Best street art around the world

In just about any city you visit when travelling, you’re likely to come across a colourful mural and eye-popping street art. Our hometown, Perth has a wonderful street art culture with many alleys and laneways coming to life with an explosion of colour. Our travels have taken us to spectacular urban streetscapes, and it got us wondering where to see the best street art around the world. So settle back and enjoy the suggestions from some of our fellow travel bloggers when we asked them for their valued opinion.

Florianopolis, Brazil

Florianopolis offers travellers everything Brazil is famous for: sunshine, beautiful beaches, exotic music, drinks and food. Yet this island in the south of Brazil is still not on the international tourism radar. There is the added attraction of vibrant street art for those who are interested.

You can find street art all over the island, although more around the urban centre of the capital city. Several local artists have made names for themselves well beyond the boundaries of Santa Catarina; namely Vejam, Rizo, and Valdi Valdi (or Thiago Valdi). Murals by the latter can be also seen in the USA and Europe.

South American street art has its own unique style. The artists are directly influenced by ethnic mythology, or the colourful local vegetation and fauna. For example, most of Rizo’s murals have a chameleon as the centre piece. l7matrix, who is from São Paulo but has worked in Florianópolis, is famous for his colourful, tropical birds – often Hummingbirds.

Valdi Valdi is the artist, who really stands out with his photo-realistic portraits of well-known people. Once you recognise his eye-catching style, you will easily spot his work. Many of his portraits are mono-chrome, often in bright blues.

If you don’t have much time to explore the city, you should at least stop near the airport of Florianopolis. There is a large concrete overpass, which was transformed into an enormous street art gallery for the 11^th Bienal Design congress.

By Juergen Klein, Dare2go

Valparaiso, Chile

Valparaiso, a beautiful coastal city is considered to be the art capital of Chile. This colorful city occupies several hills (Cerros) along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. The main street art areas in Valparaiso are three hills; Cerro Bellavista, Cerro Concepcion, and Cerro Alegre. Visiting the Museo a Cielo Abierto, an open-air museum in the Cerro Bellavista neighbourhood is a must-do thing in Valparaiso. The Museum consists of a couple of streets with murals, it was opened in 1992. Some well-known Chilean artists like Roberto Matta and Mario Carreño together with amateur painters created this unique place. There are 20 murals in different styles and genres in the Museum. Every mural has a label next to it with the name of the artist and a short description of his/her work. There is no admission fee or working hours visitors can come here at any time. The best way of getting to the Museum is by using Espiritu Santo Ascensor, one of the 16 historical city elevators. Cerro Concepcion is another great area to wander in search of street art. Here you can find elaborated murals, beautiful mosaics, and staircases painted like piano keys or a rainbow. Many houses in the neighbourhood are painted in green, red, blue, and other bright colours. Valparaiso is a real paradise for art lovers. One can spend hours walking around the narrow cobbled streets of Cerro Bellavista or Concepcion admiring the street art.

By Alya & Campbell, Stingy Nomads

Medellin, Columbia 

Medellin is a city with an intense history filled with many a twists and terms. While it is perhaps most famous for its role as the home of Pablo Escobar’s cocaine empire in the 1980s, the city has undergone significant revitalization in recent years to shake off this notoriety. One innovative way Medellin has tried to do this is through the beautification of the city’s barrios through thought-provoking graffiti and street art.

Medellin has embraced the transformative power of street art as a tool to empower communities. Not only does street art here invigorate downtrodden neighbourhoods, but it instils a sense of pride in its residents. It has also been used to instigate significant political and social change – so much so that street art here is considered valuable insight into the populace’s grievances before protests take to the street. One of the best places to see Medellin’s street art is Comuna 13  previously one of Colombia’s most dangerous neighbourhoods. Today it attracts tourists who flock here to see street art’s raw power and potential for change. An explosion of messages, colours, creativity, and personality now covers every house, roof, door, and wall in sight. You can spend days exploring the twisted maze of alleys and urban canvases on this hillside neighbourhood. Medellin is undoubtedly one of the best cities in the world for street art, and Comuna 13 is the jewel in its crown.

