Teotihuacán

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Mexico

$28.99

Shop Book

Getty Images/Flickr RF

Overview

This complex of awesome pyramids, set amid what was once Mesoamerica’s greatest city, is the region’s most visited destination. The sprawling site compares to the ruins of the Yucatán and Chiapas for significance and anyone lucky enough to come here will be inspired by the astonishing technological might of the Teotihuacán (teh-oh-tee-wah-kahn) civilization.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Pirámide del Sol

Teotihuacán

The world’s third-largest pyramid – surpassed in size only by Egypt’s Cheops (which is also a tomb, unlike the temples here) and the pyramid of…
Pirámide de la Luna

Teotihuacán

The Pyramid of the Moon, at the north end of the Calzada de los Muertos, is smaller than the Pirámide del Sol, but more gracefully proportioned. Completed…
Templo de Quetzalcóatl

Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán's third-largest pyramid is the most ornate. The four surviving steps of the facade (there were originally seven) are adorned with striking…
La Ciudadela

Teotihuacán

This expansive square complex is believed to have been the residence of the city’s supreme ruler, and its rooms may have been the city’s administrative…
Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl

Teotihuacán

Off the Plaza de la Luna’s southwest corner is the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly, thought to be the home of a high priest. The remains of bears,…
Palacio de Tetitla & Palacio de Atetelco

Teotihuacán

A group of palaces lies west, outside Teotihuacán's main area, several hundred meters northwest of Gate 1. Many of the murals, discovered in the 1940s,…
Museo del Sitio

Teotihuacán

Lying just south of the Pirámide del Sol, Teotihuacán's site museum makes for a refreshing stop midway through a visit to the historic complex. The museum…
Calzada de los Muertos

Teotihuacán

Centuries ago, the Calzada de los Muertos must have seemed absolutely incomparable to its inhabitants, who were able to see its buildings at their best…