Throughout history, graffiti has been a platform for the voiceless. It has pushed the boundaries of what’s considered “art,” and it has opened a window to the heart of many cities worldwide.
The visually-stimulating medium can reveal a lot about a place and its people — not to mention double as a great background for selfies — so it makes sense that travelers love visiting murals and other public installations when exploring a community. For clients intrigued by this thought-provoking art form, these destinations and tours encourage a deeper appreciation of the stories behind the paint.
Bogota, Colombia
In 2011, a young Colombian artist was gunned down by the police while spray painting an underpass. His death led to an eruption of street art protests and the arrest of two police officers. Additionally, the Colombian government relaxed its stance on this form of cultural expression, even promoting it in certain areas.
After decades of drug violence and political upheaval, Bogota rose from the ashes as a colorful phoenix; its painted facades tell a tale of oppression and triumphant optimism for the future. The capital’s increasingly safe environment has led to an influx of tourists, and Bogota Graffiti Tour promotes the stunning work of local taggers to this growing international audience.
www.bogotagraffiti.com
Berlin, Germany
Home to perhaps the most iconic canvas for political opinion, Berlin is a mecca for urban artwork. A remnant of the Berlin Wall still stands today at the East Side Gallery, where 4,300 feet of murals make it the longest open-air gallery on Earth. There, renowned pieces such as “Fraternal Kiss” by artist Dmitri Vrubel and Birgit Kinder’s “La Trabant” stand the test of time.
Alternative Berlin Tours takes its guests to the streets, explaining everything from stencils to “heaven spots” — particularly dangerous, hard-to-reach exteriors such as bridges or billboards. The trip finishes at an abandoned factory turned studio, where artists help customers craft their own souvenir graffiti.
www.alternativeberlin.com
Cape Town, South Africa
Woodstock, the storied creative core of Cape Town, was once a waterfront industrial area rife with crime. In the past decade, trendy coffee shops, bohemian showrooms and imaginative workplaces have opened here, their walls splashed with vibrant, legally commissioned compositions.
With the immensely beautiful Table Mountain as a backdrop, the neighborhood’s hues pop, epitomizing diversity, safety and community — important ideals in a country once divided so vilely by apartheid. The images weave a commentary on social justice, environmentalism and transformation, themes that branch out to designs across the city.
www.capetown.travel
Istanbul, Turkey
Since 2012, the annual street art festival Mural Istanbul has turned the buildings of the historic Kadikoy neighborhood into a vivid outdoor museum. Through a partnership between the municipal government and CEKUL Foundation, which protects and promotes cultural values, extraordinary painters are brought in from abroad to not only beautify dreary blank facades, but also to cultivate local talent. Its resounding success has catapulted the city to the forefront of the public art scene.
More striking installations can be found on both the European and Asian sides. Keep an eye out for the rainbow stairs that dot the landscape — they are first-class Instagram fodder.
Los Angeles, U.S.
Historically, music and graffiti have gone hand in hand, from album covers to underground publicity stunts, and Los Angeles has been a nurturing mother to both respective art forms. Often dubbed the “Creative Capital of the World,” murals can be found in almost every nook and cranny from the Venice to Los Feliz neighborhoods.
For a self-guided outing, Mural Maps LA is a Google Maps overlay that marks locations to admire street art. If clients prefer an escorted experience, LA Art Tours conducts a treasure-hunt-style walking tour around downtown LA and the Arts District. The transitory nature of the paintings keeps things fresh and exciting — what’s there today could be gone tomorrow.
www.laarttours.com
www.muralmapla.com
London, U.K.
London is a playground for Banksy, the eminent (and anonymous) street artist known for his satirical depictions. For travelers that are feeling similarly rebellious and fatigued by the beaten path, Shoreditch, the gateway to London’s East End, is the place to be.
Wherever you look, stickers, sculptures and spray paint embellish the district’s buildings. Shoreditch Street Art Tours’ guide NoLionsInEngland has spent more than a decade photographing, writing and critiquing the area, and can provide an inside look at the movement.
www.shoreditchstreetarttours.co.uk
Melbourne, Australia
Bright pigments line the alleyways in this Down Under city. In a 2008 Lonely Planet survey, Melbourne’s street art was named Australia’s most popular cultural attraction. Despite this statistic, the city’s administration has been at times disapproving, which naturally led to increased interest and energy from artists and their supporters.
It’s not uncommon to see newlyweds posing for wedding photos in front of murals, or local groups such as Melbourne Street Tours pointing out a new masterpiece in Hosier Lane. Love it or hate it, street art — when done right — can leave its chromatic fingerprint on a community.
www.melbournestreettours.com
