Mexico
Teotihuacan
The Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan comprises the ruins of one of the first great classic Mesoamerican civilizations.
The city was an important ceremonial center and had about 125,000 inhabitants in its heyday around 500 CE. It is characterized by the enormous size of its monuments, such as the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon (71 and 43 meters high respectively). All in Teotihuacan is centered around the Avenue of the Dead, the long and wide road that connects La Ciudadela with the Moon Pyramid.
Community Perspective: A favourite site of many (“the sheer size of the remaining repetitive structures of this WHS is really mind-boggling”) and the no1. day trip from Mexico City. The on-site information is really bad so do your homework. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent has the best decorations. To get away from the crowds, have a look at the Tepantitla Palace. Since Covid, the two main Pyramids cannot be climbed anymore.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Pre-Hispanic City of Teotihuacan (ID: 414)
- Country
- Mexico
- Status
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Inscribed 1987
Site history
History of Teotihuacan
- 1987: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- i
- ii
- iii
- iv
- vi
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- visitmexico.com — Visit Mexico: Teotihuacan
- inah.gob.mx — Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacan
- popular-archaeology.com — How Teotihuacan's urban design was lost and found
News Article
- Nov. 28, 2022 sciencedaily.com — 1,700-year-old spider monkey remains discovered in Teotihuacán
- June 22, 2019 theyucatantimes.com — Evidence that Maya elite resided in Teotihuacán was recently found
- Sept. 15, 2016 statepress.com — Rethinking royal ruins: archaeology team makes discovery in Teotihuacan
- July 9, 2016 phys.org — Skeleton with stone-encrusted teeth found in Mexico ancient ruins
- Oct. 30, 2014 abcnews.go.com — Archaeologists Explore Teotihuacan Tunnel
- March 11, 2014 newscientist.com — Huge Mexican pyramid could collapse like a sandcastle
- Feb. 19, 2013 latimes.com — Fire-god figure found at top of Pyramid of the Sun
- Feb. 3, 2012 pasthorizonspr.com — Jade mask found inside Pyramid of the Sun
- Dec. 15, 2011 google.com — Original offering found at Teotihuacan pyramid
- Oct. 31, 2011 latino.foxnews.com — Scientist Uncovers Numerical Pattern in Teotihuacan
- Aug. 7, 2010 abcnews.go.com — A long-sealed tunnel has been found under the ruins of Teotihuacan
- Aug. 8, 2009 google.com — Plan to install lights on the ancient Teotihuacan pyramids on hold
Community Information
- Community Category
- Archaeological site: Pre-Columbian
- Secular structure: Military and Fortifications
Travel Information
One million visitors or more
Mexico City hotspot
Recent Connections
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Perfect Inscriptions
1987 -
World Monuments Watch (past)
2022See www.wmf.org
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In Video Games
Forza Horizon 5; Civilization VII: Pyra…
Connections of Teotihuacan
- Individual People
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Erich von Däniken
Features in "Astronaut Gods of the Maya": "Examining stone carvings and statues from many Mesoamerican sites such as ..Teotihuacán in Mexico .., von Däniken reveals the astronaut technology" + discovery of mercury
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- Trivia
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Total Solar Eclipse since Inscription
11 July, 1991 -
Former Largest Cities
150-450 AD -
Hot Air Balloon rides
See www.viator.com
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In Video Games
Forza Horizon 5; Civilization VII: Pyramid of the Sun -
Viewable from another WHS
the nearby pyramids of Teotihuacan, a World Heritage Site, which are within view of the hydraulic complex (AB ev Aqueduct Padre Tembleque) -
Replica in Epcot
At the Mexico Pavilion: a 36-foot-tall pyramid, modeled after the Temple of the Feathered Serpent -
One million visitors or more
Teotihuacán welcomed approximately 1.7 million domestic and international visitors in 2023. // It is the most visited archeological site in Mexico, receiving 4,185,017 visitors in 2017 (wiki) -
Google Doodles
16 September 2017, Mexico National Day 2017See www.google.com
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- History
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Located in a Former Capital
Teotihuacano Empire, 200 BC-750 -
Aztec Empire
Earlier site, but with religious significance for the Aztecs and it fell within their territory: "The later Aztecs saw these magnificent ruins and claimed a common ancestry with the Teotihuacanos, modifying and adopting aspects of their culture." (wiki) "The Aztec name of Teotihuacán means "the place where gods were created". According to writings from the 16th century, the sacrifices practiced by Moctezuma every twenty days on the site attested to the persistence of beliefs, which made Teotihuacan a sacred place of exceptional value." (Crit vi OUV) -
