teotihuacan tour bus

How to Visit Teotihuacan Without a Tour

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The ancient city and pyramids of Teotihuacan is the most popular day trip from Mexico City and a can’t miss attraction for most travelers. Walking through this UNESCO World Heritage Site is like traveling back in time. It’s just 30 miles northeast of the capital and is an awesome day trip to combine with the rest of your stay.

While you can definitely take a tour — there are tons of them — visiting on your own is easy, saves you money, allows you to choose your own schedule, and customize it to your interests. By skipping Teotihuacan tours, we also avoided crowds and skipped over souvenir stops.

In this article, I’ll share how to get there and back on your own plus a bit of Teotihuacan’s history , what to see on site (hint: it’s not just the pyramids!), how to schedule your day, what to eat, and how much to budget for your day.

Update as of November 2022: Visiting Teotihuacan is not the same as it once was. Climbing up the temples is currently prohibited in order to better protect them. If climbing a pyramid is a must-do for you, consider an alternate day trip from Mexican City to Tepoztlan and climb that temple instead. Or, for a bird’s eye view of Teotihuacan, consider a hot air balloon ride which is operating as usual.

How to Get to Teotihuacan by Public Transportation

Teotihuacan hours and admission.

• Teotihuacan's History in a Nutshell

Temple of the Sun

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There are three main ways to get to Teotihuacan: by public bus, Uber, or guided tour. The bus is obviously the cheapest option, costing 106 pesos round-trip per person. It’s also comfortable and easy but takes longer than driving directly.

To take the bus to Teotihuacan, you’ll need to take the Mexico City metro to the Autobuses del Norte station (line 5).  

From the Autobuses del Norte metro stop, follow the signs out of the metro station and across the street to the actual bus station.

Inside the station, head all the way toward the left, to Puerta 8.  

Here, you’ll find a window selling tickets to “Pyramides” (referring to the Mexico City pyramids) or “Zona Arqueologico”.

The first bus to Teotihuacan departs at 6am with more departures about every 20 minutes thereafter until 2pm. I recommend catching an 8am bus — you’ll arrive just in time for the site to open and avoid midday crowds.

Depending on traffic, the ride is about 1 hour each way.  Your outbound ticket will be for a specific, timed departure so don’t miss your bus.  Your return ticket is not for a scheduled time, so you can take any bus back to the city when you’re done.

The round-trip ticket costs 102 pesos per person, or about US$6 as of October 2022.  Bathrooms are available in the station for 6 pesos and there is fast food and luggage storage (30 pesos/bag) also.

Uber is more convenient, but more expensive. It’s hard to provide an exact cost, since it will depend on where you’re staying in the city, whether your car takes the toll road, and how much traffic there is at that exact time (Uber surge pricing is very common in Mexico City). From my Condesa hotel to Gate 2 of Teotihuacan, I was quoted 1175 pesos one-way (absurd!) but only 400 pesos on the way back.

Buses will drop you off at Puerta 1 at Teotihuacan, where you can buy entrance tickets.  As of February 2023, the entrance fee was 85 pesos and includes entry into the museum.  There is an additional charge if you wish to record videos.

If you want to hire a guide (optional), there are several licensed guides near the entrance.  Private guides cost about 850 pesos for a 1.5 hour tour of Sun & Moon Pyramids or 1500 pesos for a 2.5 hour tour that includes more.  Expect to haggle based on length of tour, language, size of group, and the guide’s knowledge.  For a free option, you can read through the Wikipedia guide before you go.

Currently, the park is open daily from 8am to 5pm . It is busiest on Sundays (when Mexicans get in free) and Mondays (when many city museums are closed). If you can, go on a Tuesday through Saturday and arrive right at 9am. This is the #1 most visited attraction in all of Mexico, so it gets crowded!

What to See and How to Visit Teotihuacan Without a Guide

To avoid crowds, I recommend arriving before 10am to have some breathing room before hoards of Teotihuacan tours arrive. Most visitors need about four hours to see the highlights; history buffs should plan on staying all day for a more in-depth look. The ancient city was arranged in a grid that still makes navigating today, but it covers about eight square miles so it’ll take you some time to see it all!

You’ll want to sightsee the Temple of the Sun first when it’s least busy. Then head down the spookily named Calle de los Muertos , or Avenue of the Dead which routes through the city center. It passes by numerous minor temples and other sites, eventually reaching the Pyramid of the Moon. Afterward, head back to the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl. I recommend saving the museum for last — if you start your visit early in the morning, you’ll hit the indoor museum midday when everything is at it’s hottest.

For the sake of clarity: you should know that Teotihuacan refers to the entire ancient city (and today’s complete archaeological site), although most visitors focus on seeing the two main Mexico City pyramids.

Teotihuacan’s History in a Nutshell

Although civilization at Teotihuacan traces back to 300 BCE, the city was at its peak between roughly 450-550 CE. At that time, it’s population is estimated to be 125,000 (and perhaps as many as 200,000!), making it the largest city in pre-Columbian America and the sixth-largest city in the world . Its influence in Mesoamerica as a civilization is well-documented through artifacts all over Mexico.

Contrary to popular belief, Teotihuacan is not an Aztec site; evidence supports that it was either Nahua, Otomi or Totonac, or perhaps even multi-ethnic.

The exact reason for the fall of Teotihuacan is unknown, but theories include internal unrest and uprisings, outside raiders, and severe drought. Whether or not this was the cause for its entire fall, there is definite evidence of deliberate fires, smashed artwork, and destructive chaos.

Make your first stop the Temple of the Sun   so you can climb all 248 steep steps before it gets too hot out (update: this isn’t possible anymore but it still gets busy).

Researchers believe a temple may have once topped the structure, but little is known about its intended purpose. Whatever the case, it was likely used for many rituals, as several masks, bones, figurines, and obsidian artifacts have been found in and around the stones.

This extraordinary monument is not only the largest pyramid in the Americas, but the third largest worldwide.

This 150-foot pyramid lies on the northern end of the site and was previously used for both human and animal sacrifices to the gods. There are twelve smaller platforms in front of the pyramid where residents would’ve stood to witness the rituals; standing here gave me a chill.

The Pyramid of the Moon   was my favorite part of Teotihuacan, perhaps because you’re looking at the entire site.

At first glance, this looks like just another miniature pyramid, but when you get closer you’ll notice numerous carved serpent heads along the eastern side. This one is worth exploring from ground level to see the carvings.

The Palace of Quetzlpapalotl doesn’t look like anywhere else in the city. It has ornately carved pillars, obsidian inlays, beautiful murals, and a gorgeous courtyard.  Many of the colors have been preserved; others re-touched.

The palace is located in La Ciudadela , a seventeen acre courtyard that appeared to have housed the city’s ruling elite.

The museum is primarily geared toward Spanish speakers and is skippable if you’re short on time.

The Best Teotihuacan Tours

There’s no doubt a guide and group make things easier and give you more historical context during your visit.

If visiting independently sounds like too much work, the best Teotihuacan tours include this early-morning visit with an archaeologist  to beat the crowds.  

If you’re not an early bird, try “ Hidden Teotihuacan “ , a small group outing that includes dinner in a local home.

Tons of vendors sell arts, crafts, trinkets, and other souvenirs both in and out of the official site boundaries. They all have basically the same items, so don’t worry about “missing” something. Since everyone has basically the same products, don’t be afraid to walk away until you get a price you’re happy with.

Please be aware that recent visitors have noted that vendors have been more aggressive lately due to the lack of visitors. You will likely be asked over and over to have a look as their livelihood depends on it.

PRO TIP: Save all your shopping for the end of your visit so you don’t have to carry any new gifts with you as you climb up and down the pyramids.

The fact that you can leave the site for lunch and re-enter with your ticket isn’t widely advertised.  There are some street food options outside Gate 2 (across from Pyramid of the Sun) and one really unique restaurant outside Gate 5. La Gruta is a restaurant inside a cave, providing an atmosphere different from anywhere I’ve eaten before!  The food is average, but the setting is unbeatable.

If you speak Spanish, you can check out the menu ahead of time.  It’s not cheap — expect entree prices around US$12 — but it’s not outrageously priced either.

To get there, head behind the Pyramid of the Sun, following signs to the museum. This will lead you to Gate/Puerta 5. Exit through the gate and take a left. Shortly thereafter, take a right onto a side street and you’ll see black signs pointing you down the long driveway to the restaurant. This will take you 5 minutes maximum.

When you’re done exploring, exit the ruins at Puerta/Gate 2 and walk through the parking lot to the main road (pickup is also available at Gate 1 & 3).  The bus will pick you up at that main intersection, on the far side of the road.  You shouldn’t have to wait more than 20 minutes.  If you didn’t originally buy a round-trip ticket, you can pay when you board.

The site closes at 5pm but there are buses until 6pm or later.  The ride back takes slightly longer due to the routing, but it’s still easy.

The final stop is back at the bus station where you started, or you can get off at Indios Verdes and take the metro from there.  Indios Verdes is a busy, overwhelming station so skip it if you’re not used to Latin American travel!

I re-visited Teotihuacan in 2020 to check out the Teotihuacan Nocturno experience, which includes nighttime entry to see the pyramids lit up. It ends with a light and sound show projected on the Pyramid of the Sun. It’s an entirely different experience (and requires separate admission to a daytime visit) but it can be a great supplement or even substitution.

If that sounds interesting to you, check out my full review of Teotihuacan at night .

Do you need a hotel in Mexico City? I don’t recommend staying by Teotihuacan — there’s nothing there, except the site itself.  Instead, check out my Mexico City neighborhood guide and hotel recommendations  ( opens in a new window ). Have more time?  Check out some of the other activities I liked in Mexico City   to plan the rest of your trip.

Good walking shoes: You’ll cover quite a bit of ground as you walk between the Mexico City pyramids (and up and down the steep stairs!). The Avenue of the Dead is two miles long if you walk it in entirety.

Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat: There’s essentially no shade on-site.

Drinking water: Bottled water is sold outside park gates, but I recommend bringing your own reusable bottle and a water filter because it’s better for the environment.

A small day bag: Choose a backpack so you’re hands-free for easier climbing. This is my favorite lightweight backpack . Please keep a close eye on your bag while you’re on the metro; my sister lost her wallet in Mexico City !

7am-7:30am Leave Your Hotel: You’ll need time to take the subway or taxi to the bus station. From most hotels, this takes 15-20 minutes.

7:30am-9am: Buy bus tickets when you arrive. Grab a coffee and breakfast to-go at the station, use the restroom if you need to, and board an 8am bus which will take about an hour.

9am-1pm: Visit Teotihuacan, starting with the Pyramid of the Sun before it gets too hot or crowded.

1pm-2:30pm: Have lunch at La Gruta, the cave restaurant.

2:30pm-4pm: Depart on a bus around 2:30pm, which will take about an hour to get back to the station and then another 15-20 minutes back to your hotel.

Teotihuacán is an essential part of ancient Mexico and its heritage and no trip to central Mexico would be complete without seeing this megalithic masterpiece!

Hotel Umbral Mexico City Review (Hilton Curio Collection)

I Can’t Stop Thinking About This Mexican Sandwich

Once Was Enough for Mexico City

Teotihuacan at Night: Is Experiencia Nocturna Tactful or Tacky?

Where to Go After Mexico City: 8 Fabulous Side Trips

181 thoughts on “how to visit teotihuacan without a tour”.

Thank you, awesome instructions!

Note at the entrance to park it says open from 7am everyday. A few TripAdvisor posts have also Commented on this. We only arrived after 9am though so can’t verify.

Please note you can get bus back to Bus Norte from Gate 1.

As some suggested, we got off at Deportivo 18 de Mars to change to metro / save back tracking from Bus Norte.

Our tour was 850 for Sun & Moon pyramid (1,5hrs) or 1500 for additional temple (2.5hrs)

@Vera, Great info, thank you!

Becky, you rocked my world. Thank you! This was incredibly helpful!! You are the bees knees

We were a little intimidated to visit the pyramids from Mexico City on our own. So we followed your article to a tee on our day trip to the pyramids. It was so simple, straightforward, and approachable. Thank you THANK YOU for this piece! We also loved the Pyramid of the Moon (and its view) best.

Thank you so much this was gold! We spent our entire day and would have liked to stay even longer. For future visitors: Really do put sunscreen, I got burned badly… Also, bring water and snacks.

Just want to say THANK YOU !!! Your information was extremely helpful. If I may add, my wife and I found a shuttle service to Teotihuacan close to our hotel in Reforma avenue called BlueBus. 25 bucks per person, and they do have different departure times. So that’s another way to get there. Hope to read your notes about other sites in other countries !

@Alex, Great news — sounds like a wonderful option.

I could not find any information on this shuttle

Thanks for the mention @Alex!

BlueBus is a new service going from Reforma non-stop to the Pyramids in Teotihuacan.

Thank you so much for this information! My mum and I went to Teotihuacan today and followed your directions for the bus. We took an Uber to and from the bus station, and the whole thing was SO EASY (and cheap, and fast…). Knowing that other tourists had done it recently made us feel more confident.

We found that the bus can drop you at gates 1, 2, or 3; as well as pick ups from the same. For those planning a trip – Gate 1 is good if you want to go to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, and Gate 2 takes you straight to the Pyramid of the Sun. We did a lot of unnecessary walking (good exercise, though!) that we could have avoided if we had planned a bit better 🙂

Helpful article, thank you! I would add that for folks coming to the bus station via Uber: *walk-in entrence and go left to the Teotihuacan bus counter at the northen most ticket counter, yes #8, but the numbers are blue.

*There are at least 3 (that we found) baggage holding locations. Cheap. 30pesos for a carry on size bag.

*There is not a bathroom on the bus I am currently sitting on. Bus has no air-conditioning and while not bad, is not nice. I would be careful about the heat on a bus like this in summer / hot weather. We are here in mid Feb and it is over 80°f.

