Back to grid

Best street art destinations in Africa

Back to grid
Cape Town
Mountains, Beaches and a Vibrant Culture
7.6
Baz-Art launched the International Public Art Festival in Salt River in 2015. Each year artists paint huge murals on the walls of this old factory district. Nearby Woodstock has more pieces along its side streets. Local guides lead walking tours past the newest works. The bright houses of Bo-Kaap are a short drive away.
Highlights:
  • 🍽️ Explore the V&A Waterfront and dine by the sea
  • 🚡 Ride the cable car for breathtaking city views
  • 🥾 Hike to the top of Table Mountain
Dakar
Vibrant markets and historic waterfront charm
7.6
The smell of spray paint fills the Medina district during Festigraff, a graffiti festival held most springs. Artists paint scenes of daily life and Senegalese heroes. In 1990 young people repainted city walls in a movement called Set Setal. The name means to be clean and make clean in Wolof. Murals still mark the city.
Highlights:
  • 🏝️ Visit Gorée Island's historic slave trade museum
  • 🚶‍♂️ Stroll along the bustling Boulevard de l'Indépendance
  • 🛍️ Explore Dakar's vibrant Sandaga market for local crafts
Marrakech
A vibrant maze of colors and spices
8.0
Newer than the souks around them, many murals here date from the 2016 Marrakech Biennale. That year eleven artists from Europe and Morocco painted walls across the city. Their work is in the medina, near Bahia Palace and in the modern Gueliz district. Some are on souk rooftops. Rooftop cafes give a good view.
Highlights:
  • 🧖‍♀️ Relax in a traditional hammam and experience Moroccan spa culture
  • 🏛️ Wander through the serene courtyards of Bahia Palace
  • 🕌 Lose yourself in the vibrant souks of Jemaa el-Fnaa
Johannesburg
Vibrant city life meets rich history
6.4
Sunday mornings bring food stalls and crowds to Maboneng, an arts district east of downtown. Huge murals cover the sides of its old warehouses. Braamfontein and Newtown have more walls by South African artists. Many pieces deal with history, city life and the fight against apartheid. Guided walks are the easiest way to find them.
Highlights:
  • 🌆 Enjoy panoramic city views from the Carlton Centre top floor
  • 🏠 Take a guided tour of Soweto and visit Mandela House
  • 🏛️ Learn South Africa’s history at the Apartheid Museum
Essaouira
Atlantic Breeze, Blue Medina, Bohemian Vibe
7.4
Atlantic winds blow through this walled port town. In 2016 Italian artist RUN painted a huge mural near Moulay Hassan Square. It shows two figures talking across borders as a nod to the town's music. In 2021 local children helped Ibiza painter Caterina Tur finish a wall of their faces. Blue doors line the lanes.
Highlights:
  • 🐟 Explore the bustling fishing port and feast on fresh seafood
  • 🌅 Watch the sunset from historic Skala du Port ramparts
  • 🏘️ Wander through Essaouira’s UNESCO-listed medina streets
Lagos
Buzzing Metropolis with Coastal Charm
5.7
Yellow danfo buses, the minibuses most locals ride, crawl past fresh murals on Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue. The Lagos Street Art Festival painted them in 2025 under the theme Legendary Lagos. Artists Osa Seven and Phisha founded the festival. Nigerian and foreign painters work side by side. The state governor praised it for reclaiming public space.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax and swim at beautiful Tarkwa Bay Beach
  • 🌿 Walk the longest canopy walkway at Lekki Conservation Centre
  • 🛍️ Explore vibrant Balogun Market for local crafts and textiles
Benin
West Africa's vibrant cultural mosaic
5.7
Effet Graff is a graffiti festival in Cotonou. In 2022 its artists painted a long wall near the presidential palace. One mural shows the Amazons of Dahomey, an army of women soldiers. Another shows a royal statue that France returned in 2021. Brazilian muralist Eduardo Kobra has also painted a large work in the city.
Highlights:
  • 🕊️ Walk the historic Route of Slaves in Ouidah
  • 🏰 Visit the Royal Palaces of Abomey, a UNESCO site
  • 🛶 Explore the floating village of Ganvié on Lake Nokoué
Tunisia
Mediterranean charm meets desert adventure
6.8
Djerbahood is an open air gallery in the village of Erriadh on Djerba island. In 2014 over 100 artists from 30 countries painted its whitewashed houses. Some murals have faded, but strolling the lanes still turns up dozens of works. On the mainland, artist eL Seed painted Arabic script on a mosque minaret in Gabès.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the sandy beaches of Hammamet
  • 🏘️ Stroll through the blue-and-white village of Sidi Bou Said
  • 🏛️ Explore the ancient Roman amphitheatre at El Jem
Feedback