Formative stage
Late Formative Period (300 BCE–100 CE): the abrupt appearance, toward the end of the Late Formative, of fully urban culture at Teotihuacán in the Valley of Mexico -
Zapotec civilization
assumed to have been partially inhabited by Be'ena'a during its late phase; "archaeological remains of a Zapotec neighborhood within Teotihuacan" (wiki)
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- Ecology
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Liquid Mercury
In 2003, a tunnel was discovered beneath the Feathered Serpent pyramid in the ruins of Teotihuacan.... Undisturbed for 1,800 years, the sealed-off passage was found to contain thousands of extraordinary treasures lying exactly where they had first been placed as ritual offerings to the gods. Items unearthed included greenstone crocodile teeth, crystals shaped into eyes, and sculptures of jaguars ready to pounce. Even more remarkable was a miniature mountainous landscape, 17 metres underground, with tiny pools of liquid mercury representing lakes"
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- World Heritage Process
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Perfect Inscriptions
1987
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- Religion and Belief
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Axis Mundi
"Sun Pyramid was the axis mundi for Teotihuacan culture, a space from which celestial and underworld levels were accessed symbolically."See www.inah.gob.mx
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Feathered serpent
Temple of the Feathered SerpentSee en.wikipedia.org
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Goddesses
Great Goddess of Teotihuaca
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- Human Activity
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Masks
Jade mask found inside Pyramid of the Sun -
Human Sacrifice
Bodies of what appear to be sacrificial victims have been found within the Temple of the Moon.
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- Constructions
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Tunnels
In late 2003 a tunnel beneath the Temple of the Feathered Serpent was accidentally discovered by Sergio Gómez Chávez and Julie Gazzola, archeologists of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (wiki) -
Pyramids
Pyramid of the Sun (third largest in the World after the Great Pyramid of Cholula and the Great Pyramid of Giza) and Pyramid of the Moon -
Passage of the Sun
Temple of the Sun -
Large squares
Plaza de la Luna - 26000sq metres
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- WHS on Other Lists
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World Monuments Watch (past)
2022See www.wmf.org
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World Monuments Watch (past)
Quetzalcoatl Temple (2004), Teotihuacán Archaeological Site (1998, 2000, 2004)
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- Timeline
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Built in the 1st century
Inhabited between the 1st and 7th centuries. (AB ev); The largest pyramid, the Pyramid of the Sun, was completed by 100 CE (wiki)
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- WHS Hotspots
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Mexico City hotspot
1.5h by frequent bus
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- Science and Technology
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Astronomy and Astrology
in the case of the Pyramid of the Moon, the public plaza was also used for astronomical observation and calendar-related activities (wiki) -
Muography
" the Pyramid of the Sun, situated near Mexico City in the ancient city of Teotihuacan was surveyed with muography. One of the motivations of the team was to discover if inaccessible chambers inside the Pyramid might hold the tomb of a Teotihuacan ruler."See en.wikipedia.org
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- WHS Names
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Minor Planet named after them
Asteroid 293477 Teotihuacan
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News
- sciencedaily.com 11/28/2022
- 1,700-year-old spider monkey remai…
- theyucatantimes.com 06/22/2019
- Evidence that Maya elite resided i…
- statepress.com 09/15/2016
- Rethinking royal ruins: archaeolo…
Recent Visitors
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Community Reviews
Show full reviews
I went there today for the third time, and finally was able to see the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. You have to go through Gate 1, instead of 4 or 5 that lead you to the Pyramid of the Moon or the Pyramid of the Sun. There aren’t as many tourists as there were at the other pyramids, which is a good thing. I climbed up a fairly well-maintained set of stairs to the platform, which was a pyramid build in front and on top the Feathered Serpent. The newer pyramid thus shielded the lower portion of old one from damage throughout the past 1,500 years or so. The platform itself has solid rails and was quite safe.
