While iconic sites like Sagrada Família and Park Güell attract millions of visitors every year, the city’s street art offers a different lens through which to understand its contemporary culture and the more social aspects. In this sense, a graffiti tour in Barcelona will tell stories of identity, activism, and creativity.
Embarking on an alternative guided visit along Raval district will offer guests an unique experience into such a colorful world. A local host will act as tour leader, and his/her expertise will provide insights into the artsy events, fellow street art/ contemporary art artists, and the messages that lie behind the murals painted in faccades. Sometimes painted in a legal way, other times with no permission at all.
Besides the strict information about the street art tour in Barcelona itself, you will find other details such as:
- Where to buy street art in Barcelona? Canal Gallery, or Base Elements among others.
- When does la Boqueria open? 8.00am
- Why is there so much graffiti in Barcelona? There is a huge community of international writers.
- Barcelona museum of contemporary art. MACBA
Why choose a graffiti tour in Barcelona as a first option, while participating at a guided visit in town?
A graffiti tour in Barcelona offers a unique opportunity to explore the city’s vibrant street art scene, uncovering hidden gems in neighborhoods like El Raval, Poblenou, and Gràcia. These guided visits, led by professionals on the field, provide an insight into the artistic, social, and political messages behind the murals, offering a deeper understanding of the city’s contemporary culture.
It’s an immersive experience that not only highlights the creativity of local artists but also connects visitors with the evolving urban landscape of the city. Barcelona, and its surrounding towns, such as Badalona, Mataró, or Hospitalet de Llobregat represent the area’s leading avant-garde expression.
El Raval: the heart of the street art scene and multiculturalism
We could define the district as a melting pot of cultures. It’s located in the Ciutat Vella district, on the other side of Las Ramblas, and it’s often addressed by visitors as an open-air street art museum. This neighborhood, with its eclectic mix of nationalities and personal histories, has become home for our graffiti tour in Barcelona, and a hub for street artists.
Among other highlights during the guided visit, we may include the following spots. Our service kicks off by the entrance of FNAC store in Plaça Catalunya, and we regularly offer the walking tours at 11.15am
- Jardins Tres Chimeneas: A legendary skate spot adorned with legal walls serving as a gathering place for local youth and artists.
- Arnau Gallery: A space where urban art met activism, showcasing works that challenge societal norms. At this moment, the spot is under construction works.
- Keith Haring’s mural: “Todos Juntos Podemos Parar el SIDA” (Together we can stop AIDS), a powerful piece created in 1989 to raise awareness about the AIDS epidemic, which is still present, in the form of a restoration (not the original though)
It’s also interesting to mention that those participants interested in decorating a tote bag, with spray cans and stencils, will have the opportunity of painting it at Plaça Terenci Moix. Price for the tour starts on 25€/person, plus 10€ extra for the clothing garment.
Exploring other artistic districts beyond Raval with a graffiti tour in Barcelona
While El Raval is the main neighborhood where we develop the graffiti tour in Barcelona, the street art scene extends to other neighborhoods. Including, but not limiting to the following ones, you’ll find out that there are many tags, throw-ups and paste-ups around these areas:
- Born: Known for its historical charm, it features a blend of traditional architecture and contemporary street art, with murals that often reflect the area’s bohemian spirit. Please note that Molotow and Montana, two of the main graffiti stores in town are located next to Arc de Triumf.
- Poblenou: Once an industrial district, this neighborhood located on the outskirts of the city towards the north, has transformed into a canvas for large-scale murals and installations, attracting artists from around the world. To us, one of the most interesting places to visit is The Three Chimneys near Sant Adrià del Besos.
- Gràcia: It balances tradition with modernity. Gràcia’s streets are adorned with artworks that celebrate Catalan culture and identity, and there are many metal shutters painted in decorative projects.
What’s the price that you should expect on a guided visit? Are tips included?
A typical graffiti tour in Barcelona lasts approximately two hours and covers several key areas. However, we make a difference between what we consider as a public service, and a private request. While there is a minimum of participants required for an open group walking tour, and a specific timming for the service, private tours may hire us at the customers’ convenience.
