Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery
Okopowa Street Jewish Cemetery, Jewish cemetery at Okopowa Street, Warsaw, Poland
The Jewish cemetery at Okopowa Street is a sprawling area filled with weathered gravestones rising among tall trees and thick greenery. The site feels like an overgrown forest, with narrow paths winding between thousands of monuments ranging from plain slabs to ornately carved columns and shrines.
The site was opened in 1806 beyond the city limits at the time, after the previous burial ground became too small. During World War II the area was part of the ghetto and served for mass burials of victims who died from hunger and violence.
Many graves carry detailed inscriptions in Hebrew and Yiddish, with some adding German or Polish text. The stones stand close together and form a mosaic of different eras, reflecting how the community changed over more than two centuries.
The entrance sits directly on Okopowa Street and is easy to reach by public transport from the city center. The grounds are large and partly uneven, so comfortable shoes are advisable and you should allow time to walk slowly through the paths.
Many visitors place small stones on the graves, an old tradition of remembrance instead of bringing flowers. The dense planting has developed over decades and gives the place a quiet, secluded feeling right in the middle of the city.
Location: Warsaw
Inception: 1806
Part of: Powązki religious necropolis complex
Address: ul. Okopowa 49/51, 01-063 Warszawa
Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday, Saturday 10:00-11:45, 15:15-17:00
Website: http://cmentarium.sowa.website.pl/Cmentarze/spisOkopowa.html
GPS coordinates: 52.24750,20.97472
Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:29
Many European cemeteries function as more than burial grounds. They represent significant architectural and cultural sites that developed from the 18th through the 20th centuries, reflecting evolving burial traditions and social changes across this period. These spaces contain monumental sculptures, elaborate tombs and mausoleums created by leading artists and architects of their eras. Many also provide expansive green spaces suitable for walking and contemplation. This collection includes Vienna's Zentralfriedhof, final resting place of numerous composers, and Paris's Père Lachaise, where writers, artists and historical figures are buried. London's Highgate Cemetery features Victorian architecture and winding pathways. In Genoa, the Staglieno Monumental Cemetery spreads across multiple terraces with notable marble work. Zagreb's Mirogoj combines Austro-Hungarian design with Mediterranean elements, while Warsaw's Jewish Cemetery on Okopowa Street stands as an important record of Polish Jewish history. Additional sites include Gothenburg's Western Cemetery, Prague's Vyšehrad Cemetery housing Czech cultural figures, and Budapest's Kerepesi Cemetery serving as a national memorial. The collection also features Moscow's Novodevichy Cemetery, Copenhagen's Assistens Cemetery, and Barcelona's Montjuïc Cemetery. Notable mentions include Hamburg's Ohlsdorf Cemetery, one of the world's largest park cemeteries, and Romania's Merry Cemetery in Săpânța, recognized for its colorfully painted wooden crosses.
Saint Charles Borromeo church in Warsaw Powązki
708 m
Powązki Tatar Cemetery
906 m
Fabryka Garbarska Temler i Szwede w Warszawie
626 m
Muzułmański Cmentarz Kaukaski w Warszawie
576 m
Electio Viritim Monument
620 m
Kaplica pogrzebowa Halpertów
698 m
Monument of Jews and Poles Common Martyrdom in Warsaw
443 m
Fabryka Kamlera
647 m
Monument to the Memory of Children - Victims of the Holocaust
281 m
Zbór Kościoła Chrześcijan Wiary Ewangelicznej "Spichlerz" w Warszawie
506 m
City Gate
756 m
Ber Sonnenbergs Mausoleum
315 m
Cmentery Synagogue in Warsaw
323 m
Monument to Soldiers of Military Gendarmerie at Ostroroga Street in Warsaw
686 m
Kamienica "Spokojna" w Warszawie
548 m
Grave of L. L. Zamenhof
262 m
Powązki religious necropolis complex
330 m
Catacombs on the Old Powazki Cemetery
592 m
Wozownia Miejskich Zakładów Sanitarnych
490 m
Powązki Tatar Cemetery Fence
865 m
Ogrodzenie z wyłączeniem nowo wybudowanego odcinka (od zbiegu Powązkowskiej i Tatarskiej do bramy V)
678 m
Hala produkcyjna garbarni Temler i Szwede
696 m
15, Spokojna Street in Warsaw
452 m
Budynek główny administracyjno-gospodarczy Miejskich Zakładów Sanitarnych
469 m
Domek dozorcy
880 m
Budynek gospodarczy Miejskich Zakładów Sanitarnych
443 m
Zespół cmentarza muzułmańskiego (tatarskiego)
906 m
Budynek karawaniarni
752 mReviews
Visited this place? Tap the stars to rate it and share your experience / photos with the community! Try now! You can cancel it anytime.
Discover hidden gems everywhere you go!
From secret cafés to breathtaking viewpoints, skip the crowded tourist spots and find places that match your style. Our app makes it easy with voice search, smart filtering, route optimization, and insider tips from travelers worldwide. Download now for the complete mobile experience.
A unique approach to discovering new places❞
— Le Figaro
All the places worth exploring❞
— France Info
A tailor-made excursion in just a few clicks❞
— 20 Minutes