Père Lachaise Cemetery
A leafy hillside cemetery and open-air sculpture park, resting place of Jim Morrison, Wilde and Piaf.
The call
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you only have one day.
Short answer
Is Père Lachaise Cemetery worth it?
Père Lachaise Cemetery deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
Why
- 01
Less morbid than it sounds — cobbled lanes, mossy tombs and chestnut trees make it one of the most atmospheric walks in Paris.
- 02
The fun is the treasure hunt for famous graves; grab a map at the gate or you'll get pleasantly lost.
- 03
More than 3.5 million people a year climb these cobbled, tree-shaded hills in the 20th — a melancholy open-air museum of art, music and literature.
theculturetrip.com - 04
Jacob Epstein's Egyptian-themed angel was once smothered in hundreds of thousands of lipstick kisses; a glass barrier went up in 2011, but devotees pucker up anyway.
theculturetrip.com
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're watching the budget
Père Lachaise Cemetery earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You only have one day
Short trip or not, keep Père Lachaise Cemetery.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, Père Lachaise Cemetery is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, Père Lachaise Cemetery is an easy yes.
Think twice if
You're traveling with kids
With kids, Père Lachaise Cemetery needs the right timing and tolerance.
You want the trip to feel easy
Père Lachaise Cemetery offers some relaxation, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
You want time outdoors
Père Lachaise Cemetery offers some nature & scenery, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free
- Timing
- Weekday mornings; autumn for moody light and fewer crowds.
- Booking
- Free, no ticket; pick up or buy a detailed map at the entrance to find graves.
- Allow
- 1.5–2 hrs
- Accessibility
- Steep cobbled hills and uneven paths — challenging for wheelchairs and difficult footing.
- Getting there
- Métro Père Lachaise (lines 2 & 3) or Philippe Auguste (line 2); 20th arrondissement.