Born in the 60s in the United States, street art hasn’t always been considered art in the strict sense of the word. Long considered vandalism, street art has taken many forms: graffiti, tag, collage, stencils, frescoes, stickers… It wasn’t until the 80s that this art form arrived in France. Today, street art has become an integral part of the urban landscape, so much so that it can be found en masse in certain districts of Paris. Here are our favorite spots to see free street art in Paris!
Rue Dénoyez, Belleville (20ᵉ arrondissement)
This very pretty street is famous for its colorful frescoes and graffiti that cover almost every surface of some buildings. The art here is renewed quite frequently, so you’ll always marvel at the ever-changing new works, always offering new works to discover.
Canal Saint-Denis (19th arrondissement)
What could be more bucolic than a stroll along the Canal Saint-Denis? Here, you’ll find numerous murals and works of art created by local artists and collectives.
Boulevard Vincent Auriol (13th arrondissement)
This boulevard is a veritable open-air museum, with monumental frescoes by internationally renowned artists such as Shepard Fairey, Invader, C215 and Seth.
Butte-aux-Cailles (13th arrondissement)
How can we talk about street art without mentioning this picturesque neighborhood in the 13ᵉ arrondissement? Butte-aux-Cailles is dotted with magnificent frescoes and graffiti, which color and dress up the neighborhood. It was here, for example, that two frescoes painted in 2024 were selected as among the best in France.
Canal de l’Ourcq (19th arrondissement)
Along the Canal de l’Ourcq you’ll find street art nuggets not to be missed, from La Villette to Bobigny and beyond! You’ll see works by Da Cruz, Lask and Shaka, using a variety of street-art techniques. Rue de l’Ourcq is also famous for its monumental, brightly colored frescoes!
Montmartre (18th arrondissement)
A historic artists’ quarter par excellence, Montmartre is home to many works of street art hidden in its alleyways. See the facetious faces of Gregos, the aliens of Invaders or the hyper-realistic works of Swed! And don’t forget to check out the “mur des je t’aime”, a perfect ode to love to round off your stroll in style!
The Centre Pompidou and its surroundings (4th arrondissement)
Around the Centre Pompidou, you’ll find iconic Parisian works such as Jeff Aérosol’s famous “Chuuuttt!!!”, frescoes by Shepard Fairey, charming collages and stunning sculptures.
Spot 13, the open-air gallery (13th arrondissement)
If you want to be sure of seeing street art all year round, head to Spot 13: THE place for street-art lovers. Here, frescoes change regularly, and artists are free to express their creativity. You’ll love strolling through this open-air gallery.
Saint-Blaise district (20th arrondissement)
The Saint-Blaise district is well known for its impressive frescoes! Kashink, Théo Haggaï and Jérôme Mesnager have all created magnificent works. The most symbolic? Seth’s, representing Billal Berreni, aka Zoo Project. A world-famous artist (and local boy) who sadly passed away at the age of 23.