The Best Street Art in Spain:
Our top five picks!
Originally published June 8, 2020, updated March 23rd 2024
All images are courtesy of the Spain Less Traveled team, unless otherwise stated.
One of the best ways to experience Spain more off the beaten path is to wander around and check out the street art of Spain. Not only will you get to see art that you won’t be able to see at the large museums, but often Spain’s street art tells a story of the cities that you won’t get in a text book.
In this guest blog post, Javier Garcia, the founder and CEO of Cooltourspain lets us in on some of his favorite places to view Spain’s street art.
And if you’re looking for more urban Spain, we’ve got you covered! Check out our list of top 30 cities in Spain for travelers!
The global art industry has recently experienced a change in its trends. It does not only target a specific audience who visits museums, but also travelers who are interested in discovering worldwide cities. Moreover, we have observed as Spain features the best street art and graffiti.
Thanks to this new touristic approach to visit regions, a Spain less traveled traveler could explore amazing urban artworks and colorful decorations all around the country. Whether you are on a road trip, or you take the Spanish high speed train called AVE, these are the locations that you should stop by!
Málaga, the Mediterranean’s gem
Similar to what happened in many other European and Spanish cities, Málaga city has worked in the past few years in the promotion of contemporary art.
For example, CAC is one of the public institutions which exhibits modern art in this city in Andalucía Spain.
Apart from that, the city center is full of huge murals and smaller decorations in different formats. Another project that you should take into account if visiting the city is MAUS (Urban art in SOHO district, Málaga). What used to be a low socioeconomic neighborhood has turned into a ‘gentrified’ area with boutique hotels and cool cafés.
Artists such as Obey (US), Roa (BE), Okudart (SP) or Boa Mistura (SP) have enlightened building facades around the Mediterranean Sea. In case you are interested in discovering the offbeat areas that feature the best local street art in Málaga, we would recommend you to visit Lagunillas.
For more Málaga tips and ideas, see our guide to Malaga off the beaten path!
Barcelona, more than just Gaudi’s art
Catalonia’s capital represents one of the longest standing graffiti communities in Spain. It was during the late 1980’s that artists such as Sixe Paredes started painting around Barcelona’s streets. The movement has changed since then. Graffiti writers still rollup and tag in the streets, while a new urban art scene appeared.
In the same vein, the best street art might be also observed in buildings, cultural centers, social community gardens and graffiti & urban wear shops. For instance, you could walk around El Born, Gotic or El Raval. Those three spots are located in the city center. On the other hand, you will find an industrial area called Poble Nou which also features amazing modern art walls.
As you may understand, Barcelona is one of the most visited cities around the world. That’s why many internationally known artists traveled there to paint. El Xupet Negre, Art is Trash and BToy are the most renowned creators in the local emergent artistic scene.
What the street art scene in Zaragoza like?
When traveling around Spain, you will be amazed by its architecture, gastronomy and history. Zaragoza’s most famous monument is El Pilar Cathedral, but today we were interested in giving you information about another important event in the city. Its name is Asalto.
This is a street art festival which works towards an urban landscape redevelopment. They invite the finest national and international street art performers to paint in Zaragoza. Furthermore, the most important role is taken by the general audience. That is to say, the local citizens and visitors interested in participating.
Not only will you find urban art in building facades around the different districts where the festival takes place, but also in the city center. El Tubo is the most popular area for young alternative locals. The area is filled up with small paste-ups, stickers and stencils created by anonymous artists.
Valencia’s urban art community
If we would have to connect graffiti with any music style, we would say that hip hop is the best match. Both industries have been linked since the beginning of this artistic movement, and it’s clearly visible on walls.
Valencia’s graffiti community is best represented by XLF. This crew created by local talented artists does not only paint graffiti letters but they also develop street art murals. Julieta, Deih and Escif are the most renowned in the Spanish urban art scene.
There are two specific areas that you should visit if you are interested in exploring the best street art in town. Firstly, walk around El Carmen, El Mercat and Velluters districts. It’s an easy walk. Secondly, wander through Cabanyal area.
(Here are more ideas of cool things to see in Valencia!)
Madrid street art map
Madrid is the last but not least city where to see the best street art in Spain. The country’s leading artists might be found on painted walls around the city center. The areas that we would recommend you to visit are considered as hipster. Lavapiés and Malasaña are our suggestions.
In case you would like to hear insider stories about the murals and the artists who developed them, you should join a street art tour in Madrid with Javier.
Don’t forget to visit on your own La Tabacalera de Lavapiés, a former tobacco factory from the XIX century now turned into a self-sustained cultural venue. In addition, relax at the most beautiful urban garden in town called Esta es una Plaza.
Again, we recommend contacting Javier, he runs Cooltourspain, a cultural, social and educational project specialized in post-graffiti art.
Inspired by the the street art of Spain?
Did Javier spark your interest in Spain’s political and colorful street art?
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