Where to find the best street art in Europe

Where’s the best street art in Europe?

If you’re anything like me, a beautiful wall mural or a hidden piece of graffiti can really change your impression of a city.

I’ve wandered through many big cities in Europe, camera in hand, eyes up, looking for the most beautiful murals.

In this article, I’ll take you through six cities that with the most exciting street art scenes I’ve been to.

Top cities for street art in Europe

Paris

I spent countless hours inside museums in galleries in Paris, but also wandering the city and enjoying its open-air street art galleries in one of the best destinations for street art in Europe.

The best areas to look for street art in Paris are:

I couldn’t really pick a favourite, they all have their own character.

I normally take a street art tour in every city when I get curious about the art I see on the walls around me.

On a guided Belleville street art tour, I got to see a different side of Paris – a less touristy neighbourhoods that’s alive with colour and creativity.

The tour guide took us to see art in hidden corners and explained the background of many of the works we saw, introduced us to the artists, and also left some open questions for us to ponder…

Valencia

It’s easy to get lost on the streets of the old town, El Carmen. That’s the best place to experience urban art in Valencia.

On every street and alley there’s some kind of surprise – a huge mural or a tiny stencil, plus small sculptures and even crochet that make the creative mix even more whimsical.

I wanted to know more about the artists and especially about the political and social messages behind the art, as I felt I was missing out on quite a bit of information that locals understand.

I found a street art tour with a great guide who gave us a very comprehensive overview of the art and the artists.

My favourite thing about it was that by the end of the tour everyone in the group could name the artists based on their style.

Valencia may be a lesser known place to find street art in Europe, but I’m glad I got to see its wonderful local scene.

Glasgow

If you appreciate unexpected beauty, you’ll love Glasgow. The Glasgow street art scene is remarkable. It’s part of what gives this city a very special character.

I truly wasn’t prepared for how many amazing murals I’d see in Glasgow.

These massive murals were commissioned as part of a city beautification project. Many people think Glasgow is just gritty, but the Glasgow Mural Trail is there to change their minds.

I took a street art tour in Glasgow to see some of the main highlights of the Mural Trail, and saw the rest of it while walking around the city.

The project revitalised overlooked corners. One of my favourite works is called Fellow Glasgow Residents, a mural in an otherwise boring parking lot. It’s colourful, creative and full of small details to spot.

Budapest

Walking around the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, you come across everything that’s currently hip in the city.

Its famous ruin bars, cool cafes and design shops, and the fascinating Budapest street art scene.

I spent a lot of time around that part of the city and saw many artworks, big and small. I especially noticed some very impressive, commissioned murals.

You can easily spend a whole day just exploring the Jewish Quarter (aka District VII). It’s been gentrified and has become touristy, but also has its authentic corners that you find while exploring.

I took a street art tour with a local guide which was the best way for me to understand what was behind those large murals I’d spotted.

The guide also showed us some more underground artworks that I’d otherwise have missed.

Athens

Soon after arriving in Athens I started spotting large murals with intricate details, characters, and slogans.

I saw many different artistic styles, social commentary, and pop culture references.

Street art in Athens is pretty much everywhere. Entire neighborhoods serve as open-air galleries.

A lot of the art can be found in neighbourhoods like Psirri, Exarchia , Metaxourgeio, Monastiraki, and quite a few others.

As a traveller, I get to learn a lot about local culture and have a more meaningful experience in foreign city when I understand its street art.

Political street art is big in Athens and the artists there aren’t afraid to tackle tough subjects, like social injustice and the economy.

I took a street art tour to put things in context. We saw many different styles and got the full story behind some of the more political works.

Overall, it was a great experience that made Athens more memorable for me.

London

Last but not least, London, the city with the most diverse and dynamic street art scene I’ve ever seen.

It’s widely considered the best city to see street art in Europe.

The top spots to see street art in London are Shoreditch, Camden, Brixton, Hackney Wick, and the Leake Street Tunnel.

If you have to pick just one area, go for Shoreditch (aka East End).

Wander around Brick Lane to see the best urban art, super creative ideas, and the work of upcoming artists alongside well-known names like Banksy, Jimmy C, and ROA.

No two visits are the same. If you come back to the same mural after just a week, you’ll most likely see a new piece of art on the same wall.

There are many street art tours in London, especially in Shoreditch. Some also include a workshop. I take a street art tour each time I visit London, because the art is always changing.

The free tour is tip-based, so you can pay what you like at the end.

Brick Lane also has a very interesting history, that the guide told us about during the tour.

Browse more places to discover street art in Europe

Save this guide to street art in Europe on Pinterest

Where to find the most amazing murals and the best urban art

Table of contents