Central Cemetery Vienna

Celebrating death

David from Vienna

"The "Central Cemetery" in Vienna, or Zentralfriedhof, is so huge & extravagannt that it has its own internal bus route. Many famous people are buried here."

It is a well known fact that the Viennese are obsessed with death. Passing on to the other side is not merely acknowledged, it is celebrated. Massive headstones and garish monuments mark out the deceased who had means or enjoyed fame, so it quite rightly follows that Vienna should have one of the most extravagant cemeteries anywhere. Zentralfriedhof is so huge that it has its own internal bus route.

It is possible to reach the cemetery in the venerable 11th district by taking either the 18/71 tram or S-Bahn, the latter having its own dedicated stop. Most people ride the 71 from Schwarzenbergplatz in the inner city, immortalised by the fictional investigator Bernie Gunther in A German Requiem. The route is synonymous with the graveyard, and has been serving it for so long that there is even a euphemism among the older Viennese: 'er hat den 71er genommen' (he's taken the 71) is the same as saying 'he's passed away'.

Quite apart from the fact that some of Europe's most famous, er, dead people are lying here, its enormous size ensures that a chance to reflect on being, or merely sitting in quiet contemplation, is guaranteed. An excellent idea for a warm summer's afternoon if you fancy parking yourself on a bench and reading for ages. One of Vienna's nicest Jugendstil churches stands proudly at the centre. Expect to spend upwards of two hours exploring. Admission is nominally €2, but I have never paid. Some useful further information can be found here.

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Vienna Spotter David

About me My name is David. I'm a British expat living in Vienna since 2011. I originally only intended to stay in Vienna for a year or two, tops, but frankly, the city has a habit of getting under your skin, so I've never felt the need to move on. I've always worked in fields with people and lately I've taken up a job as a social worker. It's a great city to live in when you want to explore human nature. Other than that, my main hobby is cycling. I'm a bit of a nut when it comes to two wheels. I know every nook and cranny of the city by now, having cycled all ov...

About this spot

Zentralfriedhof

Nominal charge:

€

Website

15346928405

Oct 5, 2025

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