Tag: City Break

Best of PORTO – Also if You Travel Solo

Posted onAuthorRenata Green61 Comments

Somehow, Portugal also seems to be one of the countries overpowered by centralism. Everyone is flocking to the capital Lisbon, which is groaning under the masses of tourists and has to be careful to remain livable for the locals.
Hence, while others are stressed out, Porto pours herself a glass of amber-colored port wine and relaxes as she gazes down the Douro River.

Panoramic view of the best places of Porto, visited on a solo travel.
The best of Porto in just one single picture.

Instead of overwhelming her visitors with innumerable presumably must-see landmarks, Porto invites her guests to take a relaxed stroll down picturesque streets and alleys and offers them a creamy Galão in one of the many charming cafés. The city impresses with cool street art and delights the eye with gorgeous church façades covered in exquisite Azulejos, and what is probably the most famous bookstore in the world.
By now, you’ve probably noticed: Porto is one of my favorite cities in Europe and I’m excited to show you the best the city on the Atlantic coast has to offer – also if, just like me, you travel solo.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

Best Street Art in LISBON – Part III: Moscavide

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This is the third and last part of the murals I saw during my recent trip to Lisbon. Already in some of my past posts on urban art, I took you to some rather inhospitable neighborhoods. Whether the 13th Arrondissement of Paris, Copenhagen’s Nordvest neighborhood, or the satellite town of San Pablo in the northeast of Seville – hardly any sightseer makes his way to these places on the outskirts of Europe’s glittering metropoles.
And in Lisbon, too, you have to leave the picturesque historic old town and roam through high-rise developments like Moscavide to see some of the best street art the city has to offer.

String Quintet by Juanjo Surace and a massive collage by Colectivo RUA in Moscavide where you can find some of the best street art Lisbon has to offer.
String Quintet by Juanjo Surace and a massive collage by Colectivo RUA are waiting for you in Moscavide.
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Best Street Art in LISBON – Part II: Marvila

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For years, when I travel, I have made sure to find out whether there is any street art worth seeing at my destination. And in fact, it’s very rare that I don’t find what I’m looking for. During my stay in Lisbon I not only found what I was looking for, I felt like I was overwhelmed by a tsunami of outstanding street art. Now, for cities like London and Bristol, I have divided my street art posts by area into two parts. But when it comes to Lisbon, it is actually the first time that I have to present the murals of a city in three parts so that the posts don’t become endlessly long.
Bravo, Lisbon, you’ve really made it to the top of the street art hotspots!
Drum roll: after I’ve introduced the most impressive murals in the very center of the city, here comes the best that the suburb of Marvila has to offer in terms of street art in Lisbon.

Mural by LS in Lisbon's neighborhood of Marvila.
Marvila’s local hero LS painted a female portrait with reference to Portuguese Azulejos.
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First Time in ATHENS – Beyond the Acropolis

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Yes, I’ve travelled the seven seas – at least metaphorically – but only recently I visited Athens for the first time. This is ironic since basically all of Greece is located on the seaside. With 13,676 kilometers of coastline – that’s roughly the little something of 8,498 miles – and 3054 islands and islets, Poseidon definitely is boss.

Not the only amazing facts. Next to Golgota and the Capitol, the Acropolis is one of the hills on which Europe was founded. So there is no excuse that I haven’t visited the cradle of our civilization before.

Cat at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece
Although Greece is basically sea-girt, besides lots of water, there are many rocks. As well as cats.

So as we got nearer to Christmas and the holy days became holidays, the question of where I would spend them was quickly answered. Athens – for the first time.

