Teotihuacan
San Juan Teotihuacán, Mexico
Teotihuacán
The vast ancient city of the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, an hour north of Mexico City
Checked 7 October 2026
Teotihuacan is the ruined city of the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, laid out along the 2 km Avenue of the Dead about 50 km north-east of Mexico City. The ticket (MX$210 for foreign visitors since 1 January 2026) is bought at the gate, so there is nothing to book; the thing to know is that you cannot climb either pyramid at the moment: the Pyramid of the Sun has been closed to climbers since 2020, and the Pyramid of the Moon has been closed 'until further notice' since a shooting there on 20 April 2026.
About Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan was the largest city in the Americas in its day. It grew from around the first century BCE and, at its height in the first half of the first millennium CE, housed something like 100,000 people in some 2,000 apartment compounds, laid out on a grid that follows the orientation of the Pyramid of the Sun. Its obsidian tools, pottery and ideas travelled as far as the Maya cities of Guatemala.
The scale is the point. The Avenue of the Dead runs about 2 km from the Ciudadela in the south to the Plaza of the Moon in the north. The Pyramid of the Sun, about 65 m high on a base of roughly 220 by 230 m, is one of the largest pyramids in the world; the Pyramid of the Moon closes the avenue against the outline of the Cerro Gordo hill behind it.
Nobody knows what the builders called their city or which language they spoke. Its major monuments were sacked and burned around 550 CE, and centuries later the Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs found the ruins and named them Teotihuacan, usually glossed as 'the place where the gods were born'. A tunnel under the Pyramid of the Sun, found in 1971, and another one sealed under the Temple of the Feathered Serpent nearly 2,000 years ago, are still being studied.
Teotihuacan has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 and is one of Mexico's two most visited archaeological sites, with about 1.8 million visitors in 2025. Look beyond the two big pyramids: the carved feathered serpents of the Ciudadela, the painted jaguars of the Quetzalpapálotl complex and the murals in the residential compounds are what make the visit.
What to see
Avenue of the Dead
The main axis, 45 m wide and about 2 km long, lined with platforms and temples. Walking it end to end is the core of any visit; there is almost no shade, so plan it for the morning.
Pyramid of the Sun
The giant of the site, about 65 m high, on the east side of the avenue. Climbing has been closed since 2020 and INAH's own visitor guide states it is not allowed in 2026; a reopening has been announced by the State of Mexico but without a date.
Plaza and Pyramid of the Moon
The best view along the avenue, looking south from the Plaza of the Moon. The climb to the first platform reopened in May 2025, but INAH closed the pyramid again on 21 April 2026 'until further notice', and no reopening had been announced by October 2026.
Quetzalpapálotl Palace and the Jaguars
Just off the Plaza of the Moon: a courtyard of carved pillars with butterfly-bird reliefs, and next to it murals of feathered jaguars. Reached by a ramp, so it is also on INAH's accessible route.
Ciudadela and Temple of the Feathered Serpent
The huge square at the south end, with the temple facade of carved serpent heads. Start here early (gate 1) and walk north, as INAH suggests, to keep the sun at your back and the big pyramids for later.
Puma mural and the residential compounds
The Puma mural on the avenue, and the painted compounds such as Tepantitla with its Tlalocan mural, outside the main avenue. INAH's longer routes take them in.
The two site museums
Both are included in the ticket and open 9:00–16:30: the Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana by the Pyramid of the Sun (more than 600 objects) and the Museo de Murales Teotihuacanos Beatriz de la Fuente by gate 3 (nine rooms of murals).
Teotihuacan tickets: which to buy and where
Buy the INAH ticket at the gate on the day: MX$210 for foreign visitors since 1 January 2026, MX$105 for Mexican citizens and residents with ID, and free on Sundays for them. There is no timed entry and nothing sells out; the ticket includes both site museums. There is no working official online ticket, and resellers charge much more than the gate price. Tour prices on the platforms include the entry fee, so do not pay it twice.
