Père Lachaise Private Tour: Explore Paris' Famous Cemetery

5.00

(2 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

Light rain was falling when we met our guide just outside the main gates—he lives nearby and said he comes here almost every week. The air smelled like wet leaves and old stone. Right away, you notice how quiet it is compared to the rest of Paris. Even the birds seem softer here.

We wandered along winding paths, passing rows of mossy tombs and wild chestnut trees. Our guide pointed out tiny pebbles left on Oscar Wilde’s grave, lipstick marks still visible on the glass barrier. He told us about Jim Morrison’s fans sneaking in at dawn, and how locals sometimes picnic near Edith Piaf’s resting place on sunny afternoons. There’s something odd but comforting about seeing neighbors walk their dogs or read a book among these grand monuments.

I’d never realized how huge Père Lachaise really is—over 40 hectares, almost like a city inside a city. We stopped at Chopin’s grave for a moment; someone had left fresh lilies that morning. If you’re curious about writers, artists, or even love stories hidden in these stones, your guide will tailor everything to what interests you most. I asked about Molière and La Fontaine—they’re buried side by side, which felt poetic somehow.