By Jordan Adkins, Inspired By Maps

Banksy Tunnel, UK

London has a thriving street art scene, but there is one person in particular who stands at the centre of it all.  The mysterious figure of Banksy burst onto the London street art scene in the 1990s.  As an anonymous artist, he took his craft underground, painting murals that were often politically motivated and generally satirical.

Some of his most iconic pieces are still adorning London walls today.

The Leake St tunnel near Waterloo Station was “unveiled” by Banksy in 2008, creating an area for graffiti and street artists to express their creativity.  The City of London embraced this idea and the tunnel, now known as the “Banksy Tunnel” is now a legal art space.

The artwork is continually changing here, and the murals that Banksy once painted long gone, but it’s still a really cool place to visit when you are in London.  Different artists come here, all expressing their thoughts in image form in different ways, creating a real blend of murals here.  Mostly, it’s got a graffiti art feel.

It’s dark and grungy in the tunnel and it’s best to observe the art during the day.  The best part about it is that it’s not always bursting with tourists like many of the other more well-known locations are.

The “Banksy Tunnel” can be found underneath Waterloo Station via York Street or Lower Marsh Road.

By Kerri McConnel, Beer and Croissants

Brighton, UK

Brighton is a vibrant seaside town on the south coast of England with a bohemia vibe and plenty of artistic flair. Away from the main roads in the smaller streets that spread out from the town centre, you won’t have to walk far to see some wonderful street art.

The most famous piece of all is Bansky’s Kissing Coppers painted on the side of the Prince Albert pub close to the train station. In 2004, when it was first revealed, it caused great controversy. Sadly, the original had to be removed to protect it from vandals. Before it was sold, it was used to make a facsimile which is encased in perspex in the original location for the painting. The whole of the sidewall of the pub was later covered in portraits forming a colourful celebration of musical legends.

Nearby, in Terrance Lane, you’ll find the entire length of the lane covered in street art. Every time I visit Brighton, there’s an image or two and while it’s sad to see my favourite works painted over it’s wonderful to know that there will always be something new to enjoy. Continue walking towards the seafront and you’ll soon stumble across many more examples of Brighton’s artistic streak.

By Kathryn Burrington, Mandala Meadow

Shoreditch, UK

Shoreditch is a neighbourhood in East London that used to be poor and grundy area but is now a hipster and cool place to visit!

Street Art has been a part of Shoreditch for a long time, first, it was people illegally making their mark, but now it’s one of the main attractions of the area and is protected by authorities.

There are pieces from famous artists like Banksy, Adrian Boswell, Dale Grimshaw, Dreph and many more!

You’ll find street art all over Shoreditch but places I recommend going so you’ll definitely spot some amazing pieces are Chance Lane, Seven Stars Yard, Hanbury Street and Commercial Street.

When it comes to when to visit Shoreditch, I recommend visiting Shoreditch on Sunday, because Sunday is when all of the markets are on like Brick Lane Market and Columbia Road Flower Market so you will get to fully experience the coolness of this area like a local!

Finally, although some pieces seem to stay for many years, others come and go pretty quickly with new pieces in their place so keep this in mind when searching for ones you may have seen online!

By Ellie Quinn, The Wanderinig Quinn

Adelaide, Australia

The Adelaide city centre is a great spot for street art enthusiasts to take a wander and to discover the collection of diverse art murals created by both local and international talent. Across the city you’ll find dozens of large scale murals covering the full range from portraits to scenes, fantasy and geometric designs. Some are designed with a deeper message, others simply to brighten up the inner city and bring a smile.

Adelaide is easy to explore on foot. It’s flat and the streets are laid out in a simple grid pattern bordered by the river to the north and parks to the south.  For some of the pieces you’ll need to detour down small laneways on the edge of the city. You’ll also find fabulous works right in the heart and around the popular Peel-Leigh Street dining precinct that you are sure to want to spend some time in. If you do find you’ve wandered a bit too far and are on a deadline just hop on the inner city tram to get back, it’s free!

The piece here is by Adnate, one of my personal favourite spray paint artists who is known for both Street Art and Fine Art portraiture. His images always capture deep thought, emotion and the stories of his subjects.

