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Visiting cemeteries is not just for dark tourists. Indeed, graveyards may not be at the top of everyone’s travel itinerary, but for those interested in history, culture, and architecture – or who just want to escape to somewhere quiet and peaceful – a cemetery visit can be a fascinating and memorable experience.

We have visited quite a few over the years – here are some notable cemeteries around the world that are worth considering for your next adventure.

Zentralfriedhof, Vienna, Austria

The Zentralfriedhof is the largest cemetery in Austria and one of the biggest in Europe. It’s home to over 2 million burials, including many famous Austrians such as Sigmund Freud and Franz Schubert. The cemetery features beautiful landscaping, mausoleums, and a variety of memorial designs.

As cool as it is is to find Mozart’s final resting place, 80s europop maestro Falco that was the major draw for us.

Easily accessible by tram, the cemetery is well worth a visit.

Olsany Cemetery, Prague, Czech Republic

Located on the outskirts of Prague, Olsany Cemetery is the final resting place for many notable Czechs, including composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. The cemetery also features elaborate tombstones and monuments, as well as a chapel dedicated to St. Adalbert.

Again, easily accessible by tram, the cemetery is cool and peaceful – a great place for a walk.

Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Established in 1847, Fairview Lawn Cemetery is the oldest continuously operating cemetery in Nova Scotia. It’s home to many notable Canadians, including Sir Charles Tupper, a former prime minister of Canada. The cemetery features beautiful landscaping and monuments, as well as a memorial to those who died in World War I.

Perhaps most notably, it’s also where a large number of the bodies recovered from The Titanic are interred.

We were able to catch a bus from near Halifax Cruise Terminal to the graveyard. Much, much cheaper than an organised cruise excursion.

Caherelly West, Limerick, Ireland

Located to the south of Limerick, Caherelly West could have been plucked from a gothic romance novel. Ivy-clad chapel ruins tower over the lichen stained headstones.

The graveyard also happens to be the final resting place of lead singer of The Cranberries, Dolores O’Reardon.

Because of its rural location, public transport isn’t an option. Dark tourists will need a taxi or hire car to reach the cemetery.

Sarajevo Jewish Cemetery, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The shadow of the Yugoslav Wars can be seen everywhere across Sarajevo. Visiting cemeteries is almost inevitable here – the city is surrounded by them on all sides, filled with the bodies of people killed during the notorious four-year siege.

The most notable is the Sarajevo Jewish Cemetery, the final resting place for many of the city’s Jewish community members who perished during World War II. The cemetery features simple headstones and a peaceful atmosphere that reflects the history of the Jewish community in Sarajevo.

The Jewish Cemetery also bears the scar of the more recent conflict in the form of headstones scarred by bullet holes and grenade shrapnel. Thanks to its excellent view across the city below – this cemetery was a favourite with Serbian snipers during the war.

It’s a bit of a hike up the hill, but the view – and the history – make it well worthwhile.

Żydowski cemetery, Warsaw, Poland

Located on the outskirts of Warsaw, Żydowski cemetery is the final resting place for many of the city’s Jewish community members who perished during World War II. The cemetery features simple headstones and a peaceful atmosphere that reflects the history of the Jewish community in Warsaw.

Overgrown and neglected in places, the graveyard is a tragic reminder of how the Jewish community disappeared almost completely from the city in 1943. Perhaps most moving are family headstones, showing multiple generations of the same family dying on the same day.

The cemetery is easily reached by tram from Warsaw city centre.

Westerplatte, Gdansk, Poland

Located on an island just off the coast of Gdansk, Westerplatte is the site of the first battle of World War II. It’s home to a memorial and cemetery for those who fought and died there.

240 Polish soldiers managed to hold off several German divisions for seven days in an act of extreme heroism. The twisted metal and concrete structures destroyed during the invasion have been left as-is, a memorial to a pivotal event in 20th Century Polish history.

You can catch a pirate ship from Gdansk city centre to Westerplatte – or a regular ferry if you prefer.

Cimitero Monumentale, Milan, Italy

Milan has a reputation for style. But while most tourists are checking out the designer clothes shops and art galleries, dark tourists should be visiting cemeteries. We suggest heading to the northern outskirts of the city for a real visual treat.

Cimitero Monumentale is one of the largest cemeteries in Europe, and one of the most stylish. The cemetery features beautiful landscaping, mausoleums, and a variety of memorial designs that are frankly jaw-dropping. Pyramids, columns, life-size bronze oxen – this cemetery is astonishing.

Visiting this cemetery is simple – there’s a tram stop directly outside the entrance.

Tyne Cot, Belgium

Located in the town of Passchendaele, Tyne Cot is one of the largest Commonwealth war cemeteries in the world. It’s home to over 11,000 soldiers who died during World War I. The cemetery features simple headstones in uniform rows, all tended by volunteers. The peaceful atmosphere reflects the history of Belgium and its battlefields – and serves as a warning to the living about the madness of war.

Unfortunately, you’ll probably need to join an organised tour when visiting cemeteries on the World War I battlefields because they tend to be away from regular public transport routes.

San Michele, Venice, Italy

Located on a small island just off the main part of Venice, San Michele is one of the oldest cemeteries in Europe. It’s home to many notable Venetians, including artists Titian and Canova. The cemetery features beautiful landscaping, mausoleums, and a variety of memorial designs.

Hidden behind forbidding walls that rise out of the water, the cemetery is a lovely place to get away from the crowds elsewhere in the city. Visiting the cemetery is as simple as catching a vaporeto (public water bus) to the island. Just make sure you take note of the last ferry departure time – you don’t want to have to spend the night on a cemetery island. Do you?

Père Lachaise, Paris, France

Located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, Père Lachaise is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world. It’s home to many celebrities, including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. The cemetery is notable for its unusual mausoleums which look like giant stone phone booths.

Père Lachaise is quite well-known, so you’ll probably run into a lot of tourists around the graves of the more famous residents. On the plus side, the cemetery is quite easily reached by Metro.

St Michan’s Church, Dublin, Ireland

Not the most ornate or attractive of churches, St Michan’s has been a place of worship in Ireland since the 9th Century. The real draw here though is the crypt under the church.

Pay for a tour and you’ll be shown around the church and crypts – and the infamous mummies interred there. This is probably the only tour we know of which ends with an invitation to stroke a mummy’s finger for good luck.

There is one draw for non-dark tourists too. Legend has it that the church organ was used by Handel to practice before the debut of his all-new oratorio, Messiah.

Other things you should know when visiting cemeteries

As always, take care to respect local traditions and cultures when visiting cemeteries. Specific expectations vary from location to location and country to country, but the same rules tend to apply everywhere.

• Be respectful. Don’t climb on stuff or do anything that may upset relatives of the deceased.
• Visiting a church? Men are typically expected to remove their hats.
• Cover your shoulders and midriff. Some religious traditions may also expect women to wear a head covering, like a scarf.
• Obey the photography rules. If the cemetery/graveyard/ossuary/church has a prohibits photography, do not assume you’re exempt. Which goes back to being respectful…

If in doubt, watch the locals and follow their lead.

Visiting cemeteries around the world can be a memorable and fascinating travel experience. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, architecture or historical figures, cemeteries are an underrated attraction – and not just for dark tourists. So why not consider visiting a cemetery on your next adventure?

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