Must-See Málaga Street Art in 2023: Spain’s Outdoor Art Gallery

Sunny Málaga on Spain’s southern coast is a popular summer beach destination and port of call for Western Mediterranean cruises.

But did you know that this vibrant and historic city is also home to superb street art? Discover the best Málaga street art in this guide to one of Spain’s best urban art collections.

wall mural with pictures of two men and the words malaga loves art

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Málaga’s MAUS Project

Málaga Arte Urbano Soho – MAUS for short – has been instrumental in introducing street art to the city. This initiative has helped to transform the once scruffy neighbourhood between the Guadalmedina River and the port into an open-air urban art gallery.

The MAUS project has attracted some of the greatest street and graffiti artists from across the globe, including Boamistura, ROA, D*FACE, Doger, Dadi Dreucol and Dal East.

Where Can You Find Street Art in Málaga?

Both street art and graffiti can be found across the city. However, for the highest concentration, head to Soho or the Lagunillas neighbourhood.
 
The trendy Soho area, also known as the Barrio de las Artes or the Art Neighbourhood, occupies a triangular shape of land bounded by  
Alameda Principal at the south and the port area of Málaga to the east.

Bordering the Soho neighbourhood is the riverbed where there is an abundance of graffiti.
 
The second street art epicentre is Málaga’s Lagunillas neighbourhood around Calle Lagunillas.

How to Explore Málaga’s Urban Art

I suggest exploring Málaga’s street art by geographical area.

Start at the beginning, so to speak, with street art in the Soho neighbourhood. To help you navigate Málaga’s outdoor art gallery, MAUS has produced a free Málaga street art map. It’s not the most user-friendly map out there, but it does include links to Google Maps for you to GPS your way around the artworks.  

I explored the murals around Calle Lagunillas by using this self-guided street art walking tour as a loose framework.

For greater insight into Málaga’s street art, join a walking tour with a guide. This one explores the work of graffiti artists in both the Soho and Lagunillas neighborhoods.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR TOUR

Graffiti and Street Art in Soho Málaga

TV Boy

Calle Vendeja

wall mural with man and dog and the words malaga loves art
wall mural with man and dog and the words malaga loves art

If I had to pick my favourite Málaga street art, this would be it. The Italian artist TV Boy is responsible for the paintings of four favourite sons of the city: Pablo Picasso, Antonio Banderas, Chiquito de la Calzada (comedian and actor) and Dani Rovira (actor). 

D*FACE

Calle Comandante Benítez 14

malaga street art of man in gas mask
I’ll End Those Dogs by D*FACE

Londoner Dean Stockton, or D*FACE, is a self-taught illustrator, painter and street artist. I love his pop-art aesthetic and this massive mural is straight out of the playbook of Roy Lichtenstein.

Keep your eyes peeled for a smaller D*FACE work (Undead) on Calle Casas de Campos.

wall mural of skeletal head with hair and feathers that is signed by dface

Obey

Calle Comandante Benítez 14

large wall mural in malaga spain of a woman with the words peace and libery
Paz y Libertad by Obey

The American Shepard Fairey, aka Obey, is one of the most influential street artists of his generation. He is perhaps best known for creating the iconic “Hope” image used in the propaganda poster for the then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The 40-foot-long Paz y Libertad mural in Málaga took him and his team three full days to complete.

Calle Thomas Heredia

street art of a woman in veil with the word peace
Mujer Fatal by Obey

By contrast, his most recent mural was completed within a day (it’s said that his team worked from a template). Mujer Fatal is a portrait of his wife and a symbol of peace.

DALeast

Alameda Principal 25

large mural of a bird on the side of a building

Born in China in 1984, DALeast is famous for his unusual paintings of animals. This magnificent mural of an eagle is an excellent example, its shape formed by what looks like hundreds of metal shards. His use of fractured imagery lends the image a 3-D quality and breathes life and a sense of urgency into his art.  

Dadi Dreucol 

Calle San Lorenzo

small wall mural of naked man climbing out of a heart

Málalga native Dadi Dreucol studied at the city’s School of Fine Arts before moving to Valencia to complete his studies. His works feature the same bearded nude man, representing freedom from the rules set by society. 

ROA

Calle Casas de Campos

street art on side of building of rat-like creatures

This large monochrome mural by Belgian street artist ROA depicts rats tumbling down the façade of a multistorey building. Typically using a minimal colour palette, he creates animals and birds that are native to the area being painted.

This creation doesn’t say much about Málaga’s wildlife then.

If you are exploring street art in London, take a look at ROA’s mural of a large bird on the side of an Indian restaurant in Brick Lane. And if you are taking a city break in Ghent, his hometown, there are more of his murals there.

