Teotihuacan Archaeological Site

Address: Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacan, San Juan Teotihuacán, Estado de México, Mexico

Website: https://inah.gob.mx/zonas/teotihuacan/

Hours: Tue-Sun 9:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays

Admission: Entrance MXN 85 (general), free for INAPAM and some children-check INAH for current rates

Teotihuacan is a major pre-Columbian archaeological complex in the Basin of Mexico, noted for its monumental pyramids, broad ceremonial avenues and large urban plan. It is one of the most important and well-preserved ancient cities in Mesoamerica.

The site’s signature monuments include the Pyramid of the Sun (about 65 meters high) and the Pyramid of the Moon, connected by the wide north-south Avenida de los Muertos and flanked by residential compounds and craft-production areas. Many plazas, temples and sculptural complexes remain visible across the site.

Excavations and research indicate the city reached its peak between the 1st and 7th centuries CE and supported a large population involved in crafts, trade and ritual. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent in the Ciudadela features carved stone heads and reliefs and is a key archaeological focus.

Teotihuacan lies on the highlands northeast of Mexico City, roughly 50 kilometers from the capital, and is managed as a major archaeological park and visitor destination.

• Dating and scale: The city flourished between roughly the 1st and 7th centuries CE and was one of the largest urban centres in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica.
• Proximity to Mexico City: Located about 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City, it is commonly visited on day trips from the capital.

What to See#

• Pyramid of the Sun: **Pyramid of the Sun**, an approximately 65-meter-high stepped pyramid that is one of the largest structures at the site and can be climbed for expansive views.
• Pyramid of the Moon: **Pyramid of the Moon**, a smaller stepped pyramid at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead, associated with ritual complexes and plazas.
• Avenue of the Dead and Ciudadela: Avenida de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead) and the Ciudadela, a large plaza complex that includes the Temple of the Feathered Serpent with sculpted stone heads and reliefs.

From Mexico City take the Autobús from Terminal Norte (Central del Norte) or Clínica 71 buses to Teotihuacan (about 1 hour). Driving via the Mexico-Pirámides highway (Route 132D/85D) takes roughly 45-60 minutes from central Mexico City depending on traffic.

• Arrive at opening (9:00am) to climb the Pyramid of the Sun before buses arrive in force.
• Hire a local guide at the entrance to understand urban planning and the ritual axis-without one the scale of the site can feel abstract.
• Bring a hat and water; the paved avenues are exposed and midday heat is fierce.