Where to Find the Best Street Art in Istanbul (With Mural Locations)

Although I’m really a fan of street art, I’ll admit it — the first time I stumbled into the first graffiti walls in Istanbul, I wasn’t even looking for them. I was just exploring the streets of Kadıköy and looking for a nice cafe outside of the tourist areas. But then boom – I turned a corner, and this massive, dreamlike mural was just staring down at me from the side of a big building.

If you still think of Istanbul only as a city of historic mosques, bustling bazaars, and delicious cuisine, you already know Istanbul is much more than that.

Here you can spend entire afternoons wandering around, hunting for street art, graffiti walls and murals – hidden gems tucked between apartment blocks and shop shutters.

If you’re into street art (or just curious), here’s a breakdown of the best places to find murals in Istanbul — especially around Kadıköy and Karaköy — plus exact locations and some interesting backstories behind the art.

The Story of the Street Art in Istanbul

“Mural-East” – the Mural Istanbul Festival that transformed Kadıköy

The street art scene in Istanbul really started gaining momentum with the launch of the Mural-East Festival – the Mural Istanbul Festival in 2012. Based in Kadıköy, and supported by the Kadıköy Municipality and the ÇEKÜL Foundation, the festival brought artists from all over the world — 39 artists from 17 countries and 6 continents. The project was part of a larger neighborhood revitalization plan in Yeldeğirmeni area and helped turn blank walls into massive public art pieces. 

“Street Art Common Experience”: Building Cultural Bridges

A few years later, another project – Street Art Common Experience – added new amazing pieces of street art in Istanbul. Celebrating 600 years of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Poland, this EU-project brought Polish artists like M-City, Chazme, and Sepe to Kadıköy. Thanks to this initiative they’ve created cross-cultural murals that still stand out today. Together, these efforts have shaped Kadıköy into one of the most colorful and creative neighborhoods of the city.

My Favorite Murals and Where to Find Them

Here are pieces of street art in Istanbul that will absolutely blow your mind, along with their exact locations so you don’t waste your time and suffer to find them:

1. “Istanbul’s Eye” (2019) by Carlos Callizo

Location: Caferağa, Hasırcı Başı Cd. No:56, 34710 Kadıköy

A mural that’s really pulling you in.  It’s massive and colorful – it feels like the city is watching you. Callizo’s style is big on abstract energy, and this piece shows exactly the same vibe. Great for both – close-ups and wide photo shots.

2.“Pray for Rain” (2017) by Fintan Magee

Location: Rasimpaşa, Nakil Sk. 17-15, 34716 Kadıköy

One of my personal favorites – and also one of the most thought-provoking pieces. This graffiti piece tells an interesting story I want to share with you: Magee created this work drawing parallels between drought conditions in his native Brisbane, Australia, and similar water shortages in Turkey and the Levant region. This drought in South Turkey and became the worst on record and possibly the worst in 900 years. The mural shows people showering with buckets to collect water – something both regions experienced due to severe drought.

What makes this piece especially powerful is its message. According to NASA research, the drought in the Middle East has been a contributing factor to the regional conflicts. Magee’s work reminds us that climate change connects us all, regardless of geography. If you visit this mural on a hot Istanbul day, it will make its message even more impactful.

3.”Intermission” (2018) by Lonac

Location: Rasimpaşa, Kırmızı Kuşak Sk. 17/A, 34716 Kadıköy

This piece of street art in Istanbul was created by a Croation artist. It represents exactly what its title suggests – a moment of pause in the busy city. The technical skill on display is mind-blowing, the details are so precise, they look like 3D-parts popping-up from the wall.

4.”Ark Istanbul” by Dome

Location: Rasimpaşa, Misakı Milli Sk. No:15, 34716 Kadıköy

This German artist has created in Istanbul a piece of street art that will really grab your attention. The mural is in black and white with skinny, stretched-out figures.

Dreamlike people looking surreal. Some call this one “Noah,” because it reminds of Noah’s Ark – like a ship ready to launch.

5. “Balao” (2013) by Claudio Ethos

Location: Rasimpaşa Mahallesi, Karakolhane Cd. 61-63, 34716 Kadıköy

This Brazilian artist’s work is definitely on the creepier side. The surreal balloon rising from a pile of junk and debris (you can’t see it clearly) with strange, elongated faces watching.

It’s creepy and beautiful at the same time. Ethos has this distinctive way of making everything feel like a dream you can’t quite explain.

What’s fascinating about Ethos is his background. He started in the São Paulo graffiti scene when he was just 15 years old and developed this surreal style you can’t mistake with any other. His figures always have these strange body proportions that give the scary look.

6. The Greta Thunberg Mural by ParizOne and Mr. Dheo (2019)

Location: Göztepe, Mustafa Mazhar Bey Sokağı 4/a, 34730 Kadıköy

Painted during the 2019 Mural Festival, this piece of street art features climate activist Greta Thunberg staring out with her typical calm-but-deadly-serious vibe. A bold political statement in the middle of Istanbul’s Asian side. And hard to miss.

