Mount Auburn Cemetery Reviews

Amazing place to walk and clear your mind, soak up history and find some peace in your day.

I cant speak to how it is to be buried here but as a recreational grounds this is not a very good place as they disallow bicycling (even walking with a bike) and even jogging

Rich birding in a beautifully landscaped cemetery with lots of great old oaks, maples, conifers, and flowering fruit trees. Interesting topographical features include dells, valleys, hills, ponds, and ridges to explore. Plenty of cover for skulking birds as well: rhododendrons and shrubs. Public restrooms at the entrance, along with a drinking fountain. Check out the chalkboard at the front gate for recent bird sightings. Wonder why there isn't a second restroom at the very distant far end of the cemetery... Definitely wear shoes appropriate for walking up and down hills, through wet grass (most paths are paved, some are rougher with stone and woodchips), and over acorns. Spring birding at Mount Auburn draws a crowd, with every birder in town making an attempt at this birding hotspot. If you can, try birding here during off-peak hours, like late morning on a weekday. Or a cloudier, mistier day when fair weather birders stay indoors. Even when there's few migrating birds around, it's a gorgeous greenspace with turkeys, ravens, chipmunks, ground squirrels, secretive coyotes, and sleepy raccoons (if you're stealthy).

Note: no dogs, bicycles, jogging, or food allowed! If you prefer to bird while walking your dog, or picnic while looking at the graves of historical figures, try Forest Hills Cemetery in Jamaica Plain. It's like the laidback version of Mount Auburn Cemetery. And there's famous people buried there, too. (Lookin' at you, Anne Sexton, e.e. cummings, and Lucy Stone.)

One of my most fav places in Boston area. Really nice place to walk, take photo, and relaxing in quite atmosphere all sound the year.

love the history- esp seeing Isabella Stewart Gardeners place of rest. gorgeous for a walk or just to free your mind. Very peaceful and clean place

I appears see something new during each visit. Is a magical place.

THE place to be seen (your tombstone, that is) in the eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds, the Massachusetts rich and/or famous. You can look up a name online (on your phone) and find the exact grave easily. This cemetery is full of amazing monuments and beautiful trees and plantings. A beautiful place to spend an afternoon. Chapel at the entrance was hosting an acoustic concert when we visited. Website will explain it all. Check it out.

gorgeous place with a unique history. perfect place for a stroll on a nice day, volunteers are very friendly and knowledgeable

It's a little weird to be reviewing a cemetery, but Mt Auburn is no regular cemetery. It feels more like a park/botanical garden. It's also huge, with paths marked with names of flowers, trees, and other green things. I highly recommend it for a walk on a nice spring or fall day.

Beautiful place for photos, contemplation, walking, nature discoveries

As far as cemeteries go this is a five. If you are into birds, history or photography this is a place you should visit. The views from Washington's tower in the center are fantastic especially in the fall. A tin of historical figures are buried here and you can follow a tour put together by the association to get the scoop.

This cemetery is great! Whether your going there to visit the gone, or to have a nice walk, it's great. There's tons of land, and lots of nature and architecture. And in about the middle, there's a tower that you can see all of Boston and cambridge from! A great place for a walk or sight seeing.

I stumbled upon this cemetery on a trip to Harvard. When I came upon it, I knew that it was something special and made a u-turn to find the entrance. WOW, I was not disappointed. The topography of the land is stunning and showcases hundreds of varieties of deciduous and conifer trees, shrubs and other vegetation. The ponds around every corner feel almost magical. This is truly one of the most peaceful places I've found. This made my trip very memorable indeed. I am so glad I had the time, when I found this gem, to devout a few hours to exploring this cemetery.

Very beautiful and peaceful cemetery. My time flies here. There are many trees, birds, and stories in this place. Parking was easy, only be careful where you are going to park. The information center was very helpful or you could use Google map to explore.

Highly recommended, especially photographers or just love taking pictures in the peaceful area. I'll definitely visit again.

Very nice park. Be aware there are only two ways in and out: no exit of the south side.

