Street art – a form of artwork displayed in a community on its surrounding buildings, streets, and other publicly viewed surfaces [wikipedia]. It is now widely sanctioned by city officials, supported by business owners and used to encourage tourism. We are always on the lookout for street art when we are visiting a new city; not only is it a fun FREE ‘thing to do’ but it is a great way to experience a city’s sights, sounds and life in general. In this article, I have teamed up with 13 top travel bloggers to bring you Another 16 Cities with Amazing Street Art. I have started in the Americas and moved west around the world! Click here to have a look at the first 16 Cities with Amazing Street Art! Remember, click on the orange links within the article for more information about street art!
By Claire from Tales of a Backpacker – One Woman. One Backpack. A Whole World to Explore!
Sao Paulo has a reputation for being a huge, dangerous, dirty city – which is, in some cases, quite right. However, in the trendy Vila Madalena neighbourhood, nothing could be further from the truth. Cool bars and restaurants, leafy streets, and a creative vibe have made Vila Madalena one of the most popular places to go to in Sao Paulo. And here you’ll also find some of the best street art in the city.
In the ‘Beco de Batman’, a small street has all of its wall space covered with art. Street artists paint colourful images of plants, animals, mystical beings, and sometimes of political and social strife too. It is fascinating to see so much art crammed together in a small space, bursting with colour and life!
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2. Barranco, Lima – Peru
By Suzanne from The Travel Bunny – Travel, Food, Adventure
The artsy Barranco District in Lima is where you’ll discover some vibrant street art and colourful murals which bring Barranco’s walls to life. Many murals reflect the city’s culture and trades with themes of the sea, fishermen and farming. Local artist Yandy Gaffer’s murals can be seen around the city, and his typical style with brightly coloured flowing lines, and swirls edged with thick black lines are some of the best. Across the Bridge of Sighs, one of Barranco’s main sights is ‘The Home of Sigh’ by Jade Rivera, a striking mural that symbolises the closeness and love of the Barranco neighbourhood.
In 2015 the new mayor of Lima ordered all street art to be painted over in yellow, his political party colour, and sixty murals were destroyed in the process. The artists fought back and formed a collective and street art festival called ‘muraliza el barrio’. Their motto ‘They erase one, we will paint a thousand’ means that the street art in Lima is as alive and colourful as ever.
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3. Montreal – Canada
By Mel from BRB Travel Blog – for the wannabe nomads!
In Montreal, you don’t need to search for hidden alleys or rooftops to catch urban art, in fact, it is the contrary. The city has become a hub for graffiti, murals, and urban art. Luckily, to admire these you don’t need to pay an expensive ticket to a site, these are free and are scattered through the different neighbours. It seems that almost every building and wall are decorated with gigantic works of art, giving a vibrant and colourful personality to the city.
The Saint-Laurent Boulevard, one of Montreal’s busiest street, is where you will find the most graffiti and murals. All you need to do is, stroll down the street and hunt these gems. For a complete list of where to find the best street art in Montreal, click here.
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4. San Francisco, California – USA
By Stephanie of 1AdventureTraveler – Expat Travel Adventure!
When one thinks of San Francisco, we think of an eclectic city with colourful Street Art. To find the most comprehensive area of Street Art, let us take a stroll to the Mission District. A place with 1000 murals/street art and 3D mosaics spread throughout. They are painted in back alleys, on sides of garage doors, restaurants, schools, private residences and even on some churches. Step into a place where culture speaks louder than rules, and social justice earns respect.
Let the murals tell you a story on Clarion and Balmy Alley. Learn about the Clarion Alley Mural Project “CAMP” which was started in 1992 by local artists and residents. Then see Balmy Alley, which has roots dating back to the 1970s. A place where mural walls belong to an artist as long as they maintain their project.
The best tip I can suggest is to arrive early to stroll the district your way, then enjoy lunch at one of the many restaurants. Some places offer tours that take you down the back alleys. If you are lucky to still be in school, an excellent project provided by the CAMP program is to give tours to classroom children to view the Street Art down Clarion Alley. Book your trip to San Francisco, a place with counterculture and high-tech metropolis.
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5. Townsville, Queensland – Australia
By Kelly of The Captain & The Cook – sail, travel, explore!
