The most beautiful cemeteries in Miami

Dive three miles out from Key Biscayne and you’ll find Neptune Memorial Reef, an artificial reef and underwater mausoleum that, when completed, will be able to hold 250,000 cremated souls (Julia Child was allegedly interred here upon her death in 2004). It also happens to be the world’s largest manmade coral reef, so no need to bring flowers, but do bring your flippers or fins. N25º 42.036′ W80º 05.409′, Key Biscayne

Julia Tuttle, Charles Peacock, Theodore Gibson, The Burdines Family. Miami’s most famous pioneers can be found right across the street from Mignonette at Miami City Cemetery. This is the cemetery of pomp, circumstance and patina: Among its diverse scattering of tombstones you’ll find some of the oldest and grandest mausoleums and monuments in the city. 1800 NE 2nd Ave

Miami Memorial Cemetery wins the award for grandest entrance, with an angelic relief adorning massive gates and straight lines of royal palms ushering you in. Trees are organically dotted throughout, generously providing shade to those who’d like to stroll in solitude. 6200 SW 77th Ave

Angels aren’t the only things flying around Caballero Rivero Woodlawn North. The cemetery is also a bird sanctuary and could as well be a tropical garden with all the rare plants it touts. After ogling the awe-striking Gothic mausoleum, enjoy the tree-lined paved paths leading you to the tombs of Cuba’s who’s-who, Miami pioneers like the Brickell’s and George Merrick, and even a few foreign presidents. 3260 SW 8th St

Pinewood Cemetery’s got an old, forgotten Florida feel. Located three blocks from the Cocoplum Circle, most of its residents lived at the turn of the 20th century, and the land in which they lay looks as overgrown and untouched as when they first arrived. It’s a perfect mystery stop the next time you’re biking along Old Cutler or The Grove. 7301 Erwin Rd, Coral Gables

You won’t find Elvis at this Graceland, but you will find a beautiful limestone mausoleum lit by stained glass and another dedicated to Cuban refugees. It’s not as shady as other cemeteries on this list, so best to go later in the afternoon as the sun sets. 4420 SW 8th St

Some people head to Sweetwater to visit Ikea, others to visit Jackie Gleason’s grave. Why the South Beach local decided to be buried all the way out in Doral in the 1960s is a mystery, but staring out over the sparkling lake at all the rich foliage while sitting on his mausoleum’s marble steps could sell anyone on a plot there. 11411 NW 25th St, Doral

For our final stop (pun intended), let’s head down to the Conch Republic to check out the Key West Cemetery, where almost 100,000 of the key's first residents are stacked almost (and at times, exactly) on top of each other. Established in 1847, this overgrown cemetery predates Miami’s founding, and many of its tomb inscriptions match the quirky personalities who come to settle in the Southernmost point. If you go, definitely take a walking tour to get the scoop on all of its permanent visitors. 701 Passover Ln, Key West