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Best Street Art in LISBON – Part I: Graça And Beyond

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Each time I write a post on the supposedly best street art in some place, I’m a bit hesitant. Can I rightfully claim to present the best pieces? Most of the time, I haven’t seen each and every mural a city has to offer. And even if I show a broad selection – who’s to judge what’s best, anyway?
Now, when it comes to Lisbon, I find my claim to introduce you to the best street art particularly preposterous as this city is just bursting with urban art. There are murals by the greatest of the greatest street artists everywhere. Also, the art festivals that flood Lisbon’s walls with dozens of new artworks every year don’t make the choice any easier. Yet, not only did I travel around the hotspots in the city center, I also made my way to the housing projects in Lisbon’s suburbs which are embellished by international superstars such as KOBRA, Shepard Fairey, and GLEO.
I tried hard to see as many murals as possible so that I could rightfully assert: In this post, I’m introducing the best pieces of street art Lisbon has to offer!

Mural by VHILS and Shepard Fairey in the Graca district of Lisbon.
It took two superstars of urban art to create this mural: Portuguese artist VHILS created the right side while the one and only Shepard Fairey painted the left half of the lady’s face.
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Best Street Art in PORTO

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Some of the worldwide most recognized muralists like Mr. Dheo and Daniel Eime are based in Porto, the vibrant Northern Portuguese city on the river Douro. Hence, it’s no wonder the façades and walls of Porto serve as canvases for some of the best street art.

Best Street Art in Porto by Mr. Dheo
Mr. Dheo’s tribute to his hometown alongside the Escadas dos Guindais.
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Best Street Art in NÎMES

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Nîmes is indisputably the most Italian city in France. Consequently, it is rather famous for old structures like the amazing Maison Carrée. In 2023, UNESCO even put this remarkable building on its list of World Heritage Sites. Most rightly so.
However, it’s a shame that far too few visitors are cherishing Nîmes’ wild side and contemporary art. Especially since you don’t even need to visit a museum as you’ll find the best art in Nîmes right on the street, on the houses, and walls of the Gambetta and Richelieu districts.

Street Art in Nimes.
Wall of fame at the Square Clérisseau introducing local street artists Supo Caos and Isaac, the Brazilian muralist Nhobi, Maye from Montpellier, and others.

Nevertheless, you should definitely reserve half a day for hunting for street art, no matter what you call the hunting grounds.

This Way to the Whole Story ->

The Best Street Art in MARSEILLE

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Yes, there is so much to see and enjoy in Marseille, the oldest and second-largest city in all of France. And in addition, you absolutely should make time to explore the city’s best street art which is conveniently mainly located in some of the charming neighborhoods of Marseille, anyway. This way, you catch two birds with one stone. Come to think of it, this is a pretty disturbing metaphor, don’t you think?

Mural in the area around Cours Julien where some of the best street art in Marseille is found.
Keep your eyes open for the best street art Marseille has to offer.
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Best Street Art in BRUSSELS

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Brussels is famous for many things: The European Parliament, the Atomium, beer, waffles, and comic books. Belgium’s capital celebrates the latter even in a beautiful street art project called Parcours Bande Dessinée. I’ve introduced many of the walls decorated by beloved comic book characters in my former post The Best Murals Along Brussels’ Comic Book Route.
But how about other murals that are not comic-themed?
What a question!
In Belgium, you’ll find grand street art even in the smaller cities.
So of course there are amazing powerful murals all around the country’s capital – and in this post, I’m telling you where to find the best street art Brussels has in store.

Charm of Uniform by Jaune, one of the best pieces of street art in Brussels.
Charm of Uniform by Jaune.
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PUERTO del ROSARIO – Fuerteventura’s Underrated Capital

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Puerto del Rosario is Fuerteventura’s capital and totally underrated. No wonder, the competition is powerful: Golden beaches, turquoise waters, gigantic sand dunes, and windy surfing grounds.

Statue in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura's Capital
Pescador de Viejas – the old fisherman by local sculptor Juan Miguel Cubas from Betancuria is greeting visitors next to Puerto del Rosario’s promenade.

Hence, it’s understandable that hardly any tourist spends time in Puerto del Rosario. If you ask me, that’s a big mistake since the city has enough to offer to spend at least one day there.

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