Lisbon street art: beautiful murals and cool urban art

Where can you find great pieces of street art in Lisbon, Portugal?

I’ve been to Lisbon a couple of times and really enjoyed its vibrant street art scene.

As always with great street art, it gives you some interesting insights into the local Portuguese culture.

Lisbon street art tours

To discover Lisbon’s latest street art gems, you can take a small group street art walking tour. It’s a 3-hour tour led by a street artist.

Find out when the tour is running:

A couple of times a week you can also find a free (tip-based) street art tour in Lisbon (one of many free tours you can take in Lisbon).

If you’d like to take a self-guided tour, get a map here.

A beautiful selection of street art in Lisbon

I invited travel bloggers to recommend some great urban art in Lisbon.

The selection is colourful, eclectic and includes local and international artists and a variety of techniques.

The Big Raccoon by Bordalo II

The Big Raccoon is a piece of street art by Artur Bordalo, known by his professional name Bordalo II, a Portuguese artist from Lisbon.

The Raccoon is one of the first pieces he made in Lisbon, in 2015, using trash and garbage to create portraits of animals.

Bordalo II has since created many more “Big Trash Animals” all over the world, including a fox on Rua de Xabregas in Lisbon and The Half Rabbit, a great piece of urban art in Porto.

Bordalo II’s work uses the rubbish that we throw away to create his animals, who are victims of the destruction we are reeking on the planet.

The Big Raccoon is in a car park close to the Jerónimos Monastery and is black and white 3D as the trash stands out from the wall.

The background is painted green, yellow and blue as if it were a woodland setting. As the artwork is now several years old it is starting to fade a little, and some plants have started growing out of the trash – which seems to suit the piece very well!

Address: R. Bartolomeu Dias 43, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal

By Claire from Why Visit Barcelona

The fox by bordalo ii

Portuguese street artist, Artur Bordalo, simply known as Bordalo II, has become somewhat synonymous around Portugal for his bold and beautiful street art installations that certainly make a bold statement.

Made entirely out of trash, these vibrantly colourful creations are not only beautiful to behold but also send a clear message.

Using all manner of plastic, car parts, and other disused trash, Bordalo II aims to cast the spotlight squarely on our 21st-century wastefulness and consumerism and the trail of destruction that is left in its wake.

Especially beautiful is his “Big Trash Animal” wall mural series that often portrays endangered species and aims to invoke an emotional connection with the viewer, questioning our habits and the impact it has on the natural world around us.

One such poignant piece is found only a short 5-minute walk from Lisbon’s trendy Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira), which is located opposite the Cais do Sodre train and metro station.

Walking along the Avenida 24 Julho street you won’t miss this stunning creation set on a blue façade of a dilapidated building located at R. da Cintura do Porto de Lisboa 32.

Whether you’re visiting for a short stay or longer, a quick stop by The Fox or any of Bordalo II’s other works is definitely well worth adding to your Lisbon itinerary.

By Marco fromTravel-Boo

The Adriana ‘DRI’ mural by Jacqueline de Montaigne

You will feel with the eyes of twin women following you whether approaching or departing on a street in Lisbon.

The Adriana ‘DRI’ mural is painted almost entirely in shades of blues – cobal, navy, peri, and sea blue – except for the surprise pop of red and black.

It was painted by Jacqueline de Montaigne, a Lisbon-based painter and muralist born in 1980, who was inspired by the androgyny movement.

“In a society obsessed with aesthetic perfection, superficial happiness, and clear gender identity, Jacqueline consistently deconstructs these stereotypes in her work, striking to provoke . . .”

Her trademark is the incorporation of blue, visually representing melancholy.

She paints female twins which look out on the neighborhood. The outlines of their eyes, noses, and lips are painted a smokey blue. Life is reduced to black and blue. But a punch of color – bright red – frames their heads. And a bluebird (which symbolizes happiness and joy) lands on one girl’s forehead.

By Terri from Female Solo Trek

Amália Rodrigues by Vhlis

A tribute to one of Lisbon’s most iconic faldo singers, the cobblestone street art of Amália Rodrigues on Calçada do Menino Jesus, is a must see in the Alfama neighborhood.

