Central Cemetery Vienna. Nowhere else does Viennese history become as alive as at Wiener Zentralfriedhof. With several hundred celebrities resting there you will be surprised who you will find. Stretching across 2.5 square kilometers, this isn't just a burial ground—it's a vast open-air museum where Vienna's history, culture, and artistic heritage come alive among tree-lined avenues and grand monuments.
Vienna residents have a reputedly tender relation with death. 'Death has to be a Viennese...' goes a local 1960's song. Hence I took the 71 tramway (a local synonym for dying) out to Simmering at the Eastern fringe of Vienna. I passed car mechanics, betting shops, hair extension and erotic shops until tombstone masons took over and I arrived at the cemetery's main entrance.
What To See At Zentralfriedhof
Essentially, Zentralfriedhof excels at classical masonry, weird modern grave sculptures, and Austrian theatre and politics celebrities. Historically, Zentralfriedhof was established during Vienna's rapid urban growth in the second half of the 19th century. With almost three million buried, the 2.5 square kilometre (one square mile) big Zentralfriedhof is the second largest in Europe. In fact, you can even tour the compound by bus and horse carriage. If you have seen Carol Reed's The Third Man (with Orson Welles) you will remember that endless road lined by graves that Harry Lime's girlfriend walks along. It was filmed at Zentralfriedhof.
Close to the cemetery's entrance, the romantic arcades houses the most finely sculpted tombs (see photo) - the sort you'd expect in a top museum. Later on we discovered that the tombs in the wider interior were no different, just more varied.
To provide some focus, we decided on international celebrities. Not to say that we could have focused on other topics with equally rich results.
Who is Buried In The Central Cemetery In Vienna?
The Central Cemetery (Zentralfriedhof) in Vienna is one of the largest cemeteries in the world and contains the graves of many famous people, particularly musicians, artists, and notable Austrians. Famous composers buried there include:
- Ludwig van Beethoven (reburied there in 1888)
- Franz Schubert (reburied there in 1888)
- Johannes Brahms
- Johann Strauss II (the "Waltz King")
- Johann Strauss I
- Antonio Salieri
- Arnold Schönberg
There's also a memorial to:
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (though he's actually buried in St. Marx Cemetery in an unmarked grave)
Other notable figures:
- Numerous Austrian presidents and politicians
- Writers and poets
- Actors and artists
- Scientists and architects
The cemetery has special sections, including the "Grove of Honor" (Ehrengräber) where many of these famous individuals are buried.
Composers' Graves At The Central Cemetery
Central Cemetery Vienna. For many visitors, the journey begins with a pilgrimage to Section 32A, the musicians' corner that reads like a who's who of classical music history. Ludwig van Beethoven and romantic composer Franz Schubert rest along a beautiful rondeau with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's memorial in the middle. (Mozart is buried at St. Marx cemetery but no one knows exactly where.) Visiting their graves is nothing like visiting their residences. It is much more personal. Their tombstones reflect spot on what they stood for: While Beethoven was classicistic, Johann Strauss and operetta composer Carl Millöcker were wild romantics. Clearly judging from his tombstone, Arnold Schönberg must have been a radical symmetrist. Many of these celebrity graves were arranged by date, and sometimes by personal acquaintance. Johann Strauss and Johannes Brahms knew each other well, for example, and were hence buried next to each other. Other than learning about composers during guided central cemetery tours, consider complementing the stories you hear with a few private Vienna music tour in the city center..
Hedy Lamarr Memorial And Other Vienna Celebrities' Graves
Central Cemetery Vienna. Other than classical musicians the cemetery unites scientists, pioneers and explorers from across Europe.
For example, famous Viennese Hollywood actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr, who co-developed frequency-hopping spread spectrum technology during WWII and laid the groundwork for modern WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth technology. Following her wishes, her son Anthony Loder scattered half of her ashes in the Vienna Woods. In 2014, the Vienna Central Cemetery unveiled a memorial to Lamarr, beneath which the second half of her ashes were interred.
Other than that, Art Nouveau genius Josef Hoffmann shares the space with the likes of Alois Negrelli, who engineered the Suez Canal, Alfred Adler, founder of the school of individual psychology, satirist Karl Kraus, Antonio Salieri and pop musician Falco. The likes of Ludwig Bösendorfer (the piano maker) and the Thonet family (the Vienna coffeehouse chair makers) may not rank among your favourites. However, at Zentralfriedhof they recreate that social and cultural fabric that made Vienna so famous.
