this was by far our favorite, as the buildings surrounding it were beautifully designed, and the largest statue towering it!

This is a small but very busy square where the presidential Palace sits. There's many locals just hanging around here. Great place for a photo stop.

Epicenter of Quito's history and culture. Picturesque square where locals and tourists gather to admire the architecture and 'people watch'. Very safe with discreet Police presence and tourist info in City Hall.

Also known as Plaza Grande, this the center of the Old Town of Quito. It is fronted by the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, City Hall, Archbishop’s Palace, and Plaza Grande Hotel. Also Quito’s Tourist office is at Venezuela and Espejo streets. The plaza contains nice palm trees, fountains and greenery and is a very refreshing stop for tourists and locals. At any given time there are concerts, folk dances, entertainers and even protestors supplying local color. At its center is the Independence column. Contrary to various reviewers of this site, I found it heavily policed during the day and evening and always felt safe there. A must-visit site.

We visited during the changing of guards - first Monday of the month - and it was quite the event. The plaza was packed with locals, visitors, military, and police, while the President appeared on the balcony. This is the Grand Plaza of Quito and it deserves its reputation as such. Just a wonderful urban space.

Visit on a Sunday if possible! The families are out in their Sunday best and the street entertainers, from puppeteers, musicians and mimes are out and about. Plenty of police wandering the square. Just a grand overview of Quito life.

Unique place. Good spot to sit and to enjoy the downtown atmosphere. Various objects to be photographed.

We visited this square several times during our stay. There was always something interesting to see. Soapbox speakers decrying the state of the world, live music an other entertainers, old people sitting with their friends, and street food vendors. A place to breathe the local atmosphere.

To visit Quito and not visit it’s Central Square and Old Town is simply absurd. Ideally both should be visited on a sunny day and a chilly evening.

With little information from the internet I was delighted to show up and get a good view of the ceremony. It is at 11am on the first Monday of the month, 9am all other Mondays. No ticket needed. At 8:20am they started setting up the gates and 9:00 it began. Look at my photos to see good places to stand.

The Cathedral of Quito, Archbishop’s Palace, City Hall, and Government Palace surrounded the Plaza de la Independencia. A number of these buildings have the Moorish architecture influence. There was noticeable police presence in the square as people do gather to protest. At the plaza center stood the Independence Monument. There were much symbolism incorporated into this French sculpture, from Lady Liberty on top to the defeat of the Spaniards at the base. From here you could walk around the plaza’s bordering streets with many Ecuadorian restaurants, cafés and souvenir stores. You will run into street vendors selling souvenirs and local snacks everywhere. A visit to the plaza at night would be worthwhile to see the beautiful buildings lid up

Also known as the “Plaza Grande”, it’s smaller than that of other capital cities but has nice benches, trees, and an interesting monument celebrating Ecuador’s independence from Spain. It was the starting point for our free walking tour and there are lots of vendors around the perimeter. I even got a great shoe-shine for two bucks! Good police presence and safe area; however just like any other city, keep aware of pickpockets. Nice place to grab a snack and people watch.

Because this is the heart of Quito, there truly is always something to see and hear in this spot! The presidential palace is right there (Ecuador's version of the White House), and on Monday mornings, they do a changing of guard ceremony with music and soldiers on horseback.There is a heavy police presence in the square, so it feels safe.

If you’re going to visit this place, don’t go on Monday morning cause that’s when they do there changing of the guard. They close the plaza down for it. The changing of the guard is fun to watch though

Our hotel was right on the square, and we had a great view from our restaurant. It was interesting to see things come alive in the mornings. Shoe shine boys were setting up there boxes, Mothers were walking children to school, teenagers on the way to school were on their cell phones, businessmen and politicians were deep in conversation, and there was always some kind of street performance. This is a great place to people watch. The presidential palace and government buildings are right on the square. I found it interesting that there are shops right under the palace, so you can certainly get very close to it. There is a heavy police presence, so it feels safe.

The center of Old Quito with shops all around to wander in. There are lots of shops to visit and it is fun to just see the local people around the square. There are cafes, and in our case, we just bought bread at one of the bakeries because it looked so good.

Plaza de la Independencia, aka Plaza Grande serves as Quito’s gathering center to reflect on Ecuadorian’s daily life activities and where historic protests and or rallies are held by the citizens where they express pleas to be heard of their ordeals to their government because of the Presidential palace being in the plaza. The plaza is dotted with greenery, palm trees, pigeons, flower gardens and daily life activities. It has served as the city’s icon since 10 August 1809 as the date is celebrated as many streets have the same name; 10 de Agosto; the date that is celebrated to the first plea to Independence of the Ecuadorians from the Spanish dictatorship?

Many street performers and quaint shops. Fresh bread and coffee shops too! But if you want an experience go to Vista Hermosa for lunch or for dinner but bring a jacket if you intend to sit outside. The view and the food are worth your time.

This place has a lot of history. The monument is beautiful. The trees around it are over 100 years old. The whole ambiance of the plaza tell about the history of the city. Nice overall.

This is a good spot to meet up with friends who are touring the area or to soak in some local color while resting your feet. Sometimes there is music, other times there are health fairs. All interesting. This trip, I noticed a sizable increase in security presence which gives a greater sense of safety for travelers. The location is central to most important tourist stops.

A great square surrounded by many old buildings. Lots of trees and places to sit. Always some cultural activity happening in the square. Sit outside at a cafe and watch. Another must visit treat.