USE THE BATHROOM BEFORE GOING THRU THE SECURITY AREA

@Tim, Great follow-up, thank you!

Thanks Becky. This is a very details and useful info to utilize as guide when I visit Mexico City again. ???

Thanks a lot Becky for your detailed description. We found everything right at place as you’ve described in your article. We’ve visited the Pyramid of the Sun today and thanks to you, the trip went smoothly.

This is super helpful, and now I am confident I can get there via this method.

Since an early start is recommended, how long does it take to get to the bus station in rush hour, especially if taking an Uber?

@Kayla, Mexico City is HUGE so it will depend on your precise starting location. You can use Google Maps to estimate drive time but from my favorite neighborhood of Condesa it’s 15-20 minutes.

I’ll be in Roma, so that’s not as long as I would expect it to take… thank you!

Hi Becky, thanks for very helpful guideline. I did this trip yesterday (Saturday) based on your article and ablosutely no problem. I didn’t manage to leave early and only took 10:30am bus. By around 12 I was on the spot. There was only a bit “people jam” on the stairs up to the Temple of the Sun, otherwise ok.

Is there a way to buy an entrance ticket to the site in advance? I was looking online and couldn’t find anything.

@Adyul, Not that I know of (other than buying a group tour where the guide takes care of it for you). There shouldn’t be much of a line if you’re there in the morning.

Thanks so much! Going there tomorrow

We did this last week and it was seamless! We took a 10am-ish bus there. When we got to the site, they didn’t make us pay for a photo permit, so I am not sure if we got lucky or they did away with this.

The last bus to leave the site is at 6pm if anyone else tries this (at least that’s what the driver said).

Thanks so much!! The photos really helped!

This blog was wonderful and EXACTLY what we needed to know! I hope to read more by you while here in CDMX.

My daughter and her group of Girl Scouts will be in Mexico City at the end of June. They are 14 and 15 years old, and there will be about 9 of them with 3 adults. Is it safe to travel on the metro/subway? I’ve read conflicting things about it. Thank you!

@Heidi, It’s safe in that I certainly wouldn’t expect any violent crime. However, groups in general are often targets for pickpockets because everyone’s distracted talking to each other, etc. Make sure they keep an eye on their things.

(With a group that large, I might look into the cost of chartering a 12-passenger van/minibus. It might be more affordable per person than you think and then it would run directly from the hotel on whatever schedule they like).

Can anyone help me understand why the need for bag lockers? Am i not allowed to carry a bag on site? For water, snacks, etc.

@Blanca, Yes, you can bring a day bag with water, sunscreen, etc. Some people OPTIONALLY choose to use bag lockers, for example if they are visiting on their way to/from the airport

An excellent Well written article. Nothing has been missed , thanks

Directions were perfect! Thank-you!!!

Thank you for making our trip out to the pyramids so easy! You’re a star.

Nice article, thanks. How have things changed in times of Covid? Looking at the Teotihuacan web site, it seems much is closed, hours are restricted, and there’s a limit on the number of visitors each day. Any updated guidance?

@Andy, I haven’t personally been to Mexico City since pre-covid (February 2020) so I don’t have any first-hand experience. Also, the guidelines change every 2-3 months and are subject to change again in the future at any time. Right now, you can’t get anywhere close to the pyramids so I wouldn’t bother making the trip out there. Hopefully you’ll get a chance to return to CDMX another time in the future.

I agree with you Becky, the site is not worth the visit with current restrictions in place. Effectively, you are just making a big trip to walk through a long hot market, being hassled by vendors constantly. This was my least enjoyable archaeological visits in over a dozen. My advice is go to the National Museum of Anthropology in the city. So full of artefacts, recreations and information is at least partly in English. The Zoo and huge free park are just over the road. A much better use of time.

Hi Becky, I first want to say thank you for this blog. Very helpful! I next want to mention, as Mexican-American woman, I please ask that you edit out the part where you say “you can bargain” for a better price, and instead encourage people to buy from the vendors. I understand the struggle and suffrage my people have to make for basic living, and if many United States Americans or western people can afford the already extremely low-price souvenirs, don’t be cheap or insensitive. Just buy the souvenir without giving the poor people who are struggling to make, not even a basic living wage, a hard time. Thanks!

Absurd. I’m not going to pay 50 usd for some crappy Chinese made trinket. You absolutely have the right to negotiate in these situations where you’re viewed as a walking atm.

Can you buy tickets at Gate 2?

@Sophia, As of February 2020 you could but I have not been back recently (due to covid). I assume all gates are still open for ticket purchases.

Excellent article! It really helps!! One question, perhaps anyone can answer who knows

How to get to La Gruta restaurant from the Teotihuacan site? Do we need to hail a taxi or simply walk to it? How far is it from the site?

@Gerry, La Gruta is less than a 5-minute walk from “Gate 5” of Teotihuacan. This is the gate near the Teotihuacan museum. When you are done with lunch, you can either re-enter the archaeological site to see anything you miss, or walk to gate 2/3 (about a 20 minute walk) to get a bus back downtown, or hail a taxi/Uber right from the restaurant to go back to the city.

Thank you for these great instructions on buying bus tickets. I really didn’t want to be stuck on a formal tour.

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Teotihuacan Early Morning Half-Day Tour

Quick Details

• Globe Region: Mexico
• Map Marker Location: Mexico City
• Hour Glass Duration: 8 hours
• Tag Tour Type: Shared Tour

Explore Teotihuacan: One of Mexico’s Most Famous Attractions

Visit Teotihuacan, known as the “City of the Gods,” in the early morning on a half-day tour, before the tour groups from Mexico City begin to crowd this popular attraction.

Enjoy this impressive archaeological site just as it begins to open its doors and visit its different buildings, squares, and murals peacefully . Feel the magical and mystical atmosphere that allows you to have a more authentic and lively experience in this great city of ancient Mexico.

This Teotihuacan half-day tour is made even richer thanks to the stories, anecdotes, history, and information on the latest discoveries that your guide shares with you during the tour.

To complete your experience at this impressive site, you stop in an obsidian workshop with a local Teotihuacan family, where you are offered tastings of liqueurs made from cactus as well as tequila, mezcal, and pulque.

We also make a stop for lunch (not included), which is in itself another great experience thanks to the variety of dishes and traditional Mexican flavors.

Experience the Magic of Mexico: Join Our Teotihuacan Tour and Discover the City of the Gods in the Early Morning

Highlights:

• Avoid large crowds with an early access half-day tour to Teotihuacan
• Enjoy this impressive archaeological site on a full guided visit
• Get information from a professional local guide
• Visit an obsidian workshop run by a Teotihuacan family
• Participate in a Tequila, Mezcal and Pulque tasting

Inclusions:

• Round transportation from the meeting point
• Entrance to Teotihuacan Pyramids
• Professional bilingual guide
• Tastings of liqueurs made from cactus

Exclusions:

• Food and beverages
• Optional tips

Meeting points:

• MIGA CAFE, Calle Liverpool 174, at 06:20 am.
• Hostal Amigo, Calle Isabel La Católica 61-A, Center, at 6:50 am.

Related Tours

• 💙Best Seller
• Tag Shared Tour
• Map Marker Mexico City , Teotihuacán

Teotihuacan Tour

Discover the magic of Teotihuacan and Basilica of Guadalupe with our Mexico City Tour! Explore the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon, walk through the ancient ruins. Then, visit the stunning Basilica of Guadalupe, one of the most important religious sites in Mexico.

• Combo Tour!
• Hour Glass 2 days

Teotihuacán & Basílica de Guadalupe + Xochimilco, Coyoacán & Frida Kahlo

Make the most of your trip to Mexico City with this Super Saver tour that includes the main attractions in the city and its surroundings in two days.

• Hour Glass 10 hours
• Map Marker Mexico City

Xochimilco, Coyoacan & Frida Kahlo Museum Tour

This is one of our most vibrant Mexico City tour! Visit the famous “Blue House” and admire the majestic architecture of the National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Get a FREE Essential Travel Apps and Websites Checklist!

How to Visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids in Mexico City by Bus

Would you like to visit the iconic pyramids in Mexico City but are wondering if you can do it without a tour? If so, then this detailed guide will help you every step of the way to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus.

The Teotihuacan Pyramids are without doubt one of the most popular day trips in Mexico City, but it’s located nearly 50km outside of the Historic Centre. Due to being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are many tour operators offering day trips to it. However, for the same reason you can just as easily reach it by bus even if you don’t speak much Spanish.

For reference, we spent 2 weeks in Mexico City and during this time we took many incredible day trips like this one without a tour, and visiting the pyramids was probably one of the most straight forward ones to do. 

If you’d like to see our Mexico City adventures then make sure to watch our YouTube playlist by  clicking here.  You can also check out our  Mexico Playlist  for more adventures.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something. Clicking these links won’t cost you anything, but it will help us to keep this site up and running! Learn more about our affiliate policy.

Table of Contents

Mexico City Travel Guide – Read This Before Your Visit

If you’re looking for answers to common questions such as where to stay, how to stay safe during your visit and how best to get around this massive capital city then make sure to check out my detailed blog post below.

The blog post includes answers to the following questions:

• Is Mexico City Safe?
• Do You Need to Speak Spanish in Mexico City?
• How To Get to Mexico City?
• Where to Stay in Mexico City?
• Best Ways to Move Around Mexico City

History of the Teotihuacan Pyramids

Located approximately 50km to the northeast of Mexico City is the ancient Mesoamerican city of Teotihuacan. Although it was settled around 400 B.C., the city was at its peak around 400 A.D. It was abandoned for centuries before the Aztecs found it in the 1400s and named it Teotihuacan which means ‘the place where the gods were created’.

It grew to be the biggest city in the region with a population estimated to be between 125,000–200,000 people. Needless to say that the city became the centre of religion, economics, culture and art and had a major influence on the surrounding regions too.

It covers about 20 square km and contains about 2,000 single-story apartment compounds, pyramids, temples and other structures. Some of the most important structures at Teotihuacan are the Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Ciudadela (‘Citadel’) and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent).

To date it’s still unknown who built the ancient city. There are obviously quite a few theories by scholars but nothing has been proven. In addition, not much is known about the Teotihuacan people’s language, politics, culture and religion either. It’s also still unclear why Teotihuacan collapsed. Based on my readings about the site, it’s common knowledge that the priests practiced ritual sacrifices of animals and people as offerings to the gods. In addition, Teotihuacan was definitely a wealthy trade centre during its heyday. 

In 1987 the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Useful Information Before Your Visit

Note – To our great disappointment, mainly due to Covid-19 restrictions, we couldn’t climb up to the top of the pyramids. In addition, the on-site museum was closed too. We knew this before we visited the pyramids, and this is the reason I warn you prior to your visit. The rules might change as restrictions ease across the world, but there’s also a chance that in order to preserve the pyramids climbing them will be prohibited indefinitely. 

Top Tip – If you’d love to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the pyramids then you should consider taking a hot air balloon ride above them. That would definitely be an unforgettable adventure.

Cost to Enter the Teotihuacan Pyramids

Admission fee to the pyramids is 80MXN per person. You don’t need to book it in advance, you can just buy tickets on the day.

If you’d like t o take videos you’ll need to pay an additional 50MXN.

If you wish, you can hire a guide on site for an additional cost. The cost will depend on the language and the size of the tour.

Did you know? – You can actually leave and re-enter the site on the same day as long as you keep hold of your ticket. It’s very useful if you’d like to leave to get some food or drinks from the nearby town.

Opening Hours and Best Time to Visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids

The pyramids are open daily between 9AM and 5PM.

Which month is best to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids? – Temperature wise the hottest months are May, April, and June, however some of the busiest months are January, February and March when I guess a lot of people are seeking some winter-sun. For reference, we visited in December and it was busy due to the Christmas holidays, but the temperatures were much better. 

What day is best to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids? – Since most museums are closed on Mondays in Mexico City many people will visit the pyramids on that day. In addition, on Sundays Mexican citizens and residents can visit the site for free, so once again it will be much busier. Depending on how much time you have in Mexico City I recommend visiting between Tuesday and Saturday.

What time of the day is best to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids? – For a few very good reasons I highly recommend getting to the pyramids when they open. First, you’ll beat the big tour groups and you can really appreciate just how impressive the pyramids are. Speaking from experience, these ancient sites feel less magical when thousands of people are bumping into you and hitting you in the face with their selfie sticks.

Secondly, you won’t just beat the crowds, but the heat too. By 10-11o’clock in the morning the sun will feel very strong, and by lunchtime it will feel unbearable. There’s literally no shade, so to avoid a heatstroke get there early or later in the afternoon. We visited in December and it was still super hot in the middle of the day.

In addition, getting there early will give you the chance to see the hot air balloons flying around the pyramids. It isn’t just beautiful but will also give you the chance to take some creative photos with them.

What to Wear and Bring With You?

Here’s a list of things you should consider wearing and taking with you when you visit the pyramids:

Items for protection:

• Sun-cream to protect your skin
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes against the harsh sunlight
• Hat to cover your head 

Clothing items:

• Breathable clothing against the heat
• Comfortable footwear for walking (the surface can be uneven and rocky)
• Small backpack for your belongings

Other Items:

• Enough cash to cover your expenses
• Snacks and lunch as there won’t be any restaurants to buy food
• Enough drinking water in a reusable water bottle .

How to Get to the Teotihuacan Pyramids from Mexico City by Bus

Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus is actually a lot easier than you think. I think it’s becoming more and more popular because it’s more affordable than taking a tour or a taxi or Uber ride to them.

If not speaking much Spanish is holding you back from taking the bus, please don’t worry. Although you might need to prepare a few words or use a translator app when purchasing your ticket, there will be many other English speaking tourists heading to the pyramids daily that can help you out if needed.

