Travel guide to the most haunted cemeteries and graveyards
There’s something unsettling yet fascinating about old cemeteries. The air feels heavier, the silence sharper, and stories seem to linger among the tombstones. Many travelers seek these haunted burial grounds for their history, legends, and that quiet thrill of standing between the past and the unknown. Whether it’s whispers of restless spirits or strange lights flickering at dusk, these cemeteries hold more than memories they hold mysteries waiting for you to uncover them.
1. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans
This 18th-century burial ground is one of the most famous haunted cemeteries in America. You’ll find narrow, maze-like paths lined with white tombs stacked above ground, creating an eerie city of the dead. The most talked-about spirit here is Marie Laveau, the legendary Voodoo Queen, whose ghost is said to appear near her tomb. Visitors often leave offerings like beads or coins hoping for her blessing. Even guided tours can’t shake the uneasy feeling that someone is watching. Every creak of an old gate or sudden chill in the humid air feels like a reminder that the cemetery’s history isn’t entirely at rest.
2. Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Los Angeles
It’s rare to find a cemetery that feels glamorous and ghostly at once, but this one manages both. Hollywood Forever is the resting place of stars from the golden age of cinema, and it’s known for paranormal sightings tied to its famous residents. You might hear whispers near the lake or faint music echoing from silent mausoleums. Security guards and visitors alike have reported seeing apparitions dressed in vintage clothing wandering between the graves. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, it’s hard not to sense the weight of old Hollywood energy here, especially at night when the city lights flicker just beyond the gates.
3. Resurrection Cemetery, Justice, Illinois
This suburban Chicago cemetery is home to one of America’s most enduring ghost stories: Resurrection Mary. For nearly a century, drivers have claimed to pick up a young woman in a white dress who vanishes before reaching the cemetery gates. Locals know the legend well, and some claim to see her walking along Archer Avenue late at night. The stories are so consistent that the site has become a destination for paranormal investigators. Whether she’s a restless soul or a creation of urban myth, there’s no denying the chill that runs through you when headlights cut through the fog near Resurrection Cemetery.
4. Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah
Bonaventure isn’t just haunted it’s hauntingly beautiful. The live oaks dripping with Spanish moss create a dreamlike setting where life and death seem to blur together. It’s said that the ghost of little Gracie Watson, who died in the 1800s, still lingers near her life-sized statue. Visitors sometimes claim to hear her laugh or see the statue shed tears. Local guides insist the cemetery’s peaceful appearance hides layers of tragic stories and spiritual energy. If you visit, you’ll understand why writers and filmmakers keep returning to capture its mix of grace and ghostliness.
5. Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
Across the Atlantic, this Scottish graveyard is considered one of the most haunted in the world. You’ll walk through centuries of history beneath the shadow of old stone walls. The most feared spirit here is George Mackenzie, known as “Bloody Mackenzie,” who persecuted religious prisoners in the 17th century. Many visitors report being scratched or pushed near his mausoleum. Even skeptics leave feeling uneasy, and some have fainted during the famous ghost tours. The mix of history, violence, and raw atmosphere makes Greyfriars a place where you don’t just visit you experience it.
6. Stull Cemetery, Kansas
Known to paranormal enthusiasts as one of the “Seven Gateways to Hell,” Stull Cemetery carries dark legends dating back generations. Locals speak of strange disappearances, inexplicable fires, and the belief that the devil himself appears here twice a year. Though much of it is folklore, visitors often report equipment failures, sudden gusts of cold wind, and an overwhelming sense of dread. Authorities discourage trespassing, yet the stories persist, drawing curious travelers who want to test the myth for themselves. If you go, respect the space it’s still an active burial ground with real families tied to its history.
7. Highgate Cemetery, London
Highgate’s Gothic architecture and tangled ivy make it look like the setting of a ghost story and in many ways, it is. During the 1970s, reports of a tall, dark figure roaming the paths sparked what locals called the “Highgate Vampire” hysteria. While no one ever proved what people saw, the panic led to nightly vigils and even unauthorized exorcisms. Today, visitors describe hearing footsteps and whispers among the crumbling tombs. Beyond the ghost tales, it’s also a place of stunning artistry and melancholy, a reminder that beauty and unease often coexist in the same space.
