Where to Find Street Art in Europe
One thing that stands out about a city for me is its street art. It brings a city to life, tells its story – both past and present, and adds a deeper element to explore. And Europe’s street art scene is unlike any other. In my travels across Europe, I’ve found some incredible hotspots of street art, where along with iconic landmarks, charming cafes, and historic ruins there’s an open-air museum of street art. So, if you’re looking for where to find street art in Europe I’ve got the top seven cities that should be on your travel radar.
7 Top Cities for Street Art in Europe
Bristol
One of the top cities for street art in Europe is easily Bristol. Located two hours west of London, some have called it the “capital of street art” in not only the UK but Europe. And the most famous street artist is from Bristol. Yes, you know him – Banksy. And it’s in Bristol that you’ll find some of the best Banksy street art. But it’s also home to one of the largest street art and graffiti festivals in Europe, See No Evil. It all began in 2011 when an event took place to help transform one of Bristol’s run-down areas. Street artists from across the globe, as well as locals, came together to create some incredible pieces. And every year the collection of murals grows.
What kind of street art will you find in Bristol?
Street art in Bristol plays heavily on pop-culture but is also home to pieces that are ripe with emotion.
Where can you find street art in Bristol?
There are three main areas across the city where you can find street art; the city centre and the neighbourhoods of Eastville and Stokescroft. But if you’re looking specifically for Banksy street art you can pick up a cheap pamphlet at the tourist office. The pamphlet shares the locations of the pieces as well as a description of each. There are also numerous guided tours including an award-winning one from Where the Wall.
Related Post: Best Neighbourhood to Find Montreal Street Art
Berlin
Another very popular Europe street art city is Berlin. Street art has been around since the 1960s here and it can now be found all over the city. Berlin is also home to the only museum in the world that is dedicated to urban art, Urban Nation: Museum for Urban Contemporary Art. But the most famous street art in Berlin has been along the Berlin Wall. In November 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell the eastern part of the wall became a hub for artists who quickly began transforming it through art.
What kind of street art will you find in Berlin?
Much of Berlin’s street art is evocative and thought-provoking but there are also pieces that are full of colour and fantasy.
Where can you find street art in Berlin?
Street art can be found all over Berlin but a few places of note include; the Berlin Wall – and specifically the East Side Gallery, the Haus Schwarzenberg arcade, the area surrounding Urban Spree, and on the outskirts of Berlin there’s Teufelsberg.
Related Post: Toronto Street Art
London
London is one of my favourite cites for many reasons. There is so much to off travellers in London, from history to beautiful outdoor parks and gardens. But it’s also home to some amazing street art. The street art scene in London was a late bloomer and didn’t really start until the 1990s. But now many areas of London are covered in it, especially the most popular area Shoreditch, which is actually where it started in London. Another interesting spot is the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery where you’ll find a collection of street art that has been inspired by paintings in the Dulwich Picture Art Gallery.
What kind of street art will you find in London?
London street art is as diverse as its people. You can find everything from tags to large murals and with themes ranging from memorials – like that or Amy Winehouse to political pieces.
Where can you find street art in London?
As I mentioned above, the top place to find street art in London is Shoreditch. But other London street art locations include the neighbourhoods full of it like; Camden Town, Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Brixton, and Leake Street Tunnel – a tunnel under the Waterloo Station that is totally covered in street art.
Paris
Knowns as one of the most artistic cities in the world, with artists flocking here for ages, it’s no surprise Paris is one of the top European street art cities. Street art in Paris is just as chic and colourful as the city itself. Paris is also home to a street art museum, Art 42 – Urban Art Collection, that is home to over 100 pieces from a variety of artists including Banksy. And while Banksy may have made stencil art famous he was inspired by a French street artist, Blek le Rat.
What kind of street art will you find in Paris?
Mediums and styles of street art in Paris are as varied as the many artists that call the city home. There is everything from sprawling building murals to sticker art in alleys and even on curbs.
Where can you find street art in Paris?
There is street art throughout Paris. But a few key areas to find street art in Paris are the districts of Oberkampf, Ménilmontant, and Belleville. You can also find some in the Belleville area using this handy map. And there are over a dozen large murals in the 13th arrondissement, near the Nationale metro station. You can even view them virtually here.
Athens
You can’t have a guide on where to find European street art without mentioning Athens. The very word graffiti originates from the Greek word ‘graphein’ which means ‘to write’. And write they do across the walls all over Athens. But there were also two big draws for me when exploring Athens for street art. One where they adorable black cat silhouettes that can be found all over the city. The other pieces I was most excited about was the crazy curly-haired ladies. Turns out they are from a broken-hearted guy whose girlfriend broke up with him and to cope he created these pieces along her route. I love it when love inspires art!
What kind of street art will you find in Athens?
Street art in Athens comes in all sorts of forms from stencil art to stickers and lots of murals. Themes range from political to mythology and of course love.
Where can you find street art in Athens?
Most of Athens’s street art can be found in the downtown area. Key areas include Anafiotika, Psiri, and Plaka. Other popular neighborhoods for street art are Exarchina, Gazi, and Metaxourgeio.
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Brussels
While it’s known for incredible architecture and delicious cuisine, Brussels is also home to some incredible street art. Most of Brussels street art is inspired by Belgium’s cartoon culture. To celebrate the over 700 comic strip authors from Belgium, and jazz up the barren city walls, they created a Comic Book Route back in 1991. There are not over 50 comic book murals around the city centre. But don’t worry, there is more than comic book art! One piece of note is Manneken Peace. This large and colourful mural is a play on the famous Manneken Pis, the little boy peeing fountain.
What kind of street art will you find in Brussels?
While most of the street art in Brussels is rooted in cartoon culture there are also pieces of modern art pieces, video game-like space invaders, and more traditional works.
Where can you find street art in Brussels?
Street art can literally be found all over the city, many of which are located downtown around Grand-Place. There’s also a map that shares each location and what you can find there.
Want to see more street art in Belgium? There are a few fun and unusual places to see in Antwerp, many include some awesome street art!
Lisbon
Another fantastic city in Europe that has so much to offer those who love the arts can be found on the far west coast in Lisbon, Portugal. Known for its rich history, Fado music, and stunning tile work, Lisbon is also full of street art. Along with the stunning colourful azulejos (painted tiles) covering entire buildings or neatly arranged in the form of a peacock, you’ll also find streets lined with street art and sides of buildings home to large murals. There’s also a literary walk with murals that pay homage to Portuguese writers. You can find the map here.
What kind of street art will you find in Lisbon?
In my opinion, Lisbon’s best art is its traditional tile work, but you’ll also find all the other forms of street art. And themes are varied from history to pop culture and animals.
Where can you find street art in Lisbon?
You’ll find street art nearly everywhere in Lisbon but a few key areas include Bairro Alto, along the famous Tram 28 route, through Graҫa, and Alfama, and keep an eye out from it at different metro stops.
Other notable Street Art Cities in Europe
If the best places to go in Europe for street art aren’t enough and you’re looking for more check out the following places that definitely deserve a notable mention. And honestly, keep your eyes peeled because you can find it in nearly every city, small town, and around every corner.
Dresden, Germany
Glasgow, Scotland
Barcelona, Spain
Lodz, Poland
Reykjavik, Iceland
What is your favourite city for street art in Europe?
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