Townsville has embraced the street art mania that is spreading through many cities worldwide! It has a vibrant street art atmosphere with stunning art and colossal wall murals. The art is actively encouraged by the Townsville City Council as it helps to energise the city centre, encourages cultural tourism, and strengthens the city’s arts sector. The council have made it easy for you to discover this art by providing a map. Click on the link and go explore… Street Art City Walking Trail: 2018 edition
Trippin’ Turpins social media links…
6. Taipei – Taiwan
By Taylor from Travel Colorfully
If you’re looking for unique street art in Taipei, head to the Wanhau District or the Ximending Shopping District. Both areas have a ton of great murals painted there. Make sure to wander down the side streets for the best finds! Pro Tip: From all of my time searching for street art and murals around the world, I always check out unique local businesses because they often commission an artist to paint the side of their buildings! That’s how I found this fantastic Australian cafe, Antipodean. Click here for more about Taipei Street Art!
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7. Hong Kong – China
By Kelly of The Captain & The Cook – sail, travel, explore!
Street Art! Many cities are embracing this expressive art movement, and Hong Kong is not being left behind. HKwalls is a non-profit organisation that organises an annual street art festival every march in Hong Kong. From these festivals, many creative murals now adorn Hong Kong’s streets, laneways and shop-front shutters.
The following areas have the highest concentration of street art in Hong Kong – Sheung Wan, Sham Shui Po, Stanley, Wong Chuk Hang, Sai Ying Pun and Central. HKwalls has a website where you will find maps to the street art of 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Trippin’ Turpins social media links…
8. Canggu, Bali – Indonesia
By Angie and Simon of Feet Do Travel – scuba diving, wildlife loving, storytelling couple!
Everyone knows Bali is famous for its rice terraces and temples, but have you considered checking out the amazing street art that can be found in Canggu? Just a few kilometres away from Kuta and Seminyak, Canggu has some fantastic urban art that adorns walls all over this up-and-coming bohemian coastal town.
We hired a scooter and drove around with the purpose of getting lost, this is the best way to search for street art in Canggu, which can be found hidden along many side streets. Murals are full of colour; some are painted over before you have a chance to see them, and others are freshly drawn before your eyes.
My favourites were on the boardwalk at Batu Balong beach just down from the popular Old Man’s, which has the most famous street art of them all; a Portuguese fresco style in blue and white on the wall outside the beachfront bar. One of the most striking is Think Pink Nails, a fantastic mural of Audrey Hepburn; it really is worth a visit. Another favourite is the many bad-ass babes drawn by Indonesian artist Quint, who seeks inspiration through his fascination with the Goddess Venus. If you love Street Art, take a trip to Canggu in Bali, and you will be in for a real treat!
Feet Do Travel social media links…
9. Yogyakarta, Java – Indonesia
By Ken from Sailingstone Travel – Exploration – Art – Outdoor Adventures.
Yogyakarta, also called Jogja, has long been a hub for culture and arts in Indonesia. Artists of all mediums and styles flock to the city thanks to its creative culture and affordable living. Today, the central Javan city is the best place in the country, if not all of Asia, to discover street art.
The sheer volume of Jogja’s public art is staggering, while the quality is consistently high. To get a good overview of Yogyakarta’s street art scene, you will need at least a couple of days in the city, but ideally more. Luckily, combining street art exploration with visits to the city’s numerous galleries and art spaces is relatively easy.
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10. Bangkok – Thailand
By Peter from Kite Around the World – A Sport and Adventure Blog.
While looking for street art in Bangkok, you will walk in areas where no tourists go. In fact, I like the walk because it’s not crowded. It’s fun noticing the locals looking at you and wondering what you are doing there. When I pull out my camera, take a photo of the street art and then glimpse back, I see them smile. Bring your camera, a pair of good hiking shoes and a bottle of water. Together, with a good mood, you will have a great day. Click here for more about Bangkok’s street art.
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11. Kadikoy, Istanbul – Turkey
By Jaclynn from The Occasional Traveller – Balance Work and Wanderlust!
Kadikoy is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, a short boat ride across the water from the more famous historical district of Sultanahmet. Most come here to indulge in its fresh food and charming produce markets, but it is also home to a series of murals thanks to the Mural Istanbul Street Art Festival that has covered many walls of this quiet neighbourhood with some spectacular colour. Admire these large-scale murals, but keep your eyes peeled for smaller works closer to the ground – you never know what you might spot if you pay attention.
