Bonaventure Cemetery: Tours and Guided Visits

Once the private cemetery of a plantation, the Bonaventure Cemetery has grown to be one of Savannah, Georgia’s most celebrated resting places.

Over its more than 150-year history, the site has seen interments of politicians, musicians, poets and more. Wander the oak-shaded expanses on a Bonaventure Cemetery tour for an outing steeped in southern history.

Read our visitor's guide on Bonaventure Cemetery, one of the most scenic sightseeing tours in Savannah, Georgia.

Where's Bonaventure Cemetery located?

Bonaventure Cemetery sits just shy of 5 kilometers to the east of Savannah’s Historic district. The cemetery is located in the village of Thunderbolt on the western banks of the Wilmington River. Bonaventure Cemetery is easily reachable by private car or rideshare.

What are the best things to see in Bonaventure Cemetery?

Famous tombs

Over Bonaventure Cemetery’s nearly 200 year history, the space has become the final resting place of artists, politicians, confederate generals and more.

Major players in northern Georgia’s history rest here. Noble Jones, one of the founders of the Bonaventure Plantation, was one of the first people buried here.

See the tomb of Josiah Tattnall, a naval officer and once a resident of the nearby Wormsloe Plantation. Numerous confederate soldiers and generals as well as Georgia governors' graves are also found here.

Pay a visit to the grave of songwriter Johnny Mercer who penned “Moon River.” Former poet laureate Conrad Aiken’s memorial is also found here. Among the buried here are sculptors, philanthropists, educators and ministers. Pause for a solemn moment at a marker honoring the ashes of unnamed victims of the Holocaust.

The cemetery’s most visited grave is that of Gracie Watson, a child of a Savannah hotelier who was a local sweetheart. Gracie warmed the hearts of guests at the Pulaski Hotel with her singing and dancing, becoming a highlight of people’s stay at the inn.

At age six, Gracie passed away from pneumonia. Her heartbroken father commissioned a life-size statue of her to mark her resting place. Visitors to Bonaventure Cemetery flock to Gracie’s grave, still charmed by her story more than 130 years later.

Monuments and statues

Bonaventure’s many ornate memorials have become a main attraction. The cemetery’s monuments feature beautiful artistry and cryptic symbols and have even made cameos in films. A knowledgeable tour guide will enchant you with the backstory of what you see.

Wander among angels, mourning figures and sleeping infants, crosses, arches and columns. One of the site’s best-known sculptures, the “Bird Girl,” became so popular that it is now protected at a Savannah museum. Fans of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” by John Berent, fell in love with the work after it graced the cover of his famous book.

Gardens and trees

Shaded by ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss, Bonaventure Cemetery’s grounds are a park-like setting that adds an eerie tranquility to the place. In spring and summer, marvel at birdsong and flowering bushes.

The cemetery’s azaleas and camellias attract pollinators and visitors alike. Bonaventure has even been a popular picnic spot in the past.

During his epic Thousand Mile Walk, conservationist John Muir spent nearly a week camping in Bonaventure Cemetery while waiting for funds to arrive. He chronicled his stay in his writing, marveling at the oaks, flowers, birds and insects that made his experience so pleasant.

What are the best tours to visit Bonaventure Cemetery?

Group tours

Enlist a local historian and storyteller to show you the highlights of Bonaventure Cemetery. There are many options for small and large-group tours of about 2 hours and a walk of around 1.5 kilometers.

Your guide will lead you to the graves of the famous and infamous and to the best-known statues. Hear the fascinating stories behind the sites. Simplify your visit by booking a tour that includes transportation from Savannah.

Segway tours

Reach parts of the cemetery that are difficult to include in a walking tour. After a quick orientation session, follow a guide through more of Bonaventure’s 40 hectares on a Segway tour soaking in more of the history and ambiance than you would on foot.

Dark history tours

Not all of Bonaventure’s “residents” have heroic or honorable reputations. Check out graves of mobsters, a serial killer and someone who met his end in the electric chair. Dark history tours point out symbols left by secret societies and points of inspiration for macabre literature.

After hours tours

Savannah proudly wears the moniker, “the most haunted city in America.” With a famed cemetery at its outskirts, a night time tour of Bonaventure is a chilling venue to hear the area’s legendary ghost stories.

Many who spend time at Bonaventure Cemetery comment on a special energy they feel there. Sensitive visitors report hearing babies crying or people laughing when no one is present, and the spirit of Little Gracie Watson is rumored to play among the trees and monuments.

Private tours

For a customized, in-depth visit to Bonaventure Cemetery, a private tour is ideal. Private tours last 3 hours and can be designed to fit your group’s needs.

Enjoy the full attention of your guide who will leave no question unanswered. For a full-day option, choose a private tour that hits historical Savannah’s top landmarks as well as the cemetery.

Bonaventure Cemetery plus Wormsloe Plantation combo tours

Fit a trip to two of Savannah’s most popular spots into one day with a tour that whisks you to Bonaventure Cemetery in the morning and Wormsloe Plantation in the afternoon.

Relax in round-trip transportation as your driver-guide enhances the sites with commentary. Combo tours include a stop for a tasting at Byrd’s Famous Cookies.

What are the prices of Bonaventure Cemetery tours?

Group tours of Bonaventure Cemetery cost from US$25 per person to US$30 per person for a 2-hour guided visit. Small group tours that include round-trip transportation from Savannah cost US$35 per person for a 2.75-hour tour and include bottled water, insect repellent and weather protection.

Segway tours cost around $75 per person. These 1.5-hour tours include use of a Segway and helmet as well as a quick operations lesson before the start of the tour. Two-hour dark history tours cost US$25 per person, and after hours tours cost around US$50 per person for a 3-hour tour.

Private tours cost from US$160 per person to US$450 per person, depending on group size and whether the tour includes visits to additional sites in the Savannah area.

Combo tours to Bonaventure Cemetery and Wormsloe Plantation cost around $65 per person for a 6-hour excursion. There is a stop for lunch at your own expense.

Where do Bonaventure Cemetery tours start?

Most Bonaventure Cemetery tours meet at the entrance to the grounds. Some tours include pickup from hotels in Savannah. While many Segway tours meet outside of the cemetery gates, some provide transportation by minibus from central Savannah.

When is the best time to visit Bonaventure Cemetery?

With its spectacular gardens, a visit to Bonaventure Cemetery is best in March or April. Let blooming azaleas and camellias enhance your tour as well as birdsong. Fall can also be pleasant when fewer crowds make scheduling highly-popular tours easier.

Travel tips

• Book your tour in advance, as they sell out quickly.
• Wear shoes and clothing that’s appropriate for several hours outdoors and on your feet.
• Bring drinking water. Food and drink besides water are not allowed in the cemetery.
• Dark history and after hours tours may not be appropriate for young children.