1. Getting to Autobuses del Norte Bus Station

Your first step to reach the Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus would be to get to Autobuses del Norte station where the buses to the pyramids depart from. There are a few ways to get there depending on where you’re staying in Mexico City.

Please Note – Mexico City has 4 bus stations: Terminal de Autobuses del Norte (North), Terminal de Autobuses del Sur (South), Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros Oriente (TAPO) and Terminal de Autobuses del Poniente (Observatorio).  Make sure to arrive to Terminal de Autobuses del Norte (North)!

The cheapest way to get to the bus stop is by metro. One way will cost you 5MXN (yes, Mexico City has one of the cheapest public transportation systems in the world). Click here to read more about how to travel around Mexico City by metro.

You’ll need to take Line 5 and get off at Autobuses del Norte metro stop. Depending on where you’re staying you might need to change lines once or twice. Click here to view the metro line map.

If this sounds too complicated then you can always take a taxi or Uber. It won’t be super expensive but will definitely cost you more than 5MXN. Plus you have to account for the crazy traffic in the city so it might take you longer to get to the bus stop.

2. Finding the Ticket Office and Purchasing Your Bus Ticket

Once you get off at the metro stop, just follow the signs towards the bus stop. Many people will head that way anyways so following the crowd is always a good trick if you feel a bit lost. 

If you arrived by taxi or Uber then they will likely drop you off at the main entrance to the bus stop.

Okay, this bus stop is humongous and can be a bit overwhelming. I remember it took me a good 15 minutes to find some toilets when we fist visited the station. So, if you’ve entered the building, you’ll notice that there are different ticket offices both to your left and right. To travel to Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus look for the ticket office that has ‘Autobuses Teotihuacan’ written on the top with a pyramid sign next to it as shown on the photo above. It’s located all the way to your left just before Puerta 8 (Gate 8).

It’s pretty obvious, but I bet there will be some people queuing up there whom you can ask if you’re unsure. Be prepared that even though this is a big tourist attraction, the ticket officer will likely only speak Spanish. You can always check first by asking:  ¿Hablas inglés?, but if the answer is no you can just say ‘un/ dos boleto(s) a los piramides ‘. You’ll have the option to buy a single or return ticket. I recommend getting a return one now so you don’t have to worry about it on your way back. (‘Un boleto de regreso a los piramides’.)

3. Cost of Bus Ticket and Departure Times

Cost of a one-way ticket is 52MXN and a return ticket is 104MXN.

You’ll normally have the option to pay by cash or card especially in bigger cities like Mexico City. To avoid a lot of exchange fees, I recommend converting your own local currency to Pesos with a   Wise card.

From the ticket office head to your left to Puerta 8 (Gate 8). Once you’re out, the bus will leave from one of the bays. Ours had a Teotihuacan sign on it but if you’re in doubt just show your ticket to someone and they will direct you to the right bus.

Buses to Teotihuacan Pyramids run every 15-20 minutes from 6AM. The journey takes about an hour, depending on traffic. For reference we took the 8AM bus which got us to the pyramids just in time for opening.

4. Arriving to the Teotihuacan Pyramids

The site itself is massive and has 5 entry points or puertas . The bus will drop you off at Puerta 1 (Gate 1). This gate is located to the southernmost point of the site, opposite from the Pyramid of the Moon which is located at the northern tip.

Once you’re off the bus, head to your right along the car park towards the entrance where you can purchase your ticket.

Top Tip – I recommend using the toilet facilities before you start walking around as the toilets are only located around the entry/exit gates.

Once you’re in the site you can just make your way up towards the Pyramid of the Moon, passing the museum and botanic garden and the Pyramid of the Sun. 

5. Leaving the Teotihuacan Pyramids

When you’re ready to leave the pyramids just head out through Puerta 2 (Gate 2) the one located across from the Pyramid of the Sun. Once you’ve walked past the car park you should cross the main road and stand around the fence to your right. 

I’m sure there will be other people already queuing to get the bus but if you’re unsure you can just ask one of the vendors around you.

You might need to wait around 10-15 minutes before you can catch a bus back to Mexico City. Again, the journey should be about an hour depending on traffic. The bus will take you back to Autobuses del Norte bus stop from where you just have to make your way back to your hotel the way you arrived that morning. 

Things to See at the Teotihuacan Pyramids

If you visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus then the first area you’ll visit after you arrive through Gate 1 is the  Ciudadela or Citadel which is a 15 square hectare courtyard. This is also where the Temple of Quetzalcoatl or Temple of the Feathered-Serpent  is located. This is the third largest pyramid at the site and got its name from the iconic carved heads that embellish the eastern side.

From there you’ll be heading towards the other two big pyramids. Just before you get to the Pyramid of the Sun you can walk to the museum if it’s open and the botanical garden located at Gate 5. There are a few picnic tables here, so you can always come back later to have your lunch if you wish.

At 66m tall the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest pyramid at Teotihuacan. To really get a sense of the scale of it, I highly recommend walking around it. The real purpose of the pyramid is still a mystery, although – as always – there are plenty of theories about it. 

Top Tip – You can take some cool photos from the back of the pyramid as there won’t be too many people around there.

The main buildings at the site are connected by the 2.4km long  Avenue of the Dead.  It points to the peak of the extinct volcano, Cerro Gordo. At the end of the Avenue of the Dead is where the  Pyramid of the Moon  is located. At 43m tall, it’s the second largest structure after the Pyramid of the Sun. The main function of it was to perform both animal and human sacrifices, but it was also used as a burial ground for sacrificial victims. 

To the left of the Pyramid of the Moon is the  Palace of Quetzalpapalotl  that is home to beautiful carved murals so make sure to check it out too. 

Final Thoughts on Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids by Bus

I’m very happy that we chose to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus instead of a tour. Apart from the amount of money we managed to save this way, I was so thankful that we could arrive as early as possible. Witnessing the hot air balloons flying around the pyramids was really beautiful and definitely the highlight of the day. Sharing the site with only a handful of people in the morning instead of thousands by lunchtime was also a great way to appreciate the power of the place.

Obviously as the hours passed by, the temperature was getting warmer and simultaneously the crowds were increasing. Luckily we were finishing our self-guided tour by then so it was the perfect time to leave Teotihuacan and head back to Mexico City.

Have you ever been to the Teotihuacan Pyramids before? If so, did you take a tour or travel there by bus? What was your experience? If not, would you want to visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids by bus? Let me know in the comments below. 

Now, let your adventure begin,

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10 comments.

Thanks for sharing this! Really useful info., about the site and how to get there independently! Hope to get there one day.

Thank you so much Karan! I really hope you can visit both the pyramids and Mexico City in the near future x

Great and very comprehensive! We visited Teotihuacan in 2018 and were able to climb the pyramids and it was unforgettable. We are going back in 2 weeks with our children and are disappointed we will not be able to climb. Although I wrote to the main museum, and they said that you may be able to climb The Temple of Quetzalcoal pyramid! So we are hoping to do that. Either way it is a magical place, exactly how you described. We took the bus as well in 2018 and will plan to do it again. Very easy – and the price hasn’t changed in 4 years! Thanks again. Great post.

Thank you for your lovely comment Jenn. It’s so lucky that you were able to climb the pyramids and enjoy the views! It’s a shame you can’t do the same with your children now but fingers crossed you can at least climb the third pyramid! Have a great trip and enjoy your time in Mexico City.

Thanks for this. So helpful, we are sitting on the bus back to Mexico city now after a great, stress free, effortless trip! Great advice 🙂

Thank you so much Brynna, I’m so glad that you had a lovely day at the Pyramids and found my post helpful! 😃

thank you for the article

Thank you for reading it.

Great article as we are planning to visit soon. Also, where is your cute top in the pictures from?

Thank you so much. Hope you’ll have an amazing time in Teotihuacan. My top is an old one from H&M, so don’t think it’s still available, but I’m sure they’re selling similar ones 🙂

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THE 10 BEST San Juan Teotihuacan Tours & Excursions

San juan teotihuacan tours.

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• Multi-day Tours
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• Motorcycle Tours
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• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Literary, Art & Music Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
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• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
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• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Teotihuacan, Guadalupe Shrine, Tlatelolco & Tequila Tasting Tour

2. Balloon flight with pick up in CDMX + Breakfast in a natural cave

3. Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan, from Mexico City

4. Teotihuacan Half-Day Tour with Tequila tasting

5. Private Tour: Teotihuacan and Guadalupe Shrine

6. Hot Air Balloon Flights over Teotihuacán from CDMX or We Fly

7. Teotihuacan Private Tour from Mexico City

8. Balloon Flight with Breakfast in Natural Cave and Transportation

9. Tour to Teotihuacán from CDMX

10. Teotihuacan Express Private tour from Mexico City

11. Group Tour from Teotihuacán, Basílica de Guadalupe and Tlatelolco

12. Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloons from We Fly

13. Balloon flight in Teotihuacan with breakfast in cave from CDMX

14. Small-Group Teotihuacan Pyramids from Mexico City

15. Teotihuacan + Basilica de Guadalupe + Tlatelolco Tour!

16. Teotihuacán Pyramids Private Tour From Mexico City

17. Teotihuacan in the best private tour

18. Full-Day Teotihuacan & Basilica Guadalupe Tour

19. Private full tour to Teotihuacan and Basilica at your own pace

20. Balloon flight with private transportation and guided tour to Teotihuacán

21. Teotihuacan, Shrine of Guadalupe & Tlatelolco Day Tour

22. Teotihuacan Half-Day Afternoon Tour with Tequila Tasting

23. Private Tour in Teotihuacán Pyramids from Mexico City

24. Unforgettable Balloon Flight + Tour of Teotihuacan

25. Teotihuacan & Basilica Guadalupe Tour with lunch

26. Mexico City Pass: Tours and Attractions Multi Day Pass

27. Teotihuacán Pyramids, transportation, entrance and tourist guide.

28. Pyramids of Teotihuacán and Basilica of Guadalupe

29. Teotihuacan: Pyramids, Caves & Culinary Experience

30. Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride with Optional Bike or Walking Tour

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• Donald H 0 contributions 0 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent tour! This was our first trip to CDMX and we thoroughly enjoyed this tour with our expert guide, Carlos, and very capable driver, Arturo. Arturo did a great job driving and was always very courteous. Carlos was a wealth of knowledge on the history of the sites we visited and we also had very robust discussions of numerous topics during the 5+ hours we spent with both gentlemen. This tour was the highlight of our trip to CDMX and we highly recommend both Carlos and Arturo to take you on a journey to some of Mexico's past, and present. Thank you both for a wonderful day. Read more Review of: Private Tour: Teotihuacan and Guadalupe Shrine Written May 5, 2024 This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

• Teotihuacan, Guadalupe Shrine, Tlatelolco & Tequila Tasting Tour
• Balloon flight with pick up in CDMX + Breakfast in a natural cave
• Teotihuacan Early Access tour with Tequila Tasting
• Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan, from Mexico City
• Teotihuacan Private Tour from Mexico City
• Tlatoani tours
• Flying Pictures Mexico
• Aerodiverti
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• Teotihuacan Real Archaeology Tours
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Select Your Experience

Guided Tour of Teotihuacán from Mexico City

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Experience the grandeur of Teotihuacan pre-hispanic pyramids with this round-trip guided tour.
• Join this guided tour (English) of the Teotihuacan archeological site and see the iconic pre-hispanic pyramids.
• Enjoy hassle-free transportation from central Mexico City and get ready to unravel every secret of this enticing city.
• You'll have the chance to see the most renowned pyramids: the Sun and Moon.
• After the tour, stop for a traditional liquor workshop where you'll taste traditional Mexican liquors such as Tequila, Mezcal, and Pulque.
• Entrance to Teotihuacán
• English-speaking guide
• Tastings of liqueurs made from cactus
• Round-trip transfers from the meeting point
• Optional tips
• Note: The only areas that will be open will be the Calzada de Los Muertos, as well as the squares and esplanades, so you will not be able to climb the Pyramid of the Sun or the Pyramid of the Moon.
• The archaeological area is restricted and closes at 5pm.