The official ticket site
INAH (Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia), Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacan
INAH, Mexico's federal heritage institute, runs the site; its pages end in inah.gob.mx (the official visitor guide is visitateotihuacan.inah.gob.mx). In March 2026 INAH said tickets are sold only at the site's ticket booths and on INAH's official page, but we could not find a working INAH online ticket shop for Teotihuacan in October 2026, and travellers report buying at the booth or at self-service card machines by the entrance.
INAH entry ticket (foreign visitors)
MX$210; under 13s free
(€10)
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- The whole archaeological zone and both site museums, any of the five gates. No timed slot, valid for the day
- Best for
- Everyone; there is rarely a long queue outside Sundays and holidays
Official site (ticket booths at the gates) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)INAH entry ticket (Mexican citizens and residents)
MX$105; free on Sundays
(€5)
Official ticketsDoes not skip lines
- Includes
- Same as above. You must show an official ID or proof of residence in Mexico
- Best for
- Residents of Mexico, on any weekday
Official site (ticket booths at the gates) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Teotihuacan Pyramids: Guided Tour with Entry Ticket Included
from €29
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Entry ticket and a 3-hour guided walk in English and Spanish; meet at gate 1. No transport from Mexico City (the page says so under 'Know before you go')
- Best for
- Travellers who come by bus or Uber and want a guide
GetYourGuide (provider Amigo Tours LATAM) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)Mexico City: Teotihuacan Early Access Tour & Optional Lunch
from €60
ResellerSkips the ticket line
- Includes
- Return bus from central Mexico City, entry, 3 hours guided on site, an obsidian workshop with tequila tasting; lunch is extra. Groups up to 15
- Best for
- A first visit without dealing with buses
GetYourGuide (provider Amigo Tours LATAM) · as of October 2026See this ticket → (opens in a new tab)
How to buy
- Bring cash in pesos as well as a card: there are booths and card machines at the gates, but travellers report the machines do not always work.
- Foreign visitors pay MX$210. Residents of Mexico show an official ID or residence document for the MX$105 rate (free on Sundays).
- Keep the ticket: it also gets you into the Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana and the Museo de Murales the same day.
- Expect a bag check at the gate: since April 2026 there are bag inspections at all five entrances, with National Guard on site.
Look-alike sites
There is no timed or limited online ticket for Teotihuacan, so any website selling 'official Teotihuacan tickets' is a reseller or a tour. INAH's own pages end in inah.gob.mx; the price at the gate is MX$210 for foreign visitors in 2026. If a site charges more for 'entry' alone, it is adding a margin or a tour.
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Guided tours of Teotihuacan
The site has very little signage explaining what you see, so a guide adds a lot on a first visit. You can join a tour from Mexico City (transport, guide, entry, usually a shopping stop), meet a guide at the gate, or go on your own with INAH's free online guide and its seven route maps. A sunrise balloon flight is a separate, early-morning activity that does not include site entry unless the package says so.
Guided walking tour on site
Teotihuacan Pyramids: Guided Tour with Entry Ticket Included
Amigo Tours LATAM (via GetYourGuide)Meet at gate 1; entry included; English and Spanish. No transport, no shopping stop. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
Small-group day trip from Mexico City
Mexico City: Teotihuacan Early Access Tour & Optional Lunch
Amigo Tours LATAM (via GetYourGuide)Mexico City operator based at Hostal Amigo in the Centro Histórico. Up to 15 people; about 3 hours on site, then a 45-minute obsidian workshop and tequila tasting and an optional paid lunch. A reviewer notes the 'café' break is a petrol-station stop.
Private afternoon tour
Teotihuacan: Private Tour with Archaeologist & Hotel Pickup
Amigo Tours LATAM (via GetYourGuide)Hotel pick-up in a private car, entry, about 2 hours on site with a private guide, then an obsidian workshop and tequila tasting. Lunch at your own cost.
from €408 per person for one adult (less per head for groups)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)Sunrise hot-air balloon flight
Vuelo en Globo Tradicional (shared hot-air balloon flight)
Sky Balloons MéxicoLocal operator in San Martín de las Pirámides. Shared basket, coffee, a toast, certificate and breakfast; site entry not included. No transport from Mexico City in this package. Flights are cancelled in wind over 12 km/h, fog or rain.
