Here are some of my favorite places to enjoy graffiti art in Spain. There are a few Spanish villages you simply can’t miss in your search for the most unique urban paintings across the country!
- This post contains affiliate links from which I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you). For more info, please read my disclosure. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Where to Find Street Art in Spain
Graffiti Art in Spain
The street art movement in Spain began in Madrid in the 1980s, with works by local artist Muelle. While many people admire graffiti art in Spain today, finding stunning urban paintings in Spanish cities isn’t always easy. Fines for painting walls illegally can reach up to 6,000 euros, and obtaining official permission to create vibrant murals in public spaces is a challenge (in fact, nothing in Spain’s bureaucracy is quick or straightforward).
So, while you can find occasional street art in major cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Malaga, a few Spanish towns stand out as top destinations for experiencing numerous unique murals in one place.
Street Art Towns in Spain
Like many countries around the world, Spain is facing a significant problem with dying villages, as younger generations leave for the big cities in search of better job opportunities. In response, several small towns in Spain have decided to reinvent themselves by embracing street art to attract travelers from across the globe with their modern appeal.
Over time, it’s hoped that more artsy hubs will emerge across the Iberian Peninsula. By filling the streets with vibrant murals, these towns not only support local communities but also draw thousands of visitors, both national and international.
As of now, only five Spanish villages have officially declared themselves open-air museums:
- Fanzara in Castellon (read more)
- Alfamen in Zaragoza (read more)
- Villangomez in Burgoz
- Romangordo in Caceres
- Penelles in Lleida (read more)
- Tomelloso in Ciudad Real (read more)
Fanzara in the Castellon Province
The tiny village of Fanzara was my first encounter with the unique graffiti art in Spain. Home to around 300 people, Fanzara was on the verge of being added to the list of Spain’s dying villages until locals invited graffiti artists from around the world to transform the village.
I first visited Fanzara in 2016 and recently had the chance to revisit it with the kids. You can find more details in this post.
How to visit Fanzara: You can combine your visit to Fanzara with a Castellón road trip or a Valencia road trip.
Penelles in the Lleida Province
The vibrant village of Penelles is located just a couple of kilometers off the C-53 road, which connects Tarrega and Balaguer, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia.
Travelers typically stop by the local Tourist Office to pick up a map. However, since we visited Penelles early in the morning, everything was closed. As a result, we ended up using Google Maps. To my surprise, almost all of the current murals in Penelles were well-marked.
You can check out more details from my visit in this post.
How to visit Penelles: You can combine your visit to Penelles with a Weekend in Lleida, a 7-day Pyrenees road trip from Barcelona, a Weekend in Reus, or Tarragona Road Trip.
Alfamen in the Zaragoza Province
Alfamen is a hidden Spanish village near Zaragoza that I recently had the chance to visit on my way back home from a weekend in the Pre-Pyrenees.
Back in 2017, Alfamen hosted the street art festival Festival Asalto, which was a huge success. Since 2019, the village has had a permanent collection of street art. Although Alfamen doesn’t have a tourist office, you can get a map of the murals in Zaragoza or follow Google Maps. Many of the paintings also feature a QR code to learn more about the artist. Check out all of my favorite Alfamen murals in this post.
How to visit Alfamen: You can combine your visit to Alfamen with this Madrid to Barcelona road trip, a weekend in Zaragoza, a Weekend in Albarracin, or an Aragon Road Trip.
Tomelloso in the Ciudad Real province
Tomelloso is becoming one of Spain’s emerging street art destinations, thanks to the unique works of local artist Tomás Gutiérrez. He has created countless murals throughout Tomelloso and the Ciudad Real province in central Spain, highlighting local customs and the rural lifestyle in his distinctive style.
I was surprised to discover his work during my recent visit to Tomelloso and will soon share a detailed itinerary for a self-guided tour of his unique graffiti pieces across the region. You can find his latest updates on Instagram at @tometomy and a detailed Central Spain graffiti itinerary in this post.
How to visit Tomelloso: You can visit Tomelloso on a day trip from Madrid or as part of a Don Quixote-themed road trip across the Castilla-La Mancha region.
Pin it:
For more Spain travel tips check out my Pinterest board Spain Travel Collection and Flipboard Travel to Spain.
- Accommodation: For short stays, I usually book via Agoda and Booking
- Tours&excursions: My favorites for guided tours are GetYourGuide and Viator
- Museums&attractions: Get mobile tickets for attractions via Tiqets (use ATC5 code for a 5% discount via this link)
- Semi-private & private tours: LivTours is my favorite place for unique & crafted experiences in Europe
- For Foodies: Eatwith is a unique platform for finding culinary experiences with locals around the world
- Audio guides: Book audio excursions & tours in 35+ countries via WeGoTrip
- Flights: Find the best deals with Skyscanner and Kiwi
- Driving in a new country? – Check out Tripiamo guides (do not miss Tripiamo Driving in Spain Guide)
- Train&bus tickets: Currently, I book via Omio (10% off with code ATC10 for first-time customers)
- Car rental: To find the best deals, I use Discover Cars
- Top E-Sim: To avoid roaming fees, I like Holafly (use ATLIFESTYLECROSSROADS for for a 5% discount)
- Shop My Level8 Suitcase: get 15% off with the code ATC15 here
- Internet Security on the road: Connect safely to public Wi-Fi and bypass censorship with NordVPN
- Transfers: For individual transfer services, I like GetTransfer and Kiwitaxi
- Suitcases&Luggage: Discover where to store your luggage on the go with Radical Storage
- Travel Insurance: Find the best trip insurance plans via VisitorsCoverage and EKTA
- Compensation for delayed/canceled flights: Check out AirHelp and Compensair
- Renting Bikes: To find motorcycles, scooters, quads, and bicycles, I use BikesBooking
- Package Tours: Head to CheapOair and Expedia
- For Bloggers: To monetize my blog, I work with Travelpayouts and Stay22
- Website Owners: For hosting services, I work with and recommend Lyrical Host (get 10% off with my code ATC10)
Graffiti art is gaining popularity in many places around the world. Some of the murals in this post are rather exquisite – I really like the ones of people, particularly the one with the girl, roses and bird. So interesting, it brings a certain quality to the wall!
I love the idea of street art villages as a way to revitalize these towns. While I’ve seen street art in the larger cities in Spain, I’d enjoy visiting these villages.
Love the color! It is especially fun to find when you aren’t expecting it.
They all look AMAZING but I especially love the ones in Penelles – there’s something so magically surreal about them!
What a great collection of street art – and such great photo ops. Love all the colors.
Street art is my favorite thing when traveling!