Teotihuacan Guided Tour

• Explore the magical archaeological site of Teotihuacan with a guide
• Once at the site, discover the archeological site at your leisure: walk around the site, soaking up the serene surroundings as you do.
• Learn about the holy city of Teotihuacan - known to be the place where the Gods were created.
• This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, and more.
• This powerful cultural center in Mesoamerica extends its artistic, cultural, and historic influence throughout the region and further beyond.
• Ticket to Teotihuacán
• Transportation

Teotihuacán Pyramids Afternoon Guided Tour

• Head out to the sub-valley of Teotihuacán for unobstructed sightseeing opportunities.
• Found in the shadows of Cerro Gordo lie the incredible pyramids of Teotihuacán, the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon, both of which have immense historical relevance.
• Gain insight into the architecture and urban design of Teotihuacán, representing Mesoamerican cosmovision at its finest.
• Your expert tour guide will fill you in on the history of the city as you pass along various hotspots on the site.
• Finally, as the crowds start trickling out, find yourself a cozy spot and watch the sunset over the capacious pyramids.
• Round-trip transportation from the designated meeting point makes for a hassle-free trip.
• Expert tour guide (English/Spanish)
• Round transfer from the meeting point
• Entrance to Teotihuacan
• Hotel transfers
• Food & drinks
• The only areas that will be open will be the Calzada de Los Muertos, as well as the squares and esplanades, so you will not be able to climb the Pyramid of the Sun or the Pyramid of the Moon.
• The archeological area is restricted and closes at 5:00 PM
• The site is not wheelchair accessible

Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine & Tequila Tasting Tour

• See Tlatelolco, the biggest archaeological site in Mexico City, where the main market of the Aztec Empire once stood.
• Head to the Basilica of Guadalupe, one of the most popular Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, and look at the cloak with the image of the Lady Virgin on display.
• This is where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.
• At Teotihuacan, the ‘City of Gods,’ see some of the largest pyramids in the world.
• Learn about the many legends that surround the site - for instance, it is said that the gods gathered here to plan the creation of man.
• Find out about the artistic, cultural, and historic influence this UNESCO World Heritage Site had on its surroundings.
• With an expert local guide for company, you are guaranteed personalized attention and great service.
• Expert bilingual guide
• Tasting of tequila and mezcal
• Visit Guadalupe Shrine and Tlatelolco
• Food and drinks
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

2 Days: Mexico City & Teotihuacán Pyramids Guided Tour

• Day 1 of your tour commences at the National Museum of Anthropology, home to Mexico's pre-Hispanic ethnic cultures.
• Learn about the Mexican indigenous heritage as you walk past 22 showrooms with art pieces from the past.
• Take to Mexico’s vibrant historic center, and discover where the Aztec empire was once seated.
• Look for traces of evidence that remain of the Great Tenochtitlan’s very existence.
• Admire Mexico’s eye-catching landmarks from the outside, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and the Palace of Fine Arts.
• Day 2 begins bright and early at the striking City of Gods , Teotihuacan.
• Watch the sunrise over the gorgeous Teotihuacán Pyramids before the daytime crowds start trickling in.
• Admire this renowned archeological site and take in the sights of old buildings, plazas, and murals.
• Lend an ear to your guide, who will fill you in on this city’s mystical tales from the past.
• This ticket has two variants: English & Spanish guided tours.
• Certified bilingual guide
• Entrance to Teotihuacan (Day 1 - Teotihuacan)
• Round trip transfer from meeting point (Day 1 - Teotihuacan)
• Entrance to the National Museum of Anthropology (Day 2 - City tour)
• Entrance to the Templo Mayor Museum (Day 2 - City tour)
• Transfer by public transportation (Day 2 - City tour)

Teotihuacan Tours: FAQs

Yes, it is advisable to purchase Teotihuacan tour tickets online as it can not only be done from the comfort of your home but also saves time and helps avoid long queues.

Teotihuacan tour tickets are time-based and are valid only for the date and time selected.

A Teotihuacan tour ticket will allow you to enter the attraction and explore its various pyramids, palaces, etc.

Yes, a Teotihuacan tour ticket will include entry into the archeological museum located near the entrance.

A Teotihuacan tour can cost you anywhere between $29 and $64.

Yes, a number of Teotihuacan guided tours are available.

Keep aside at least 4-5 hours as climbing the pyramids and exploring the entire archeological site on foot takes time.

Yes, you can. It is an easy climb but the stairs are uneven so visitors have to be careful while climbing up the pyramid.

Visitors should wear loose, comfortable clothing as well as hiking shoes while visiting Teotihuacan.

Teotihuacan is located at a distance of 50km from the city. You can reach the archeological site by bus or cab.

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How to visit the pyramids of teotihuacán from mexico city on your own.

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There are many ancient ruins in Mexico and Teotihuacán is without a doubt one of the most impressive ones I’ve seen. It was once one of the largest and most important Mesoamerican cities. The site is massive and covers 20 square km, which is double the size of Chichén Itzá . If you are in Mexico City, visiting Teotihuacan is a must and being just one hour away, it’s a very easy day trip to take.

The Pyramids of Teotihuacán are located about 25 miles (40 km) from Mexico City, in a small town of San Juan Teotihuacán, which is one of Pueblos Mágicos. It’s close enough, which makes it an easy day trip and there are many guided Teotihuacán tours from Mexico City you can join. But if that’s not your cup of tea (it’s not mine!), it’s also very easy to visit the Pyramids on your own.

Getting from Mexico City to Teotihuacan using public transportation is extremely easy, cheap and gives you complete freedom. You can get there as early as you want, explore at your own pace and spend as much time at the site as you wish.

So, if you are not a fan of organized group tours and prefer to visit independently, I’ll show you how to visit Teotihuacan on your own.

Table of Contents

Brief history of Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán is ancient Mesoamerican city, one the largest and most important ones. It’s believed that it was established around 200 BC and reached its peak at 500 AD. At its height it was home to around 150,000 people. The city collapsed by 750-800 AD.

There is a lot of mystery around who built Teotihuacán and what was the reason for its collapse. Archeologists believe that the city was multi-ethnic, inhabited by Otomo, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya and Nahua people.

The city was already abandoned for centuries by the time the Aztecs arrived in 1400s. They gave it the name Teotihuacán, which translates to “the place where the Gods were created”. No one knows what the original name was.

Teotihuacán was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is one of the most impressive and visited archeological sites in the world.

How to get to Teotihuacán from Mexico City by bus

The easiest way to get from Mexico City to Teotihuacán is by bus. Autobuses Teotihuacán leave from Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte and run every 20 minutes or so. There’s no need to prebook tickets, you can get them right on the spot for the next bus and you shouldn’t wait more than a few minutes.

Terminal Norte, as the name suggests, is located north of Mexico City’s historic center. Easiest way to get to the bus station is to take an Uber. There is also a subway station right by the terminal, called Autobuses del Norte (take the Yellow Line 5 towards Politecnico), so that’s another option.

Once at the bus station, walk through the main entrance, take a left and go all the way to the end. There you will see a ticket counter for Autobuses Teotihuacán. Be sure to ask for a ticket to Piramides and not the town of Teotihuacán. Tickets are for a specific time, so don’t miss it!

The cost of the round-trip ticket is 120 MXN. When you have your tickets, make your way to the Gate 8, which is basically next to the ticket window, and find a platform with a bus that says Piramides (San Juan, San Martin, San Felipe, Piramides). It will take about one hour to get there. The bus will make a couple of stops in town before getting to the Pyramids. The bus drops you off the entrance Puerta 2, the driver will shout “ Piramides “. When you walk in, there’s going to be a booth to buy your ticket.

When you are ready to head back to the city, exit the Pyramids through the same gate (Puerta 2) and wait at the intersection of the two roads. You shouldn’t wait too long for the bus.

Getting to Teotihuacan by car

If you have a rental car, it’s also easy to drive to Teotihuacán. The worst part will be getting out of Mexico City, which is notorious for having lots of traffic. Especially if you want to get there on the early side and get stuck driving during rush hour. Once you are out of the city though, it’s an easy drive.

Without any major traffic, it should take anywhere from 1-1.5 hour. This will depend on which part of Mexico City you are leaving from. Once you get there, there are parking lots at Gates 2, 3 and 5. It costs 50 MXN to park your car for the day.

Teotihuacan opening hours

The Pyramids of Teotihuacan are open every day, including holiday, from 9 am – 5 pm. Note, that the last admission to the site is at 3 pm.

Best time to visit Teotihuacan

Best time to visit Teotihuacan is right after it opens on a weekday. Because the archeological site is so close to Mexico City and easily visited, with and without a tour, it gets really busy on the weekends. Weekdays is when you want to go, ideally early in the morning. That’s where it’s the least crowded, and you can avoid the mid-day heat. The site is very open with almost no shade, so it can get pretty hot.

If you can, avoid weekends and National holidays. The worst day you can possibly visit is Sunday, as this is the day when Mexican citizens and residents get free access to all the archeological sites, among other things, around the country. Sundays are really busy and crowded.

As far as the best time of year goes, Teotihuacán can be visited year-round. November- April is dry season. May- October is hotter and rainier, so keep that in mind, as there is a lot of walking involved and no shelter from neither heat nor rain.

How long do you need

Plan to spend 3-4 hours if you want to explore the entire site at a nice pace, without rushing through it. And while it might seem like it’s a half day trip from Mexico City, when you add the travel time both to the bus station and then the bus ride, it will take up most of the day.

Teotihuacan tickets

Pyramids of Teotihuacan are some of the cheaper ruins in Mexico to visit. Tickets cost 95 MXN and you can buy them at any of the five entrance gates. Cash only. Unless you book a guided tour, there is no option to buy tickets in advance online. If you are visiting Teotihuacán on your own, you can only get tickets once you arrive.

Your entrance ticket includes the entire site, as well as access to two museums there: Museum of Teotihuacán Culture and Museum of Teotihuacán Murals.

Tickets are valid all day and you can leave and re-enter the site as many times as you want throughout the day. So, if you’d like to take a break from exploring and grab a bite to eat, that’s possible. Do not lose your ticket!

If you arrive by car, parking is additional 50 MXN. There are parking lots by the Gates 2, 3 and 5.

Entrance gates

There are 5 entrance gates to the site, called Puertas and you can buy tickets at each gate. The most convenient ones are Puerta 1 and 2. If you enter through Puerta 1, you start at the southern end of Avenue of the Dead, right where Citadel and Temple of Quetzalcoatl are.

Puerta 2 is near the spot where the bus from Mexico City drops you off. After a short walk through the parking lot and souvenir shops, you enter the site directly across from the Pyramid of the Sun.

Some people recommend entering through Puerta 1, which will put you near the Citadel and Temple of Quetzalcoatl/Feathered Serpent. In this case you can start your visit there, then make your way down the Avenue of the Dead towards the two main Pyramids. The only problem with that is that by the time you get to the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon, it will be pretty crowded.

I personally recommend entering through Puerta 2. Pyramid of the Sun is right in front of you as you first walk in, and Pyramid of the Moon is just a short walk to the left from there. These are the two most important and popular structures at Teotihuacán. They are the highlight of the visit for many people and get the most crowded. You want to see them first thing in the morning, before all the tour groups arrive. From there, you can head down the Avenue, check out the structured along the way and end at the Citadel and Temple of Quetzalcoatl/Feathered Serpent.

Do you need a guide?

If you don’t know much about Pyramids of Teotihuacan, hiring a guide is not a bad idea. There is so much history there and learning some of it will definitely enhance your experience. Just like with most ruins in Mexico, there will be guides near the entrance offering their services. If you’d like a tour in English, it’s a good idea to have a little chat first to establish the level of English before committing. Expect to pay around 850 MXN for 1-2 hours.

If you opt for visiting Teotihuacan without a guide, there are some plaques with information in front of many structures, both in Spanish and English, but it’s very minimal. I would definitely do some reading before your visit. It’s always good to have an idea about what you are looking at and know at least some history behind it.

You can also download and follow an audio guide.

Can you climb the Pyramids of Teotihuacán

No, you can no longer climb the main Pyramids of Teotihuacán. In the past it was possible, but that changed with the pandemic. Not just Teotihuacán, but many other archeological sites in Mexico , stopped allowing visitors to climb the structures. And it seems like the change is permanent.

The view from the top of the Pyramid of the Sun is supposed to be spectacular, so it is a bit disappointing. However, don’t let that deter you from visiting Teotihuacan. The site is absolutely amazing and a must visit, whether you can climb the Pyramids or not.

There are a couple of smaller structures you can climb for nice views. One of them is right in front of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. You actually have to climb up and then down to get a closer look at the Temple. There are some viewing platforms you can climb as well.

Visiting Teotihuacan – things to do and see

Pyramid of the sun (pirámide del sol).

Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure at Teotihuacán. It’s 65 meters (213 feet) tall, making it the third largest in the world, after the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and Great Pyramid of Cholula, also in Mexico. It is absolutely massive, and you have to see it with your own eyes, pictures don’t do it justice.

It’s believed that the Pyramid of the Sun was built in two phases. First phase was completed in 200 BC and is what you see today. During the second phase altar was added to the top, but that didn’t survive.

Be sure to walk around the entire Pyramid, to really feel how huge this structure is. Most people stay just in front and there’s almost no one in the back. Go to the other size, if you want to take some photos with no people in them.

Pyramid of the Moon (Pirámide de la Luna)

At the north end of Avenue of the Dead is Pyramid of the Moon, the second largest structure at Teotihuacán. It measures 43 m (140 feet) high, and it’s said to be dedicated to the God of the Storm.

Pyramid of the Moon was used for religious ceremonies and sacrifices. Human and animal sacrifices were found inside.

If you walk away from the Pyramid of the Moon towards the Quetzalpapálotl Palace, on the left, there some steps leading to a viewing platform. You get nice views from there of the Pyramid in front of you and if you look the other way, you can see Avenue of the Dead and Pyramid of the Sun in the distance. It’s a great spot to take some nice photos and capture the whole structure!

Quetzalpapálotl Palace (Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl)

Quetzalpapálotl Palace is a group of buildings, to the left of the square. One of the highlights is the Patio de los Pilares. The pillars have beautiful carvings of bird and butterfly creatures, which is where the name of the Palace comes from.

Avenue of the Dead (Calzada de los Muertos)

Calzada de los Muertos, Avenue of the Dead, is the main road, that runs through the city from south to north and connects all the pyramids.

The Avenue is 2.5 km (1.5 miles) long and it’s lined on both sides with various smaller structures, that are worth checking out as well. Aztects believed, that these structures were tombs of ancient rulers and named the road Avenue of the Dead.

Citadel (La Ciudadela)

If you enter through Puerta 1, the Citadel will be the first place you visit. It’s large square plaza, that is believed to have been the residence of powerful families. It’s surrounded by walls and there are several pyramids, with the main Temple of Quetzalcoatl/Temple of the Feathered Serpent in the back.

Temple of Quetzalcoatl/Feathered Serpent

Temple of the Feathered Serpent is the third largest pyramid at Teotihuacán. While it’s not as tall as the other two, it’s definitely the one that impresses with its details. The name comes from the carved feathered serpents, that adorn the structure.

As recently as 2003, after a heavy rainstorm, a tunnel was also discoverer going directly underneath the Temple.

There is an adjacent structure, which was added a few centuries later, and you can climb that one. If you want to take a good look at the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, you need to go up and then down to the other side. From there, you’ll be able to get a nice and close up view of the Pyramid and all the details.

There are two museums within the site and your entrance ticket includes access to both. They are worth seeing to get more insight and it might also be a nice break from the sun and if you need to cool off.

