From the epic white pearl of India Taj Mahal and the sparkling tiles in Uzbekistan to the embalmed body of Lenin in Russia and the kings of Denmark. For the dark tourist visiting the final resting places of historical figures means getting as close as possible to important historical events.
If you’re a dark tourist, also find inspiration in my most popular article: 20 Dark Tourism Sites: From Pompeii to Ground Zero But first, let’s uncover the most impressive tombs and leave no stone unturned.
I’m only including places I’ve been to myself, giving you my honest opinion. If you don’t see your own favourite, leave me a comment and I might go there next.
13 impressive tombs, graves and mausoleums
TAJ MAHAL
Agra, India
MY HONEST OPINION Taj Mahal is definitely worth visiting. But inside it was not the quiet respectful experience I had thought. Many of the visitors was pushing to get closer and the guard kept blowing his whistle to keeps us moving. This however doesn’t change that this is one of the world most amazing architectural monuments.
Westminster Abbey
London, UK
Westminster Abbey is probably the largest funeral church and World Heritage Site. Built as a Gothic Cathedral through the 13th to 16th centuries, it holds the tombs of kings and queens and numerous memorials to famous people. There are around 3,300 burials in the church and cloisters and many more memorials!
The list is long, but burials include Edward the confessor who died in 1066 (and had a long love-hate relationship with the Danes). His funeral can bee seen on the Bayeux tapestries and he built the predecessor to the abbey. Also buried here are Elizabeth I, physicist Sir Isaac Newton, writer, Charles Dickens, composer G.F. Händel, explorer David Livingstone and actor Laurence Olivier. To name a few. One not royal, but notable is the Unknown Warrior.
MY HONEST OPINION If you like tombs and graves, this is probably the biggest collection. Since I also work at a royal funeral church, I’m of course extra interested in this place.
Last time I visited I got to talk with the curator, which made me feel even more connected to the place. They were restoring the floor around Edvard, but we still were allowed to enter. Visiting is very expensive, so almost no one enters the gallery exhibition, but it’s worth it.
TOMB OF THE RED QUEEN & PAKAL
Palenque, Mexico
The many incredible monuments in Mexico from the Mayans are mainly temples. But in Palenque (known to the Mayans as Lakamha), two are tombs. One is for the red queen and one is for King Pakal the Great from the 7th century.
Who the red queen is unsure – probably Pakal’s wife – but her tomb was surrounded by treasure and covered in blood red dust of cinnober. An exquisite death mask from green malachite, jade and obsidian has been found. Next to her sarcophagus, 2 people were found. Most likely sacrificed.
Pakal’s tomb is one of the most famous Maya object and a testament to the greatness of the Mayans. King K’inich Janaab’ Pakal (Great-Sun-Shield) took the throne when he was only 12 and ruled for 68 years.
MY HONEST OPINION Palenque was a huge experience, especially since there were almost no tourist compared with Chichen Itza. The location in the middle of the jungle with scarlet macaws flying over your head. There’s not much info on site, so read up in advance.
PAPAL TOMBS
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican
Another very famous site is St. Peters Basilica in the Vatican, that you might not think of is a great mausoleum full of dead people. In this case it’s the popes.
The world’s biggest church was from the 5th to the 16th century – and still today – the final resting place of the Catholic popes (although not the last one). It’s name derives from the fact that it’s supposedly built on top of the tomb of Saint Peter – the first pope.
MY HONEST OPINION Actually, this is not really my favourite church. It’s NOT overrated, since it’s historical importance is unrivalled, but it’s kind of clumsy inside, I really don’t like the canopy and it’s just too crowded. But as a cultural traveller, there’s no getting around it. I usually go for the sculptures with Pieta by Michelangelo being the most famous. My favourite is Bernini’s monument to Pope Alexander VII. The skeleton with the hourglass caught in the carpet is amazing.
Wanna know about the time I almost met the pope? An Extraordinary Event Turns Embarrassing.
