Hi there! My name is Javier and I have been hunting the best Madrid street art since 2015.
It all started as a personal hobby… but due to travellers’ interest on discovering alternative things to do in Madrid, I turned my passion into an almost daily job. Yes, I still teach English to kids, teenagers & adults.
Before you continue reading, let me say THANKS to every single guest for whom I have hosted any of my Madrid street art tours. I now have friends all over the world: Israel, US, Australia, UK…
Is there a Madrid street art map? The name of the neighborhoods you shouldn’t miss.
The art in Madrid may be found all around the city & over any kind of surface. From the restroom of a former XIX century tobacco factory to a graffiti wall in an occupied community garden. Check the following districts,
- Embajadores (home to the most important Flea Market in town).
- Maravillas, aka Malasaña. (Very hipster).
- The suburbs, where you will get to experience Madrid’s real life-style.
These areas will showcase the best contemporary art in Madrid, and eventhough Hortaleza (my district) is not included in this list, send me an email if you want to paint some Banksy style street art in Madrid (in a legal way, of course).
1-. Lavapiés, the most multicolored district.
The first area that I would recommend you to visit is Embajadores area.
Get off at Lavapies metro station (line 3) and start walking around… The walls of this multicolored district are full of graffiti art, whether they have been decorated with permission for a festival called CALLE or have been painted ilegally.
These are some of the places I would recommend you to visit,
- Esta es una plaza, an urban garden created by the community.
- La Tabacalera, a former tobacco factory from the XIX century.
In order to know the story that lies behind each mural and the local community places, I would recommend you to
2-. Malasaña district; en-route for the coolest Madrid street art scene.
Any traveller interested in a vibrant neighborhood, full of cool restaurants, vintage shops and night clubs should walk around Calle La Palma or Corredera Alta de San Pablo.
A street art festival, usually held around Spring time, decorates the metal shutters, faccades and windows of local businesses. It’s name is PINTA (Do you know what does this Spanish word mean?)
Don’t forget to visit any of the following spots:
- Plaza del Dos de Mayo, specially in the late afternoon/ weekends.
- Solar Antonio Grilo, a unique urban garden in the city center.
- Mercado de los Mostenses, a local food market.
You will find that Malasaña is a very multicultural and hipster community, with loads of expats and young people.
3-. Vallecas, the suburbs and Madrid graffiti.
No-frills bars and a working class society will welcome you to the M30’s southeast side (one of the circular highways around the city).
By the time you cross Puente de Vallecas, you will observe several faccades and whole buildings decorated by internationally known artists. For a more precise list click here. (website in Spanish language)
Parque de las siete Tetas probably holds the best panoramic views in Madrid city. This 7-hill park is located 10 minutes walking distance from Buenos Aires metro station (line 1).
Javier Garcia, Cooltourspain’s CEO
Where are the most visited Madrid street art ‘private’ galleries?
Madrid graffiti art galleries might be found around Embajadores district, where they’re close to Matadero Madrid (former slaughter house) or around Calle Doctor Fourquet.
4-. Ink & Movement, the studio of the most famous Spanish urban graffiti artist.
Is Okudart a familiar name to you?
This Spaniard born & raised in Santander (the north of the country) made it to the international contemporary art circuit in 2012 and he has now exhibited his multicolored patters all around the world. Just some examples, to name a few (including the picture above, in Madrid up until March 2019)
- Las Vegas, USA.
- Munich, Germany.
- Moscow, Russia.
Cooltourspain’s team has visited his studio in Calle Embajadores, 161 and it’s just a dream to be surrounded by such talented and colorful decorations.
5-. Swinton & Grant, supporting the emergent Madrid street art scene.
An alternative book store and an ‘indoors’ emergent art gallery was created in 2014 in Calle Miguel Servet, 21 by Goyo, Sergio & Eloy.
Some of the artists who have participated, in the Madrid street art galleries exhibitions’ circuit, at this location are:
- E1000, a master for the shapes and urban spaces.
- Dingo Perro Mudo, have you ever seen a white dog painted in the streets?
- Rallitox, the body parts taken to a limit by this Berlin now-based artist.
The fact is that the exhibitions change every often, and they even have a ‘outdoors’ project called ‘Mind the Wall’ in Calle San Millán, 3. This 30 sq. meters surface serves as a live-canvas for the artists who participate in solo-shows at Swinton & Grant.
6-. Delimbo Gallery at Calle Doctor Fourquet.
One of our favourite streets for the art galleries industry is Calle Doctor Fourquet. It goes from Reina Sofia Museum’s ‘backyard’ to Calle de Valencia.
The street is full of them, but today we wanted to focus in Delimbo, a contemporary, postgraffiti & urban art gallery which not only focuses on Madrid Street Art but also in the work of national/ international artists.
Laura Calvarro & Seleka share their time between Sevilla & Madrid, where they opened their last shop in Calle Doctor Fourquet, 30.
My opinion for Madrid street art scene.
I trully believe that the impact that local artists are creating into Madrid people’s life is amazing!
Whether they are working legally or without permission, it is decorating the streets
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