As to the sculptures, they are spectacular and give the whole site another dimension. I would recommend a visit to the Anthropological in Mexico City to see the fully colored replicas before going to the site to truly appreciate it.
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I visited this WHS in December 2021 and spent 2 nights here to have ample time for taking photos at sunrise and sunset, at the WHS proper, from a distance and from high above, knowing beforehand that climbing the Pyramid of the Sun and of the Moon was forbidden as part of the COVID restrictions in place.
I would agree with Els that prohibiting tourists from climbing the pyramids will remain post-COVID, and it really isn't a bad thing at all. Like Uluru in Australia, the end result is a picture-perfect site for everyone to enjoy safely without the need of too many security guards, railings, etc and much restoration. Moreover, it is very easy to make up for the views from the top of the pyramids by joining a sunrise hot air balloon flight with one of the many companies providing the service. On a sunny day, the views over the empty pyramids, the platforms, the citadel and the avenue of the dead (without the pre-COVID crowds on the pyramids for sunrise).
Unlike Chichen Itza, all the structures at Teotihuacan lack the intricate sculptures and designs, except the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. This temple is an architectural delight almost half way through the avenue of the dead after the Pyramids of the Moon and the Sun. Unlike the steps with sculptures alternating the rain god Tlaloc and the feathered serpent heads, with long undulating feathered serpents in profile underneath them on the rear side, the temple, …
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Teotihuacan is a bit of a “What You See Is What You Get”-site, and with the consistent use of the same materials and architecture, it even gets repetitive.
Complementary to what has been said already by previous reviewers, I’d like to add some Covid info for visitors as well as direct you to the fantastic murals in the Tepantitla Palace.
Visiting during Covid times
The archaeological site of Teotihuacan is still open every day of the year. What has changed (status of January 2022):
- A cap on the allowed number of visitors has been introduced, which allows for specific amounts of tourists to enter at each of the Gates 1-5. It means that arriving early has become even more recommended (it’s also less hot and less crowded in the early morning). Still, it doesn’t sell out easily, maybe except for Mexican holidays.
- Climbing the two main pyramids is now forbidden. It wouldn’t surprise me if they keep it that way also post-Covid.
- Wearing a face mask is officially required everywhere, but especially the foreign tourists don’t seem to comply with that rule.
What hasn’t changed? The annoying whistle-sellers are still there. All of them!
Tepantitla Palace
The on-site information at Teotihuacan really sucks, some 50% of the information panels are so weathered that they are unintelligible. There are also hardly any signposts to the various entrance gates or major monuments. This does not help in finding the Tepantitla …
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I woke up after another cold night thinking "should I skip the pyramids and sleep more? It's easy to do it again from Mexico City on another trip". Glad I didn't. Too cold to fall asleep anyway, so I went to the breakfast buffet to recharge: "last Mexico WHS here I go!"
I actually thought it would be busy but not really, and definitely relative to its size. Compared to El Tajin there were probably only 15% Mexican tourists and that is assuming they even are. El Tajin was ~98% but could be seasonal. Arriving at 8am at the front gate I first checked out the Serpent temple. A guide was there talking a lot about tombs. Unsure if they actually know facts or make it up. Funnily enough there is a sign at the entrance to explain it was NOT made by aliens!! Shame on people to even think so in today's science age (History Channel I'm looking at you). From the distance you can obviously already see the Sun and Moon temples and awe at them. People can climb up? I should have rested up more! It also takes a loooong time to walk towards them. One wow factor is the short climb from a lower area and see the temples arise beyond. Magical. There are dozens of structures along the way with some signs (in 3 languages usually) if you are interested but most people don't bother. Your main goal are those pyramids!
