Explore Savannah’s famous Bonaventure Cemetery on this guided tour. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure, then discover the cemetery’s scenery and stories with tour guide, storyteller, historian, author and artist Shannon Scott or his talented assistants. See where death and beauty meet and learn about the symbolism, art, architecture and burial traditions of the Victorian Age and other periods. Hear about famous lyricist Johnny Mercer, underground poet Conrad Aiken, maritime hero Josiah Tattnall and many more who call this special spot their final resting place.

Tour Savannah’s Bonaventure Cemetery
Learn from a local tour guide and storyteller
Hear stories about those who are buried here and their connection to Savannah
Select from a morning or afternoon departure time

What's Included

Professional guide
Professional art historian guide
Local guide

Gratuities
DVD (available to purchase)
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Signed Poster Art (Available For Purchase)

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

2XR4+R6 Savannah
2XR4+R64 Savannah, GA, USA
Bonaventure Cemetery Visitor Parking Area 330 Bonaventure Rd, Thunderbolt, GA 31404, United States https://maps.app.goo.gl/jTPBc7XsDuXZ1mdQA

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Bonaventure Cemetery

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please check your Parking & Meeting Instructions
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible, but there are uneven surfaces that may require a helper
Stroller accessible

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Service animals allowed
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Traveler Tips

I would recommend going in the morning or on a cool day as it was hot at the time of our tour, 2:00 in the afternoon.

I would highly recommend this tour on your trip to Savannah!

Reviews

5.0

785 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 785 reviews

A beautiful place to see Savannahs history

shipley314, Sep 2023

Paschal was a passionate guide. He loves Savannah and has deep connections with this beautiful park/cemetery. He made history come alive. Would highly recommend the tour and 100% ask for Paschal. Thank you!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Truly grateful for your time here sharing with others about the experience you had with Paschal Miller. As he may have expressed, his roots go back to the 1760s and Colonial Park Cemetery with a famed furniture builder. So yes, all of this is in his blood and spirit and we like to think our clients are getting that benefit and more! We're honored to have heard back from you on this experience and please know Paschal sends his regards!

Don’t miss Bonaventure Cemetery with Pascal

Carol_L, Sep 2023

Pascal was amazing. His knowledge of the cemetery, history and interpretation of the symbolism made the tour exceptional.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Carol, please know that Paschal and everyone here feels quite blessed for your patronage and then your extra time sharing feedback with us and others about your exemplary experience! It keeps us all energized and grateful and motivated! I hope you can come back and take Paschal's version of The Hidden Gem Cemetery Tour of Laurel Grove North as some say its where he does his very best work!

Definitely worth braving the heat

Dawn_W, Aug 2023

Awesome and informative tour. Definitely try Ian’s get on Paschal’s tour, he’s brilliant! I only wished I had brought a water bottle, we Pacific Northwest folks are not used to the type of heat.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Dawn, wow, that's a rave review if ever reading one and the summer here is hotter than ever! Noted on the water and we'll be sure to try and emphasize it more thank you for reminding! Anyone looking there's also a vending machine by the bathrooms near the front entrance! All the same, we know you're a long way from us but we certainly hope to have inspired you back and FYI, cannot beat the Spring bloom in early March. The month of April is a fine weathered month as is October!

Paschal was our tour guide and he was outstanding, Very knowledgeable; went over our 2 hr time to go more in depth.

Lynne_R, Aug 2023

We learned so much about the meaning of symbolism on the different graves. Very entertaining as well as educational.

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Lynne, we're always glad to get a good report on Paschal Miller, host of Bonaventure Is Forever Tour and thank you for highlighting some of his special talents and focuses. We hope that it was more than enough to inspire you back and be sure to check out his other cemetery tours with us!

Pascal was the best, he...

Bailey_P, Jul 2023

Pascal was the best, he was super knowledgeable and upbeat, and he kept us interested the whole time!

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Bailey, thank you so very much for sharing your thoughts with us about Paschal Miller. If there could be such a thing as a cemetery rock star, he defintely qualifies. Born to do what he does! I'll be certain to let him know you thought so highly of him and Happy 4th!

