Light peaks through holes in the ceiling of the Green-Wood Cemetery catacombs between rows of doors leading for family burial rooms.

New York City may not be as old as some of the cities in Europe where catacombs and crypts have become major tourist destinations, but it does boast a number of its own spooky subterranean burial spaces. While some of these spots are off-limits to the public, others can easily be visited. Some have been known for centuries, and others were recently discovered. Keep reading to find out where the creepiest crypts and catacombs lie beneath the streets of New York City. If you dare…

1. Catacombs of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral

Large wooden doors open to the long hallway of the crypt beneath the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral.

Thanks to heavy tourist promotion, the catacombs of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Nolita have probably become the most well-known around New York City. We recently overheard French tourists on the Roosevelt Island tram desperately trying to explain to locals how they had been to the “basilique” with the catacombs. Besides its famous catacombs, the basilica is also known for its appearance as a setting in the Godfather II and its sheep that “lamb”scape the grounds.

The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral is one of the last places where you can still be buried in Manhattan, though that privilege comes with a hefty price. A resting place in the catacombs costs about $7 million, while a niche in the above-ground columbarium costs much less. If you’d like to enter the catacombs as a living person, you can hop on a guided tour and visit the resting places of notable New Yorkers, from bishops to businessmen.