How to Get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City: A Local Guide

By Angela, Your Tour Guide Who’s Been There Way Too Many Times

Hola, I’m Angela! 👋

I’ve been a tour guide for over half a decade.

And I've visited Teotihuacan 1,000s of times (seriously, I lost count).

I know every shortcut, snack stand, and yes—every bathroom.

So if you’re wondering how to get there...

...you’re in the right place!

So, first off:

There are three ways to get to Teotihuacan:

✅ Bus (Cheapest, but takes longer)
✅ Taxi/Uber (Fast, but costs more)
✅ Guided Tour (No stress, just fun! But I'm biased because I offer tours!)

Each has pros and cons, and I'll share them with you!

But first... you want to be prepared before you go - so here's a few tips:

Before You Go: What to Know About Teotihuacan

• Bring SUNSCREEN and a hat - There's no shade at the pyramids and the sun is no joke especially between 12 pm and 4pm... that's why on my tour we start earlier in the morning 🙂
• Wear comfortable clothes - Like I said it's all wide open, and there's no shade
• Arrive early - This avoids the crowd and sun
• Bring WATER (and snacks) - If you want to buy water outside the pyramids, it's pricey. So bring at least 2 bottles of water for yourself (you'll need it) to save some money
  • There ARE restaurants around the pyramids (Message me if you want some food recommendations!)

Teotihuacan in a Nutshell

Teotihuacan is one of the world's most famous ancient cities.

It was built over 2,000 years ago by an unknown and unnamed group of people.

(although some people believe ALIENS built it!)

• At one point, over 100,000 people lived there before it was mysteriously abandoned (I share all the theories and information about WHY on my tour)
• Unfortunately, you can’t climb the pyramids anymore (we miss it too)
• There's been incredible discoveries underneath the pyramids... and about how they were built. I share those on my tour too!

Anyways that's enough facts... let's get into:

How to Get to Teotihuacan: The 3 Best Ways

Option 1: Taking the Bus to Teotihuacan

Cost: Around $80 MXN (~$4 USD) each way

Travel Time: About 2 hours (from hotel to site)

Best For: Budget travelers who want to save money

1. Go to the 'Autobuses del Norte' - either by uber/taxi, or by metro (take line 5 to Autobuses del Norte)
2. Once you get inside the terminal, head to Puerta 8 (Gate 8). You’ll see ticket counters labeled “Pirámides” – that’s your bus! (Note: Buy a round-trip ticket!)
3. You’ll arrive at Puerta 2, the main entrance to the pyramids.
4. Once you're done with the pyramid, head back to Puerta 2 and wait for your bus. The buses depart every 10 minutes until 6 PM from the same spot you arrived.

It’s not complicated, but it does take a little more effort than an Uber or tour.

Option 2: Taking an Uber or Taxi to Teotihuacan

Cost: $550-800 MXN (~$30-45 USD) one way

Travel Time: About 1 hour

Best For: If you don't care about money and don't want to know the history and secrets of the pyramids 😉

1. Order an Uber straight to Teotihuacan Pyramids (double-check it’s the archaeological site, not the nearby town).
2. Confirm your ride & relax – The trip is mostly highway (but... you won't learn much about the city. On my tours I talk about all the little towns and things you see on the way!)
3. Arrive at Puerta 2 – you'll most likely get dropped off at the main entrance.
4. Uber rides and taxis back to the city are available, but you may have to wait a bit... and honestly, sometimes it's a bit of a gamble.

Also.. if you're taking a regular taxi, make sure to agree on the price upfront to avoid surprises.

Option 3: Taking a Guided Teotihuacan Tour (*Recommended!)

Cost: Starts $900 MXN (~$45 USD) for a group tour, and we have options for private VIP tours that are $1,400 MXN ($69 USD) - includes transportation BOTH ways & a super cool tour guide! 🙂

Travel Time: 1 hour each way

Best For: Travelers who want zero stress, more fun... and secrets & stories of Teotihuacan!

Okay, okay...

I'm biased about taking a tour.

But the thing is - if you get to Teotihuacan ANY other way (uber or bus)... you're going to walk in and see all these big pyramids and not know the history and cool stories behind them.

There ARE tour guides who wait outside the pyramids and offer you tours...

But honestly they're more expensive and I GUARANTEE they're not as knowledgable or as fun as one of my tours!

Also, if you Uber there you're going to end up spending MORE money on an Uber there and back than you would on one of my tours.

PLUS...

I can bring you to whatever restaurant you want to go to (whereas if you take a bus... you're going to basically be stuck at the pyramids)

Booking a tour with me is easy - just click here.

Extra Tips to Make Your Visit Even Better!

I'd recommend eating breakfast before you go and consider packing a lunch of you decide to go by uber or bus... because there's no food inside the pyramids and you need transportation to go to the nearby restaurants.

Also, bring cash because some vendors and ticket booths don’t take cards.

No matter how you get there, Teotihuacan is one of the best things you’ll do in Mexico City. It’s a place that never gets old (trust me—I should know).

Have questions? Let me know in the comments!

Happy travels,
Angela