• Teotihuacán Museum of Murals (Museo de Murals) is near Puerta 3 and has a collection of about 50 recovered murals.
• Teotihuacán Cultural Museum (Museo de Sitio) is located near Puerta 5 and has a nice display of artifacts found at Teotihuacán.

Restaurants at Teotihuacan

If you get hungry, there are several restaurants just outside of Puerta 2, across from Pyramid of the Sun. They are very casual and affordable.

Right outside of Puerta 5, behind the Pyramid of the Sun, there’s a restaurant called La Gruta. It’s located in the cave and it’s a beautiful setting. The prices are a bit higher, but that’s to be expected. I have personally not eaten there, but judging by the reviews, it seems like the ambiance and atmosphere is better than the food. Still, it’s another option if you are looking to have a meal.

You can leave and re-enter the archeological site on the same ticket as many times as you want on the same day. So, if you need to grab something to eat and then come back and keep exploring, that’s totally fine.

Tips for visiting Teotihuacan

Get there early – this is my number one tip for almost any place and it applies to Teotihuacán as well. The Pyramids are one of the most visited attractions in Mexico and one of the most popular day trips from Mexico City. I think it goes without saying, that it does get crowded. Show up right when it opens at 9 am or right after, and you’ll have chance to enjoy it without crowds. You’ll also beat the mid-day heat.

Bring a hat, sunscreen and lots of water – the site is very open and there’s almost no shade.

Wear comfortable shoes – the archeological site of Teotihuacán is huge and if you want to see it all, you’ll be doing a lot of walking. Make sure to wear your most comfortable shoes.

Bring enough cash – credit cards are not accepted, neither at the ticket office nor by any of the vendors. Make sure to bring enough cash to cover the entrance and anything else you’d like to buy i.e. food, drinks, souvenirs, bus ticket.

Avoid Sundays if you can – on Sundays Mexican citizens and residents get free entrance to the Pyramids, so it’s usually extra crowded.

Vendors – at each entrance gate, you will find souvenir shops. Ther are also plenty of vendors inside the site, selling snacks, drinks and souvenirs.

Hot Air Balloon flight over Teotihuacan

If you are looking for an amazing experience and don’t mind getting up early, book a hot air ballon flight over Teotihuacán. Seeing the ancient site from above at sunrise is an absolute bucket list item and worth every penny.

There are several tour agencies that offer hot air balloon flights over Teotihuacán, but Volare is the highest-rated and most recommended. This is who I booked with, but sadly, my tour got cancelled due to bad weather conditions that day. Which shows, they are really safe conscious. I will definitely try again, next time I’m in Mexico City.

You have an option of booking just the balloon ride or adding extra time to visit the Pyramids afterwards. If you’ve never visited Teotihuacán, definitely stay and tour the site. You’ll have about 3 hours to explore on your own. A lot of other companies don’t have that option, which is also why Volare is the best on the market.

It’s about an hour drive from Mexico City to where the balloons take off from, and you also have an option to book the tour with or without transportation. Despite its price tag, hot air ballon flight is one of the most popular Teotihuacán tours, so don’t wait till last minute to book.

Book your Teotihuacán Air Balloon Flight here.

Best Teotihuacan tours from Mexico City

Visiting Teotihuacan on your own is very easy, but you might decide you prefer to take a tour after all. Taking a guided tour means everything is taken care of, all you need to do is just to be ready to leave at the scheduled time.

Since this is one of the most popular day trips from Mexico City, there are plenty of organized tours you can book. If you plan to go that route, it’s best to choose a tour that leaves the city as early as possible. One of the downsides of visiting Teotihuacan with a tour, is that a lot of them usually arrive around the same time, so you are there at the busiest times.

Here are some of the best organized tours to Teotihuacan from Mexico City.

• Early and Express Tour of Teotihuacán
• Mexico City: Teotihuacan Early Access and Tequila Tasting
• Teotihuacan Tour + Transport + Basilica + Tlatelolco + cave
• From Mexico City: Teotihuacan Air Balloon Flight & Breakfast
• Chichen Itza in Mexico – how to plan the perfect visit
• How to visit Coba ruins – one of the best Mayan sites in Mexico

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How to Get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City

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When we asked our Airbnb host how to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City by bus, his reaction was unexpected. He looked at us slightly strangely before stating that we’d be better going on a Teotihuacan tour.

“It’s much easier” he said “as getting there by bus is slightly complicated. And getting an Uber to Teotihuacan will be pretty expensive”.

Though we have nothing against tours, wherever possible we prefer to make our own way to places using public transport. However, we know that not everyone is the same as us.

In this post we’re going to detail the three main ways to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City – bus, Uber, and with a tour. These instructions will cover you for whatever neighbourhood in Mexico City you’re staying in.

We’ve also included a bunch of other useful information about when to visit, how to navigate the site, where to eat, and what to take.

Visiting Teotihuacan From Mexico City Independently

We rightly anticipated that visiting Teotihuacan was going to be an incredible experience.

We wanted to spend as long there as possible and move around it at our own pace. We didn’t think this would be possible in a tour group.

After doing a bit of research and piecing together some of the information we’d read, we got there with absolutely no problems.

Getting to Teotihuacan from Mexico City by bus was both simple, and far cheaper than booking onto a tour.

If you’re up for an adventure and want to do the same, we’ll show you how to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City by bus.

We’ll also run through some other alternative options that may interest you.

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How to Get to Teotihuacan From Mexico City by Bus

Your first step in getting to Teotihuacan from Mexico City is to head to Autobuses del Norte metro station.

It’s on the Yellow Line 5 towards the north of the metro map as you look at it.

The metro system in Mexico City is convenient, efficient and extremely cheap. At only $5 MXN pesos (around £0.22 GBP or $0.28 USD) per journey it’s well worth getting acquainted with.

Lots of people told us to be careful on the metro because there are pickpockets and it gets extremely busy. This was good advice, but certainly not a reason to be put off using it.

The metro here is the same as any big city in the world from Tokyo to London, and a little common sense goes a long way.

Keep hold of your valuables, don’t get distracted, and make sure your bags are in front of you

Buy Tickets for the Bus to Teotihuacan at Autobuses del Norte

When you exit the metro station, the Autobuses del Norte terminal is directly in front of you, you can’t miss it.

Once you’re inside, turn to your left and walk past all of the offices selling tickets to various destinations, and continue right down to the end of the station.

Here you’ll see a sign saying “Puerta 8” and it’s around there that you’ll find the office selling the tickets for the bus to Teotihuacan.

Find the booth that says “Piramides” and it’s here you’ll buy your tickets from. They cost $52 MXN (£2.00 GBP or $2.60 USD) each way (information updated September 2019).

You can either buy a return ticket here or pay for your return directly on the bus back.

It doesn’t really make a difference whether you buy the return or not, but we did just for the security of knowing we had a ticket.

The staff at the ticket booths speak English so don’t worry if your Spanish isn’t up to much. They’ll ask you where you’re going and if you want a return.

The tickets to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City have the departure time of your bus printed on them. So take note and make sure that you don’t miss it.

We didn’t realise this at first and went off to the shop to buy a drink and a snack. Fortunately our bus to Teotihuacan wasn’t for 20 minutes otherwise we may not have made it!

When we were there the departure times were extremely frequent at every ten minutes.

Once you’ve bought your tickets for the bus to Teotihuacan, go through exit 8 to left of ticket booth.

There’s a small shop here if you do want to buy a drink or snack for the journey and a waiting room.

We always travel with a filter water bottle. Not only does it stop us getting ill, but it means we’re not killing the planet or wasting money on plastic bottles. The GRAYL Geopress is hands down the best on the market & makes water from virtually any source safe to drink.

Find the Right Bus From Mexico City to Teotihuacan

Outside the waiting room you’ll find all of the buses lined up. These buses are going to destinations all over the country so it’s important to get this part right!

It can be slightly confusing which queue to get in. Firstly because not all of the buses are the one you want.

And secondly because depending on how early you are, there may be different queues for different times.

We asked a guy in a high visibility vest and he put us in the right queue, which was not the one we would have got in.

Much better to ask and be safe as this is the only tricky part of the journey from Mexico City to Teotihuacan.

Journey from Mexico City to Teotihuacan

The buses are extremely comfortable and the tickets we bought had allocated seats printed on them so we were guaranteed a place.

However, we have been informed that tickets may no longer come with allocated seating.

From here it should take about an hour so sit back and enjoy the ride.

Some of the scenery on the journey is worth the ticket price alone, so stay awake if you can.

The views of the colourful favela style housing sprawling high into the mountains that surround Mexico City are incredible.

After about 50 minutes, the bus may stop in the pretty town of San Juan. It’s not far from Teotihuacan but don’t get off here or you’ll have a bit of a walk.

Instead, stay on until the driver shouts “piramides” which will be at puerta 2 of the site. If you have a view out of the front window you’ll have already caught sight of the Pyramid of the Sun.

The street is lined with restaurants, bars and street sellers, a surefire indication you’re near to a big tourist site.

Once you’re off the bus just walk in the direction of the Pyramid of the Sun and you’ll see the ticket booth on the left.

How to Get Back to Mexico City from Teotihuacan by Bus

To get back to Mexico City leave the Teotihuacan site through Puerta 2 where you came in and turn right. Cross the road, and about 10 metres along is where the bus will stop.

There’s no physical bus stop so don’t worry too much on exactly where along the road you are. You can wave it down from pretty much anywhere.

The buses stop running back at around 18.00 so make sure you’re on one before then. They can get full up as well so it’s best to leave a bit earlier.

This way you’ll make sure you catch one, plus have a better chance of getting seated because there are no allocated seats on the way back.

How Much it Costs to Get to Teotihuacan From Mexico City by Bus

Metro to Autobuses del Norte – 5 MXN pesos (around £0.20 GBP or $0.25 USD)

Bus from Autobuses del Norte to Teotihuacan – $52 MXN (£2.00 GBP or $2.60 USD)

Total $57 MXN pesos (£2.20 GBP or $2.85 USD) per person each way

Uber to Teotihuacan from Mexico City

If you’re looking to explore the site independently but aren’t keen on getting the bus then catching an Uber to Teotihuacan could be your best option.

Uber is pretty freely available and widely used in Mexico City so you’ll have no trouble catching one. The journey takes around an hour and will cost in the region of $400 – 500 MXN (£15 – 19 GBP or $19.50 – 24 USD) each way.

As with any Uber journey this depends on the demand at the time of booking.

Be sure to put the correct destination in as there are lots of streets called Teotihuacan and we’ve heard reports of people ordering Ubers to Teotihuacan only to end up in the nearby town of San Juan.

If you search for “Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Sun” then it’s impossible to go wrong.

People are often most concerned with the return journey and whether it will be possible to order an Uber from Teotihuacan.

However, getting back to Mexico City from Teotihuacan by Uber is no problem.

You can ordinarily connect with an Uber within a minute or two from any of the entrance gates as there are plenty around.

One thing to note is that the main road between Mexico City and Teotihuacan is a toll road.

Some Uber drivers will require you to pay the toll fee which is $77 MXN (£2.95 GBP or $3.75 USD) so just be sure to confirm before setting off.

Another thing to remember of is that to use Uber requires an internet connection.

Because of this, you’ll need a local sim card, or a U.S. a plan that includes roaming in Mexico. You’ll have no issues with the reception at Teotihuacan, it’s pretty strong.

The journey by Uber to Teotihuacan should take between an hour to an hour and thirty minutes depending on traffic.

The Best Teotihuacan Tour

While we’d definitely suggest heading to Teotihuacan Mexico independently, a tour is a brilliant option if you’re not so confident on public transport or want the ease of having everything sorted and booked for you.

Plus you’ll get a personal guide to explain about the incredible sites you’re seeing during your visit.

This small-group tour is a great choice and will pick you up right from your front door taking all of the hassle out of organising your own journey.

It also includes visits to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica, Mexico’s most important Catholic pilgrimage site, and Tlatelolco.

Check out a selection of other great Teotihuacan tours below:

Entrance Costs & Opening Times for Teotihuacan Mexico

Entrance Ticket – $75 MXN (£3 GBP or $3.95 USD)

There is also an additional charge of $45 MXN (£1.75 GBP or $2.30 USD) to use electronic video recording devices.

However, we asked whether we needed to pay this to record on our phones and cameras and they said no. We think this is just for professional type recording equipment.

Teotihuacan is open between the hours of 9.00 and 17.00 (these are new opening times we have been made aware of as of September 2019).

Still trying to choose your backpack? Look no further! The Osprey Farpoint 70 Travel Backpack is perfect for big trips. It’s lightweight but durable, incredibly comfortable, super spacious and even has a detachable daypack.

Visiting Teotihuacan Mexico Without a Guide

While there’s no set route for visiting Teotihuacan, it pays for various reasons to not just wander aimlessly round.

Firstly, it’s best to do the big sites before they get to crowded.

Secondly, the city is wide open with little to no shade in many parts. Following a route that keeps you out of the midday sun makes sense.

Thirdly, it’s a large site covering a sizable area. While it’s difficult to get lost, it’s easy to miss bits out without a reasonable idea of what’s there.

The Temple of the Sun

This is the biggest pyramid on the site and for many people the most iconic image of Teotihuacan.

It’s directly in front of Gate 2 and the first thing you’ll see, even before you’ve entered the grounds.

The Temple of the Sun should definitely be your first port of call when visiting Teotihuacan.

It’s the main attraction and at busy times it can get so packed that it’s difficult to make it up and down the stairs.

Speaking of stairs, there are almost 250 of them and they’re pretty large and very steep.

You’ll be sweating once you reach the top regardless, but heading up first thing will help avoid any unnecessary punishment.

The Pyramid of the Moon

This is the second highest structure at Teotihuacan, so is second on the list for similar reasons.

However, if the thought of climbing any more stairs fills you with dread, rest easy. You’re only allowed to go halfway up the Pyramid of the Moon.

