tours of Pere Lachaise with focus on artists and writers

I don't know about tours, but when we went, some years ago, we were given a very detailed map at the entrance, so we could see where the graves we were interested in were.

You can find a map of the cemetery with the list and location of famous graves here: (in English)

https://www.api-site.paris.fr/paris/public/2018%2F9%2FCPLMapEN.pdf

All information about the cemetery, including an interactive map, is available on the official website (graves, tours, monuments, access, etc.)

https://pere-lachaise.plan-interactif.com/en/#!/category/0

While you're there, don't forget to take a stroll through "La Campagne à Paris," located nearby, one of the few unexpected places in the 20th arrondissement.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KNtjHssUrxzSZXA46

I’m researching similar guided tours and came across this guide who works with With Locals. Cannot recommend her personally but I plan to contact her. And I’ll add we did a DIY tour using a map when we visited Paris three years ago. It was fine but we would prefer a guided tour - especially our teen who loves cemeteries. https://www.withlocals.com/experience/walking-with-vips-pere-lachaise-cemetery-95c903d5/?utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Paris_Pmax&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2ZfABhDBARIsAHFTxGxhmH5pRU4srLYpA7VwoY2MNYJ6NaKz0Be3iGZrEOr4vsm5ItYY0CEaAl-DEALw_wcB

We had a lot of difficulty using a free online map. We switched to Maps. What a surprise that grave locations were on Maps!
I think a Guide is a great idea for finding your way.

We have never been given a map at the cite and so learned to acquire one before we went. It is very hard to find noted graves without. But with one, you wouldn't need a guide.

I went to see Jim Morrison's grave in probably 1992 or 1993. It was not long after Oliver Stone's The Doors movie came out. I don't remember having map, there's signage around the place too. I seem to remember there was graffiti with directions to Jim Morrison's grave at points. Myself and two friends spent an hour or two on a a very rainy afternoon in August wandering around. It seemed like we had the place to ourselves if I remember correctly.

I printed a map of the cemetery before the trip and it had all the graves we wanted to see marked. We went straight to them.

The Earful Tower podcast has a great/fascinating show on Pere Lachaise. "THE EARFUL TOWER: PARIS Père Lachaise: The most visited cemetery in the world"

The Rick Steves audio Europe app has a wonderful (free!) audio tour of Pere Lachaise.

Paris Walks occasionally does a tour of Pere Lachaise which spends most of its time on artists and writers. I took it a while ago (10 years ago maybe). I see it on their schedule once in May and once in June.
https://www.paris-walks.com/download-pdf_m.html

You might check to see if it happens to be offered while you are in Paris.

You could watch this video for some tips

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/french-connections/20241024-paris-neighbourhoods-exploring-p%C3%A8re-lachaise-cemetery-and-the-20th-arrondissement

I just used the map and itinerary in Rick's guidebook and it took me to every grave I wanted to see. Prepare to be disappointed by Mr. Morrison's final resting place.

Prepare to be disappointed by Mr. Morrison's final resting place.

I don't know what it's like today. When I was there many years ago, you could find it without a map. Even from a distance, you could hear the party and see and smell the cloud of marijuana smoke. Today, I think I read, it's closed off, right?

Jim's space is not in a particularly scenic neighborhood, doesn't have a marker that makes an impression, and is now generally surrounded by metal portable fencing. And they had to cover Oscar Wilde's monument in clear plastic because women keep putting on red lipstick and kissing it! Which is odd if you think about it for a few moments.