When you think of a burial ground, you might picture solemn rows of headstones or perhaps a haunted haunt. Yet the world is dotted with cemeteries that double as postcard‑perfect lookouts, where artful tombs meet jaw‑dropping scenery. In this guide we count down the 10 scenic burial sites that combine unforgettable views with unforgettable final resting places.
10 Scenic Burial Gems
10 Varenna Cemetery, Italy
Lake Como, a magnet for sunny holiday‑makers, also hides one of the globe’s most striking burial grounds. Perched right on the lake’s edge, Varenna Cemetery offers an unbroken panorama of sapphire‑blue water and the craggy peaks that rise behind it. The site’s intimate scale lets visitors soak in the tranquil ambience while still feeling the grandeur of the surrounding Alpine scenery.
The cemetery is literally carved into the hillside; the larger mausoleums nestle into the slope above, while modest tombstones line the promenade that hugs the lake. A couple of local hiking routes weave through the grounds, even leading adventurers to the dramatic ruins of Vezio Castle. Because it sits off the main tourist trail, Varenna remains a peaceful spot for quiet reflection.
9 Père Lachaise Cemetery, France
Founded in 1804 under the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, Père Lachaise is a sprawling 108‑acre (44‑hectare) park in the heart of Paris that draws roughly three million visitors each year, making it the world’s most frequented necropolis. Its appeal lies in the sheer number of graves—about 70,000—many of which are sculpted with artistic flair and set among graceful trees and manicured shrubbery.
Among the famous occupants, writer Oscar Wilde’s tomb is famously smothered in lipstick‑kiss graffiti, while musician Jim Morrison’s modest stone is perpetually adorned with bouquets and fan‑left gifts. Other photogenic spots include writer Georges Rodenbach’s grave, where a statue bursts dramatically from the tomb, and journalist Victor Noir’s bronze figure, notable for its oversized trouser bulge that, according to legend, grants fertility luck when rubbed.
8 Sunset Chapel, Mexico
Set against the rugged backdrop of Acapulco, Sunset Chapel was conceived to serve a dual purpose: celebrate the union of marriage and honor the passage of the departed. The architectural firm BNKR let this contrast of beginnings and endings shape every design decision, from the interplay of glass versus concrete to the balance of transparency against solidity.
Designed to echo the striking landscape, the structure mimics a massive granite boulder that dots the mountainside. Its orientation is equally clever—on the equinox, the setting sun aligns perfectly with a glass altar cross. The crypt resides at ground level, while the chapel itself crowns the upper floor, offering worshippers an unforgettable sunrise‑to‑sunset experience.
7 Mausoleum of Poets, Iran
In Tabriz, Iran, the Mausoleum of Poets stands as an imposing tribute to more than 400 literary and cultural figures. The building’s striking interlocking arches fuse modernist lines with traditional motifs, creating a bold silhouette that dominates the skyline.
Construction spanned a decade, culminating in 1982, yet the site’s burial tradition stretches back centuries. Earlier mausoleums were repeatedly destroyed by floods and earthquakes, but 14th‑century texts hint at a long‑standing sacred ground. Today, poets, mystics, activists and politicians share this remarkable resting place.
6 St. Andrews Cathedral, Scotland
Ruins exude atmosphere, and the once‑magnificent St. Andrews Cathedral offers a spectacular example, perched on Scotland’s coast with sweeping views of the North Sea. Though now a crumbling skeleton, the cathedral’s massive walls loom over an adjacent graveyard, lending a dramatic backdrop to the gravestones below.
Construction began around 1160, but a fierce storm in 1272 halted progress, and later the First War of Scottish Independence delayed completion until 1318, when King Robert the Bruce himself attended the consecration. The cathedral became Scotland’s largest church and the Catholic headquarters before being abandoned in 1561 amid the rise of Protestantism.
5 Chichicastenango Cemetery, Guatemala
In the Maya town of Chichicastenango, the local cemetery bursts into a kaleidoscope of color, with vivid crosses and mausoleums painted in a rainbow of hues. This chromatic display isn’t merely decorative; each shade carries cultural meaning—white for purity, turquoise for protection, yellow for the sun—reflecting deep indigenous traditions.
Some families break from convention, choosing a loved one’s favorite color instead. Every year, during the Day of the Dead in early November, the community scrubs and repaints the tombs, ensuring the cemetery remains a bright, living tribute to the departed.
4 Neptune Memorial Reef, USA
Off Florida’s coast lies Neptune Memorial Reef, an underwater cemetery where the departed literally rest with the fish. Families can scatter ashes that are carefully blended with a natural concrete mixture, then molded into artistic structures bearing engraved copper plaques.
Multiple sets of remains can share a single placement, and even pets may be included. Visitors reach the reef by boat or scuba dive, encountering both the sculptural installations and thriving marine life. Once finished, the reef will span 16 acres (6.5 hectares) and accommodate the remains of up to 250,000 individuals.
3 Makomanai Takino Cemetery, Japan
While Okunoin is famed for its forested serenity, Sapporo’s Makomanai Takino Cemetery offers its own visual feast. The entrance corridor is lined with about 40 stone replicas of Easter Island’s iconic Moai heads, and a full‑size Stonehenge replica adds a touch of mystique.
The star attraction, however, is a towering Buddha carved into a hollowed hill. Peeking from the summit, the 44‑foot (13.5‑meter) statue watches over visitors who pass through a tunnel beneath the hill, emerging to see the Buddha framed against a sky‑filled halo.
2 Myra Necropolis, Turkey
Carved into a cliff face, the Myra Necropolis dates back to the 4th‑century BC Lycian era and splits into two sections: the ocean necropolis and the river necropolis. Though weathered, the rock‑cut tombs—some resembling homes, others temples—were once painted in vibrant colors.
The famed “Lion Tomb,” named for a lion‑and‑bull carving on its façade, contains eleven life‑size stone statues thought to represent the tomb owner’s relatives. Beyond the tombs, visitors enjoy sweeping views of Myra’s ruins, including a well‑preserved semi‑circular theater and the historic Church of St. Nicholas.
1 City of the Dead, Russia
Hidden in a Caucasus valley, the village of Dargavs in Russia hosts the eerie City of the Dead—a necropolis of 99 above‑ground crypts framed by rugged mountains. The origin of these stone chambers remains mysterious, though theories point to the 13th‑century Mongol‑Tatar invasions or Sarmatian burial customs that favored above‑ground interment.
Plague outbreaks in the 17th and 18th centuries likely increased the number of bodies placed within the crypts, and evidence suggests that infected individuals were quarantined there while awaiting death. Today, the stark beauty of the crypts against the mountain backdrop offers a hauntingly scenic final resting place.