Despite it being lower than the Temple of the Sun, the vantage point here allows you to take in the whole of the Teotihuacan site.

You get to gaze back at the Temple of the Sun in all its glory as well as look directly down the considerable Avenue of the Dead.

The Palace of Quetzalpapálotl

As you look down the Avenue of the Dead from the Pyramid of the Moon, The Palace of Quetzalpapálotl is one of the nearest structures on the right hand side.

Relatively unremarkable from the exterior, it’s inner courtyard where the magic lies.

Intricate carvings grace virtually every surface including pillars and walls and the roof is painted a stunning shade of regal red.

Avenue of the Dead

Now for the long walk down the ominously named Avenue of the Dead. There are pyramids and buildings the whole way down so explore at your leisure.

You’ll also find a high concentration of hawkers down this mile and a half avenue. So if you’re in the market for some keepsakes, this is a good place to get your haggle on.

Most of the (numerous) sellers sell exactly the same stuff, so don’t be scared to move on if you don’t like the price.

Patio of the Four Temples

Shortly after you pass the Temple of the Sun on your way down the Avenue of the Dead, you’ll come to the Patio of the Four Temples.

It’s a sunken grassy area surrounded by, you guessed it, four more temples.

The museum is well worthy of a visit towards the end of the day, especially if you need to get out of the sun. It’s packed full of incredible artifacts and tells the history of the site in great detail.

Outside the museum there is also a stunning garden full of giant cacti and other interesting plants. It’s a nice place to sit and recuperate for a while after all that walking.

Best Time for Visiting Teotihuacan Mexico

Truthfully, this is such an incredible site that there’s no bad time as such for visiting Teotihuacan.

That said, it can and does get extremely busy at peak times, so if you’re not a fan of crowds then there are a few things to consider.

Sundays at Teotihuacan are free entry days for Mexican residents which means they tend to get super crowded.

It’s by far the busiest day in fact, so if you have a choice in the matter it’s best to avoid Sundays altogether.

Saturdays are also popular being the weekend, but slightly less crowded than Sundays.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays see the least numbers of people visiting Teotihuacan. So if your objective is to avoid the masses then these are your days.

Peak times are between 12 and 4 which is why it’s a great idea to arrive early if possible. That way you get a few hours of relative peace before the madness starts.

It’s also far cooler in the morning meaning you won’t be sweating buckets in the midday heat.

Other Tips for Visiting Teotihuacan Mexico

The Teotihuacan site is vast and you’ll be trekking up and down large, steep steps for much of the day. Because of this it’s important to dress accordingly.

Comfortable shoes and clothes that you would ordinarily wear to walk in will do just fine.

You’re able to leave and reenter Teotihuacan without paying again. This means that you shouldn’t feel captive when it comes to lunch, and it’s probably wise to venture outside the onsite restaurant for both price and quality.

One of the most popular additions to a trip to Teotihuacan is a visit to the famous La Gruta restaurant .

It’s just outside Gate 5 and is situated in a cave, and by all accounts is a great experience. However, it’s not cheap and tends to fill up with tour groups.

If you’re after some authentic, reasonably priced fare then you’ll find numerous restaurants on the road that leads to Gate 2.

They all serve similar food, it’s decent quality, quick service, and at relatively cheap prices.

As mentioned earlier, Teotihuacan is very open meaning it can be difficult to find shade when you’re in there. If visiting during the warmer months, take plenty of sun cream, a hat, and dress for the weather.

If you have any questions about getting to Teotihuacan from Mexico City, let us know in the comments and we’ll do our best to help. And if you use these instructions to get to Teotihuacan let us know how you enjoyed it!

You may also find helpful:

• Xochimilco: How To Get There & What To Do
• 10 Unmissable Things To Do In Mexico City

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance

For a trip to Mexico you need to have a good quality travel insurance in place. While it’s an overwhelmingly safe country for visitors, accidents do happen and it’s not worth going without cover.

Our go to travel insurance provider is World Nomads. They have a no bullshit approach to travel insurance policies & are perfect for adventurous travellers like us. Get a quote here:

Travel lover, professional writer and football (soccer) obsessive, James loves nothing more than getting outside and exploring little known corners of the globe. He’s also very partial to a drop of Guinness.

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67 Comments

Thank you for posting! Very informative and useful, especially with pictures of the ticket booths ( bus and archeological site ) There is lots of information on the web but no pictures to help get a sense of orientation.

Thank you very much for all the effort to share. Gracias!

Hey Ron, so glad the post was helpful for you & thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Hope you have an awesome time 🙂

Great post. My partner and I have just visited the pyramids today by metro and bus, following your instructions. Superb day and way better than going on an organised tour. Loving México City.

Hey Jill, glad you enjoyed it and found the guide useful.

Mexico City is one of our favourite places on earth, we’re so happy you’re loving it 🙂

thank you for your detailed information and photos. we always take the Metro and then board a bus but this may take longer than your bus experience. we live in a congested city and can’t stand driving or being stuck in traffic in public transportation so usually try to avoid buses.

Thank you for the post! I’m heading out to Mexico City on Thursday and will be following your guide step by step – it will surely save us time and effort.

Hi! Love how detailed and helpful this is, especially with the pictures. One quick question, if we were to take an Uber to Teotihuacan, but then want to save money and take the bus back to Mexico City, is there a place at Teotihuacan to purchase the return bus ticket?

Hi Julie, glad you found the guide useful. You can buy tickets for the return journey on the bus itself, directly from the bus driver. We had return tickets so didn’t need to but saw other people purchase tickets as they got on. Just be aware the buses back do get pretty busy so I wouldn’t suggest leaving it too late. Enjoy your visit!

it all worked great. Took the bus without a hitch. Thanks!

Great to hear Joseph! Hope you enjoyed your visit as much as we did.

Thank you so much for the detail! The bus station is massive but we knew exactly where to go and what window to look for thanks to you. A few updates as of September 2019. It is $104 pesos round trip for the bus and the pyramids are open from 9-5pm (posted on the sign at entrance). No assigned seats on the bus which was fine heading to the site, but coming back we had to stand. Not the end of the world, but it is a possibility the as you get later in the day. Thank you so much for the detailed directions. Saves a lot of money and let’s you travel with the locals, always a bonus in my book. Teotihuacan is a site not to be missed!

Hi Kim, so glad you found this helpful and that you enjoyed your visit.

Thank you so much for the up to date info, we’re going to update the post accordingly – we rely on this to keep the post updated for other travellers so it’s much appreciated 🙂

Thank you for this helpful guide! The Uber from Roma Norte to the pyramids is now $650mxn :/

Hello, and thank you for the great detail of your post! I’m looking at getting to Teotihuacan as early as possible (will be there in Jan. of 2019). You say the pyramids open at 8am but I have seen on other websites including Google Maps that it does not open until 9am. Is there any way you can clarify this? Thanks!

Hey Kylie, glad you found the post useful. There’s a lot of different info out there on the opening times for sure, it can get pretty confusing. Some people even claim to have gone earlier than 8am.

However, the times listed in this post are based on the times advertised when we visited. The photo you can see in the “Entrance Costs & Opening Times for Teotihuacan” section above shows 8:00 – 17:00, and though we didn’t arrive at 8:00, I believe that’s when the gates do actually open. That’s certainly what’s written on the board. We’ve also spoken to and heard from plenty of people who have arrived at that time or just after (before 9am) and it’s been open.

Hope this helps! Enjoy your trip to Teotihuacan, it’s a truly magical place.

Hello, I’m originally from Mexico. I found your description very accurate and complete and was about to share it with a friend who is currently in Mexico city, but I cannot. You might consider rewriting the part when you say the housing on the way to Teotihuacan are favela style. I have visited many friends there and I can assure their neighbourhoods are nothing at all like a favela. It breaks my heart to see them stigmatized like that.

I will just explain my friend how to get to the terminal and ride the bus.

Hi there Martín, I’m sorry that you took offence at this description.

The use of the word favela is not stigmatisation, but simply a description of how the arrangement of the colourful houses on the hillside appear visually from a distance through the bus window, hence the use of the term “favela style”. It is not a commentary on the neighbourhoods themselves whatsoever and all of the language used in the description is positive.

If you read anything else we have written on Mexico or follow us on social media you’ll understand that we’re actually actively attempting to break down the stigma around visiting places such as Mexico, which is so often portrayed in a negative light in our media.

Great posting. Went there today and I have a couple of remarks:

1) There was no stop in San Juan

2) No seat assignments on the bus

3) Entrance fee was 75 pesos

Otherwise: fantastic job, thanks a lot. Helped a lot

Thanks so much for this info, we try to keep it all as up to date as possible so have changed the post to reflect it, many thanks.

Glad you found the post useful and hope you had a great time at Teotihuacan.

Hi! Thank you for this information. Just to let you know the bus fee is know $60 mxn each way

Thanks so much for the update!

Hi Thanks for the great guide to the pyramids, we are heading there this weekend. Just wanting to know is there different bus companies that go there from the bus station and are there direct buses, as bit nervous about traveling by bus there.

Hi Rebecca, we’re so excited for you, Teotihuacan is an incredible site and you’re gonna love it!

There is only one bus company that goes from the bus station to the pyramids. It’s really easy to find their desk once your in the station and they speak English if you’re not so confident in Spanish as well.

I think most of the buses do go direct but some also make a stop in a town nearby. Either way, you’ll know when you’re there because you’ll see the pyramids. There’s no need to be nervous, follow the guide and you can’t go wrong 🙂

Followed your directions to Teotihuacan by bus today and it worked great. Thanks for your post, It took all the guess work out. It was really easy to get there and super affordable. We probably wouldn’t have gone on our own before finding your website. Thanks!!!

Hey Laina, great to hear! We’re so glad it made it easy for you, hope you had an amazing time in Teotihuacan 🙂

Hi! Thank you for this very helpful post. Question – are the pyramids open on Mondays? I didn’t see that day mentioned when you were talking about ideal times to go.

Also, if we decide to Uber and leave CDMX around 7:30 AM, what time do you think we’ll realistically be back in CDMX by, given the amount of time you spent exploring?

Unlike many top attractions in Mexico Teotihuacan is open on Mondays, yes. In fact it’s open every day of the year! Monday would definitely be a good day to go.

With regards to what time you might get back to CDMX, you’re probably looking at mid-afternoon, say 3ish. It’s definitely easy to have a great day time there, see the sights and get back a lot sooner if you need to though.

And obviously you could spend far longer there as well depending on what you do and if you’re planning on stopping for lunch etc., but a few hours is a fine amount of time to get a good grasp of the site.

Hope this helps and enjoy your visit to the pyramids, they’re truly incredible.

Thank you so much for posting this! My boyfriend and I are heading to Mexico City tomorrow and were struggling to find something that would work with our schedule. Glad to know Uber is a possibility!

Definitely will explore your blog more. It’s so helpful!

Hey Emilia, hope you have the best time in Mexico City! And enjoy Teotihuacan, it’s such an incredible site.

Awesome post! Many thanks for the detailed explanation. Great work!

Hi, James–This was a really useful guide! A question for you: We wanted to go directly from the Mexico City airport to the pyramids. Do you know if there are buses from the station at the airport to Teotihuacan? Or would one of the authorized taxis at the airport make that trip? If so, any idea of the cost? Thanks again.

Hey Jim, so happy you found it useful!

With regards to your question I don’t have a solid answer I’m afraid. However, the airport is actually closer to the pyramids than downtown CDMX so I don’t see any reason why a taxi wouldn’t take you directly there. With regards to price I wouldn’t want to take a guess.

Sorry I can’t be of more help on this. If you do the journey feel free to let us know the details and I’ll update the post.

Have a great time in Teotihuacan!

Very informative. We plan on visiting Teotihuacan this weekend by either bus or Uber. Is it possible to hire a guide when we get there?

Hey Joe, yes there are guides you can hire at the site itself.

You will find them both at the entrances and actually wandering around inside Teotihuacan. Have a great visit.

You nailed it here. We used your guide as our blueprint and had a wonderful day. Probably would never have know about La Gruta if we hadn’t read your post. Pure gratitude. Muchas gracias.

Hey Jake, so glad you enjoyed your visit!

Great job guys. This is very helpful. May I ask if there is a toilette on the buses?

Hey Phoebe, there was not a toilet on our bus, no. There are toilets at the bus station though 🙂

Thanks so much for the post, I really enjoyed it! I’m planning a trip to Teotihuacan in a couple of months and this helps me feel much more prepared! One quick question, would you recommend getting pesos at the airport before we head out? I imagine it would be necessary to have pesos, especially for some of the local vendors or restaurants? I’ll be going directly from the airport to the temple. Thanks!

That’s great to hear Kristoffer!

Id definitely recommend getting some pesos, you’re correct in thinking that many local vendors and restaurants only accept cash.

But your best bet is either exchanging before you leave if you can find a place with a good rate, or just withdrawing pesos from a cash machine when you arrive in Mexico City – there are plenty in the airport.

It sounds as though your intention was to exchange money at the airport but we never recommend this because the currency exchange places in airports offer absolutely terrible rates.

We use a card that allows us to withdraw cash overseas without any extra fees, if you don’t already have one of these I’d suggest getting one, you have plenty of time if your visit isn’t for another couple of months 🙂 This will allow you to just withdraw cash as and when you need it.

Hope you have the best time in Mexico and enjoy Teotihuacan, it’s absolutely amazing.

Thanks so much for all the helpful tips! We are going next week and Ubering. As you advised, the plan is to climb up Temple of the Sun right away and then tour the rest of the site with the site. Here’s where I have a question – is it possible to hire a guide near the Temple of the Sun once we come back down? Or do we have to walk all the way back to the entrance to get one? I don’t want to waste money while the guide just waits for us to climb up and and down; from what I’ve read it is very typical to get one for two hours. Thank you!

