A Visual Tour of beautiful Buenos Aires Street Art Scene

Last updated on September 27th, 2021

There are many reasons to love the Argentina capital, and the Buenos Aires street art scene is one of them. Murals are almost ubiquitous, but it’s in the Palermo and La Boca neighborhoods that you’ll find some of the best street art in Buenos Aires.

I started being more seriously interested in street art a few years ago, after a trip to Brighton where for the first time I saw some seriously beautiful and creative murals.

It might sound strange to many, but in Italy, we’re often plagued with senseless graffitis which is nothing more than vandalism. You would seldom see quality street art in Italy, although this started to change over the last few years. The reason is simple: we have so many historical – and wonderful – buildings that there’s not much available space left for street artists.

After Brighton, I pursued my quest for murals especially in cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Marseille, and Bristol (and there are many more) where it’s quite easy to spot colorful wall paintings, provocative scenes, or pleasant decorative subjects just by wandering the streets with no specific aim.

Buenos Aires street art scene

Encouraged by almost total freedom (apparently, the only necessary permission is from the building owner), urban artists contributed to Buenos Aires’ special character. This freedom of expression is all the most surprising when thinking of the dark period of the so-called “Dirty War” (1974-1983) when the military junta repressed any kind of free speech, persecuted thousands of people, and had them disappear.

Best neighborhoods in Buenos Aires for graffitis

It’s very easy to get a taste of street art in Buenos Aires by yourself. Actually, San Telmo, Palermo, and La Boca, three of the best-known districts of Argentina’s capital, are filled with wall paintings and colors, as is Villa Urquiza (although I did not visit this latter neighborhood). However, there are a couple of interesting guided tours that will add so much more to the experience. One option is the Palermo Graffiti Tour, to discover one of Buenos Aires hipster neighborhoods. Another cool way to discover Buenos Aires street art is a 3 to 4 hours bike tour, during which a professional guide will introduce you to the graffiti techniques and have you explore the murals in La Boca, San Telmo, Puerto Madero, and more districts.

Street art in San Telmo

Whether ironic, provocative, decorative, denouncing social injustice or political manifestos, Buenos Aires graffitis tell a lot about Argentina, its people, and history.

Celebrating Maradona, el Pibe de Oro

Irony on poverty

Street art in Buenos Aires La Boca

In La Boca, the working-class barrio, murals reflect the neighborhood’s social and political mood.

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