Author: Barry Pickard
Contents
Have you ever wandered through a city and been captivated by the vibrant street art murals that seem to bring the walls to life? Over the past few years, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to explore some of the world’s most dynamic street art scenes. From the bold, colorful murals of my hometown, Aberdeen, where the scent of fresh paint mingles with the salty sea air, to the bustling, art-laden lanes of San Francisco’s Mission District, each mural tells a unique story of its city’s spirit and culture.
In this blog post, I’ll take you on a journey through these open-air galleries, sharing tips and personal anecdotes from my travels. You’ll discover why these murals are more than just art—they’re a reflection of the communities that create them. So, if you’re searching for the best street art murals around the world, let’s dive in and explore the extraordinary creativity that transforms ordinary streets into stunning visual experiences.
Planning an independent trip to any of these cities?
All information in this post is based on my own experience travelling around the world, backed by extensive research to bring you everything you need to know to have your own amazing experience.
Don’t forget that Tailor-Made Itineraries delights in creating bespoke self-guided tours. So, if visiting any of these street art murals appeals to you, reach out to me by email. I would be more than happy to design a self-guided tour around your requirements incorporating the very best street art in the world.
Guide to the Best Street Art Murals in the World
United Kingdom
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is well known for its grey granite buildings and the grey North Sea that coldly laps up its beaches, but over the past decade, Aberdeen has seen an explosion of colour and vibrancy. The annual Aberdeen Nuart Festival has stolen many of the headlines these past few years. This street art festival first came to the city in 2017 and has successfully provided an annual platform for local, national and international artists to showcase their work through a series of site-specific murals, installations, interventions, and temporary exhibitions.
But there have been several other initiatives that have contributed to making Aberdeen a world-renowned centre for the best modern street art. My favourite has to be the Painted Doors project which was initiated in July 2016 and has brought new life and colour to many of Aberdeen’s neglected city centre doors. Around 40 doors now having been painted by local artists, with each design being unique and eye catching.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
The painted doors can be found mainly around Langstane Place, Windmill Brae and The Green, while there is a handy concentration of Nuart murals along Union Row, just off of Union Street.
For a more in-depth look into Aberdeen’s street art murals scene, check out my Nuart Aberdeen Festival 2021 and Aberdeen’s Striking Street Art posts.
Glasgow
The splashes of colour from Glasgow's street art murals reflects the city's pulse, and its cultural heartbeat. Follow the Glasgow Mural Trail to capture some of the very best iconic street art. This open-air gallery showcases local and international talent, with most of the murals telling the story of Glasgow's heritage, the people who make it tick, and its unique character. The styles range from hyper-realistic portraits to whimsical fancies, all adding their own flavour to the city's vibe. Look out for the Strathclyde University Wonderwall, the touching St Enoch and Child on High Street, or Smug's Fellow Glasgow Residents – each one a celebration of Glasgow's identity and the strong sense of community.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
The Glasgow Mural Trail offers a really handy audio map, which, not only guides you where to find the murals, but also talks you through their meaning.
Belfast
The street art in Belfast that focuses on The Troubles is a vivid reflection of the city’s turbulent past. During a black cab tour of the area around the Crumlin and Shankill roads, I had the chance to view these fascinating and sometimes heart-breaking murals. Often found on the dividing walls between historically Catholic and Protestant neighbourhoods, this political street art tells two very different stories about the history of the conflict in Northern Ireland. They were used as a form of expression for both Irish Republicans and Loyalists, with symbols such as weapons, flags, and martyrs commonly found in their artwork.
On the other hand, the contemporary street art murals in the city centre of Belfast has transformed many walls and buildings, adding a vibrant and colourful character to the city. This recent growth in street art is less political in nature, showcasing a wide variety of different types of art, reflecting the city’s evolving artistic landscape.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
If you are in the Crumlin Road area checking out the murals, set aside a couple of hours to visit the Crumlin Road Gaol. A visit to this prison museum gives a highly informative insight into the often-torrid history of Belfast.
Bristol
It is over ten years since I visited Bristol, and at that time, Nelson Street was the city’s hub for street art, thanks to the See No Evil project which transformed the area. Today, other notable areas, like Stokes Croft (which has been graced by works from Banksy, perhaps the most famous street art artists), all contributes to Bristol’s reputation as a hub for creative expression through graffiti.
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Belgium
Brussels
Brussels has a great history of comic books, with Herge’s Tintin being perhaps the most internationally famous. Over recent years the artistry has leapt out of the pages and onto the walls of Brussels, with rich and colourful murals appearing regularly. The Comic Strip Walk takes in more than 60 murals and has transformed Brussels into a gallery and open-air museum.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
For a more in-depth look into the cultural attractions and street art scene of Brussels, check out my How to See Central Brussels in One Day post.