MX$2,175 adult; MX$1,990 child aged 4–12 (online offer price; normal price shown as MX$2,899)
(€105 · €97 · €140)
See this tour → (opens in a new tab)
We can never guarantee a ticket seller, tour company or deal. Prices, opening hours and what is included change, often without notice: check the details on the seller’s own page before you pay, and book through the official site where you can. How to avoid ticket scams · Disclaimer.
Teotihuacan deals and discounts
The official MX$210 ticket at the gate is the best buy and covers both museums; there is nothing cheaper for foreign visitors over 12. A guided tour from Mexico City at around €60 is fair value if you count the transport and entry it includes.
Under 13s free
Children under 13 enter free, according to INAH's official list of exemptions.
Half price for Mexicans and residents, free on Sundays
Mexican citizens and foreign residents of Mexico pay MX$105 with an official ID or residence document, and enter free on Sundays. Sundays are therefore the busiest day.
Free for some groups with Mexican credentials
INAH also exempts people over 60, pensioners and retirees, people with disabilities, and students and teachers with a valid card. A travel guide that visited in 2026 reports no concessions for non-Mexicans, so do not count on a foreign student or senior card.
Two museums in the ticket
The Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana and the Museo de Murales Teotihuacanos are both included in the entry ticket; many day-trippers skip them.
Best time to visit Teotihuacan
Arrive at the 8:00 opening. INAH says the heat is strongest from 11:30 to 15:30, and the tour buses from Mexico City arrive mid-morning. Start at the southern end (the Ciudadela) and leave the Pyramid of the Sun for last if you are early, as INAH suggests.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest days, according to INAH. Sundays are busy because entry is free for Mexicans and residents, and Mondays fill up because many Mexico City museums are closed.
November to April is the dry season in the Valley of Mexico; from May to October the wet season brings afternoon showers, wettest in July, so go in the morning then.
Avoid the spring equinox (around 21 March) unless you want the crowds: about 36,000 people came on the equinox weekend in 2025, and on those days INAH bans climbing and closes the two site museums.
Tips and tricks
Gathered from travel forums, locals and the sight’s own advice, rewritten in our own words. What worked for others, not a guarantee.
Take the bus from Terminal Norte, sala 8
Autobuses Teotihuacán sells tickets in the north end of Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte, near door (sala) 8, under a 'Pirámides' sign. Ask for 'Pirámides'. It was MX$75 one way, MX$150 return in a December 2025 report (older official figures are lower), cash only at the desk. Buses leave about every 20 minutes from around 6:00.
From Along Dusty Roads travel guide, 2026; Mexico City tourism office, 2026
Note where the bus drops you
Most buses stop by gate 2, a short walk from the Pyramid of the Sun. Return buses also stop on the road beyond the gate 2 car park, with no sign or shelter. Leave a little before 17:00, as the last return times are not published.
From Along Dusty Roads travel guide, 2026
Pick the gate by your route
There are five gates. Gate 1 is at the Ciudadela in the south (start of INAH's long route), gate 2 is where the bus stops, gate 3 by the Museo de Murales near the Pyramid of the Moon, gate 4 is the start of the step-free route, and gate 5 by the Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana next to the Pyramid of the Sun.
From INAH Visita Teotihuacán guide, 2026
Use INAH's free route maps
The official guide at visitateotihuacan.inah.gob.mx has seven downloadable routes, from a 45-minute 'short route' (gate 2 to the Sun, the Puma mural and the Moon) to 4–5 hour routes that take in the Ciudadela, the murals and the outer compounds.
