The Street art in Lisbon: tours and ideas of course

On a trip to Portugal? So don't miss discovering street art in Lisbon, a must for your stay in the Portuguese capital!

Lisbon has become, over the years, one of the top European streets of Street Art, like Berlin or other capitals. Encouraged by the city’s tourism and cultural policy, local and international artists give their hearts to express themselves. The walls and facades of the Portuguese capital are filled with incredible murals. To discover them, you will obviously have to go through some iconic neighborhoods. But don’t forget that you lose in the small streets of the city is also an excellent way to admire beautiful rare pearls.

Are you ready for an alternative visit to the Portuguese capital? We give you in this article all our ideas of visits and routes to discover the Street art in Lisbon!

The Art Street in Lisbon in a few words

The Street Art in Lisbon took off from 2008. That year, the municipality began to allocate public spaces to local or international artists. The Urban Art Gallery now manages the various projects trying the city. The efforts of the city have borne fruit since it is now possible to admire sublime frescoes almost everywhere in Lisbon!

Among the most beautiful works are the series of Bordalo II entitled Big Trash Animals . The Portuguese artist has made impressive structures of animals from waste found in the street. The work of the artist Oliveiros Rodrigues da Silva Junior, visible in the district of Chiado , is also a must-see. It represents a square in Lisbon, with its trams and inhabitants. Other series of works await you, more political frescoes, other documentaries or just aesthetics, such as Aka Corleone.

Mouraria and Graça

Above the famous neighborhood Alfama are the two quarters of Mouraria and Graça. The latter two are famous in the Portuguese capital for their urban art. If you would like to discover the Art Street in Lisbon, you should not make the impasse on these neighborhoods.

By visiting these places, you can see many frescoes and collages on walls and facades. Among the most important works, one can mention the Fado Vadio , located in the Escadinhas de São Cristóvão. This fresco is the fruit of artists from the neighborhood. In the Travessa do Monte, near the Miradouro Nossa Senhora of Monte and Miradouro da Graça, you can also admire a creation by Mariana Dias Coutinho. His fresco pays tribute to local writers.

The American artist Shepard Fairey Also left two emblematic frescoes in the Graça district: a woman in uniform with revolutionary beret, Natalia Correia Street, and the face of a woman divided into two Senhora da Gloria Street. Near the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, you can also contemplate a sublime colorful fresco by the artist Aka Corleone. You will find Rua Damascusceno Monteiro.

Alcantara

To discover the Art Street in Lisbon, you will obviously have to leave the historic city centre. The first step outside the centre is the Alcantara district, famous for its urban art. Local and international artists have left their imaginations free in the streets of the neighborhood. The walls, facades and abandoned doors are as many canvases for these contemporary painters! You will have what to do, so don’t hesitate to lose yourself.

In the LX factory, an urban heart of Alcantara, you can discover many other works by Portuguese and international artists. Also consider visiting the Underground village, close to the LX factory, to admire a real atmosphere of the Street Art world in Lisbon.

Before leaving the neighborhood, take a tour of the Alcântara-Mar train station. It is a real art gallery on the street, but free! Finally, we recommend walking on the docks. Go from the Big Fox of Bordallo II, Avenida 24 do Julho, then join his Big Racoon near Belém . You'll have a nice overview of all the works in the neighborhood.

Bairro Alto

The Bairro Alto district is also a high-rise street Art in Lisbon. You can discover beautiful and very worked works and frescoes. The city provides panels to local artists. These works are regularly renewed, so we cannot advise you in particular on this spot. On the other hand, you can admire much different works that are often engaged.

Elsewhere in the area, you can admire a mural of Sumo Doubledevil on the wall of the Travessa dos Fiéis de Deuswas. The artist Antonio Alves and RIGO also left a beautiful brand on the Travessa dos Fiéis de Deus: a mural of Maoist inspiration. It recalls the 1970s when Lisbon was covered with communist and left tags.

L’Amoreiras Wall of Fame

Another famous place for Street Art in Lisbon is the Amoreiras Wall of Fame . Well known to the premises, less to the passing passengers, it is on the Avenida Conselheiro Fernando de Sousa. This place is located between Amoreiras and the Marquês de Pombal square in a rich Lisbon area.

This project started around 1995 allows everyone to let his imagination speak. Considered as the largest graffiti wall in the Iberian Peninsula, it is a real outdoor museum! If you like graffiti, you should not miss it during your stay. Artists like Aspen, Uber and many others have painted on this unmissable wall.

With the 2008 and subsequent economic crisis, the works of the wall became more political. Among the memorable works of Amoreiras Wall of Fame , we count a graffiti of Nomen, Slap and Kurtz that represents Angela Merkel holding Portuguese politicians as puppets on ropes. This fresco was made just before his visit to Lisbon in 2012. But the wall also houses lighter works, such as sublime portraits of Marilyn Monroe or Tupac.

The south bank of Almada

You've been around the neighborhoods previously mentioned, but you're still looking for more? To discover more Street Art in Lisbon, you will have to cross the street Tage and go to Almada. This place is truly a must if you love urban art.

As far as spots are concerned, you should follow the whole Rua do Ginjal on the riverside. Walk from the Cacilhas ferry station to Quinta da Arealva. On the way, you can admire about 20 frescoes and smaller works. At the end of this walk you will arrive at Miradouro da Quinta da Arealva. This historic place, now abandoned, is filled with various graffiti. If access can be complicated, the place is worth a visit! It is a must-see of Street Art in Lisbon and underground culture.

In addition, you will enjoy a superb view of the bridge through the Tage and the surrounding area.

Marvila

Slightly excited in the east of Lisbon, Marvila is also a place to visit. Located off the beaten paths, like Almada, it houses one of the largest collections of wall paintings in the city. They are the result of the MURO Urban Art Festival that took place in 2017. This event followed the appointment of Lisbon as the Ibero-American Capital of Culture for this year.

Many works are connected to this theme. Examples include the frescoes of Kobra and Gleo. The latter underscore the importance of indigenous peoples as representatives of a common heritage throughout Latin America! Don't miss this neighborhood if you want to visit the Street Art in Lisbon.

The Quinta do Mocho

Many other neighbourhoods and places are home to Street art in Lisbon. Among them are the Quinta do Mocho, in Sacavém, in the north of the capital.

The municipality transformed this area into a public art festival. The aim was to combat social exclusion. The entire walls of the buildings thus display magnificent works and frescoes of local artists. If you have a bit of time during your stay, do not miss a tour.

So, ready to discover the Street Art in Lisbon?