Mission District Murals Tour (San Francisco)

Mission District can be likened to an open-air art gallery: this Latino neighbourhood boasts more than 100 documented murals that adorn unassuming alleyways, wooden fences and shop facades!

Last week I decided to put together a DIY walking tour and go check them out. I literally took hundreds of pictures but on this post I wanted to share some of my favorite spots & murals. Overall it was a visually captivating and thought-provoking experience – highly recommend it if you’re around Mission.

Our itinerary

24th St & Lilac St
Lilac Alley
Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts
Cypress St & 25th St
24th St & S Van Ness Ave
24th St & Shotwell St
24th St & Treat Ave
Balmy Alley
24th St & Florida St
24th & York St
Clarion Alley Street Art

24th St & Lilac St

Lilac Alley

Mission Cultural Center of Latino Arts

Cypress St & 25th St

24th St & S Van Ness Ave

24th & Shotwell

24th & Treat Ave

Balmy Alley

Balmy Alley is where you can find the greatest concentration of art work. The project began during a small community-led event in 1973 and since then, this tiny street has become the heart of the Latino arts movement.

24th St & Florida St

Clarion Alley Street Art

The Clarion Alley Mural Project started in 1992 and was inspired by the success of the murals along Balmy Alley. The art here is a mix of murals and street art, though they all carry strong messages of social justice.

If you fancy a coffee in between murals (which I’m sure you will), I recommend Philz Coffee or Haus Coffee on 24th St. They both have super cool & artsy interiors.

Here’s a little video I put together – hope you enjoy!