From INAH Visita Teotihuacán guide, 2026
Bring water, a hat and cash
There is little shade on the Avenue of the Dead, and the site lies in the high Valley of Mexico, at roughly the altitude of Mexico City (2,240 m). Food is not allowed inside; bring a refillable bottle. Bring enough pesos: ATMs at the bus station are reported as unreliable.
From INAH Visita Teotihuacán guide, 2026; Along Dusty Roads travel guide, 2026
Go to the toilet before you go in
INAH lists toilets at gate 3 and at the Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana; once you are halfway along the avenue it is a long walk back to one.
From INAH Visita Teotihuacán guide, 2026; Along Dusty Roads travel guide, 2026
No drones, no tripods without a permit
Drones are banned. Personal photos are free; video cameras, tripods and lighting may need an INAH permit and fee. Pets are not allowed, except assistance dogs.
From INAH Visita Teotihuacán guide, 2026
Pre-book an Uber back, or take the bus
Uber from Roma Norte cost an estimated MX$450–600 one way in 2026. Getting a car back from the site is harder than getting one there, which is why many travellers go by Uber and return by bus.
From Along Dusty Roads travel guide, 2026
How to get to Teotihuacan
- By bus: Autobuses Teotihuacán from the Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte (metro Line 5, Autobuses del Norte station), from the 'Pirámides' desk near sala 8. About 1 hour without traffic; MX$75 one way, MX$150 return (December 2025). Ask the driver to drop you at the 'zona arqueológica'; most buses stop at gate 2.
- By Uber or taxi: 45–60 minutes from central Mexico City via the México–Pachuca (85D) and Ecatepec–Pirámides (132D) toll roads; one-way fares of about MX$450–600 were reported in 2026, and tolls are extra.
- On a tour: day trips from Mexico City leave early in the morning from the Centro Histórico or with hotel pick-up, and often combine the site with the Basilica of Guadalupe or a shopping stop.
- Parking: INAH lists parking at the site (address: Autopista Ecatepec–Pirámides km 22+600). On busy days the car parks fill and close until spaces free up; there is also parking in the surrounding villages. INAH does not publish the parking fee.
Scams and problems to watch for
Persistent 'guides' at the ticket office
Several people offer private tours near the ticket office and can be insistent. INAH lists 'authorised guides' among the site's services; ask to see the guide's official accreditation and agree the price and length before you start.
The obsidian-workshop stop
Most tours from Mexico City end with 45 minutes at an obsidian workshop with a tequila or mezcal tasting, and the shop is the point. Buy only if you want something; check the itinerary if you would rather have more time at the site.
Tours that leave out entry or lunch
Check that 'entrance' is listed under includes: the products we checked include it, but lunch at the restaurant stop is an extra fee. A tour priced well under the cost of transport plus the MX$210 ticket is likely to leave something out.
Jaguar whistles and souvenir sellers
Vendors along the Avenue of the Dead sell whistles that make a jaguar roar, plus hats, umbrellas and obsidian, and blow the whistles all day. Prices are not fixed; a polite 'no, gracias' is enough.
'Official ticket' websites
Tickets are sold at the gate and there is no timed slot to secure, so a website charging extra for an 'official' entry ticket alone is selling you nothing you need.
Balloon flights without visible papers
Hot-air balloon flights need an AFAC (federal aviation agency) permit, a licensed pilot and a registration mark painted on the balloon. Ask to see them. AFAC has opened investigations after several incidents (see the FAQ).
Accessibility
INAH publishes an accessible route for visitors with reduced mobility: about 2 km, 2–2.5 hours, with no steps. Start at gate 4 for the Plaza and Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun (from below) and the Museo de la Cultura Teotihuacana; for the optional second part, move to gate 3 for the Museo de Murales, and the Quetzalpapálotl complex is about 500 m further along a path to its access ramp. Toilets are at gate 3 and the museum, with tables and shade next to the museum. The paths are long, exposed and partly unpaved, the pyramids themselves cannot be climbed, and the tour products we checked are marked not suitable for wheelchair users. People with disabilities enter free. We found no information on wheelchair loan.
