Montezuma Castle National Monument Tours and Tickets

There are different ways to experience the Montezuma Castle National Monument. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best options available right now:

• Small Group or Private Sedona and Native American Ruins Day Tour

• Sedona Day Trip From Phoenix

• Sedona With Jerome and Montezuma Castle One-Day Van Tour

• Half-Day Private Scenic Tour of Sedona

• Private Tour of Four National Monuments in Arizona from Sedona

The admission fee to Montezuma Castle National Monument is US$10, and this includes entry to the Tuzigoot National Monument as well—the fee covers entry to both sites for seven days. Kids under 16 enter for free. Day-long tours of Sedona that visit Montezuma Castle and other attractions start from US$165.

Yes, Montezuma Castle National Monument is worth visiting—it's a unique and well-preserved piece of Sinagua history. While you can no longer go inside the cliff dwelling for preservation reasons, there's a huge number of archaeological artifacts to see in the Montezuma Castle Visitor Center, plus a short looped trail past Beaver Creek.

Per one customer who booked the Small Group or Private Sedona and Native American Ruins Day Tour, "An outstanding full day experience with gorgeous scenery! It began with an on-time pickup at our hotel. Jay, our guide, provided us with important information about each stop and was terrific about knowing exactly where to take the best photos! Each stop was gorgeous and was just the right amount of time. Montezuma's Castle, Bell Rock, Courthouse Rock, Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona proper, and Airport Mesa Overlook, all worth every minute and offered such stunning views."

The Montezuma Castle National Monument in Camp Verde, Arizona, is a well-preserved ruin of the Sinagua Indians that served as multifamily dwellings. The ruins are neat to see as they are built into the side of a cliff, and the monument has a visitor center and a picnic area.

Montezuma is the name of an Aztec ruler, and the Europeans who settled in the area thought the ruins were from the Aztecs (they were wrong). Castle came from the idea that the ruins were built into a cliff overlooking the area—like a castle.

You should carve out at least an hour at the Montezuma Castle National Monument—plan for longer if you don’t want to feel rushed. You can spend a good amount of time at the visitor center. The walk to the monument is easy and takes about 10 minutes.

Yes, there are ranger-led programs at Montezuma Castle National Monument. Most of the available private tours combine a visit to the castle with other nearby areas in Arizona, such as Jerome and Sedona. It's often possible to book tours that visit nearby Tuzigoot National Monument, too.

Like most anywhere else you would visit in Arizona, you should bring sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water when you visit Montezuma Castle National Monument. The monument is at a high elevation in a dry climate area, so it’s hot (especially in summer), and staying hydrated is a must.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Montezuma Castle National Monument. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Phoenix:

• Camelback Mountain

• Desert Botanical Gardens

• Phoenix Zoo

• Tempe

• Old Town Scottsdale

View Viator's guide to all the attractions in and around Phoenix.