By Toni Broome, 2 Aussie Travellers

Darwin, Australia

Darwin is a great place to visit if you are an art lover. The city has a rich culture of traditional Aboriginal art and a diverse street art scene. As you weave through the streets of Darwin you will notice many large, bold murals that beautify and stimulate thinking.

One such mural is Daraniki Myall in Austin Lane by Elle who began as an illegal street artist in New York and is now one of the top street artists creating some memorable walls. Her murals include females, flora, fauna, and an environmental message. Daraniki Myall tells the story of Darwin’s history. The woman, a mix of Larrakia, the local Aboriginal, and Chinese, who came to Darwin during the Gold rush. The Black Kite bird with a burning twig in its beak to spread the fire to seek out food. There is local flora, a halo of pearls and gold, which are part of the history, and the bold colours of the land. The mural represents beauty, strength, power and pride.

By Lyn Baker, A Hole in my Shoe

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia. In the competition between Sydney and Melbourne, the latter is a serious contender in the “urban cool” division, if not a clear winner. The heart of Melbourne is in its “hole-in-the-wall” bars and its dark secretive lanes… In the Melbourne laneways, you can only find some wonderful food and drink at either end of the pay scale, but you can also lose yourself in the most striking street murals.

The laneways of Melbourne’s CBD have the most incredible collection of street art and it’s not impossible to stumble upon artists at work from time to time. Some of the most famous places, like Hosier Lane tends to change its art on a regular basis, but some have more permanent legacies. Beaney Lane is a stone’s throw from Federation Square, a seemingly dark and neglected back street, only welcoming restaurant workers on a break during the day and weary nightclubbers during the night. But it is also home to a striking and peaceful presence by Mongolian artist Heesco. The mysterious and distant blue-skinned lady with a jewel and elaborate headdress keeps watch on the ongoing street art transformation of the lane and those dark eyes will haunt you for a while yet…

By Delphine, Lesterlost

Sydney, Australia

Located on the wall of the Urban Hotel on Enmore Road, Newtown is “Housing Bubble” by Fintan Magee. Painted in 2015 for Marrickville Council, Housing Bubble is a commentary on an issue all too familiar in this part of the city, which can see some of the most inflated prices in Australia.

Kneeled on the back of her presumed partner, a woman waits to catch a rickety old inner-city terrace, suspended in the air by a bevy of helium balloons. But the market is fickle: an arrow is flying into the mix, ready to pierce those balloons, bringing chaos or opportunity in its wake.

Lismore born and Brisbane raised, Fintan Magee has long since graduated from teenage tagging into large scale murals, grabbing a Fine Arts degree in the process. Now an artist of international acclaim, Fintan’s own unique mix of realist imagery, abstract design and whimsical imagination graces the sides of buildings across the world.

But although you can find his work anywhere from Finland to French Polynesia, you’ll find more than 20 pieces stretching up the towers and the sprawling down the laneways of his adopted home of Sydney.

By Paula Morgan, Sydney Expert

Townsville, Australia

Townsville City Council in North Queensland, actively encourages street art and public murals.

In July 2015, Belgian Muralist ROA, creator of more than 1000 murals across six continents, created three murals in Townsville.

He painted a North Queensland Sugar Glider placing it in an obscure Flinders Street East Car park adjoining Denham Lane. The Sugar Glider is a nocturnal possum that glides from tree to tree, but this one sits chained to a pipe above some transformer boxes.

Another ROA work in Townsville is of a giant lizard or Goanna standing tall and holding his long tail with his front feet.

His third and largest Townsville Mural is Croc and Turtle. Taking up one long wall of the Cowboys Leagues Club car park in the CBD, it has a huge visual impact and is my favourite ROA mural in Townsville. I attribute this to my being a North Queenslander and identifying strongly with both animals.

Because of the croc’s length, it is quite challenging to get it in frame. It took ROA a week to complete this monumental work and in doing so he created much community interest.

By Jan Robinson, Budget Travel Talk

Miami, USA

The Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida is a popular and trendy area that is full of street art. This once rundown and unsafe neighborhood has completely transformed. It is now full of shops, cafes, galleries, and apartments. And literally every inch of the neighborhood is covered in art, whether it’s on the walls, sidewalks, or light poles.