MAUSOLEUM OF TITO
Belgrade, Serbia
This place and this guy probably needs a lot of introduction. Josip Broz Tito was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman with more positions in state as you can count including president for many years. Loved and hated, he was a significant political figure known for his role in the formation of Yugoslavia and as a leader during WWII.
Tito died on 4 May 1980. His state funeral was a huge deal with many statesmen from Western, Eastern and Non-Aligned countries across the world. He is buried in the poetically named House of Flowers.
MY HONEST OPINION Not the most well-known site or person. Or on any bucket-list. But it was made memorable by the setting: By the rose garden in a sort of greenhouse and that huge marble slab with golden letters. That leaves an impression. Dig deeper into the history of Yugoslavia with the museum next door.
Belgrade is one of my new favourite cities and on my 2025’s Cultural Travel – Ranking Last Year’s Destinations
Shah-I-Zinda
Samarkand, Uzbekistan
MY HONEST OPINION Shah-i-Zinda is one fo the most beautiful places I’ve been. The solemn vibe here was very different from Registan and I actually preferred this necropolis to its more famous neighbour. I read of travellers not going up the hill to see it – and that’s seriously the wrong choice.
Another worth mentioning is Gur-e-Amir: the final resting place for legendary warlord and founder of the Timurid Empire Timur/ Tamerlane. They constitute Samarkand UNESCO site alongside other monuments. Explore more Silk Road treasures in Samarkand vs Bukhara: Discover Uzbekistan
TOMB OF NAPOLEON
Paris, France
Inside Les Invalides is the tomb of Napoleon. The spectacular building was built by the Sun King for his armies and later it became a temple to Mars during the Revolution. Napoleon himself made into a mausoleum by burying one of his generals here.
In 1821, Napoleon was buried on Saint Helena Island. 20 years late, King Louis-Philippe transferred his remains to Les Invalides. To fit the tomb inside the Dome, major reconstruction was done. He was finally laid to rest here on 2 April 1861. His lies inside 6 layers – including stone from Karelia.
MY HONEST OPINION I had been to Paris countless times without visiting Napoleon’s tomb, and it wasn’t until I was there for work i saw it (just like in London my work trips often include mausoleums…)
Napoleon is a such an important historical figure that I thought it was a huge experience. I even saw his stuffed horse at the army museum as well. I can understand why the British didn’t want him to have a large memorial since it’s awe-inspiring.
Clearly, I made it part of the top 5 Dark Tourism Sites in Paris.
VALLEY OF THE KINGS
Luxor/Thebes, Egypt
Another place that doesn’t need any introduction: the city of the dead. A World Heritage Site and the burial grounds for the ancient pharaohs of Egypt.
The area holds many tombs – also of the queens and noblemen. The tomb of pharaoh Seti I is the longest, deepest and most elaborate tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It has gorgeous astronomical scenes on the ceiling of his burial chamber, looking like the night sky.
MY HONEST OPINION It’s definitely worth it to pay extra to see the most famous tombs. We payed extra for Seti and didn’t regret it. We didn’t pay for Tutankhamun and has regretted it ever since. This is an epic place. My advice is to spend more time than just stopping by. I spent almost a week here exploring Must-See Egyptian Temples & Tombs.
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
Jerusalem, Israel
This guy also don’t need any introduction. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is identified as the place of both the crucifixion and the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. This was decided in 300s by Constantine’s mother Helena (she is a key historical figure but not really talked about…).
Inside the church is large rotunda with the empty tomb. After the 14th century, a marble plaque over the tomb now protects it from further damage caused by pilgrims. It’s a shared house: The Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic all have rightful access to the interior of the tomb, and all three hold Holy Mass there daily.
MY HONEST OPINION This is a busy place. You wait in a loooooong line with people trying to skip the line. There are large religious groups visiting and some of them clearly felt like their visit was more important than mine pushing and elbowing. Not much sisterly love here.
I had such a bad experience the first time, I came back in the late evening when there were fewer crowds. Despite the fact that this is an empty tomb, it is a place of historical gravitas. And people take it very seriously. I have to pinch my arm that I’ve been there, but I don’t need to go back.
