Both of us don’t drive, we walk everywhere we go. It’s our favorite activity. That’s why we enjoy searching for street art in Barcelona.
It’s one of the reasons why we love our city. Barcelona is perfect for walking, with sidewalks everywhere and things to see at every corner.
The city is famous for its street art. Local and international artists have turned it into an open air museum. Follow our tips and discover another reason to visit Barcelona.
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Brief History of Street Art in Barcelona
Barcelona has a long tradition of graffiti and murals. The first ones appeared in the mid-80s. There were no regulations. The city became the epicenter of European street art around the 1992 Olympic Games.
Artists like Sixeart, Kenon, Pez, and Keith Herring produced fantastic art. The golden years ended in 2006 when authorities prohibited street art.
The law changed again in 2011. Today, the authorities work with artists to protect public space but to free walls for art.
Where to Find the Best Graffiti and Murals in Barcelona
Raval
Gats
C/ d’en Xuclà, 7, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
We party in El Raval, the coolest neighborhood in the old town. It’s rough around the edges and we love it! The neighborhood is graffiti central.
This little square is hidden one block from Las Ramblas. The Gats is one of the most famous graffiti in the city, and for good reason.
Arnal Ballester painted these cute cats in 1998. He received Spain’s National Illustration Award in 2008 for his children’s books. The local government has restored this classic twice.
Aids Mural (Mural del SIDA)
Wall across MACBA, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
This one is next to the Museum of Modern Art of Barcelona. The plaza in front of the museum is full of skaters and artists. It’s one of our favorite spots.
Keith Herring painted the original one in Plaça Salvador Seguí in 1989. It reads Together We Can Stop Aids. He died of aids 7 years later.
The one we can see today is an exact reproduction of the original work done in 2014. The message is valid today more than ever.
La Bartola
Carrer de Sant Bartomeu, 5, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
La Bartola is a tiny urban garden in the heart of El Raval. It’s literraly feet (meters) from La Rambla del Raval, the wide boulevard-plaza where Botero’s cat is.
Graffiti covers the wall leading to the garden. It changes all the time. Don’t forget to raise your head and look at the side walls of buildings.
La Bartola is famous for its graffiti of Barcelona’s official flower. We visit the area mostly at nights. One of our favorite bars is near: Madame Jasmine.
Àgora Juan Andrés Benítez
Carrer de l’Aurora, 13, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
This narrow little street in the heart of El Raval is a magnet for street artists. We like the graffiti of three African women. They look strong and powerful!
Locals call it El Jardin del Raval, Raval’s garden. It was a long neglected area that neighbors turned into a community garden. Today, it looks wonderful!
There are plants and benches. You will see neighbors farming! They organize musical activities and art exhibits.
Teatre Arnau
Plaça de Raquel Meller, 60, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
Paral.lel is a wide avenue that divides El Raval with Poble Sec. It goes from Plaça Espanya to the coast. It’s famous for its theatres.
Next to Arnau Theatre there is a tiny concrete square with a wall. Graffiti here changes all the time. We are not complaining!
As good as some can be, it’s always great to see new art. Be sure to check the side streets. You’ll find huge letters with messages on the walls.
Melata – Beer Cans with Messages
All around the city, especially in Raval
When our friends visit us in Barcelona they always notice the art done with cans. You’ll see them all around the city.
In particular in El Raval. A local boy fell in love with a girl from Mallorca and left messages for her done with empty cans. She started replying back.
Today, these messages are very much treasured by locals. Nobody knows who the lovers are, but everybody loves the art. BTW Lata means can in Spanish.
Other Areas
Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies
Av. del Paral·lel, 49, Sants-Montjuïc, 08004 Barcelona
Our home is a couple of blocks from this massive park. It’s actually a concrete plaza that used to be a factory. You will see three huge industrial chimneys.
The area is a hot spot for skaters, activists, urban associations, football players, and graffiti artists. We see them painting all the time.
Some of the coolest graffiti in Barcelona are here. However, as good as they are, they last a couple of weeks. We can’t wait to see what pops next.
Creu Coberta Meeting Point
Carrer de la Creu Coberta, 26, Sants-Montjuïc, 08014 Barcelona
This street is very central but hidden behind Plaça Espanya, the massive roundabout where the old bull ring is. The old ring is now a mall with awesome views from the terrace.
The graffiti is actually on Diputació street. Access through Creu Coberta, one block from the plaza. You will see huge graffiti covering the side walls of buildings.
Our favorite is the giant face of a woman and a passionate kiss. The bigger ones on the top have been there for ages. The ones on the street change all the time.
The World Comes To Life With Each Kiss
Plaça d’Isidre Nonell, 1, Ciutat Vella, 08002 Barcelona
This one is our favorite graffiti in Gothic Quarter in the Old Town. It’s in the heart of Gothic Barcelona, pretty close to the cathedral.
We are talking about The World Comes to Life With Each Kiss. The stunning mosaic mural is done with small pictures contributed by volunteers.
There’s info about it on the plaza. It makes you think. Evidently, is a great place to kiss too!
La Escocesa
C/ de Pere IV, 345, Sant Martí, 08020 Barcelona
La Escosesa is famous around Barcelona for its squatters. We have to be honest, it’s a dodgy part of town. However, it is safe and worth your time.
Besides, you get to know a less touristy more authentic hood in Barcelona. You can continue to Poble Nou and then the beach.
The ones here are totally different than in the rest of the city: raw, political, and thought provoking. Look for the giant rollercoaster snake piece.
Graffiti Wall on the Back of Barcelona Zoo
Passeig de Circumvaŀlació, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona
We both move around Barcelona on our bikes. One of our favorite rides is from home in front of Montjuïc all the way to the beach.
That’s why we always go past the back wall of the zoo. We are not into zoos, so that’s as close as we get. This wall is full of art.
You don’t need to bike though. You can walk there, admire the graffiti and continue to the beach in La Barceloneta.
Mural next to Litoral Restaurant
C/ dels Pescadors, 87, Ciutat Vella, 08003 Barcelona
This one is literally in front of La Barceloneta beach. It covers the side wall of a building on top of a restaurant.
It’s not a painting but reliefs. Yes! Look closely and you will notice beach articles carved into the wall. Actually, out of the wall.
There are sea stars, binoculars, and a giant flip flop. To our amazement, most people miss it all together and focus on the beach.
Famous Murals That Don’t Exist Anymore
La Carbonería
C. de Floridablanca, 122, L’Eixample, 08011 Barcelona
This one used to be our favorite graffiti in the entire city. It was there until just a couple of years ago. Someone bought the building and erased it.
It was in the corner of Urgell, in San Antoni, south of central Eixample. We used to call it the happy balloon and went pass it on our way home.
No clue about its real name. It was this massive balloon full of joy floating on the side of a building.
Tribute to Joan Miró
C / Riereta, 34, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona
We were not the only ones that got angry when this one disappeared. It happened just a couple of years ago.
The authorities decided to build social housing. Not the best, just horrible containers nobody likes. To think the greatest graffiti of all times was here!
You would immediately think of Joan Miró, one of the city’s biggest artists. He didn’t paint the geometrical design, it was a tribute by local artists.
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