Teotihuacan from Mexico City: Tours vs. Bus Guide 2026

Mexico's Teotihuacan Pyramids: An Unmissable Stop on Any Mexico City Trip

Having visited Teotihuacan both by public transport and with a tour, let's dive into my comparison review!

Teotihuacan

The City of the Gods, discovered by the Aztec civilization

The name Teotihuacan means "**the place where the gods were created**" in Nahuatl (the Aztec language).

The civilization of Teotihuacan, established around the 1st century BCE,

was an independent civilization that existed even before the Maya and Aztec empires.

Thanks to this, Mexico's Teotihuacan Pyramids boast a truly mysterious appearance.

Important Tips for Teotihuacan

Don't forget water, a hat, sunscreen, and more!

The Teotihuacan pyramids near Mexico City, like Mexico City itself, are located in a high-altitude area.

And since there's no shade, a **wide-brimmed hat** is essential, as is **drinking water** due to the dry climate.

Also, the UV rays are incredibly strong, so you should wear **light, long clothing or apply sunscreen**.

Also, be careful as the stairs are quite steep!

How to Get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City

By bus from the North Terminal

There are broadly two ways to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City.

The first is to take a bus from the **Mexico City North Terminal** to Teotihuacan,

and the second is to use a **half-day tour**.

After traveling to Mexico City's Autobuses del Norte by subway or Uber,

you can buy a round-trip ticket at the Teotihuacan booth, which has a pyramid drawn on it.

The bus fare is 136 pesos for a round trip.

Honestly, the reason I don't particularly recommend this method is because

from my experience riding the Mexico City subway, the **subway's security** isn't great,

and even a local friend said they avoid using the subway after riding it once and feeling uneasy.

Of course, it's the cheapest option, making it the best choice for budget travelers.

Teotihuacan Tour

Klook, MyRealTrip

On the other hand, if you book a tour, they offer hotel pickup and drop-off in Mexico City,

which is a huge advantage for a safe and comfortable trip.

🚩 Find out about Teotihuacan tours on Klook

[Official Website for Teotihuacan Guided Tours]

Mexico Teotihuacan Pyramids Guided Tour - Klook3ha.in

Teotihuacan Tour Review

The Awe-Inspiring Mexican Pyramids

The Teotihuacan pyramids, located near Mexico City, take about an hour to reach from Mexico City.

Right from the entrance, you'll be greeted by numerous cacti at Mexico City's Teotihuacan Pyramids.

The entrance fee for Teotihuacan is 100 pesos per person!

It seems like it used to be cash-only, but now you can pay with a card too?

At the entrance to Teotihuacan, structures from the Teotihuacan civilization welcome visitors.

Quetzalcóatl

The most magnificent temple in Teotihuacan

The first place you'll visit on the Teotihuacan tour is,

the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, the most magnificent temple in Teotihuacan.

I definitely feel that tours are crucial for historical sites,

because when I visited individually, Teotihuacan was so vast that I didn't even know places like this existed.

They say Quetzalcoatl means "sacred serpent" in the ancient Aztec language.

The reason this temple was named Quetzalcoatl Temple is also because

the temple features the face of the god Tlaloc, with a snake-shaped head and a flame-lion-like appearance,

intricately carved and repeated on every step.

Considering that offerings, human bones, and shell decorations were discovered inside,

it's speculated that rituals and ceremonies were performed here.

Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl

A palace used by high-ranking officials

After our tour of the Quetzalcoatl Temple, we hopped on a bus to another entrance of Teotihuacan, where the pyramids are!

If you were to go by yourself, this would be quite a long distance, and the scorching sun combined with the altitude could easily lead to fatigue.

But luckily, with the tour, we could travel comfortably by bus, which was awesome! 😎

Teotihuacan's Quetzalpapálotl Palace served as a residential area, much like Peru's Machu Picchu.

It's still remarkably well-preserved,

and it's truly astounding to think it was constructed with such intricacy even before the common era.

And in the distance, you can even spot the Pyramid of the Sun.

Inside the inner temple, there are murals that reveal rain rituals were once held here.

Given that this region is quite dry,

it's speculated that rain was directly tied to survival for the people of Teotihuacan back then, leading them to perform **rain rituals**.

Teotihuacan Snack Bar

Water, ice cream, and more to beat the heat

During the tour, I also discovered for the first time that Teotihuacan even has a snack bar!

They offer cool water, refreshing drinks, ice cream, and other snacks, plus souvenirs.

I decided to save souvenir shopping for later and just grabbed some water and ice cream here!

In a place that feels as vast as a desert, ice cream truly felt like an oasis.

Teotihuacan Pyramids

Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon

Now, let's head over to the pyramids next to the palace!

Teotihuacan boasts a total of two majestic pyramids.

And the grand central avenue that cuts right through the ruins is known as the Avenue of the Dead.

Using the Avenue of the Dead as a reference point, the one directly ahead is called the **Pyramid of the Sun**,

and the one situated to the side is known as the **Pyramid of the Moon**.

The Pyramid of the Sun stands as the largest and most symbolic pyramid in Mesoamerica, including Mexico, a region deeply devoted to sun worship.

Meanwhile, the Pyramid of the Moon can be regarded as a sacred pyramid primarily focused on religious rituals and ceremonies.

When I first visited, you could actually climb the pyramids,

but now they're undergoing renovations, so unfortunately, climbing is temporarily off-limits.

Avenue of the Dead

Teotihuacan's Main Street

The Avenue of the Dead, a magnificent thoroughfare connecting the entire site of Teotihuacan, was likely primarily used for grand processions.

Teotihuacan Traditional Painting Techniques

Painting techniques using natural materials

And here, we also got a fascinating glimpse into Teotihuacan's traditional culture, particularly their unique painting techniques that use plants like cacti and flowers.

The ancient painting technique, with its eco-friendly and natural hues, was incredibly captivating.

After all the explanations about the pyramids were complete, the guided tour officially ended, leaving us with about 45 minutes to spare.

This was our chance to freely explore the pyramids and capture some amazing photos.

If you're considering visiting independently, keep in mind the safety concerns in Mexico,

you might miss out on crucial details, and it can be quite physically demanding. That's why I strongly recommend joining a tour.

👉Book Your Tour on Klook's Official Site

If you're eager to witness a site of immense historical significance and behold the largest pyramid in Latin America,

then the Teotihuacan Pyramids near Mexico City are an absolute must-visit!