Combine it with
Basilica of Guadalupe
The great Catholic pilgrimage shrine in the north of Mexico City, on the way back; many day tours combine it with the pyramids.
Acolman convent
The 16th-century Augustinian convent of San Agustín Acolman, with frescoes, in the same valley on the road to Mexico City. INAH's valley guide links the two.
San Juan Teotihuacán market
The town market a few kilometres from the site: barbacoa and carnitas with consommé, quesadillas and cactus fruit, according to INAH's guide to the valley.
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Mexico City's great archaeology museum, with a gallery on Teotihuacan; MX$210 for foreign visitors in 2026. Good before or after the site.
Chichén Itzá
On SightsaleAnother great Mesoamerican city, Maya rather than Teotihuacano, in Yucatán: a flight away from Mexico City, not a day trip.
Questions people ask about visiting Teotihuacan
Can you climb the Pyramid of the Sun in 2026?
No. Climbing the Pyramid of the Sun has been closed since 2020, and INAH's official visitor guide says it is not allowed (October 2026); the State of Mexico has announced a reopening but given no date. The Pyramid of the Moon reopened up to its first platform in May 2025, but INAH closed it again on 21 April 2026 'until further notice', and we found no reopening notice by October 2026.
How much is the entrance fee to Teotihuacan?
MX$210 for foreign visitors since 1 January 2026, MX$105 for Mexican citizens and residents with ID, and free for them on Sundays. Children under 13 enter free. The ticket includes both site museums (October 2026).
Do I need to buy Teotihuacan tickets in advance?
No. Tickets are sold at the booths and card machines at the gates, there is no timed entry and they do not sell out. INAH said in March 2026 that tickets are also sold on its official page, but we found no working INAH online shop in October 2026; websites selling entry charge much more than the MX$210 gate price. Only balloon flights and tours from Mexico City need booking, ideally a few days ahead.
How do I get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City by bus?
Go to Terminal Central de Autobuses del Norte (metro Line 5) and buy an Autobuses Teotihuacán ticket at the 'Pirámides' desk near sala 8: MX$75 one way, MX$150 return (December 2025), cash. Buses leave about every 20 minutes, take about an hour and drop you near gate 2.
Is it safe to visit Teotihuacan after the April 2026 shooting?
On 20 April 2026 a gunman opened fire at the Pyramid of the Moon, killing one visitor and wounding 13 people; he then killed himself. The site reopened on 22 April 2026 with National Guard patrols, extra police at the entrances and bag checks at all five gates. The Pyramid of the Moon has stayed closed 'until further notice' since 21 April 2026; the rest of the site is open as normal.
Are hot-air balloon flights over Teotihuacan safe?
They are regulated by AFAC, Mexico's civil aviation agency, but there have been serious incidents: in April 2023 a balloon caught fire and two passengers died; in May 2025 a crash injured 12 people; on 16 March 2026 a balloon hit power lines and two tourists were burned; on 21 April 2026 another made a forced landing beside the Avenue of the Dead without injuries. AFAC opened investigations into the 2026 cases.
How long do you need at Teotihuacan?
Three to five hours on site, according to INAH: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for the short route to the two pyramids, four to five hours for the full site with the Ciudadela and the museums. From Mexico City, count on a full day including the journey.
More sights in Mexico
Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
The great Maya city of Yucatán, with the stepped Temple of Kukulcán at its heart.
- From
- MX$697 foreign adult, one combined federal and state ticket(€34)
- Time needed
- 2.5–4 hours for the main groups; half a day with the museum and Chichén Viejo
Tulum archaeological zone
Tulum, Mexico
A walled Maya port city on a cliff above the Caribbean, with a beach right below it.
- From
- MX$265 for foreign visitors(€13)
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours for the ruins; add an hour or two for the beach below and the museum
Before you go
The things that apply at every big sight: booking ahead, what skip-the-line really means, and the scams that follow tourists everywhere.