Beautiful Spanish plaza with the cathedral, presidential palace , Bishops house and Municipality building!

Cantral square in colonial oldtown The presidenrial palace cityhall etc Limited parking best to have a guided tour

Elections were coming up when I was there a couple of weeks ago, so the Plaza was packed with activity. Live music, speeches, and lots of gathering was going on. It is well-kept and holds a stunning monument to the Independence Heroes of August 10, 1809.

Plaza Grande was our first destination in Old Town. This ornate 16th c plaza is the political focal point of colonial Quito and called the Plaza de la Independence. It features a winged statue to independence atop a high pillar.The square is flanked on all sides by impressive buildings, including the Cathedral and the Presidential Palace. We returned on a Monday, which is when at 11am the Palace guards perform a changing of the guard ceremony. This was a really impressive and colourful performance, much more elaborate than other changing of the guard ceremonies we have witnessed, complete with sabres and horses. The President himself was on the balcony for the ceremony, as he always presides over this weekly event when in Quito.Elections were only a week away so we could not get too close due to all the demonstrations. Riot police were out in full force.The square is flanked by the Cathedral, the Iglesia El Sagrario, the Presidential Palace and the Archbishop’s palace.

There are fine buildings on all sides, notably the Cathedral, the Palacio Arzobispal and the low colonial Palacio de Gobierno. The plaza hums with life, is full of interest and very much a focal point for locals and tourists alike. Street artists and perforners add to the atmosphere and entertainment.

Lovely big plaza, lots of families enjoying the warm weather. To top it all we were there just before Christmas and there was a parade of religious themes dancing around the outside, wonderful experience

This is a beautiful park. Lots of places to sit and street vendors selling everything you can imagine.

No vehicle traffic, and a good walking place. Lots of little shops and corner cafes. There were many people congregating with their families and friends. Lots of fun.

Walking around this square is definitely worthwhile. The square is large and well-laid-out. Important buildings, museums and churches are in the area. When we were there, there was a large tent city on one side as part of a protest movement that detracted a bit from the feel. Nonetheless, put this on your itinerary as you walk through Old Town.

Of the plazas we went through in Old Quito this is positively the most vibrant and energetic. We walked from the Basilica down Venezuela St until we arrived. It wasn't where my phone map indicated but we were positive once we arrived. The statuary to the independence of the nation is the highlight with ample seating throughout. The locals are in the majority of users and their ethnic clothing reminds me of the books I've read of early South America. Plenty of historic buildings surround the square as well as the cathedral museum. We were there near lunch time and it was packed.

Right in the center of old town. A good rally point or a place to watch locals perform etc. on Sunday. A good place to take in the sights.

A good place to explore if you don't have much time in the city. Lots of little stores, vendors, and historical buildings. The presidents residence is on the square. Pretty warm here in the middle of the day if the sun is out. Bring sun screen, as the sun on the equator will burn you surprisingly fast.

You must make a visit as this is the heart of the city. There are many people selling things on the plaza and it is very pleasant.

Plaza De La Independencia – this is the main plaza in the historical area. It’s the meeting and jumping off point when exploring the Historical area. So much surrounds it and everyone seems to gather here… a super place to people watch and take a break from exploring the area!!!! WOW…very cool!!!

Great place to people watch. The indigenous people are dressed beautifully and carry themselves with pride. There are buskers, vendors and inexpensive cafes.

This place is a wonderfully vibrant area that provides a real taste of local culture. Nearby there is lots to do in terms of food and drinks and sightseeing also. The statues and monuments tell a story of Ecuador's battle for independence from the Spanish. There are currently protests however from taxi drivers in the city, despite this it is not unsightly or unsafe, rather people passionately standing up for what they deem right. The Plaza is beautiful open space with green areas that add to its aesthetics.

active square with interesting buildings on three sides and independence statue in the centre. Definitely at least worth passing through.

It’s good to watch and feel the plaza energy. Totally safe and surrounding areas too.Have a seat, a coffee and take some photos before you explore this historical area.Locals and tourists. Shops, churches and museums.I was lucky to also watch and experience a mild protest in the plaza with massive police presence.

Beautiful plaza. Around it you will find the presidential palaca (Carandolet), a beautiful colonial church, the municipality of Quito and some official and religious buildings. In the center a beautiful statue attracts tourists. The plaza is always crowded and lively. Enter all the passages that you may see; behind you will discover something new and interesting.

We sat in a cafe and had a coffee and watched life and people go by. Lots of restaurant around the square which we avoided except for coffee stops as we always think they are too touristy. One day we just sat on a bench and people watched!

Beautiful plaza in the centre of Old Quito. You can find governal headquarters here. It seems like this is meeting point for different congregations. At the moment we were visiting it a protest was taking place.

There is a lot of activity in this plaza, where people congrate and meet. One side the plaza is the government headquarters, another is the Catholic Church's Archbishop quarters and across the plaza is the Cathedral of Quito.Again....a must visit or perhaps more than one visit....

Many things happened in this square, for example it´s where President Garcia Moreno fell murdered in the middle of 1800´s.Best light in the morning to take Picture of monuments but in the night there are good lights to take long shot exposures.

It’s a bit different to the other plazas de las armas in cities like Lima etc. It’s a really nice plaza and starting point for free walking tours, like strawberry, one I did and really liked! From this square you can visit a lot of churches and the streets are full of life, specially on Sunday.