Unlike many of the other Lisbon street art examples, this work of art is not painted, but meticulously crafted from cobblestone tiles.

Created in 2015 by artist Vhlis, this lovely portrayal of the famous singer’s face is created with thousands of tiny square tiles.

The work of art of Calçada do Menino Jesus sits on a sloped pavement adjacent to a restaurant with outdoor dining, which is a great place to enjoy a meal if visiting Lisbon with kids.

Some say when it rains in Lisbon, Amália Rodrigues appears to be crying in the street mural. Regardless, this beautiful work by one of Lisbon’s most notable artists is a moving memorial to one of the country’s most beloved and famous performers.

Rodrigues, who died in 1999, was a Portuguese actress and Fado singer, who achieved highest honors in Portugal and worldwide during her lifetime.

By Melissa from Parenthood and Passports

Desassossego by Akacorleone

Pedro Campiche, better known by his moniker Akacorleone, is one of Lisbon’s finest homegrown street artists.

He is known for his use of bright, saturated colours and interesting shapes, creating a style that’s very easy to recognise once you have encountered his work.

Desassossego, meaning ‘restlessness’, is one of his lesser-known murals, but definitely one of the coolest and most striking.

I stumbled across it when exploring the high-up Graça neighbourhood while looking for miradouros, one of my favourite things to do in Lisbon.

Indeed, it is the elevated position that makes this mural stand out. It is painted onto the side of a residential building on Rua Damasceno Monteiro as it bends around the hillslope.

You can’t miss it as you walk around the corner, and its positioning means you can also spot it from some really cool angles lower down the hill.

The mural itself is like a melting pot of colours and shapes, with an image of a starry-eyed character in sunglasses providing the main focal point.

Facing roughly south, it catches the sunlight for most of the day, accentuating its vibrance, and invoking feelings of exuberance and vitality – everything I love about Lisbon!

By Alex Trembath from Career Gappers

A Tribute by Camila Watson

Lisbon is a stunning, historic city filled with culture. You’ll find architectural masterpieces, statues, monuments, and some incredible works of art.

There are so many fun things to do in Lisbon. If you want to get a bit off the beaten tourist path, head over to Mouraria to see “A Tribute.” It’s a lovely outdoor photo exhibit by British photographer Camilla Watson.

There are more than 25 images of the older people that lived in this neighborhood.

They chose the photos that reflected them as unique individuals to be displayed on the walls in this neighborhood. It’s a beautiful representation of the rich history of this area.

The images are printed onto wood and mounted on the walls. It’s such an interesting and unique display and so reflective of Lisbon.

The artist’s goal was to honor those portrayed in her works and to offer them to passersby in the ultimate outdoor art gallery.

This permanent street exhibit is located in the Beco das Farinhas, not far from her studio.

By Sam at My Flying Leap

Fado Vadio

Tucked away in the narrow winding staircases of Escadinhas de São Cristóvão in the neighbourhood of Mouraria, you will come across the colourful Fado Vadio street art mural – one of the most famous street art pieces in Lisbon.

Created by a group of talented local artists, this mural pays tribute to Fado, a traditional music genre of Portugal.

Fado also has a strong historical connection with this neighbourhood – frequently referred to as the birthplace of Fado music.

It is an integral part of Portuguese culture and tradition and was listed by UNESCO as World’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. Watch a performance in Lisbon if you are interested in Fado music.

The mural is within walking distance from the famous Rossio Square and the Santa Justa Lift.

Fado Vadio literally means “Bohemian Fado”. This extensive colourful graffiti shows the history of Fado through symbols and figures.

It depicts several famous Portuguese Fado musicians, like Maria Severa and Fernando Maurício. You will also find musical lyrics, bread and wine, painted all over the walls here.

By Moumita & Sankha from Chasing the Long Road

Poseidon (God of the Sea) by PichiAvo

The capital city of Portugal is home to so many stunning street art pieces. Whether you have 2 or 3 days in Lisbon, you must include a walking tour of various neighborhoods to check its free artworks!

One such spot is the Santa Apolónia Station. This is the oldest railway terminus in Portugal, is located in the heart of Lisbon in the parish of São Vicente, with the Tagus River views. Located near this railway terminal is a colorful painting of Poseidon – the God of the Sea.