My family is buried in that beautiful cemetery and I will soon join them. Funny, as a little girl we used to picnic by the pond and visit the oldest parts trying to imagine what their lives were like and now I'll be a part of my own history. My grandparents and aunts await. My parents will be in a military cemetery and I shall miss them. I feel like I'm going home after a long, lonely battle. My children have already cremated me, figuratively, and turned their backs as did my friends. There is no other place I would go-just pray they put me there! They threw me away once and I can't go back there.
Ellen Dwyer aka Ruth DeCosta.

Our family..including my father Henry Avery rests here. The staff is great and were very helpful to me and my children's multiple visits. Henry Avery, is a 1942 grad of MIT...loved everything Boston.

Awesome place to walk around and look at the beautiful architecture

Awesome peaceful place to take a walk, lots of wildlife- great for birdwatching. Offers tons of walking routes- you can spend the whole day exploring, check out some of our adventures there @Roadtrip_NewEngland on Instagram

I'd always wanted to visit Mt. Auburn because I'd heard a lot about it. It's a really amazing place, both for the history, the prominent figures who lie in rest here, and the exceptional and unique beauty. You'd hardly know it was a cemetery (if not for all the gravestones) -- the hills and dells and ponds are beautiful.

This is the most beautiful cemetery I've ever seen and was one of the highlights of my visit to Boston!

Gorgeous serene cemetery, walk in nature. Beautiful views from Washington tower.

What an absolutely picturesque and tranquil environment! It's like another world inside the gates, very peaceful and timeless.

A beautiful cemetery with flowering trees and bushes. The paths are nice and the sites are gorgeous. A must when in Boston.

Nice place to walk around. Easy access with several public bus stops. Nice view of Boston from top of the hill.

Beautiful hidden gem. Need 2 hours to cover the entire place. Don't forget to climb up the hidden tower, it's a great view of the Boston skyline from the top.

Really nice place to visit! Be sure to visit all the lakes and the tower!

A beautiful place! It is a birdwatchers paradise at dawn and dusk. You might see birds of this region that are rare to find. Also, owls and red-tail Hawks. Many famous people were laid to rest here and the gracious staff might tell you who and direct you to their graves. But if you just want to take a walk and clear your head, it's a beautiful place to do that.

Magically place, is a shame that they let cars drive around it...get out and walk people!

Very large cemetery in a busy city of Cambridge. It s beautiful and well maintained. The monuments are very well designed, there are so many trees from different countries, birds for people to watch, and viewing the Boston skyline from the Washington Tower. There are many notable people buried here like Isabella Stewart Gardner, William Barton Rodgers, Edwin Booth, Curt Gowdy, Anne Revere, Harriet Jacobs, Thomas Cass, and many more.

Beautiful landscaping and staturary, make sure you climp the tower for awesome views of Boston!

There is nothing quite like this cemetery in the world. A spectacle of monuments and scenic spots like no other. Exceptionally well maintained and beautifully presented plots and crypts that seem to go on forever. It is well worth the visit. It is completely free, and one is allowed to drive through - not bicycle (oddly because bicycles are quieter and safer than cars) and enjoy, but please get out of the car and walk around. It is definitely worth the visit, especially if you are from out of town. There is a free lookout tower on the hilltop with just under a 100 step climb. (About 3-4 floors).

I went for a walk here close to sunset on the fourteenth of January. On my way to the exit I saw 3 employees. Nevertheless, I somehow managed to go unnoticed and get locked in the cemetery for a while in the dark and cold until I worked up the nerve to climb over their barbed wire topped fences. Of course not before a FOURTH employee drove right past me while I stood beside the road and in front of the locked gates waiting for help. According to an article in the Harvard Crimson, two students also found themselves trapped in this cemetery after dark, unable to get out. I hope the cemetery quickly hires a more competent staff before someone eventually gets hurt.

The view in fall from the top of the tower can't be beat. It's a fantastic place to just wander around. I've been going for years, and I discover new things every time.

Beautiful grounds great place to walk in these crazy covid social distancing times.