Art Nouveau Splendour At Zentralfriedhof
Central Cemetery Vienna. By the time the new Zentralfriedhof was ready to receive a decent infrastructure around 1905, the Art Nouveau era was in full bloom. You notice that right at the main entrance. The most splendid Jugendstil building there is the cemetery church of St. Charles Borromeo in the middle of the compound. It was designed by Art Nouveau architect Max von Hegele.
Although not a strict must, visiting the church is an experience on its own. Without exaggerating, its simple elegance and light colours are breathtakingly beautiful. During a guided tour, you will hear stories of the building and explore bizarre details (spot Vienna's mayor in the altar fresco?) that will make you enjoy it even more.
The Old Jewish Cemetery
Walking through the Old Jewish Cemetery feels different from other sections of the Zentralfriedhof. There's a profound sense of history here: the weathered stones, the Hebrew lettering, and the symbols like the Cohen hands (priestly blessing) or broken columns (life cut short) tell stories of individual lives and a vibrant community.
The cemetery preserves the memory of Jewish Vienna's once-thriving Jewish community before the devastation of the Holocaust. Many prominent Viennese Jewish families have graves here, including scholars, doctors, merchants, artists, and community leaders who contributed significantly to Vienna's cultural and intellectual life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the celebrities buried here are writers Friedrich Torberg and Arthur Schnitzler, or psychiatrist and concentration camp survivor Viktor Frankl.
Many graves show signs of age, with moss-covered stones and tilting monuments that add to the poignant atmosphere. The section is generally quieter than the famous composers' area, offering a more contemplative experience. The memorial stones and monuments display remarkable craftsmanship, featuring beautiful Hebrew inscriptions, ornate stonework and symbolic imagery, amix of traditional Jewish and Viennese artistic styles, and family mausoleums that showcase the wealth and status of Vienna's Jewish bourgeoisie. The cemetery contains graves of several important figures in Jewish and Austrian history, including intellectuals, rabbis, and businesspeople who shaped Vienna during its imperial era.
The Old Jewish Cemetery is accessible as part of the general Zentralfriedhof grounds. Visitors exploring this section should be respectful of its sacred nature. Some people leave small stones on graves following Jewish tradition, rather than flowers.
Central Cemetery Vienna Tours
Most private or small group tours winds through the graves of classical music's greatest composers—Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, and the Strauss family rest here. There's also Mozart's memorial, though the story of why he isn't actually buried at this spot has intrigued visitors for centuries. The stunning Art Nouveau church with its distinctive copper dome stands as one of Vienna's most important Jugendstil buildings. Guides explain the symbolism and artistry woven into its design, helping visitors understand what makes this architectural gem so significant. The tour includes the grave of Hedy Lamarr, the Hollywood actress whose inventions contributed to modern wireless technology. The Grove of Honor, where Austria's presidents, artists, and innovators are buried beneath impressive monuments, reveals layers of Viennese history that often surprise first-time visitors. Find out more.
How To Buy A Grave At Zentralfriedhof
It is not cheap to be dead at Zentralfriedhof. Here is a guide to rental space at the cemetery:
1 common grave (10 years): EUR 300 to EUR 1,500
1 burial vault for 12 people at the cemetery's church basement (30 years): EUR 30,000
1 columbarium for 1 person (30 years): EUR 7,000
Many Viennese retain a curious habit of caring for their departed loved ones. Hence, it is not uncommon to find objects on the grave that relate to the dead's former passions or what they were known for. For example, popular Austrian actor Heinrich Schweiger, for example, loved wine, as you can see on the photo above.
How To Get To Vienna Central Cemetery
Getting to the cemetery is straightforward—tram lines 6 and 71 will take you there, and entry is completely free. The main entrance at Gate 2 puts you near the central church, making it an ideal starting point. To visit the Old Jewish Cemetery alight one stop earlier at Zentralfriedhof 1. Tor. Grab a map at the entrance (the cemetery is well-signposted, especially routes to the famous graves), wear comfortable walking shoes, and set aside at least two to three hours to truly appreciate what you'll see.
If you want deeper historical context, consider joining a guided cemetery tour. The cemetery is open daily,
explore music tour Vienna - Tracing Classical Composers
go to Third Man Movie tour - My Tour Review
find out more about Vienna Tours - Private Sightseeing of the Best Of Vienna
go to Vienna Tours  - 5 Ways to See Tourist Places In Vienna
visit Vienna Travel Planning - Trip Planning and Travel Consulting by Vienna Unwrapped
back to Vienna Sightseeing Top 10, And Four Extra Tips
back to Vienna Unwrapped homepage