ROSKILDE CATHEDRAL
Roskilde, Denmark
Maybe not the most famous int he world, but Roskilde Cathedral is probably the only royal mausoleum int he world that strecthes a 1000 years back – and are still a living tradition (as you say).
Built 800 years ago as a Gothic church, it has (alongside the previous church on the site) been royal mausoleum for a millennia. Legend has it Viking king Harold Bluetooth (Fun fact: Edward the confessor and the great grandson of Harold shared mother Emma) is buried here and in total 40 kings and queens are here.
The most famous tomb is the impressive sarcophagus of queen Margrete 1. At the age of only 22, she ruled Denmark and Norway and later she “convinced” Sweden to join the Kalmarunion as well. She died in 1412.
MY HONEST OPINION As a Dane, I’m a bit biased toward this place. I find it fascinating that not only is it a historical royal necropolis, but recently abdicated Queen Margrethe II will also be buried here continuing the tradition. And beacause it covers so many centuries, you can really see that there are fashion trends in coffins.
The Cathedral is also a world heritage site and part of the World Heritage Sites in Denmark!
LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM
Moscow, Russia
MY HONEST OPINION It’s been 26! years since I went to Moscow. But I still remember the weird wax like (or wax?) face lying int he coffin like sleeping beauty. the room was dark, smelled funny and everything was so serious I was terrified of accidentally laughing. You line up and it’s not allowed to stop. an experience like no other (except for the next one)
HO CHI MINH MAUSOLEUM
Hanoi, Vietnam
The massive mausoleum of Vietnamese revolutionist leader and president Ho Chi Minh will not be the only embalmed communist leader on this list.
His embalmed body has been on display for 50 years (!) in a glass casket. A line passes by it in a dark room with guards and you are not allowed to stop. or photograph obviously. Rumour has it it’s not really the actual body anymore. In fact, he wanted to be cremated.
MY HONEST OPINION I visited back in 2003. Back then I remember it was mainly Vietnamese people in line. This made it a even more special experience. But unless you’re a die hard dark tourist like me, I would probably just skip the place. We didn’t see the museum, but the stilt house is fun.
MAUSOLEUM OF FIRST QIN EMPEROR
Xian, China
The iconic statues of soldiers and horses from this tomb is a perfect example of reality surpassing imagination. It is the burial place of the first emperor, Shihuangdi of the Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE). He unified China and began construction of the Great Wall.
For his afterlife, he created a 50 km2 funerary area full of treasures including some 8.000 terracotta soldiers! Not everything is excavated and it’s rumoured to hold a river of quicksilver and a palace.
MY HONEST OPINION I would love to go back. When I visited in 1999, I swear we were 5 people there. There was no information in English as I recall, but two Chinese students wanted to practice their English and tried to tell us. I remember them better than the tombs, but I haven’t forgotten the immense scale of it. Legendary!
WHAT IS DARK TOURISM?
Dark tourism is also called thanatourism as thanatos translates to death in Greek (hence then name Thanos in Avengers). It means tourists travelling for sights that are connected with fear, death, trauma and war.
Some find this problematic, but the way I see it: if we don’t talk about the horrible events in history, we forget them. The dark tourism sites become sites of remembrance. It goes without saying (but I still will) that I can only endorse visiting dark tourism posts to learn about history as to not repeat it and behave with respect!
But within the concept “dark tourism” are completely different attractions and they therefore need different behaviour from visitors. I talked to a researcher on dark tourism and she explained it as a spectrum: at one end is the serious, dark and horrible places like Auschwitz, and at the other less dark end are events like a ghost-walk. The spectrum is a really good way to see it, because it also helps with the way you should behave. The darker, the more respectful you should be. Make sure you get it right.
Dark Tourism sites have (as they said in Cambodia’s Toul Sleng Prison) “the aim to encourage visitors to be messengers of peace”.
Notice a very important tomb is missing? Unfortunately, I haven’t yet been to the pyramids! I’m also hoping to visit the tomb of Muhammad in Medina although I’m not allowed to enter the area.
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