The world’s most famous and spectacular cemeteries. Don’t be afraid!

We’re going to take a trip around the world, to visit more than a dozen cemeteries. We’ll hear some fascinating stories and see works of art, the final resting places of celebrities, and some beautiful locations.

1. Père-Lachaise Cemetery, Paris (France)

Let’s begin with one of the most visited cemeteries in the world: Père-Lachaise. This cemetery is known for its Gothic style and mysterious reputation, and it’s also the final resting place for a remarkable range of celebrities including Chopin, Molière, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and Édith Piaf. Architecture is another highlight here, and visitors can also ponder the enigmatic inscriptions and esoteric symbols that decorate some of this cemetery’s stately tombs.

2. Greyfriars Cemetery, Edinburgh (Scotland)

Located in the heart of this Scottish city, Greyfriars cemetery is the next stop on our journey. Long rumored to be haunted, Greyfriars has been the source of numerous myths and legends, including everything from the tale of George “Bloody” Mackenzie to the story of Bobby, a loyal terrier who spent more than a decade waiting at his owner’s grave before finally dying himself.

3. Highgate Cemetery, London (England)

Built in 1839, Highgate cemetery is still with us as a true jewel of Victorian architecture. It’s also known for the beauty of its natural environment. A steady stream of tourists also arrive there to visit the graves of famous people, such as Karl Marx and the novelist George Eliot. And be sure to watch out for the vampire, who is said to lurk behind the tombstones and trees!

4. Skogskyrkogården Cemetery, Stockholm (Sweden)

Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the walls of this forested cemetery are said to surround more than 100,000 burials. At night, the whole space is illuminated by the candles burning inside the many small lamps left as offerings. Although its “Forest of Memory” is the site of many anonymous graves, those of well-known people can also be found here, such as the actress Greta Garbo.

5. The Merry Cemetery, Săpânța (Romania)

If you visit this cemetery, you’ll find out why its name makes perfect sense, because this is a place where death is not treated as something sorrowful. You won’t find the usual gray tombs and gravestones with somber imagery and gloomy epitaphs. Instead, you’ll see vibrant gravestones with bright colors, and humorous inscriptions about the lives and deaths of the people buried beneath them. How’s that for something a bit different?

6. Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague (Czech Republic)

You may not find any famous people buried here, but this very full cemetery is also filled with local mysteries and legends. There are up to 12 layers of burials, and nobody knows exactly how many graves these represent. However, it is estimated that more than 100,000 people have been buried beneath the 12,000 tombstones that emerge from the plants and moss.

7. Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (United States)

You’ve probably seen this cemetery in hundreds of American TV shows and movies. It has very different look compared to other cemeteries: a vast grassy landscape filled with thousands upon thousands of small tombstones, perfectly arranged in rows. They mark the resting places of military personnel killed in combat and war veterans. Its most famous monument is the tomb dedicated to the “unknown soldier”.

8. Xoxocotlán Cemetery, Oaxaca (Mexico)

This is an especially attractive cemetery because of the way its graves and tombs are arranged. But for a truly unique experience, a visit on the night before the Day of the Dead holiday is recommended, which is when the whole place really comes alive. You’ll join hundreds of families honoring their deceased relatives with offerings of flowers, candles, paintings, sculptures, and more, all while they eat, drink, and listen to mariachi music.

9. La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Located in the immense city of Buenos Aires, La Recoleta is the cemetery with the largest number of burial sites of famous people from Argentina, such as Eva Perón. It also has more than 90 tombs declared as National Historical Monuments. That’s why every day of the year, hundreds of tourists can be found wandering through its neatly organized avenues.

10. Cristóbal Colón Cemetery, Havana (Cuba)

If you find yourself in the Cuban capital, don’t forget to visit the Cristóbal Colón cemetery, where hundreds of pathways connect impressive tombs featuring sculptures and elaborate architecture. There are also some famous legends, like the one about “La Milagrosa”, a mother who was buried with her baby at her feet after dying during childbirth. Years later, when the tomb was reopened, she was found to be holding the infant in her arms.

11. Okunoin Cemetery, Wakayama (Japan)

Now let’s cross the Pacific and visit Japan, where we’ll take a look at a cemetery that is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular in the world. It’s a place where myths and legends intermingle in a forest of ancient cedar trees, which give shelter and eternal rest to the people buried in over 200,000 graves, mostly Buddhist monks.

12. La Almudena Cemetery, Madrid (Spain)

Considered to be the largest cemetery in Western Europe, this monumental space contains more than 200,000 burials. A wide range of architectural styles can be found here, including everything from Neo-Byzantine to Modernist. It’s also the final resting place for more than a hundred historical figures, such as Benito Pérez Galdós and the legendary Lola Flores.

Always protected

We’ve now reached the end of our special list to commemorate Halloween, All Saints’ Day in Spain, and Day of the Dead in Mexico. We apologize if we left out any of your personal favorites. And remember, if you’re planning to visit any of these locations, whether on this occasion or at any time of year, you can be protected by taking out a travel insurance policy. Of course, many of the people buried in these famous cemeteries would have had burial insurance, and although many people would rather not talk about death, they may still want to have insurance that will take care of everything when the time comes. Maybe you know someone who has taken out a burial insurance policy, or perhaps you have one yourself? In fact, nearly half of the people in Spain have burial insurance, and although you might not think that younger people would be interested, there are actually no major variations in the age of those policyholders. Don’t be afraid!