Teotihuacan is in the Valley of Teotihuacan located on a plateau more than 6,600 feet high. Twenty-five miles outside of Mexico City, Teotihuacan should not be confused with the later Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, which is located in Mexico City.

The Avenue of the Dead is the main street of Teotihuacan, and it extends for more than a mile. The Avenue of the Dead begins at the Moon Plaza, which is surrounded by 15 pyramidal structures, including the Moon Pyramid. More than 2,000 high-walled apartment compounds, some of which have been excavated and consolidated, line the avenue.