Further down Calle Casas de Campos, there is a smaller mural of a chameleon by ROA. I love the level of detail in this painting.

wall painting or reptilian creature

Boamistura

Calle San Lorenzo and Colegio García Lorca

malaga street art soho 11

Boamistura is a graffiti and muralist collective based in Madrid and has received worldwide recognition for bold artwork. Although their works of art are rooted in graffiti, they also incorporate mural painting, illustration and graphic design.

Okuda and Remed

Martínez Campos Street (Hotel Sojo Bahía Málaga)

brightly coloured abstract mural on the side of a building
La Danse de Venus et du Marin by Okuda and Remed

Covering the façade of the Hotel Bahía, this vibrant mural of interlocking colours and shapes represents Venus intertwined with a sailor.

Riverside Graffiti in Málaga

abstract street art and graffiti in malaga on a low wall

The walls of Málaga’s scruffy dried-out riverbed form a gigantic canvas for street artists. These walls are largely covered in tags by graffiti artists who were given free rein to paint what they liked.

Street Art Around Calle Lagunillas

fence in front of street art in malaga spain with the ward lagunilla

The street art around Calle Lagunillas has a different tone from that in the Málaga Soho area.

Many of these wall murals have social content and were painted to represent the sometimes harsh realities faced by the residents of this run-down neighbourhood. Unemployment is high in this area and the residents in Lagunillas have few opportunities to improve their lives.

Unlike the street art in the Soho district, the work in Lagunillas is uncommissioned and the artists have to fund their own materials.

To reach this district, head to Plaza de la Merced and then head up Calle Victoria.

Here is the pick of my favourite Málaga street art from this area. In many cases, it’s unclear who the artist is.

malaga urban art of man lying on bench with an octopust
Señor del pulpo by Lalone
street art covering the wall of a ruined building in malaga spain
Málaga street art on Calle Esperanza
malaga street art c cobertizo del conde
malaga urban art of an animated man and woman

Street art by Doger

urban art on a wall of an old man with a beard
Plaza de la Esperanza dedicated to Miguel Angel Chamorro by Doger

I loved these works by Doger on Calle Lagunillas. Born in Zaragoza, Spain, Jonathan Morillas (Doger) began his career by spray-painting graffiti in 1995.

realistic image of a young boy on a wall in malaga spain

Also on Calle Lagunillas is one of his many graceful female portraits.

street art of reclining female figure with an eagle

If you are in the heart of Málaga’s historic centre, look out for this work by Doger in Plaza de la Juderia. It is an extraordinary piece of street art with a 3-dimensional quality.

wall mural of a close up of a woman with red lipstick and red earrings

Plan Your Visit to Málaga

Málaga is a popular port of call on Western Mediterranean cruises and a superb weekend break destination.

Here is some practical information to help you make the most of your time in Malaga.

When is the best time to visit Málaga, Spain?

Thanks to its temperate climate, you can visit Málaga year-round.
 
When I visited in February, afternoon temperatures were in the low to mid-20s and the orange trees were vibrant with fruit. As there were fewer visitors than in peak season, exploring Málaga’s highlights was a delight.
 
Between March and May, the days and nights are warmer but still comfortable. The sea may just be warm enough to chance a dip and the orange trees will be blooming.
 
The autumn (fall) months have similarly comfortable temperatures.
 
To avoid the intense summer heat, don’t visit between June and August.

How to get to Málaga

Málaga is well served by train and air.

AVE high-speed trains run to Málaga’s main Maria Zambrano station from Madrid (from 2 hr 30 minutes), Seville (from 2 hours), Valencia (from 5 hours) and Barcelona (from 6 hours). Book in advance for the best fares. 

From the resort towns on the Costa del Sol – Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Torremolinos – use the C1 line which terminates at the more conveniently located Málaga Centro Alameda.

As the main hub for the Costa del Sol, Málaga Airport is served by a number of airlines. Located just 8 km from central Málaga, you can take the C1 train directly to Málaga Centro Alameda.

How to get around Málaga

Málaga is a very walkable city. Its main attractions are spread over a concentrated area and the best way of getting around is on foot.

Where to stay in Málaga

Base yourself in the Old Town area around the Cathedral or in Soho. These areas are close to the city’s main attractions, bars and restaurants and offer accommodation in Málaga to suit all budgets.

READ THIS NEXT: Where to Stay in Málaga, Spain: The 7 Best Areas for All Travellers

Here are my top choices:

Mid-range apartment

Suites del Pintor

I stayed at this apartment in the Old Town, which is a great self-catering choice in Málaga. The washing machine, Nespresso machine and roof terrace were bonuses.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Luxury hotel

ICON Malabar

I also stayed in this fabulous new boutique hotel in Soho. But this is not style over substance. It is also in a superb location and its staff are first-rate.

>>> CLICK HERE TO BOOK