Ghent
Ghent is a port and university city, with an interesting history stretching well into the Medieval period. Today, Ghent is an absolute treasure house of modern street art murals, and over the years this art form has been actively encouraged, with many areas being established where it is legal to create these masterpieces.
As well as checking out Ghent’s large wall murals, take a walk-through Graffiti Street. More of a lane than a street, artists are allowed unlimited access to express their spray-can art on the surrounding walls, making it an ever-evolving work of street art. If you are lucky like I was, you will get a chance to watch one of the artists compose another signature piece.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
Visit Ghent have produced a really helpful street art map which details over 200 of the city’s murals. If you are visiting the city centre, you will find many great examples in the Patershol and Heilig-Kerst areas.
For a more in-depth look into the cultural attractions and cool street art scene of Ghent’s, check out my How to See Ghent on a Budget post.
Antwerp
Antwerp is perhaps best known as a busy port or as a commercial city, especially in the trade of diamonds, but it is another Belgian city which has been very supportive of its street artists. Local artist Rubens and his ever-popular house museum attracts the crowds, but since the ‘Baroque Murals’ project, pioneered by Antwerp’s more contemporary artist, Rise One, the city is now firmly on the map of the world’s street art hotspots.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
Before visiting the city, check out Street Art Antwerp’s Facebook page for all the up-to-date news on the mural scene.
For a more in-depth look into the cultural attractions and street art mural scene of Antwerp’s, check out my How to See Antwerp on a Budget post.
Read on to find out about street art in Finland, Germany and Spain.
Finland
Helsinki
The city centre is largely devoid of large wall murals but look closely and you will discover Helsinki's electrical junction boxes, which have been transformed into vibrant masterpieces. Take a stroll through the streets and immerse yourself in the creativity and imagination of local and international street artists. These mini masterpieces tell a unique story and adds to the city's character turning what was once an eyesore into works of art.
The themes of the paintings vary widely, but they often reflect the local culture and history. Some boxes feature traditional Finnish motifs, such as reindeer or the Northern Lights. Others depict famous landmarks, such as the Helsinki Cathedral or the Olympic Stadium. Still others are more abstract or whimsical.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
For a more in-depth look into Helsinki’s colourful junction boxes, check out my post The Tailor-Made Guide to Helsinki's City Centre Street Art.
Germany
Munich
While in Munich, I didn’t have enough time to track down it’s wall murals, however, I was able to visit the Museum of Urban and Contemporary Art. At MUCA, the young art form of urban and street art has been brought from the street to the museum for the first time. The black and white facade of the museum was designed by renowned street artist Stohead and is a work of art in itself. Inside, an extraordinary collection of works by national and international artists such as Banksy, Shepard Fairey, Vhils and Herakut await visitors.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
For a more in-depth look into the cultural heart of Munich, check out my post The Tailor-Made Top 21 Attractions to Visit in Munich, Part 1.
Spain
Bilbao
The La Vieja area of Bilbao is a vibrant hub for street art murals. This area is flooded with colour and creativity, with numerous artists showcasing their work on different buildings and walls. The area is the other side of the Nervion River from Bilbao's old town, Casco Viejo, and doesn’t seem to be visited much, which is a shame. The artworks vary in style and address different topics and have been gradually transforming this neighbourhood into a massive open-air art gallery.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
A handy map of the neighbourhood showing the location of many of the murals can be downloaded.
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Poland
Warsaw
Warsaw’s street art is a testament to the city’s creative pulse, offering a colourful and interesting journey through its history, especially from the Second World War and the Holocaust period. Street art murals are currently going through a wave of popularity and the city has hosted the Street Art Doping street art festival since 2009, while the so-called Tibetan Gallery at the Tibet Roundabout receives plenty of plaudits. My personal favourite, however, could be found under the Aleja Armii Ludowej motorway, at the northern tip of Łazienki Park.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
For a more in-depth look into Poland’s cool street art scene, check out my I Heart Polish Street Art post.
Łódź
Łódź is the third largest city in Poland and was once the centre of textile production in the Russian Empire. Since 2009, however, Łódź has successfully created a cultural re-invigoration of the city by encouraging and promoting the work of street artists from around the world, and It seems that around every corner in the city centre is a beautiful, colourful and challenging piece of street art. Street artists from around the world, notably Os Gemeos from Brazil, Aryz from Spain, and Remed from France, as well as Polish artists such as M-City, Bezt and Sainer, have been employed to brighten up and fascinate the city.
Tailor-Made Top Tip:
The community group Urban Forms have created a map of much of the city’s street art – see how many you can tick off!
For a more in-depth look into the cultural attractions and street art scene of Łódź, check out my 10 Things to see and do in Łódź, Poland post.