Hey Jeremy, no problem, glad you’ve found them helpful. Sounds like a great plan you’ve put together!

There are plenty of guides milling about in the grounds of Teotihuacan so you should be able to find someone once you come down but obviously I can’t guarantee that.

It’s not actually very far to walk from the Temple of the Sun back to the entrance so I wouldn’t worry too much if you can’t find someone anyway 🙂

Hope you enjoy your trip to Teotihuacan!

Thank you for the informative post! I went to Teotihuacan a couple weeks ago with some friends who decided to use Uber, but when another friend comes to visit next week, we are definitely taking the bus. So inexpensive! If you ever go back, I really recommend wandering to Tetitla, just west of the main site. It’s a housing complex with many murals still in place. It was neat to see where people resided back then and it was a Saturday in the early afternoon and we were the only ones there! Thanks again!

Hey Celina, you’re welcome! Glad you found it useful, and you’re right, getting the bus there is so cheap.

Thanks for the tip on Tetitla. We’re definitely hoping to come back so will bear that in mind for when we do.

Hope you have an amazing time with your friend 🙂

Hey guys, your guides are awesome, thank you! I’m using them to plan my 40th! 2 Quick questions:

1. I’ve read about the night light show. Have you experienced it? Is it worth it? Can you head out during the day and then stay on for it (or go out for dinner and come back in?)

2. Do you know anything about hot air ballooning over the ruins at dawn? Are you aware of anyone who has done it?

Thanks so much in advance! Carly

Hey Carly, we’re so happy you’re finding the info useful! We hope you have the best 40th birthday, sounds like some awesome celebrations you’ve got planned. In answer to your questions:

1. We have not been to this light show unfortunately so have zero info on it I’m afraid! If you go and have any details our other users may find useful please drop us another note and we can update the post 🙂

2. We haven’t done the hot air balloon trip, however, our good friend Laura has and she’s also a blogger and writer for Lonely Planet. She lives in Mexico City and her blog is kickass and has huge amounts of info on Mexico in general, so we’d suggest taking a peak at that if you haven’t come across it already and she might be able to provide more info on the hot air ballooning as well. it’s eternal-expat.com

Enjoy your birthday!!

Thanks for the tips, taking the bus was great.

“There’s no physical bus stop so don’t worry too much on exactly where along the road you are. You can wave it down from pretty much anywhere.“

There is a physical bus stop there now and I took a photo of it. I can email it to you guys.

Thanks for your detailed information on how to take the bus to the pyramids. We just got back to Mexico City and your instructions and photographs were a great help.

It is February 18 and even though Mexico City isn’t t that hot we broiled at the site. Take twice as much water than you think you will need. The bus is now 52 pesos one way and entrance into the site is 80 pesos.

We got off at “Puerto uno” (door 1), which is opposite the Temple of the feathered serpent and about a 25 minute walk to the Temple of the sun.

From the Temple of the sun you can walk to the Temple of the moon and then make your way to another Puerto to catch the bus, 2 or 3 or 4 (I believe), but we didn’t do this, so I can’t be 100 perçent sure. It saves walking back to the Puerto you arrived at.

Ona last thing, at Autobuses del nonte, our bus did not say “piramides.” We think it may have been an extra bus added at the last minute. If you ask “officials” on the platform, they will ensure you get onto the correct bus.

Thanks again for the fantastic instructions.

Claire and Henry

One of the best guide I have seen in the topic. Not only does it covers all the options, it also helps with photos at each stage. Great work folks, your blog helped me have great fun at the site.

One thing: can you stop on your way back at the basilica of the Guadalupe?

Hi Ahsaan! Ah thanks so much – so happy we could help. Apologies, I can’t offer much advice regarding visiting the Basilica of the Guadalupe though I’m afraid. Other than to come back by Uber and make a stop there.

Hi, we used these directions for the bus yesterday, and it was super helpful. Thank you! As others have mentioned, there was no stop in San Juan on the way to the pyramids. Instead the first stop was at Puerto 3 (the south end of the site where the citadel is). We got off there, but may have been able to stay on to catch a ride up to Puerto 2 or 1.

Also: Once back in Mexico City, the return bus comes straight down the Insurgentes road, and stopped at a few of the Line 3 Metro stations on the way (the stops weren’t labeled, but the driver could tell you when one is coming up, I was just looking at Google maps on my phone). We got off at Deportivo 18 de Marzo and took the metro south from there, which saved a bit time.

Thanks so much for all that helpful info Adam, really appreciate it.

had a successful trip based on this blog and I didn’t know Spanish. Very detailed an helpful!

Ah that’s great to hear! Happy we could help.

Thankyou so much for writing this. It helped us easily get to Teotihuacan with a problem using the bus from Terminal North. I agree with the comments about bringing water in with you. We didn’t find any sellers inside.

Awesome stuff! And thanks for the clarification RE water.

Bus tickets are still M$52 as of September 2022

Thanks for taking the time to let us know that Alex – super helpful.

We far prefer travelling independently so I’m so grateful to you for posting this. We’ll be in Mexico City in January 2023 and look forward to following your very detailed directions. I’m just off to explore your site for more inspiration and guidance.

November ‘22; everything exactly as you described. Was a great help. Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time to let us know the Matthias – really helpful.

Great step by step instructions. Easily made it onto the bus and am heading to the Pyramides. Thank you! Girlgonemountainbiking

Great article! Thank you for it! Will helps us plan our trip there. One follow up question: are there any buses that pick you up from Gate 5 to return to Autobuses del Norte terminal? Or do buses just pick you up folks at gate 1, 2 and 3 to return to Autobuses del Norte terminal?

Ooh sorry, I’m not sure about this. You might need to try and ask locally when you get off. Hope you have a great time.

Just did this in March 2023

The bus has increased to 60 each direction

The pyramids entrance fee has increased to 90

Other than that it’s the same as you mentioned. The bus ticket booth is at one end of the station and had a long line. We were worried it wasn’t there anymore until we realised it’s the 2nd to last stop.

Thanks so much for the update Mike – really appreciate that!

I used this article all day to and from the site. Very, very helpful, and extremely accurate. Thanks so much! I had a blast! I filmed both the site and the museum—I hope it is helpful. https://youtube.com/@GentleGypsy

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Hi, we’re James & Sarah

Full time backpackers turned vanlifers.

We’re here to provide you with valuable travel tips, kickass destination guides & serious vanlife inspiration to help you get your travel adventures off the ground!

Visiting Teotihuacan from Mexico City: How to Plan a Self-Guided Day Trip in 2024

Standing on top of the pyramid structure diagonally opposite to the Pyramid of the Moon, I absorbed the 360 degree views of Teotihuacan from up there. With the Pyramid of the Moon to my left and the Pyramid of the Sun to my right, I imagined how Teotihuacan might have looked in its days of glory. Like other interesting archaeological sites, visiting Teotihuacan brings alive the picture of a civilization once so powerful and smart. Yet, now all that remain are the ruins.

We visited Teotihuacan on a day trip from Mexico City. Although there are several tailor-made one-day tours available for purchase by different providers, we chose to do this on our own. We used public transport to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City. Also, without a guided tour, we explored the Teotihuacan site on our own. This worked well for us as we were not bound by fixed timings of tour companies. We enjoyed reading up about the different structures of Teotihuacan and then relating them to what we saw in person.

So, in this comprehensive guide to visiting Teotihuacan, we will share everything that you need to know for planning a self-guided day trip from Mexico City.

As Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Thanks for supporting Paradise Catchers.

Table of Contents

Why You Should Visit Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city that got established by 100 B.C and existed for around 7-8 centuries. By 500 A.D the Teotihuacan civilization reached its peak as its population exploded and architecture flourished. By 750-800 A.D, the Teotihuacan city was abandoned.

It is still being researched why the fantastically planned urban city collapsed. But harsh living conditions, uprising of the poor against the elite and economic growth of groups in neighboring valleys could be some of the possible reasons. As for the ethnicity of Teotihuacan people, it is believed that they were a multi-ethnicity group with representations from Otomi, Zapotec, Mixtec, Maya, Nahua people.

Although the collapse of Teotihuacan city occurred centuries ago, their architectural splendor and urban planning still remain visible in the Teotihuacan archaeological site. In fact, the “Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan” was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1987.

So, if the idea of an easy day trip from Mexico City to a UNESCO World Heritage Site from an ancient era with mysterious history sounds interesting, you should definitely consider visiting Teotihuacan.

Related Reading: 30+ Best Things to Do in Mexico City

How to Get to Teotihuacan

Located around 48 km (30 miles) from the center of Mexico City, Teotihuacan can be an easy day trip. But, like us, if you are not availing any guided Teotihuacan tours from Mexico City, you need to plan how to get to Teotihuacan.

Option 1: Uber – Very Comfortable Ride & Moderate Pricing

• You can book an Uber from Mexico City. Uber is widely available here.
• One way trip to Teotihuacan will take about an hour and will cost you around 1,000 Mexican Pesos (~ 55 USD).
• For returning from Teotihuacan to Mexico City as well, you will be able to book an Uber, but remember to have Mobile Data available on your phone.
• So, total cost for the round trip transportation from Mexico City to Teotihuacan will be around 110 USD .

Alternative (Optional) Recommendation: If you want to sign up for the adventure of driving through the bustling metropolis of Mexico City, you can rent a car for your day trip to Teotihuacan. Check Discover Cars to browse the best deals across car rental companies in Mexico City.

Option 2: Metro + Bus – Mostly Comfortable Ride and Cheap Pricing

There seem to be several concerns about safety in Mexico . So international visitors do not always feel comfortable availing public transport in Mexico City. But, based on our experience, if you can navigate the well-planned and wide network of public transport in Mexico City, commuting will become easy and very cheap! For example, a Metro ride (subway) from anywhere to anywhere in the city, including connections, will set you off by only 5 Mexican Pesos (~0.3 USD).

You just need to overcome that initial fear and doubt of if it is safe, be cautious of your surroundings and take care of your belongings. Also, speaking Spanish goes a long way.

So, for our trip from Mexico City to Teotihuacan, we decided to commute by public transport. It was not only easy and cheap, but we also had fun, hopping from one transport to another, walking in the Metro stations and Bus station, just blending in with the crowd of regular commuters.

Here are the steps we followed for getting to Teotihuacan from Mexico City:

• Take Metro (Subway) from Juarez Metro Station to La Raza Metro Station.
• Change from Green Line to Yellow Line at La Raza Metro Station.
• Take Metro from La Raza Metro Station to Autobuses del Norte Metro Station.
• Get out of Autobuses del Norte Metro Station, cross the station and enter Autobuses del Norte Bus Station.
• Once inside the Bus Station, take left and walk till the end until you reach near Sala 8.
• Find the counter that says “Autobuses Teotihuacan”.
• Get in the queue and purchase your tickets for “Piramides”. You can buy the return ticket as well from Teotihuacan to Mexico City. Remember to ask when is the last bus, so that you do not get stranded.
• Note the printed departure time on the ticket, and get to the Gate 8 prior to that time.
• There are several buses and hence several queues at Gate 8. So, ask an official at the gate so that he/she can direct you to the right queue for your bus.
• Get down from the bus when the driver calls out “Piramides”.

The bus ride is very comfortable. The bus station is well-equipped with (paid) toilets and lots of eateries.

We reached Teotihuacan in less than an hour by bus, while the return in the evening took around 75 minutes. The Metro ride to the Bus Station took us around 15-20 minutes.

Mexico City to Teotihuacan by Public Transport: Round-Trip Cost

As of March 2024, total cost for the round trip between Mexico City and Teotihuacan is 130 Mexican Pesos (~7.8 USD) . Here is the cost break-up:

• Metro (up): 5 MXN (~0.3 USD)
• Bus (onward): 60 MXN (~3.6 USD)
• Bus (return): 60 MXN (~3.6 USD)
• Metro (down): 5 MXN (0.3 USD)

From left: (1) Indranil at the Autobuses del Norte Metro Station, (2) Return tickets for bus from Autobuses del Norte bus station to Pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Teotihuacan Day Trip from Mexico City: Tour Options

If you prefer to go on a guided tour with everything arranged beforehand, you can check out these highly rated tours:

• Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon: Enjoy a bird’s eye perspective of Teotihuacan as you float over the ancient ruins in a hot air balloon. The tour price includes breakfast and optional transfer from and to Mexico City in shared vehicle. You can find more about this Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour and book it on Viator or Get Your Guide .
• Teotihuacan, Guadalupe Shrine, Tlatelolco & Tequila Tasting Tour: On this full-day tour, you get to explore not just Teotihuacan, but also Tlatelolco, another important archaeological site and the Basilica de Guadalupe, and get a chance of tequila and mezcal tasting too. Book the tour here.
• Teotihuacan Private Tour from Mexico City: This is a tour focused on exploring Teotihuacan only and learning all about its history from a knowledgable guide. This is a private tour and includes transportation from Mexico City. You can read reviews and book this tour here.

Hotel Recommendations: If you choose to stay back in Teotihuacan for longer and spend a couple of nights in that town, here are some hotel options for you – La Finca del Abuelo Teotihuacan for a nice and no-frills stay, Posada Colibri Hotel & Spa for a deluxe accommodation option with an outdoor pool, and Hotel Palmas Teotihuacan for a hotel option close to the town center. However, like us, if you are visiting Teotihuacan as a day trip from Mexico City, browse hotel options here .

Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone – Entrance Information

If you are planning to visit Teotihuacan on your own, without a guided tour, take a note of these important information.

Teotihuacan Opening Hours

Teotihuacan Archaeological Site is open all days from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm . Entry tickets are sold until 4:30 pm. You are not allowed to stay in the Archaeological Site beyond 5:15 pm. The two museums on site are open between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.

We suggest arriving early, so that you can start exploring before the daytime temperatures start soaring. Also, if you can visit Teotihuacan on a weekday, you will be able to avoid the massive weekend crowds.