I climbed …

It is hard to add more to the reviews already here. The pyramids really are an impressive spectacle. Aside from them I really enjoyed the citadel, with its magnificent temple of the Feathered Serpent and also the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl near the Pyramid of the Moon was very worthy of investigation.
We got there fairly early to avoid larger crowds and brighter sun shine, and it worked to an extent. The climb up the Pyramid of the Sun was certainly a lot quieter at nine than it was an hour or so later. However the long hot trek back to gate one started to bring flash backs to our near melting at Volubilis, It was made slightly worse by finding out return buses actually depart from gate two, where we had just walked from. There was a slight improvement in circumstances though as our bus stopped at the metro(bus) station Indio Verdes, which made our trip back to the hotel much easier, and may be of more use for others travelling to/from Mexico City.
A week or so later we got a wonderful view of the pyramids appearing above fields of cacti as we drove in from the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque. In a piece of good timing, shortly before our visit we were able to brush up on our history thanks to an episode of the BBC's Lost Kingdoms of Central America which was devoted to Teotihuacan.
I did enjoy this trip and you could certainly get an …
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We spent a good 5 hours exploring this vast WHS. Teotihuacan is a place that you should consider careful planning. Firstly, besides what you may find online, its open on Monday. Secondly, prepare for the sun and purchase water. Thirdly, don't think the Pyramid of the Sun is the only highlight of this huge site. Lastly, arrive early before the buses of tourists and vendors. Despite these realities, the site is so vast the numbers make no difference unless you are hiking up the Pyramid of the Sun after 11am.
The best view of the site, is without a doubt from the Temple of the Moon looking out over the Avenue of the Dead and the Pyramid of the Sun. Nearby, is a ruined palace site that includes original (& recreated) paintings of this ancient Mesoamerican culture.
I very much enjoyed my time visiting this site, and it should not be missed by anyone who visits Mexico City. On a side note, the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque is located somewhat near Teotihuacan. At this point I know of no easy way to visit both WHS using public transit in one day. Yet, I am sure this will eventually become a reality.
Seemingly, an inevitable tourist activity when visiting Teotihuacan is hiking the Pyramid of the Sun. The view is certainly special and the climb makes you appreciate the size and labor involved in its construction. If its very busy, consider other views and places to explore, but if you have …
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I did not know why I suddenly woke up at 3AM in the morning, maybe because of tequila I drank last night or the sound of mariachi band that still lingered on my head. Since I could not sleep, at 5AM I used the first metro train of that day to Norte bus terminal, and at 6 AM I was the only passenger on the first bus to Teotihuacan, then at 7.15 I was the only one at the third gate of the historic complex and the guard had to ask me to use second gate instead as no one here to sell the ticket! At 7.30 I was the first tourist of that day to be at the second gate, the gate that directly in front of the famous Pyramid of the Sun. The sun was sparklingly shining behind the pyramid and balloons appeared beside the silhouette giant ancient manmade engineering masterpiece. The first image of Teotihuacan really made me happy and full of wonder of its mystery.
I directly walked to the pyramid, crossed the impressive Avenue of the Dead and climbed to the top. It was a great experience to be with this great structure alone, and when I was on the top of the pyramid, the cool breeze of late autumn and the sea of mist making the whole valley of Teotihuacan more unworldly to my eyes. I was on the top of pyramid bathing the ray of light from the sun, until I …
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As a Mexican, being at Teotihuacan is a very deep sentiment.
People in charge of the site are doing a good job (yet there is always room for improvement)and we the people need to help too.
I was disappointed to see people on the top of the Sun's pyramid which contributes to its deterioration. I wonder if we even should step on the stairs of the pyramids.
As comparing Teotihucan with Egypt's pyramids, they are different yet they are great gifts of cultures that are remaining us the greatness of the human mind.
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