Hotels near Templo Mayor

Templo Mayor was the main temple of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, rediscovered by accident in 1978 when electrical workers hit a massive carved stone disc depicting the moon goddess Coyolxauhqui. The excavated ruins now sit in an open-air archaeological zone just northeast of the Zocalo, revealing layer upon layer of construction as successive rulers expanded the temple over two centuries. The adjacent museum displays over 7,000 artefacts pulled from the site, including sacrificial knives, jade masks, and the original Coyolxauhqui monolith.

Walking the raised platforms and viewing the twin shrines dedicated to Huitzilopochtli (god of war) and Tlaloc (god of rain) gives you an unmatched sense of how the Aztec world sat directly beneath the Spanish colonial city. Admission is 85 MXN (about 4.50 EUR). The site is open Tuesday to Sunday, 09:00 to 17:00. Sundays are free for Mexican nationals and residents, which makes weekdays quieter for international visitors.

> Pro Tip: Start in the museum before walking the ruins. The context you gain from the exhibits makes the outdoor structures far more meaningful.