It was painted by a group of artists known as PichiAvo.

Its exact location is – #65 Calcade de Santa Apolonia. When you drive or take a sightseeing bus tour to the newer areas of Lisbon such as the Parque das Nações and the Lisbon Oceanarium, you will pass this brightly painted side-wall!

By Mayuri from ToSomePlaceNew

Lisa mural by Tami Hopf

This mural is entitled Lisa and was painted by artist Tami Hopf. It seems that it has been around since November 2017 which is not surprising considering the beauty of the piece.

Lisa is a blindfolded woman who is releasing three white feathered birds into the sky. Behind Lisa, we can see a dull yellow circle which could be interpreted as the sun. Lisa is wearing a floral hair do.

We came across this mural during our 4 days in Lisbon. It can be seen from the Miradouro de Santa Luzia which provides an incredible view of the Alfama neighbourhood, famous for its orange rooftops.

It can also be seen from the street called Calcadinha Da Figueira, just a little bit below the Miradouro, by the Santa Luzia Elevador.

We really liked the positive vibes that the piece was sending. We interpreted the white birds as peace and hope. The flowers and the sun seemed to represent growth and life which was fitting, since we were having a great time in Lisbon.

Overall it seems that Lisa is smiling even though she cannot see which is a message we liked.

By Mary from BrbyMary

Tiled mural by andré saraiva

The Jardim Botto Machado gardens are located only a stone’s throw from the National Pantheon and the well-known Feira da Ladra flea market in the historic Alfama neighbourhood of Lisbon.

It is here that you’ll find a stunning 188 meters long, hand-painted tiled mural by artist André Saraiva which was launched to the public in 2016.

This artwork which was an initiative between the local Sao Vicente Parish, the Lisbon City Council, and the Museum of Design and Fashion (MUDE) is a depiction of Lisbon and other cities that the artist has lived in.

It’s a vibrant re-imagination of the cityscape and features prominent Lisbon landmarks including the Campo Pequeno Bullring, The Lisbon Aqueduct, the Tagus River and Ponte 25 de Abril bridge, the Santa Justa Elevator found in Baixa/Chiado, as well as the historic São Jorge Castle.

Whilst Portugal has become known for its beautifully intricate traditional tilework, called Azulejos, this piece is a more whimsical, modern, and almost cartoonish representation.

Thanks to its vivid colours, this mural has become a much-loved spot by which to capture the perfect Lisbon Instagram snap and is definitely worth visiting when exploring one of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods, Alfama.

By Marco from The Avid Campers

Abandoned mansion snake lady

Looking to go beyond Lisbon for a taste of authentic Portuguese life and dramatic seaside cliff walks with surprisingly gorgeous, but salt-fading impermanent street art?

The Fisherman’s Trail coastal walk starts just south of Lisbon and follows ancient fishing trails along the sun drenched Alentejo coast littered with white-washed fishing villages.

I just love that there’s an incredible 2 story high purple pregnant snake lady on the side of an abandoned mansion. It sits isolated, atop a sand dune overlooking the river and Atlantic ocean.

My favorite part of this 4 day sandy, tasty and interesting multi-day hike was scrambling around this amazing mansion drenched with quality street art inside and out. The fierce lady gave me some power to continue my hike.

Word on the street is that there’s a buyer to renovate the mansion, so get here soon before it potentially changes. But I guess that’s the point of street art.

This area is ignored by most hikers as there’s a shortcut most people take to bypass this section. Awesome, less people!

You can rent a car from Lisbon and drive 2 hours to get there or use the excellent express buses that take 2.5 hours and cost less than 20 euros. Go to Lisboa Sete Rios Station in Lisbon and take the Redes Expressios bus to Vila Nova de Milfontes.

Walk out of town inland, cross the bridge and immediately take the trailhead to the right through a cork orchard and you’ll pop right out into the open property. Check out the barns too!

A really authentic way to get there would be to bus to Porto Covo and walk along the dramatic seaside about 4-5 hours on Rota Vicentina Fisherman’s Walk to Vila Nova de Milfontes where the art is located.

By Morgan Fielder from Crave the Planet

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