Barrio Bellavista in Santiago, Chile is popular for being an upscale tourist destination as well as the nightlife hotspot. Just a pleasant walk or short metro ride away from Santiago Centro, it’s a good retreat for those looking to get away from the noise and crowds of the downtown area. The super modern outdoor galleria, Patio Bellavista, is home to dozens of boutique eateries and posh restobars, as well as little touristy shops selling all sorts of local Chilean handicrafts. Tourist trap? Maybe. But it’s not hard to understand why tourists like to visit. It’s safe, clean, and comfortable.
However, I love Bellavista for another reason: its funky street art scene.
It’s almost like a juxtaposition of sorts. The ultra refined Patio Bellavista, with its soft music and perfectly designed patios looking like they just stepped out the pages of a modern living magazine, is surrounded by streets where the buildings are colorful with street art. Clearly, the residents here have a different image for Bellavista. And have found a way to portray the quirky, bohemian neighborhood through the expressions of urban art.
Follow along with me as I explore the street art scene in Bellavista!
first up, my absolute favorite rainbow mural of Converse All-Stars and rainbow bench
some of the artwork is cartoonish…
…while others are truly impressive
a rare appearance by D
I’m blue da ba dee da ba die
whoever painted this surrealist art piece must have been on drugs
and lastly, one of my favorites!
Bellavista is truly one of the more interesting neighborhoods in Santiago. My favorite way to spend an afternoon there is by wandering through the streets and getting lost in the creative and imaginative artwork. If you have a day to spare on your visit, Bellavista is definitely worth a jaunt to get a taste of colorful urban life, unlike anywhere else in the entire city of Santiago!
Practical Information
Getting there: Take the metro, Red Line or Green Line, Baquedano exit. The stop will drop you off across the street from the San Sebastian University. Walk towards it, and you’ll be in Bellavista.
Where to go: Below is a map outlining the rough walking path you can take to see many of the artwork that I saw (click to enlarge). But of course, feel free to meander through whatever streets you want! Anywhere you go, you’ll be sure to see something amazing!
Which one was your favorite? And what other cities in the world should I visit for great street art?
Thank you for the great write-up and wonderful pictures! The artwork is incredible.
Thanks for reading JP! Yes, the artwork is amazing! I could stroll through the streets for hours looking for them :)
Love street art and these are great! I like the eclectic mix. What a wonderful way to stroll the city streets and see the art scene. Brussels is also a lovely city for some colorful street art. My favorites are the rainbow converse and that last one.
Those are my favorites too :). I will be in Belgium this summer but I don’t think I have time to make it to Brussels. That’s is so interesting tho, I’ve never heard of Brussels being known for street art!
Lovely pieces! I particularly like how they are so varied and unique.
Definitely! I’m amazed by how talented some street artists are! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment Lizzie. It means a lot to me. :)
Wow – it looks so colourful! These artists are really talented. I wish we had more street art here in Europe, I love seeing it!
Me too! I’m becoming quite a fan of street art! I heard that a lot of capital European cities have more street art now, so I’m looking forward to checking it out for myself :). Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment Molly!
Just loved the cartoon one and the lady one..truly impressive.. such an amazing post.
It’s really amazing how talented the artists are! Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting Divya! :)
Bellavista looks like a paradise to me, I’m a big street art lovers and this area seems like my cup of tea. So many nice and well done street art pieces.. I’d love to visit it one day!
Oh you would definitely love Bellavista! It’s just blocks and blocks of gorgeous street art! It definitely turned me into a street art lover too :). I’ll cross my fingers for you that you visit one day!