If you find yourself visiting Mexico City, a trip to the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan is an absolute must! Just 30 miles out of town sits one of the most important and breathtaking archaeological sites in the Americas. Explore this complex network of pyramids, plazas, and temples built by advanced civilizations over 2,000 years ago – with our detailed guide for visiting from Mexico City. Uncover its mysterious secrets as you wander through the sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site – from famous landmarks like The Pyramid of the Sun and The Pyramid of the Moon – stand before murals dating back centuries – or catch stunning views at Temple Sisters. With this guide on how to explore Teotihuacan from your base in Mexico City – make sure not to miss out on exploring one of its mesmerizingly beautiful ancient cities!
Teotihuacan, in the Nahuatl language, means “the place where the gods were created.”Once a thriving city of tens of thousands, the area covers almost 8 square miles. With 95% of the city yet to be uncovered, the ruins of residential areas, plazas, and temples provide just a hint of the thriving societies that occupied this land. Touring this UNESCO World Heritage Site and learning its history is an amazing experience.
The Teotihuacan site pre-dates the Aztecs, who archeologists speculate discovered the city in the 1400s after it had already been abandoned at least once before. People argue that the land was stripped of resources causing the original settlers to move on. Others claim invaders attacked the city while its surviving inhabitants ran off to neighboring groups. But no one knows for sure what led to this ancient city being deserted.
Best Time to Visit Teotihuacan
Best time to visit – Spring Equinox, usually in March, will be very crowded. The weather in the summer can also be very hot and rainy. Travel off-season, November to April (with the exception of Spring Equinox) will allow you to avoid crowds. The site is open from 9 AM to 5 PM and costs 80 MXN to enter. You can have in-and-out privileges to go eat lunch and then return. Or better yet, bring your lunch with you. Avoid a visit on Sundays and Mexican holidays when citizens often get free admission as the site is likely to be much more crowded.
How to Get There – at just over 30 miles from Mexico City’s historic center this will be a bit of a drive, but totally worth the effort. There are numerous tours that leave daily. We’ve even booked one for the following day. But tours can sometimes force you to eat in some less-than-authentic food situations. You also arrive at the site with the rest of the masses of tourists so it will be more crowded. If you travel independently try to arrive just before 9 AM.
A private driver is a possibility or a public bus. Avoid leaving the city during commuting hours as traffic can be horrendous.
How Long to Visit Teotihuacan
To do the archaeological site justice, plan for a visit that takes the majority of one day. Though you could get away with just three hours at the pyramids exploring the different areas and climbing at least one of the structures, that might feel a bit rushed. You will walk a lot as there is quite a bit of open space between buildings. Enjoy the museum as well to get a sense of this ancient culture and what the site looked like in the past.
What to see at Teotihuacan
There is quite a bit to see at this sprawling site in central Mexico. The main buildings of Teotihuacan are connected by the Avenue of the Dead. This 1.5-mile road has such an ominous name because we assume this was the path citizens and animals walked toward the temple or pyramid where they would be sacrificed. When we visited this great complex, we were able to climb all of the structures at the site and as of my latest research, this does still seem to hold true. You can climb The Pyramid of the Sun and at least part way up The Pyramid of the Moon. Because the number of climbers is restricted, lines will form.
The Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure in the complex, and the third largest in the world, with a base that measures 720 feet by 760 feet. This imposing structure could still be climbed during our last visit. While this is not for the faint of heart, the massive pyramid hike is definitely worth the fantastic views. You get a stronger sense of the city as a whole once you view it from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun.
The Pyramid of the Moon is the second largest structure with a base that measures 426 feet by 511 feet. Newly discovered burial sites at this pyramid show that it was also a site for human sacrifice.
As mentioned earlier, the Avenue of the Dead‘s wide path seems to command attention at the complex as it serves as an artery to all of the other buildings. It is oriented slightly northeast in a direction that leads straight toward Cerro Gordo, a volcano that is now extinct.
The Temple of Quetzalcoatl stands within an area the Spaniards called the Citadel. Here at the city center, you can see numerous burial sites, dramatically decorated walls, and intimidating stone heads of different representations of Aztec gods, including the Feathered Serpent deity for whom the temple is named.
Additionally, don’t miss walking through the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, a restored palace with colorful mosaics, frescoes, and carved pillars.
Visit the site museums to see numerous recovered artifacts and learn more about the details of one of the largest cities in all of Mesoamerica. Most of the signage is in Spanish so bring your Google Translate app, open up the camera, and snap a picture of each sign so you can read them in your preferred language. Archeologists are continually unearthing new treasures here so a trip to the museums is a great way to catch all the latest discoveries!
Tips – as previously mentioned try to avoid the commute time if planning a morning trip. Hat and sunscreen are essential as there is no shade. We’ve done both solo and guided tours of the area. If it’s your first time I recommend a guided tour as you get so much more information about each structure with a certified guide. If you’d like to save money and not do a guided tour then do a bit of research ahead of time so you can get a greater sense of the history of the site before you arrive.
Stop by one of the many vendors that line the path of your exit. Here you can pick up drinks and snacks as well as hand-carved obsidian, ceramics, and other local creations. These local artisans do their best to bring to life the types of items that may have been available once a long time ago in this cosmopolitan city. Bring pesos for this exchange and plan to purchase with cash.
Consider taking a hot air balloon ride over the ruins of Teotihuacan for an eagle-eye perspective of the grid plan. Different from the more traditional ground-level views, a hot air balloon ride allows you to better appreciate this ancient wonder that the Mexican government has preserved.
Visiting Teotihuacan from Mexico City is a must-do for anyone interested in archaeology and history. With our handy guide, you’ll be able to make the most out of your trip and explore everything this ancient city has to offer. From when to go and what sights not to miss, we’ve got you covered. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your trip today!
Ready to explore more of Mexico City? You can also benefit from our detailed guide on how to get the most from a visit to Mexico City’s Historic Center.
And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly Travel Goals newsletter for more travel tips straight to your inbox!