Great Experience

jason_n, Jun 2023

Guide was great. Would recommend to anyone wanting to enjoy the cemetery! Will do another tour of a different section next time in Savanah!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Jason, it's a great thing to hear such nice praise for your time out with guide Paschal Miller and appreciate your sharing! As you noticed I'm sure he can hold a crowd's attention and keep kids like your own intrigued too! We hope rest of your Savannah stay as blessed and come back and try Paschal's Hidden Gem Cemetery Tour next round!

Fun, family, excursion, and Savannah

Jim_F, Jun 2023

The Bonaventure cemetery tour was enjoyable. Our guide was knowledgeable and was able to answer all questions from members of our group.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you Jim for your praiseworthy review and believe Paschal Miller was your guide so am glad he was able to serve yourselves well! Hope rest of your Savannah stay was rewarding!

Our tour guide, Paschal...

Kathryn_S, Jun 2023

Our tour guide, Paschal Miller, was fantastic! His enthusiasm, education, and sense of humor make him an ideal guide for this tour. I high recommend!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Kathryn! Such a pleasure to find such high regard for your experience with your Bonaventure Is Forever guide Paschal Miller! He was thrilled to read your words this morning and sends his regards! When you're back in Savannah, treat yourself to his Hidden Gem Cemetery Tour of Laurel Grove as its next level! Take care until we see you again!

Fabulous tour

Mark_G, Jun 2023

Pablo was excellent! He was so informative and interacted with all the guest. He was one of the best tour guides I have ever had. Thanks for a great experience.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Mark, thank you for your flattering review of Paschal versus Pablo but he'll love your take on his name trust me! We're just happy it sounded remotely international! And we agree, he's one of our highest rated and most asked for so we couldn't be happier that he delivered so largely for yourselves! Come check out his Hidden Gem Laurel Grove Tour next time you're in town as its off the charts!

Straight from a resident

Samuel_G, May 2023

Pascal was so entertaining and informative. We all enjoyed his personal insight as a native. And his knowledge of symbolism of that time was remarkable. I would love to hear him on a similar tour someday.

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Samuel! What a gem of a review and you've touched our hearts over here at the company quarters! I've already shared your comments with Paschal and we think your idea is more than on point and already in touch with things we'll be launching in very near future so once more, a hearty thank you for all of the affirmation and please come back soon!

Lovely Cemetery Tour

Hannah_G, May 2023

Paschal was awesome! He was incredibly knowledgeable about all of the major local cemeteries, and provided a walking tour that was engaging. Additionally, there were moments of humor and the option to ask questions was always present. When we come back, we would absolutely take one of his other cemetery tours.

Response from Host, May 2023

Hannah! You're a gem for such thoughtful and insightful comments about your time in Bonaventure with guide, Paschal Miller! He's a born teacher, and entertainer and keeps everyone's energy up there, doesn't he? I'll be sure to pass along your generosity and thank you for letting us know how we did as it keeps us motivated and inspired! His Laurel Grove Cemetery tour is excellent so yes, come back!

Worth the money

Wilfred_H, May 2023

Paschal was so knowledgeable and a great tour guide. We learned so much about savannah history and absolutely loved the trip!

Response from Host, May 2023

Wilfred, you're generous words are greatly appreciated by everyone here, and will certainly pass them along to Paschal who as you learned, is a crowd and company favorite! Thank you for taking the extra time to review your experience!

Paschal was fantastic! ...

Heidi_N, May 2023

Paschal was fantastic! His vast knowledge of Savannah history, genealogy and symbolism really brought the cemetery to ‘life’. Highly recommend this tour!

Response from Host, May 2023

Heidi how about that! You're really packing in all of our tours! And you're right, Paschal Miller is such an incredible host, guide, teacher, and entertainer! I think zeal is is middle name! We love having a local like him on deck along with personal family ties to cemetery plots in Bonaventure! When you're back, treat yourself to his Laurel Grove Cemetery Tour where our guests have said he really shines!