7. Untitled, Sasha Korban (2019)

Location: Caferağa, Cem Sk. No:1, 34710 Kadıköy

If you love expressive faces, this is your jam. Sasha Korban is a Ukrainian graffiti artist who creates emotional portraits that feel incredibly real. You’ll find this one just down the road from a small market, tucked away but worth the detour.

An interesting fact about the artist: his 2018 famous Mariupol mural of a 3-year-old girl survived the attack of pro-Russian forces, was unfortunately destroyed in 2022 during the Russian occupation of the city.

8. Karaköy’s Shutter Street Art

Karaköy doesn’t have the giant murals like Kadıköy, but it’s got something just as amazing: shop shutters covered in graffiti.
It feels like the other soul of Istanbul’s street art.

• Head south of Galata Tower
  
• Near Komodo Steps (Kamondo Merdivenleri)
  
• Best seen in the evening when shops are closed
  

Some of my favorite finds:

• Fan Shop – Arap Cami, Perşembe Pazarı Cd. No:12/A
  
• Pieces of street art of famous musicians and artists

Located south of the Galata Tower and the famous Kamondo Steps, this street art area has a different vibe entirely. Instead of massive building murals, the art here is placed on the metal shop doors that line the streets.

In the mornings, before the open hours or in the evenings, after businesses close, as shopkeepers roll down their doors, the neighborhood transforms into a gallery of colorful artworks.

If you’re shopping near Galata Bridge definitely, make a detour at sunset, when shopkeepers close for the day and watch each metal door coming down like a curtain revealing a new painting. The show will be just for those who happen to be there at the right time!

9. Stairs with Portrait “Woman with Mimosas”

Location:   Kılıçali Paşa, Enli Ykş. No:5, 34425 Beyoğlu

Still in Karaköy, if you’re walking on the Galataport seafront promenade  toward Dolmabahçe Palace, make a quick detour to check out the “Woman with Mimosas” stairs. 

The mural is a tribute to Osman Hamdi Bey’s famous painting, amazingly recreated on stairs. The artists are students from Mimar Sinan Fine Art University, which is actually nearby. 

It’s starting to wear down a bit and could use a touch-up, but the effect of the stair-riser mural is still unique, making it also a great Instagrammable spot for tourists.

10. Erika, Balat

Location:  Balat, Yıldırım Cd. No:102, 34087 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye

​Erika Coffee & Patisserie is a charming café with inviting atmosphere in industrial style.
In front of the cafe you can find a captivating mural of a woman with two circle mirrors for glasses. On the walls and buildigs around you can see even more interesting pieces of the street art of Istanbul.

As you explore the area around Erika Coffee & Patisserie, you’ll discover plenty of street art pieces, the colorful stairs, the umbrella street and cozy authentic cafes that make Balat one of the most charming and Instagrammable neighborhoods in Istanbul. ​

Tips for Fellow Street Art Explorers

If you’re planning your own street art adventure in Istanbul, keep in mind following:

• Check if the art still exists – Street art moves fast and Istanbul’s constantly changing. Some murals get painted over, others fade out. Best way to check what’s still standing?
  Use This Map Tool: StreetArtCities Istanbul Map – for up-to-date information on what’s still there.
  Super helpful. Real-time mural updates. You can even filter by artist or neighborhood. I use it almost every time I go exploring. 
  
• Start in Kadıköy — ferry from Karaköy or Eminönü gets you there fast
  
• Wear comfortable shoes – if you’re like me, I usually walk over 20,000 steps daily when exploring Istanbul. The city is full of hills and cobbled streets, so do yourself a favor 🙂
  
• Go either very early or late before sunset for the best light/photos (and fewer cars or people in front of the graffiti walls)
  
• Take breaks – there are amazing cafes near most street art areas in Istanbul
  
• Download and use offline maps if you don’t have much data
  
• Don’t be afraid to look like a lost tourist — ask shopkeepers, they’re usually chill. Also, some of the best street art pieces in Istanbul could be new and not on the map yet. So, talk to the locals – they will be proud to recommend an art place in their neighborhood.
  
• Stay respectful – Remember that these neighborhoods are people’s homes, not just Instagram backdrops.

Street art in Istanbul is more than just decoration — it’s a living, breathing part of the city. Some of it’s bold, some is weird, and some hits you in the gut.

Looking back, what started as an accidental street art discovery could become a highlight of your Istanbul trip. Beyond the grand mosques and historic sites, these colorful walls tell stories of a city that is constantly transforming, where ancient traditions and contemporary art co-live together. 

Next time you’re in Istanbul, I hope you’ll wander off the beaten path too – something might accidentally show you a side of the city you never expected to fall in love with.

Have you already explored some of the street art in Istanbul? Which pieces are your favorite ones?

And honestly? I don’t think I’ll ever see all of it. But that’s the fun part.