Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan · State of Mexico, Mexico (about 50 km north-east of Mexico City)
The Pyramids of the Sun and Moon: the largest city of the pre-Columbian Americas, which even the Aztecs revered as a sacred ancestral site.
Know before you go
- Don't climb closed areas of the pyramids (the summit of the Pyramid of the Sun has been closed in recent years — follow the rules on site)
- don't take stones or potsherds from the site
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
The city of ancestors in Aztec eyes
Teotihuacan was founded around 100 BC and at its height may have had as many as 100,000 inhabitants, the largest city of the pre-Columbian Americas. But by the time the Aztecs arrived in the Valley of Mexico, it had been abandoned for centuries. Seeing the magnificent ruins, the Aztecs regarded the Teotihuacanos as their own ancestors and absorbed and adapted their culture — the very name 'Teotihuacan' was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztecs centuries after the city's decline; scholars interpret it as 'the place of those who have the road of the gods', because the Aztecs believed the gods created the universe here.
Source: Wikipedia: Teotihuacan
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Teotihuacan was founded around 100 BC, and its main monuments were built until about AD 250. At its height between AD 1 and 500 it was probably the largest city in the Americas, with an estimated 100,000 people — possibly the sixth-largest city in the world at the time. The Aztecs, arriving centuries later, saw the magnificent ruins, claimed common ancestry with the Teotihuacanos and absorbed their culture. The site covers 83 km² and became a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Local customs
Around the spring equinox many Mexicans come here dressed in white to greet the sun and 'absorb energy'
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Mexico: carry your original passport and entry record
- Carry your original passport with its entry stamp, or download your electronic entry record from the immigration website
- Carrying only a copy or photo
Immigration officers do not accept copies; you may be questioned, detained or even deported.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Mexico travel advice
Mexico: e-cigarettes may not be brought in or sold
- Leave your e-cigarette at home before you travel
- Bringing e-cigarettes or vape liquid into the country
- Smoking or vaping in public places
Customs will confiscate them and may fine or detain you; smoking in public places can bring a fine of up to MXN 3,000.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Mexico travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Don't climb closed areas of the pyramids (the summit of the Pyramid of the Sun has been closed in recent years — follow the rules on site)
- don't take stones or potsherds from the site
Locals appreciate DO
Mexicans appreciate visitors who respect the monuments and don't carve or scribble on the pyramids.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | At opening time in the morning |
|---|---|
| Time needed | Half a day |
Travel tips
- It's about an hour by bus from Mexico City's northern bus terminal
- the site is on the high plateau, with strong sun and almost no shade, so bring a hat, sunscreen and water
- arrive at opening time to avoid crowds and heat
- you can see the pyramids from a hot-air balloon at dawn
Sources & verification notes
More in The Americas
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Chichén Itzá
The Maya's sacred city of astronomy, a pyramid where the Feathered Serpent descends at the equinox