Something we really love about Wynwood is that the street art is constantly changing. Artists from all over the world come here to paint murals and on any given day you can drive around and see a new mural being painted. This means that you can go back and explore frequently and always see something new.

Because it’s a large area, we recommend driving around in a car. If you want to take a picture of a mural that particularly moves you, you can pull over for a quick snap. This will also keep you cool during the heat and humidity of South Florida.

By Vicky Sosa, Buddy The Traveling Monkey

Nashville, USA

Nashville may be famous for country music, boot-scootin and Honky Tonk bars, however, the city’s culture goes well beyond music and live entertainment. It is also home to some incredible art galleries and street art.

The most famous street art in Nashville is the iconic “What Lifts You” angel wings mural by Kelsy Montague. The mural is part of a larger series of Kelsey’s street artwork around North and South America, featuring iconic angel wings.

The Nashville wings are located in the trendy area of The Gulch, at 302 11th Ave S. near the famous Biscuit Love cafe.

Within a short walk of “What Lifts You”, you will find several other pieces of street walk around The Gulch as well, making it a perfect area to explore and snap a few fun photos with friends.

This is a popular thing to do in Nashville and you will often find a line up of people waiting for their turn at posing in front of the wings. But don’t be put off by this, as the line moves quickly and most people are happy to help each other by taking a group photo for you while they wait their turn.

Don’t miss the mini wings next to the larger mural, perfect for kids to pose with… or pets!

By Holly, Four Around the World

San Francisco, USA

San Francisco’s vibrant, Latin-souled Mission District has long been home to colorful murals.  In fact, there is a tour dedicated to viewing them and learning more about them.  One of the best places to view a fine collection is Clarion Alley, which runs between Mission Street and Valencia Street–the two main shopping corridors in this vibrant area.  Murals are painted all along the alley, so it feels a bit like an open-air gallery.  Volunteers informally oversee the alley art, and works are painted over regularly so visitors are never sure what they will see.  Street artists are given a patch of fence or a wall or maybe a garage door to have at.  They can paint whatever they like, but they must maintain their work if they wish to keep it displayed.  There is usually enough turnover to assure you’ll see something fresh and edgy each time you visit.

By Carole Terwilliger Meyers, Berkeley and Beyond

Hong Kong

Street art around the world has become a tourist attraction in its own right and one of the neighbourhoods in Hong Kong – Old Town Central – is alive with murals, portraits and landscapes claiming its once plain buildings and walls.

During your stay in Hong Kong check out this quintessential area near to the famous Hollywood Road – yes that really is its name – and you will find all manner of delightful works of street art.

Turn a corner and be confronted by a 20ft portrait of Frank Sinatra alongside Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin – not a sight you would expect to see in Hong Kong.

Walk along a quiet side street and stumble upon the most photographed example of street art in Hong Kong. Local street artist Alex Croft’s colourful mural of the city’s iconic Tong Lau tenement buildings. This piece of street art is well-loved and attracts tourists who queue to have their photo taken beside it.

Hong Kong’s street art is not just a magnet for tourists as we witnessed during our visit. A wedding photo shoot complete with family members was being shot in a road with urban graffiti – a more radical form of street art – as the backdrop for the bride and groom.

Hong Kong has a diverse and active street art scene and is definitely worth a visit!

By Angela Price, Where Angie Wanders

Ipoh, Malaysia

Ipoh, a city in peninsular Malaysia, has some of the best street art in the world. Originally, it was mostly create by Lithuanian artistErnest Zacharevic and many of the street art images depict daily life scenes in Ipoh like a man having a cup of coffee, a cycle rickshaw driver loading garbage bags or a scene inside the home. More art is being added by other artists over time though and there is now a very decent collection of street art in Ipoh.

Some of the art also involves objects. Like there is a man with a scooter handing bags to kids with an actual scooter against the street art. You can also find three men drinking a beer with an actual table popping out of the wall.

One of the plusses of exploring the street art here is that it’s mostly located in the Old Town which is beautifully restored. It makes walking around looking for the art a very pleasurable experience. It’s also a less visited option than many of the top street art destinations which makes it more enjoyable. We had all the street art to ourselves.

