Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure in the ancient city of Teotihuacan, located in the Basin of Mexico in the State of Mexico. Constructed around the early centuries CE, it is one of the largest pyramids in Mesoamerica and a central monument of the Teotihuacan urban plan.

The pyramid measures roughly 65 meters in height with a broad rectangular base and a stepped profile; public paths lead up its main stairway to a summit plaza that offers wide views across the complex. It sits on the city’s main axis and is flanked by the Avenue of the Dead, the Pyramid of the Moon to the north, and the Ciudadela and Temple of the Feathered Serpent to the south.

Teotihuacan’s major monuments, including the Pyramid of the Sun, were built by the city’s residents during the Classic period of Mesoamerican history; the city reached its peak between the 1st and 7th centuries CE. The site was later visited and named by Nahua peoples, who called it “Teotihuacan.”

The pyramid and broader Teotihuacan complex lie on the highland plain northeast of Mexico City, approximately 40 km from the capital, in the State of Mexico. The site occupies a large, flat archaeological zone visible from surrounding observation points.

• Size and access: The Pyramid of the Sun is about 65 meters tall with a base roughly 220 meters across, and visitors may climb the original stairway to its summit when open.
• Best viewpoints: Best photographic views are along the Avenue of the Dead and from the summit of the Pyramid of the Moon, especially in clear light at sunrise or late afternoon.

What to See #

• Pyramid of the Moon: Smaller but formally aligned pyramid at the northeastern end of the Avenue of the Dead; provides a direct axial view toward the Pyramid of the Sun.
• Avenue of the Dead: The central north-south axis of the city measuring roughly 2 kilometres in length along which the major monuments are arranged.
• The Ciudadela: A large ceremonial plaza and administrative enclosure that sits west of the Pyramid of the Sun and contains smaller platforms and temples.
• Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl): A large Mesoamerican stepped complex decorated with stone facades that sits on the southern end of the Ciudadela; noted for its sculpted serpent motifs.