Beautifully maintained and a great place to go for a walk. Try to go during hours that the tower is open, it is a beautiful city outlook without the tourist factor of other places like this in the area.

Very wonderful and historic place. This photo was taken from the top of the tower in the cemetery.

Fascinating and interesting place. Beautiful sculptures.

Great date spot turns out mortality is really romantic. The gorgeous landscaping probably has something to do with it, but you can't underestimate the aphrodisiac power of being constantly reminded how fleeting life is. Basically this place is the Disney World of death.

This is simply one of the most beautiful places to just GO that you're likely to find anywhere. Historic surprises abound in the graves (you WILL find a name you recognize!) and the astonishing arboretum / grounds make for endlessly fascinating walking and meditation. I've never encountered or dealt with any of the employees, which in my mind is a plus -- they leave people who are just walking and enjoying the gorgeous scenery and atmosphere alone. This is a restful and restorative place for sprits both living and past/passed.

This is one of the most beautiful places on earth. You will not see all it has to offer in a lifetime of visiting. In addition to being a cemetery, it is certified as an arboretum and as a museum.

Absolutely gorgeous in every season. No biking allowed but great for a quiet leisurely walk. Stop by the visitor center and pick up the seasonal bingo card for a quick game during your walk. Definitely visit the tower, closed during winter. The view is spectacular, especially during the fall!

Excellent walks, bird watching. Peaceful atmosphere, beautiful views.

The cemetery is beautiful, indeed, and has set aside space for green or natural burials. Unfortunately, unlike green cemeteries in other states, they do not allow even small stones with the name of the deceased on green graves. I have requested the board of directors to change this policy, but nearly a year after my request I have not heard back from them. At the time my husband was buried there, Mt Auburn was the only cemetery in Massachusetts that allowed green burials so we had little choice. Just an FYI to anyone who might be considering a green burial at this cemetery.

Gorgeous, and enormous. The staff I've meet are super nice too.

Didn't know how beautiful cemeteries were until I visited Mount Auburn. The landscaping is outstanding, full of trees, shrubs, lakes, and hills. There is so many paths to explore and beautiful tombs to find. Seriously looks like the Shire, especially in the Spring.

This time we saw a red tailed hawk hunting a mouse. The leaves were turning red, and views of Cambridge and Boston were great! We took a bingo booklet for our daughter and went looking for different things around the park.. good times!

Peaceful somber walk away from the busy streets of North Cambridge and Harvard Square.

This cemetery is beautiful. It's a bit of a hidden gem. The grounds are beautifully kept. Be sure to leave a donation. They have maps to tour the area. Definitely make your way to the tower. The views are amazing especially on a clear day. Put this one on the free fun list.

I ve visited a TON of Cemeteries all around and this is SO Beautiful, angelic and peaceful with walkways and cute little paths! Until today I was yet to find a cemetery that tops Lowell Cemetery, Lowell MA and it s beauty butttt By Far ...........

Top 10 Most Beautiful Cemeteries
#1 : Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge MA

Mt. Auburn is one of my favorite places on earth. I have planned to visit the cemetery for months with satanists visiting from out of state. This evening, I brought these four very lovely ladies to the cemetery to share the joy I experience in being in this place at 7 pm, confirming via google that the cemetery was open until 8 pm. Devastatingly, the cemetery was closed. I am wearing false lashes, exceptional contouring, a corset and vast disappointment that something I wanted so much to share with my similarly spooky friends was not available to them. Yes, we ll try again tomorrow, yes, I ll also look magnificent then, but please, please, to save others this sorrow, please update your hours. Mournfully, Kacy

The cemetery represents the beauty of nature, especially in the Autumn season. There is a tower there and if you go up the tower, you can see the city of Boston perfectly. I've never seen a cemetery like that before. Willow Pond is a must-see, if anyone ever goes there.