Great tour

George_M, May 2023

The guide with great he walked us through and explained everything and answer any of our questions. He had great stories about some of the actual graves, which added to the experience

Response from Host, May 2023

George! Great to be complimented by such a review and your guide of the hour was Paschal Miller. I'll be certain to share your fine words with him and appreciate the review moreso as it helps others to better understand what the experience is and how they differentiate.

Bonnaventure with Paschal

Ruth_D, May 2023

The most memorable part of our tour was learning the history of the cemetery and the meanings of the different engravings on headstones and memorials. Our guide, Paschal, was very knowledgeable, informative, and engaging. His passion for history was contagious. We would gladly do another tour with him.

Response from Host, May 2023

Ruth, you're so very generous to have taken a moment to compliment your Bonaventure guide, Paschal! It might sound vain to say it comes as no surprise but truthfully we're just blessed for his presence as an educated, native Savannahian who knows his way around cemeteries and like most of us, has spent many years exploring them. We love sharing the knowledge! I'll be happy to pass your comments along and please request him for a future Laurel Grove Cemetery where some say he shines most!

It was plain old fun! ...

Jill_C, May 2023

It was plain old fun! Our guide was very knowledgeable and knew how to keep you enjoying the learning experience

Response from Host, May 2023

Jill! It sounds like your time in Bonaventure with guide, Rich Lane was exceptional and we thank you for the rather perky and complimentary review! I'll be sure to pass it along to Rich today whom I know will be as grateful as we are! Hope the rest of your Savannah trip was just as blessed!

Very well done tour

Tara_T, May 2023

Jessica is a very knowledgeable guide. She related well with our small group. We really enjoyed the laid back, flexible pace of the tour.

Response from Host, May 2023

Tara, we truly appreciate your comments on your Ladies of Laurel Grove Tour with guide, Jessica, aka, The Librarian! She's been doing this for a decade now and you're some of the few, proud, or at least in the modern perspective, to come to know how fascinating the women's history is there as well as Laurel Grove Cemetery, the local's favorite and hidden gem of the city! Come back anytime!

Bonaventure morning walkabout

Marty_S, Apr 2023

Very interesting to learn about Savannah history, and funeral and family traditions in general. The tombstones and statuary were impressive. The grounds were beautiful, peaceful and serene.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Marty, we're pleased as Bonaventure bees to hear you enjoyed your time put in the cemetery with guide, Rich Lane and he was successful in presenting the many layers of the place that made an agreeable impression! Inspires us and helps others! I'll be sure to pass along your comments! Take care!

Lovely spring morning in cemetery

Robin_F, Apr 2023

Fascinating cemetery learned so much about tombstone design and history. Rich, our guide, was friendly and knowledgeable. Bathrooms are at the entrance. I would absolutely return.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Robin, we're so ecstatic that Bonaventure was a pleasure and that you enjoyed the touring style of your guide, Rich Lane, who other than myself, is really Bonaventure's most tenured personality. Appreciate the bathroom insider tip as it helps others navigate a more successful experience! An honor once again and we'll see you when you're back!

Great tour but hard to hear

Joy_R, Apr 2023

We were excited to do this tour. It was a gorgeous day. We went on a Friday. Unfortunately the grounds were being tended to and it was very hard to hear the tour guide. You should know that there are other tours that go by similar names, so don't get confused getting there like we did. It would be a great idea if they did Bluetooth headsets so Everyone could hear the guide.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Thank you Joy for the candid review. We often bemoan the grounds keeping ourselves as it disturbs not just tours, but family or anyone in the cemetery for any personal purpose. Unfortunately it's a shortsightedness of government here but trust me when saying you don't dare make suggestions as to improve it. As to improving our audibility? Thankfully we have guides whom are great at being so even if there are exceptional moments like you experienced and rarely contend with it even if we wished it hadn't been a factor in your tour. And TBH we see headphones as counter to a classic storytelling experience and more of a crutch than an aide. Thanks once more for your praiseworthy review!

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