Buzz
Though unconventional, an increasing number of travelers are discovering the allure of cemeteries as unique holiday spots. These sites captivate visitors with their architectural beauty, historical depth, and cultural significance. Whether you're drawn to the artistry of tombstones, the stories of the past, or the chance to pay respects to notable figures, cemeteries offer a rich and rewarding experience. Below, I’ve curated a list of some of the world’s most renowned cemeteries, based on personal familiarity. This is by no means exhaustive, and I welcome additional suggestions in the comments. Note: For simplicity, this list focuses solely on cemeteries, excluding other burial sites.
10. La Recoleta Cemetery Buenos Aires, Argentina
A must-see in Buenos Aires, La Recoleta Cemetery offers a captivating window into Argentina’s history. While Eva Perón’s tomb is the most famous, the cemetery is also the resting place of numerous politicians, poets, and cultural icons. Designed like a miniature city, it features grand avenues, narrow pathways, and elaborate mausoleums. Some are impeccably preserved, while others, abandoned by their families, have succumbed to decay. Stories abound of crypts repurposed as storage spaces, with cleaning supplies stacked atop coffins. Among the well-maintained tombs, you’ll find sculptures designated as national monuments and a diverse array of architectural styles, from Egyptian to Art Deco. Adding to its charm, a colony of feral cats calls the cemetery home, often cared for by local residents.
9. Saint Louis Cemetery New Orleans, Louisiana
This site comprises three distinct cemeteries, each worth exploring. However, Saint Louis Cemetery #1 stands out as the most intriguing, and it’s the focus here. The tombs here are above ground, with stone structures hiding bodies just a few feet from visitors. This design is said to stem from New Orleans’ high water table, though some debate this explanation. Saint Louis #1 shows signs of wear, and hiring a guide is highly recommended. Voodoo culture thrives in New Orleans, and the Glapion family crypt in Saint Louis #1 is believed to house the tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie LaVeau. During my visit, graffiti made this crypt easy to spot, but its current state is uncertain. I explored without a guide, and my aimless wandering revealed broken tombs and scattered remains. This cemetery is not for the faint of heart.
8. Forest Lawn Memorial Parks Glendale & Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California
Also: Hollywood Forever (Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.) Three destinations in one! First, Forest Lawn: A unique concept… The founders envisioned a more optimistic approach to memorial parks, resulting in what feels like a theme park dedicated to remembrance. Instead of traditional headstones, flat markers are used, and the grounds are adorned with replicas of famous artworks, statues, and iconic structures from around the globe. For instance, if you wish to admire Michelangelo’s complete sculptures without traveling across Europe, this cemetery houses the world’s only full collection, crafted from casts of the originals and marble from the same quarry Michelangelo used. Between Glendale and Hollywood Hills, you’ll find the graves of numerous Hollywood legends (with the rest at Hollywood Forever). Interestingly, some sections are restricted, housing stars like Humphrey Bogart and Nat King Cole, but most are accessible to the public. Popular graves include Walt Disney, Bette Davis, Liberace, and Telly Savalas (buried with his trademark lollipop!). Nearby, Hollywood Forever, once neglected, has been revitalized since its 1998 purchase and now hosts summer movie screenings. Notable residents include Johnny Ramone, Rudolph Valentino, and Peter Lorre.
7. Green-Wood Cemetery Brooklyn, New York
Spanning 478 acres with 600,000 graves, this cemetery is a must-see for New York City visitors. Similar to Père-Lachaise, efforts were made to attract attention by relocating famous remains and erecting monuments. However, the strategy wasn’t as successful, and until the Brooklyn Bridge’s completion in 1883 improved access, the cemetery remained sparsely populated. Despite this, it offers ample space and features hundreds of elaborate tombs for both notable and ordinary individuals. Many prominent New Yorkers from the late 19th century rest here, alongside war memorials and monuments, including an obelisk commemorating 103 victims of the Brooklyn Theater Fire.
6. Old Jewish Cemetery Josefov, Prague, Czech Republic
As the oldest cemetery on this list, with the earliest identifiable tombstone dating to 1439, the Old Jewish Cemetery remained in use until 1787, closing before most other entries here even opened. The tombstones, tilted and weathered, reflect its age. Ropes separate the walkways from the graves, and tickets are available for standalone visits or combined tours with nearby synagogues. Notably, while many Jewish cemeteries were destroyed during the Holocaust, Hitler specifically preserved this one, reportedly planning to establish a museum here after his anticipated victory.
5. Zentralfriedhof Simmering, Vienna, Austria
Spanning 2.4 square kilometers, Zentralfriedhof is Europe’s second-largest cemetery by area and the largest by number of interments, with 3.3 million occupants. The most renowned graves are in the Ehrengräber section, a fitting tribute to Vienna’s status as the capital of classical music. Many composers and musicians, relocated from other cemeteries, rest here, including Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert, and Johann Strauss I & II. Surprisingly, Falco, known for 'Der Kommissar,' is also buried here.
4. Merry Cemetery Săpânța, Maramureș county, Romania
A uniquely vibrant burial ground, Merry Cemetery features hundreds of wooden crosses adorned with colorful paintings depicting the lives—and sometimes deaths—of the departed, accompanied by poetic epitaphs. The markers lack weatherproofing, causing the paint to fade over time, much like the memories of those buried here. Numerous photos of the markers, along with translated inscriptions, can be found here.
3. Highgate Cemetery Highgate, London, U.K.
Highgate Cemetery stands out for its lush, wooded surroundings, where elaborate monuments and simple gravestones are nestled among trees, ferns, and wildflowers. Though the Friends of Highgate Cemetery have worked tirelessly since the late 1970s to restore the site, parts of the west cemetery (accessible only by guided tour) remain rugged, with nature persistently reclaiming the land. The most iconic monument is Karl Marx’s tomb, but the cemetery also houses intriguing memorials for various Victorian-era luminaries.
Contributor: flibbertigibbet
2. Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Paris, France
Situated east of Paris’s city center, Père-Lachaise is arguably the world’s most renowned cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. However, its popularity wasn’t immediate. Upon its opening in 1804, the cemetery struggled to attract burials due to its lack of history. To boost its appeal, the remains of notable figures like Molière and the legendary lovers Heloise and Abelard were relocated here. This strategy succeeded, and Père-Lachaise became a prestigious final resting place. Among its many famous residents are Marcel Proust, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, and Frédéric Chopin. For those unable to visit, an excellent virtual tour is available here.
1. Protestant Cemetery Near Porta San Paolo, Rome, Italy
Also referred to as the Englishman’s Cemetery or the Non-Catholic Cemetery, the latter name is the most fitting. This burial ground was designated for those who passed away in or near Rome but were not of the Catholic faith. One of its most striking features is the Pyramid of Cestius, a small Egyptian-style pyramid constructed between 18 and 12 B.C. as the tomb of Gaius Cestius Epulo, making it the oldest grave in the cemetery by over 150 years. The pyramid was integrated into the Aurelian Walls, which later formed part of the cemetery’s boundary. Modern burials here began in the mid-1700s. Among its notable residents are the Romantic poets John Keats and Percy Shelley, attracting admirers of their work. A fascinating tale involves Percy Shelley’s burial: after being cremated on the beach where he drowned, his ashes (excluding his heart, later buried with Mary Shelley) were interred here. His son William’s body, also buried in the cemetery, was exhumed to join his father, but the remains turned out to belong to a grown man, not the three-year-old boy. Ultimately, William’s body was never found, and Percy was laid to rest alone.
