The site of Palenque is made up of a number of temples, palaces, open plazas, and a ball court.

Main Plaza: This area is comprised of a large plaza surrounded by temples and the large Palace. The most important of which is the Temple of Inscriptions. Archaeologists discovered the tomb of Lord Pacal, which means the Shield buried under the base of this temple. Numerous artifacts were discovered including the sarcophagus lid of Lord Pacal's tomb, statues of different Gods, and a mosaic funerary mask made of jade. This area also contains a large Palace, which contains numerous wall paintings of different scenes.

Eastern Platform: The Palace leads directly to the Eastern Platform, where the Temple of the Cross and the Temple of the Sun are located. Artifacts relating to Mayan religion were discovered in these temples, including masks and wall carvings of priests with jaguars.

Northern Group: Located on the northern end of this site is a group of palace complexes and small temples, including the Temple of the Count. All of which lead to a ball court, where the Mayan ritual ball game would have been played.