Ohlsdorf cemetery

It is rare to find a cemetery among the most popular sights in a city. The Ohlsdorf cemetery in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg is an exception. This special, almost 400-hectare site is the largest park cemetery in the world. So be sure to visit the breathtaking park during your visit to the city and marvel at the prominent graves and fantastic landscapes.

The cemetery at a glance

The unique Ohlsdorf cemetery in the Hamburg district of the same name was inaugurated in mid-1877. Even today, a glance at the cemetery plan makes it clear that this is not just a historical memorial, but a breathtaking landscape park. With a total area of 389 hectares, the site offers enough space for more than 450 different species of deciduous and coniferous trees, small ponds, streams and fantastic flora and fauna. In addition to the more than 202,000 gravesites, you can explore not only classic gravestones, but also monuments, chapels, statues and mausoleums, as well as beautiful green spaces. Since the cemetery was founded, over 1.4 million burials have taken place on the cemetery grounds, and almost 4,500 new graves are added every year. At the same time, just 200 hectares are used for burials on site. However, the old Ohlsdorf cemetery is to be fundamentally redesigned by 2050 due to the current decline in the number of burials. Although burials are to remain possible here in the future on a reduced area of just 100 hectares, the Hanseatic city, together with the current operator Hamburger Friedhöfe AöR, plans to preserve the park cemetery primarily as a growing garden and cultural monument. No wonder, because the imposing family graves, impressive mausoleums, crematoria, chapels and monuments in particular make the park one of the city's most popular attractions. As a public park, Ohlsdorf Cemetery also boasts around 35,000 trees, as well as beautiful landscapes with extensive meadows and countless canals. Whether as a place of remembrance or recreation - the cemetery invites you to make an unforgettable visit to the north of the Hanseatic city.

Cemetery-App

No matter what time of year you visit Hamburg, a trip to Ohlsdorf is always worthwhile. The extensive park is perfect for walking, taking photos or relaxing. So join the almost 1.2 million visitors who visit the park every year and explore the beautiful grounds. If you like, you can even visit the graves of famous Hamburg personalities such as Hans Albers, Carl Hagenbeck and Wolfgang Borchert. A special cemetery app is available to help visitors find their way around the cemetery (Cordes section), which was largely planned and designed by architect Wilhelm Cordes, and the park extension (Linne section), which was completed by 1930. This means you can easily explore the huge area on your own right from the entrance and at the same time receive exciting information on over 800 different sites such as 580 celebrity graves, chapels, mausoleums and much more. You can also use the cemetery map offline, in German or English. Those who prefer a guided tour of the Ohlsdorf cemetery, on the other hand, will find these especially in the summer months. There are also various open-air museums, a comprehensive nature trail and an almost 60 square meter museum for additional information about Hamburg's cemetery and burial culture.

Special features

The Ohlsdorf cemetery inspires in many ways. However, one of the undisputed special features of the park cemetery are the impressive family graves, which were made accessible via individually designed paths. Over the years, fantastic funeral chapels, impressive columned halls and the largest mausoleum in Northern Europe have been created and decorated according to the visitors' own ideas. In addition to the family tombs, the Althamburg Memorial Cemetery is also very impressive. Only people who influenced the historical development of Hamburg were buried in the baroque garden. These include senators as well as merchants, poets, writers, painters such as Philipp Otto Runge and famous families from the city. In general, however, the cemetery is home to graves from a wide range of religions and nations. Last but not least, a visit to Ohlsdorf is the perfect opportunity to visit the nearby Jewish cemetery (Ilandkoppel Jewish Cemetery). This was also designed by Wilhelm Bordes and was inaugurated in 1883 on a total area of 10 hectares.

Location & approach

Ohlsdorf Cemetery is located in Hamburg North, not far from the City Park, the Hamburg Planetarium, Kampnagel and the Museum of work at Fuhlsbüttler Straße 756, making the park easy to reach by car or public transport such as bus and train. You can find detailed timetable information and interesting cycle routes to Ohlsdorf Cemetery on the official cemetery website. An important tip for anyone wishing to visit the cemetery in Ohlsdorf is to pay attention to the changing opening hours. While the gates of the landscape park are open to pedestrians from 06:00 all year round, the cemetery itself is only accessible from 09:00 to 21:00 between April and October, and between 09:00 and 18:00 from November to March.

Book your hotel in Hamburg

If you want to explore Hamburg and the surrounding area, the first thing you should do is book a suitable hotel. This is the only way to make the most of your time in the Hanseatic city. So visit our website today and get to know the fantastic B&B HOTELS in Hamburg. Whether in Hamburg North, on the Alster or in one of the beautiful suburbs, you're guaranteed to find the right room with us. With B&B, you'll also benefit from unbeatable value for money and first-class services. For example, take advantage of the free WLAN in our hotels. Book an extensive breakfast buffet. Or enjoy a stay alongside your pet. Whatever you decide, we look forward to your visit and will be happy to help and advise you.