Cultural Wonders of Mexico – Small Group Tour : If you prefer going on fully-guided tours in small groups, check this tour. The tour starts and ends in Mexico City, and takes you to other destinations like Teotihuacan, Puebla, Oaxaca City. As the name suggests, the tour is designed towards cultural exploration. This Mexico tour includes ground transportation in private vehicles, all accommodation, highlight tours and activities, and select meals. The price does not include the costs of international flights and travel insurance. You can book the tour here.

Teotihuacan Entrance Fees

• Adult: 90 MXN (~5 USD)
• Video recording: 50 MXN (~2.8 USD)

Showing the mobile device, I asked at the counter if we needed to purchase the Video Recording Permit for using mobile camera for photos and videos. The official told us that we did not need it. So, if you plan to shoot videos, it’s better to ask at the counter.

Remember to carry the tickets with you at all times, because you will need to show them for entering the museums.

Facilities/ Services

Parking: Yes, there is plenty of parking space. But you need to pay the parking fees: 25 MXN for two-wheelers, 50 MXP for cars, 90 MXN for vehicles with 11-20 passengers capacity, 180 MXN for vehicles with more than 20 passengers capacity.

Restrooms: There are restrooms near all the entrance gates.

Food: Near the entrance gates, there are small shops where you can buy snacks and beverages.

Souvenirs: Near the entrance gates, there are souvenir shops. All across the site of pyramids, there are also several independent vendors selling handicrafts.

Visiting Teotihuacan – What to See?

Teotihuacan was a planned city that saw expedited population growth and economic development. Since its early days, the city put emphasis on socio-economic stratification and religion as integral parts of their culture.

The buildings that played a great importance in the growth of the Teotihuacan city were the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. However, these are not the only three structures that you should see when visiting Teotihuacan. In this section, we will share overviews of all the structures and creations that you must see during your visit to Teotihuacan from Mexico City.

Teotihuacan Museum

In our opinion, Teotihuacan Museum is the most important part of visiting Teotihuacan archaeological site. Detailed written descriptions, both in Spanish and English, accompany the exhibits.

There is chronological depiction of how Teotihuacan expanded and reached its zenith before it began to fall. If you walk around the museum and consume every bit of information on display, you will have an excellent understanding of the Teotihuacan civilization.

From left: (1) Exhibit of a Teotihuacan God sculpture, (2) Excavated skeletons from the burial grounds of Teotihuacan – both at the Teotihuacan museum.

Pyramid of the Sun

The Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan is the third largest pyramid structure in the world, after Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt and Great Pyramid of Cholula in Mexico. It surely is an impressive structure to behold.

Teotihuacan gained power over the construction of the Pyramid of the Sun, a mighty structure that exuded architectural grandeur and symbolic religious importance. The pyramid, the plaza and the surrounding buildings together enabled Teotihuacan to command over the Valleys of Toluca, Puebla-Tlaxcala and Morelos.

As the name suggests, this pyramid was believed to be a temple dedicated to the Sun god, as per accounts written in the sixteenth century. However, recent archaeological researches suggest otherwise. The Pyramid of the Sun was used to worship not the Sun god, but instead the Rain god – Tlaloc.

Pyramid of the Moon

Along with the Pyramid of the Sun, the other complex that made Teotihuacan powerful was the Pyramid of the Moon and its plaza. It is the second largest pyramid in Mesoamerica after the Pyramid of the Sun.

The Pyramid of the Moon has a very interesting architectural feature. Its shape and position match with the outline of the mountain behind in the distance, Cerro Gordo. So, when you start walking towards the Pyramid of the Moon, you see the pyramid forming a foreground in front on the mountain. But, as you proceed, you will notice the contour of the pyramid gradually blending in with that of Cerro Gordo. Finally, when you are close enough to the Pyramid of the Moon, the mountain behind disappears from your sight.

Temple of the Quetzalcoatl

Quetzalcoatl was one of the most important deities in Mesoamerica. He was the “Feathered Serpent” god who was believed to be a “creator” god. According to Aztecs, he was the creator of humankind. Interestingly, the first mention of Quetzalcoatl ever traced was during the Teotihuacan civilization in the third century.

The Temple of Quetzalcoatl in Teotihuacan was built in 250 A.D and is considered to be one of the most important public buildings in the city. More than 300 serpent head sculptures adorn the slabs of the four facades of this structure.

However, this Temple of Quetzalcoatl now hides behind another building that was built at a later date. So, when you visit Teotihuacan, you will need to climb up this front pyramid structure and then get down from its other side for taking a close view of the Temple of the Feathered Serpent God.

From left: (1) Indranil after getting near the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, (2) The sculptures on the slabs of Temple of Quetzalcoatl.

The Citadel

The Temple of the Quetzalcoatl (and the building that hides the temple) lies on one side of the Citadel. It is a spacious plaza that consisted of temples and residential complexes. At a later date, the west of the Citadel saw the construction of the Great Compound which could have been the city’s marketplace.

Avenue of the Dead

The city of Teotihuacan exhibited a high level of urban planning. It had two principal avenues that were perpendicular to each other, thereby dividing the city into four main quadrants.

One avenue was to the north of the Citadel, running between East and West. The direction of the other avenue was between North and South. It is a 2 km (1.2 miles) long stretch of road, with the Citadel at its one end and the Pyramid of the Moon at the other end. This North-South road is known as the Avenue of the Dead.

The three most important structures of the Teotihuacan city are all found along this Avenue of the Dead. The Avenue of the Dead possibly gets its name because of the tombs laid along the way.

Jaguar Mural

Jaguars played an important role in the Mesoamerican belief system. So, the Teotihuacan city has many traces of jaguar painting in different parts of the city.

Along the Avenue of the Dead, when walking from the Pyramid of the Sun towards the Pyramid of the Moon, you will find a Jaguar Mural on your right. There is no specific signage as such. But you will probably notice a cluster of people gathered around here. Head in that direction, allow the time for the space to clear and take a step forward. Under a shade and surrounded by walls, there, you will find the mural of jaguar from hundreds of years ago.

Palace of Quetzalpapalotl

The Quetzalpapalotl Complex comprises of the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl and adjacent structures. You will find remains of many murals on the walls of these buildings.

Although much of this complex was destroyed, a lot of field work, maintenance work and restoration work were put in place over the years. Finally, the formal “Conservation Project of the Quetzalpapálotl Architectural Complex” by INAH , done between 2009-2012, brought this complex to how you see it now.

The Palace of the Quetzalpapalotl probably served as the residence for the elites of Teotihuacan. The stone columns that define the building’s central courtyard have carvings of mythological birds like quetzals and owls.

From left: (1) The central courtyard of the Palace of Quetzalapapalotl, (2) Carving of quetzal bird on the pillar of the central courtyard of the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl.

Beatriz de la Fuente Mural Museum

The Painted Walls Museum in Teotihuacan houses several pre-Hispanic murals that were found in the archaeological site of Teotihuacan. It is located about 12 minutes walk or 3 minutes drive away from Gate 3 of the archaeological site.

Mural painting traditions continued for about 700 years in Teotihuacan. As architectural styles, ceramic sequences and technology evolved over the course of time, archaeologists could map a chronology against the different phases of mural techniques in Teotihuacan. Take a walk around the different halls in this mural museum to learn about that chronology, the different techniques and what some of the important murals of those periods signify.

The mural museum is named after Beatriz de la Fuenta, an acclaimed Mexican art historian. She was celebrated for her contribution to research on pre-Hispanic art in the Americas. A small section in the Painted Walls Museum is dedicated to showcase her work that constituted several books and research articles.

Tetitla Compound and Atetelco Compound

The compounds of Tetitla and Atetelco are located a bit far away from the main archaeological site of Teotihuacan. It can take 20-25 minutes to walk to this area from Gate 2. These are residential complexes where ancient Teotihuacan people used to live. Some mural paintings can be found here. Some are about gods and animals representing power, while others are from daily life and warfare activities.

Plan Your Teotihuacan Visit – Where to Start?

There are 3 main gates from where you can start the Teotihuacan archaeological site exploration. The first one is near the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the second one is near the Pyramid of the Sun and the third one is near the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl.

If you are taking the bus from Mexico City, the bus will probably drop you either near Gate 1 or near Gate 2. Now, depending on which one, you can decide where to start your visit of the Teoihuacan site and what order to follow. Here are our recommendations.

Starting from Gate 1

We started from Gate 1 and this is the route we followed. We found this plan to be optimum for exploring all that Teotihuacan has to offer. For the sake of simplicity of planning, in this article, we named each cluster of structures as First Zone, Second Zone and so on. Hope this helps!

Let’s call this cluster “First Zone” – the Citadel and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.

If the bus drops you at Gate 1, start with visiting the Citadel and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Then walk on the Avenue of the Dead towards the Pyramid of the Sun. But, on the way, you will notice a diversion on the right with a sign “Museo”. Take that road. It will lead you straight to the Teotihuacan Museum. This road to the museum is nicer as it offers some shade of trees. Also, from here you get several different views of the Pyramid of the Sun in the distance.

From left: (1) Indranil taking the road diversion to the Museum – can you spot the small “Museo” sign on the right, near the tree? (2) The view of the Pyramid of the Sun while walking on the road towards the museum.

Second Zone

Let us refer to this cluster as “Second Zone” – the Teotihuacan Museum and the Pyramid of the Sun.

We suggest visiting this museum first because it will give you an elaborate perspective of the history of Teotihuacan civilization – how it started, how it expanded and how it began to fall, and what each of the structures on site signifies. After the Teotihuacan Museum, head to the Pyramid of the Sun. It is right outside when you come out from the museum.

Let us name this cluster as “Third Zone” – the Avenue of the Dead, the Jaguar Mural and the Pyramid of the Moon.

After exploring the Pyramid of the Sun, go back to the Avenue of the Dead and continue walking towards the Pyramid of the Moon. But keep an eye out for the Jaguar Mural – it will be on your right when heading towards the Pyramid of the Moon. Also, take a look at the other smaller pyramids on either side of the road.

Fourth Zone

And our last cluster “Fourth Zone” can be – the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl, the Beatriz de la Fuente Mural Museum and the residential complexes of Atetelco and Tetitla.

Just around the corner of the Pyramid of the Moon is the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl. Take the exit from the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl and walk towards the Beatriz de la Fuente Mural Museum or the Painted Walls Museum. It can be a 10-12 minutes long walk.

From this Painted Walls Museum, it is a little over half an hour’s walk to the residential complexes of Atetelco and Tetitla. We made that long walk under the afternoon sun and reached those complexes, only to find out they were closed for visitors! So, if you plan to visit this area, ask beforehand.

Starting from Gate 2

The disadvantage of starting from Gate 2 is that you would be starting from the middle. So after you explore one side (say left) of the Teotihuacan site, you will need to return to Gate 2 and then explore the other side (say right).

However, we feel it can still be a good idea because if you enter from Gate 2, you can start from visiting Teotihuacan Museum. You will learn about the history right at the beginning! So, it will help you place everything you see next in better perspectives.

So, if you start from Gate 2, head to the Teotihuacan Museum first. Consume as much information as you can. Then start exploring the other structures. Referring to the “Zones” defined in the previous section, this is the Teotihuacan visit plan you can follow: Second Zone – First Zone – Return to Gate 2 – Third Zone – Fourth Zone.

Can You Climb Up the Pyramids at Teotihuacan?

Visiting Teotihuacan to climb to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun was once considered to be one of the best things to do in Mexico City . The view from the top is said to be amazing as you get top view perspective of the sprawling archaeological site of Teotihuacan.

However, I am sorry to break it to you that, as of 2024, climbing is no longer allowed for Pyramid of Sun and Pyramid of Moon. We visited Teotihuacan in October 2022 and access to both these pyramids were closed for climbing.

While it did make me a bit disheartened, it is probably best for the pyramids not to bear the rush of hundreds/thousands of people every day. Also, even without the climbs, visiting Teotihuacan is an amazing experience if history and archaeology spark interest in you.

What to Bring for Your Teotihuacan Visit?

You will be spending hours walking under the sun while visiting Teotihuacan. There are no shades as such. So, prepare accordingly.

• Wear light clothes and comfortable walking shoes .
• Apply sunscreen and re-apply every few hours.
• Bring drinking water – make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Wear sunglasses and sunhat or cap for protection against the sun.
• Do not forget the photography device of your choice – camera , iPhone or other smartphones .

Interested to know what’s in our camera bag? Check out this article!

Final Thoughts

Teotihuacan archaeological site is worth a visit for its interesting history of days of glory gone by. While you can stay overnight at Teotihuacan, a day trip is sufficient for just exploring the site of the pyramids along with the museums.

Now, visiting Teotihuacan on your own on a day trip from Mexico City is feasible. It just needs a bit of planning and research about the logistics. Hope our article can be the planning aid for your own self-guided visit of Teotihuacan.

If you have questions about visiting Teotihuacan or want to share your experience of this day trip from Mexico City, drop them in the comments below.

Travel Planning Logistics

• Accommodation: For several years now, Booking.com has been our platform of choice for booking accommodation while traveling. You can apply all the desired filters and shortlist the ones that meet your criteria. On continued use, you will keep unlocking their Genius benefits. For long term stays, we use Airbnb . Of late, we have also started browsing Hostelworld for finding hostels.
• Tours: When traveling to new destinations, you can plan ahead and book your activities. Check for highly rated tours on Viator and Get Your Guide .
• Packing: From swimwear to sunscreen, hiking pants to insect repellents, buy your vacation packing essentials on Amazon .
• Flights: We always start our flight searches with Skyscanner and Momondo . They are aggregators that display flight options, compiling information across airlines and combinations. What we like the best about these flight aggregators is that you can put “Anywhere” as your destination, so that you find the best flight deals from your city of departure.

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We are Pubali and Indranil, an Indian couple living in Costa Rica and slow traveling Latin America and Caribbean.

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