While visiting our friend Mount Auburn was across the street from where they lived. Being new the area they have never visited Mount Auburn so off we went together. We found out it was the first Nation rural cemetery in 1831. They also are the largest-scale designed landscape opened to the public North America. Non-denominational and open to all. Nearly 100,00 people buried there and 500 annually. Open 365 days a year free of charge. Rated #1 destination in Cambridge on TripAdvisor. Walking tours, talks and special events. Mobile app providing interpretive content an GPS directions. Audubon has found 227 species of birds. Arboretum has found 5000 trees, 640 different species and much more plantings.12 miles of road 70 miles of paths and 3 ponds. More than 60,000 monuments and 160 tombs. Most of all in is very lovely. If you get a chance do go and visit.

This is such a peaceful cemetery. Anytime of year is a lovely time to walk its paths.

The dead provide civilized, reflective and restorative companionship. When they rest among hundreds of well-manicured trees, shrubs, ponds and walkways. If you've meandered through Pere Llachaise cemetery in Paris you'll recognize the homage to the design and vibe. Access the park through the main gate and ignore the office parking. Drive straight through to the tower and park on any drive that does not have a green line painted down the center. Climb the tower and reflect upon the bends of the Charles River and the way it affects your mind in mapping the city. When you're finished looking at the foliage from above, walk down to the pond and crypts. Peek inside the crypts or observe the more modest markers... like the one at the intersection of Birch and Maple. Such beautiful sadness... and joy in being the one who can still change things.

One of the most beautiful spaces in Cambridge. Come here to reflect, appreciate the birds, or gawk at famous dead people.

Seeing Mt Auburn was one of my bucket list items. It has everything I'm interested in, history, art, horticulture, nature. The tour led by a Mass Hort volunteer was a terrific introduction. However, the traffic getting there and coming home was off-putting. A two hour event turned into an all-day affair.

We were charged $1000 to dig a hole and place cremated remains inside. A $50 job at best for $1000, that's what you can expect from them.

Yes, strange I know reviewing a cemetery, but when you have access to a place like Mount Auburn Cemetery it's hard not to want to spread the word about this amazingly beautiful place.

I'd heard about it from many top 10 lists of things to do in Boston, but I'd never had made it out until recently. This stunningly and beautifully haunting place is a must see during the fall. From a gorgeous 360 view of the red/orange landscape and city in the distance from the citadel you can climb up to the peaceful meandering pathways through the cemetery grounds, this location offers as many stunning views as any nature hike.

Their visitor center is a great place to start to get a lay of the land. Sometimes they even have art displays or music available on the grounds. It's also all free to visit during the day! This is a not to be missed.

Beautiful botanical garden that happens to have people buried in it.

A must-see for any history buffs, birdwatchers, photographers, or nature lovers who visit the Cambridge area. Visit the graves of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Buckminster Fuller, check out the Story Chapel, and climb to the third story of the massive tower in the center. You could spend a whole day wandering the graves and hidden paths. Bring your camera!

Both my parents and my grand father are buried in this magical place and I just love visiting them, it is so tranquil and filled with intoxicating beauty.

Amazing Cemetery. Some of the finest memorials in the world. Patricia in the visitor center was very friendly and knowledgeable. A lovely place to be laid to rest, to be sure.

Never thought a cemetery would earn a revenue, but this place is special, even if you don't end up here...

Very beautiful. Historic. Educational.

Walking through the cemetery and we came across Shanon's grave with her biodiversity equation on the tombstone. It was an enthralling experience.

Great place to wander and take photos. Go just before sunset for some gorgeous views.

One of the nicest cemeteries I've ever been to, respectful staff lots of Wildlife and beautiful trees.

An amazing historical landmark and beautiful cemetery / park. Great for a leisurely stroll, bird watching, and a relaxing day in the park. Furthermore, the interactive guide is *amazing* and every cemetery should have one like it!

Picturesque and quiet cemetery park with marvelous statues.

This place was gorgeous. My friend and I went for a project during the fall(Nov) and the trees were amazing and the small ponds they had throughout really made the place peaceful. It is very large and the map is pretty impossible to read. It costs a dollar to buy too which is weird that they charge for something that can't be deciphered. Overall, I will definitely visit again.

Amazing tranquil and serene place
Beautiful cemetery and park at the same time