By Sharon Gourlay, Dive Into Malaysia

Montmartre, France

We’ve travelled to some wonderful street art locations around the world like Belgrade, Amsterdam, Ljubljana, and Brussels. But we found one of our favourite cities, Paris, has a great street art scene. In Montmartre, which is our favourite area with its vineyard, windmills, Sacre Coeur and charm, it was no real surprise being home to artists that there is a great street art culture. Of course everyone has heard of Amelie Poulain and near Maison Collignon, the setting for the movie is a mural of Amelie herself. Painted in 2015 by Zabou, a French street artist known for her large scale portraits, created spray paint freehand.

By Lyn Baker, A Hole in my Shoe

Reykjavik, Iceland

Not many people would consider Rekjavik, Iceland a destination for street art but as you wander the streets you can see some amazing work all over. During the winter in Iceland, it can become dark and gloomy in the city quickly but many of these amazing colourful arts of work bring a brightness to the city that only art can.

There are huge murals on walls that would have taken so long to design and finish as well as small pieces down the alleys ways. Wherever they are they bring a beautiful brightness to the city of Reykjavik. And you won’t find only murals. In some places in Reykjavik, you will find sculptures that are as colourful and brilliant as the artworks painted on the walls.

As many people know Iceland is one of the most expensive countries to visit but wandering the city is an awesome way to see street art as well as saving some money. Wandering the streets when you visit Reykjavik is also a fabulous way to see the city in the best way possible. If you are visiting Reykjavik with teens you can start up at the Hallgrimskirkja and walk all the way to the Harpa (concert hall) you will see many on display. From there you can have a look at some more sculptures along the water’s edge including The Sun Voyager.

By Bec Wyld, Wyld Family Travel

Stavanger, Norway

Stavanger, Norway has an amazing street art scene that you need to see. Stavanger street art is constantly changing from one year to the next, so it’s possible to see new works of art every time you visit. Like many other prolific street art cities around the world, Stavanger has an annual graffiti festival called Nuart Festival. Artists from all over the world gather in Stavanger to create and reveal new murals, stencil art, graffiti, and more.

While street art in Stavanger is found all over the city, you’ll find a large collection on Fargegaten or “Color Street”. Walk down Øvre Holmegate for the brightly painted buildings and the wonderful graffiti everywhere you look. You’ll also find street art by the cruise port, in an old industrial park that’s now a playground, and unexpectedly around many turns in the road. Wander around the city center of Stavanger and you’ll come across so many interesting works of art.

By Lauren Yakiwchuk, Justin Plus Lauren

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has everything to offer: delicious food, perfect sunshine, great architecture, and a beautiful sandy beach. But did you know that you can also admire unique street art in the narrow streets of the Barcelona neighborhood Barrio Gótico?Especially in the evening, when the roller shutters of the shops are pulled down, a spectacular picture emerges in Barcelona’s alleys. Everywhere you can find fascinating graffiti and great pictures. Many of the street arts go back to the subject of freedom. For years Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, has been fighting for independence from Spain.My favorite piece of art is located in a small alley, just a few steps from Barcelona’s Cathedral. It is the so-called work of art “El món neix en casa besada” (The world begins with every kiss). From a distance, the picture shows a kiss. However, anyone who approaches the picture realizes that it is actually a mosaic of many different combined images to form a large kiss picture. This piece of art became one of the most-photographed street arts in the city.

By Vicki Franz, Vicki Viaja

Basel, Switzerland

The biggest surprise of all the street art I’ve seen was in Basel. Walking through the old town on our last day and we turned the corner to be faced with a giant, brightly coloured mural of classic rock legends. We began naming those we could, Kurt Cobain, Madonna, Pink Floyd, Jim Morrison, Mick Jager, Janis Joplin, Pink. Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marly, John Lennon and more. Wow, what an eye catcher this piece is. The mural was created by Art4000 for L’Unique, the restaurant and bar directly across from the bold mural. This would have to be the best known piece of street art in Basel.

By Lyn Baker, A Hole in my Shoe

 

Did any of your favourite murals make the list? Let us know where else we should head to see some great street art when we are able to travel again.

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Cover photo painted by Shime & Dash88 at Circles of Hair, North Perth, Pin photo painted by Paul Deej near Leederville Skate Park, Perth