Price ranges from 25€ to 151€ (up to 31st December 2025) for a private art tour, which may also include a visit to different modern and contemporary art galleries in Barcelona’s Gotic district. Tips are not mandatory, but greatly appreciated. The services include the following:
- Photo Opportunities: Capturing images of striking murals and installations, while receiving an in-depth explanation about them.
- Introduction to street art: Understanding the evolution of graffiti from vandalism to recognized art form. Are urban art and graffiti the same? How much will a graffiti writer pay for a fine, if he/she is ever caught by police? These are some of the questions that we will answer during the guided visit.
- Artist spotlights, and interactive discussions: Learning about prominent local and international artists whose works adorn the city’s walls, while guides engage you by sharing stories and interpretations of the artworks.
Other important things to take into consideration before booking a graffiti tour in Barcelona
You should read other participants’ comments on the internet about our job. As we always tell our clients, such as B2B and B2C projects, we prefer quality than quantity. That’s the reason why you shouldn’t expect more than 15 participants at our graffiti tour in Barcelona.
It’s our duty to make that guests enjoy from the very beginning until the end, leaving a review in Google, and recommeding us to others by word of mouth. Please note that we receive international visitors from any countries. For instance, United States, Germany, France, or Australia. The majority of our walking tours in Barcelona take place in English language, although we speak several languages: French, Spanish, Catalan…
Does there exist an oppotunity to join a bike street art tour?
Yes, there is. A graffiti🚴♀️ tour in Barcelona is available, and here you have all the details:
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Starting Point: FNAC, Plaça Catalunya
Minimum Group Size: 6 people
Price: €38 per adult, 45€ for an ebike
Available Daily: Yes, upon prior booking
Languages: English (with options for French, Spanish, and Catalan upon request)
Booking: Required in advance, and payments via credit/debit card or paypal to user ID: info@cooltourspain.com
Contact: Email: info@cooltourspain.com or WhatsApp: +34 638 399 784
Free graffiti walking tour Barcelona
Cooltourspain emphasizes responsible tourism and supports local communities through the graffiti tour in Barcelona. That’s the reason why we use part of our benefit, in order to offer a free tour for those social groups who are in need.
We know that our guests have the money to purchase a flight ticket, book a hotel, and even pay for our services. Moreover, they leave us some tips. Despite those facts, not everybody in the society has the same opportunities, and here it’s when Cooltourspain Fundation offers what we have described as the real free graffiti tours in Barcelona. Similarly to what happens in Madrid, we curate several of these guided visits for local NGOs.
These activities offer a unique opportunity to explore Barcelona’s street art scene while learning about the social issues reflected in the artworks. Cooltourspain guides are passionate about urban art, providing an engaging and educational experience, and volunteering while ‘working’. As a matter of fact, participants to not pay, but we require the project to link us. For instance, check this example at CEPAIM.
What’s Cooltourspain team’s background? Who are the professionals that run these experiences for platforms such as Get Your Guide or Airbnb.
One thing that you should take into consideration is that these OTAs are just distribuitors for our services. Consequently, if you were to book a graffiti tour in Barcelona, we’d encourage you to book it directly with us. Why is that important? Please note that they take a 25% cut from the price, and we will see less wage for our labor.
FYI, Cooltourspain is an artistic, cultural, social and touristic project founded in 2016 by Javier García Colomo, a passionate graffiti writer and street art enthusiast. The company was established to provide different opportunities for exploring the street art and graffiti scenes all around the country, particularly in neighborhoods like Raval, Gotic or Born.
Since it was launched, Cooltourspain has expanded its offerings to include street art tours and workshops in other Spanish cities such as Bilbao, Valencia, and Mallorca, counting with professionals who have finished their bachelor’s degree in Art History, Fine Arts, or Tourism.
Our opinion about the graffiti tour in Barcelona
Is ours the best graffiti tour in Barcelona? Well, that’s a very difficult answer. However, what we can tell is that we love the ephimere character that the artworks have in the city center. When painted without permission, the city council is very quick on cleaning them, specially if there is a neighbor who calls the police.
We’re glad to count with several legal walls where to freely paint in the city, but we’re not sure what will happen if there is a government change. What do you think? Are legal walls also available in your home town?
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