The Occasional Traveller social media links…
12. Berlin – Germany
By Silke from Happiness and Things – City Trips, Amazing Landscapes and Experiences!
Street art is everywhere in Berlin but the best places to find it would be in the inner city suburbs of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg. Most comes in oversized murals on the side of big apartment houses, but some are also more obscure and subtle like little wire figurines sitting on street signs. There is also, of course, the East Side Gallery.
My most favourite street art spot in Berlin is in a courtyard near Hackescher Market right in front of Anne-Frank-Zentrum. Also, have a look at Haus Schwarzenberg, in one corner of that courtyard, on the inside, it is covered in scribbles and stickers. The best thing about street art in Berlin, however, is the free art gallery Urban Nation which gives a thorough introduction to this art form. All around the museum, the houses are covered in beautiful murals and graffiti.
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13. Hasselt – Belgian
By Kami from Kami & And The Rest Of The World – Solo Female Frugal Traveler!
Most people don’t think of Belgium as a great street art destination but every bigger city there has some amazing murals around. However, the unofficial capital of Belgian street art is Hasselt, a medium-sized town located in the north-east part of the country, one hour away from Brussels. That’s where the annual street art festival takes place, that’s where the first legal graffiti wall was created, and that’s where you will find lots of great art on the walls, including world-famous artists such as ROA, Inti or Aryz.
You should start with visiting the local tourism information where you can get a great street art map with marked routes, covering almost 40 works and their description. It’s a big help when walking around the city and looking for murals. There’s also a great app called “Street Art” where even more works are included such as tiny stencils and stickers. It was a massive help when visiting Hasselt. I always try to find street art in the places I travel to, but I didn’t expect this Belgian city to be such a big player in the street art scene. If you’re going to Belgium be sure to include Hasselt street art in your itinerary!
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14. London – England
By Dave from Man Vs Globe – Blogger | Adventurer | Yorkshireman
Those looking for street art in London should look no further than Brick Lane; London’s most famous ‘open-air gallery’ and the epicentre of the city’s street art scene. Some of London’s most famous pieces can be found here, such as ROA’s huge, three-story tall crane on Hanbury St and Banksy’s pink car tucked away in the Truman Brewery. However, to see some of the best work, I recommended heading away from Brick Lane itself and discover the art that’s daubed on the side streets.
A few of my favourites are Jim Vision’s incredible ‘Paradise Lost, in the Midst of Things’ on the side of Banglatown Cash & Carry in Hanbury Street and the pieces by Fanakapan, ThisOne and Mr Cenz tucked away in a nondescript yard just off Brick Lane, halfway between Fashion Street and Fournier Street. However, the art on display in the area is continually changing, with old pieces painted over at a rapid rate, so no two visits to Brick Lane are the same. Click here for more about the Street Art and walking tours.
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15. Belfast – Northern Ireland
By Claire from Tales of a Backpacker – One Woman. One Backpack. A Whole World to Explore!
Belfast really surprised me. The city has changed so much in the last 20 years and has transformed itself entirely into a thriving cultural centre. Around the Cathedral Quarter, the most noticeable difference is the colourful street art that adorns the walls all around the neighbourhood. These are not the political murals that you can still find in some areas of the city, these are works of art that transcend all borders of race, religion, and gender.
As well as local artists who share their work, Belfast also hosts a street art festival in September, when street artists from all over the world come to create even more colour and beauty in what used to be a dull, industrial city centre. If you’d like to learn about the meanings of the street art, you can take a street art tour with an artist guide who knows all of the street artists, or you can just wander the streets and find your favourite pieces.
Tales of a Backpacker social media links…
16. Lisbon – Portugal
By Kieren from Got My Backpack – exploring new places!
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More Information
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- All photos are the property of the author of each piece.
- Many cities will have street art maps at their visitor information centre or online, many also have walking tours.
For more Street Art from around the world, check out 16 Cities with Amazing Street Art!
Accommodation
We typically book our accommodation through booking.com. We like the convenience of booking online, and we are usually able to pay for our accommodation on arrival at the hotel/resort or room. booking.com advertise many different accommodation styles at (insert destination), so you are sure to find the perfect place.
iVisa
iVisa makes getting a visa super easy. You can even get passport and visa photos done!
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