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Paint the Town: Agoda Unveils Asia’s Top Cities for a Mural Art Walk
SINGAPORE – Digital travel platform Agoda invites travelers to embark on an extraordinary artistic adventure through some of Asia’s most vibrant mural art neighborhoods. These captivating destinations showcase a dynamic fusion of local culture, innovative creativity, and tight-knit community spirit, as they transform bustling city streets and hidden alleyways into sprawling open-air galleries adorned with colorful, thought-provoking murals.
Exploring street art while traveling is a vibrant and immersive way to connect with a city’s unique character and local atmosphere. Taking an art walk allows visitors to wander through bustling streets and quiet alleyways adorned with striking murals, intricate graffiti, and bold installations, turning the urban landscape into an open-air gallery. In Asia, you’ll discover a wealth of mural art neighborhoods, each bursting with a kaleidoscope of colors and imaginative designs that reflect the area’s history, values, and creativity. Wandering these artistic enclaves provides not only a visual feast and vibrant photo opportunities, but also a deeper understanding of the community’s personality, making them essential stops for travelers eager to experience a destination’s soul beyond the usual tourist sites.
Agoda has curated a list of six neighborhoods to experience the creativity that colors Asia’s cities:
George Town, Penang, Malaysia
The murals of George Town, Penang, transform the city’s UNESCO?listed streets into a vibrant open air gallery, blending art with heritage. Sparked by Ernest Zacharevic’s iconic 2012 works like Children on a Bicycle and Boy on a Motorcycle, the scene has since grown into dozens of interactive, whimsical, and culturally rich pieces. Many murals incorporate real objects—bicycles, swings, or chairs—so visitors can step into the artwork, while others celebrate Penang’s multicultural life with depictions of children playing, street vendors, and local traditions. Alongside colorful murals, wrought?iron caricature sculptures narrate the city’s history with humor and charm, making George Town a living canvas where past and present meet in playful, creative storytelling.
Ihwa Mural Village, Seoul, South Korea
Ihwa Mural Village in Seoul is a colorful hillside neighborhood tucked into Ihwa?dong near Naksan Park, where once?fading alleyways were revitalized in 2006 through a public art project. Local artists transformed the walls, staircases, and houses with bright murals, mosaics, and installations ranging from whimsical flowers and fish to playful characters and interactive designs. Today, the village offers not only vibrant street art but also sweeping views over Seoul, cozy cafés, and small craft shops. While it has become a popular attraction, visitors are encouraged to explore respectfully since it remains a residential area, blending everyday life with creativity in one of the city’s most charming “moon villages.”
Charoen Krung, Bangkok, Thailand
Charoen Krung Road in Bangkok, Thailand’s first paved road built in the 1860s, is now a lively blend of heritage and creativity where colonial?era shophouses, Chinese shrines, and modern galleries coexist. Once the city’s main commercial artery, it has reinvented itself as a cultural hub, especially around Soi Charoen Krung 32, where large?scale murals by Thai and international artists—many created during the 2016 Bukruk Urban Arts Festival—cover old walls with bold, contemporary street art. Today, the area is known for its mix of traditional eateries, trendy cafés, design studios, and art spaces, making it a place where Bangkok’s history and modern urban culture meet in a vibrant, walkable setting.
Bandra, Mumbai, India
The murals of Bandra in Mumbai turn its lanes—especially Chapel Road, Waroda Road, and Perry Road—into a vibrant outdoor gallery where Bollywood icons, political messages, and playful pop culture references share space on crumbling walls. Emerging in the 2000s through local and international street artists, the artworks range from striking portraits of Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna to quirky cartoons, abstract patterns, and socially conscious pieces addressing issues like gender, environment, and urban life. Constantly evolving, many murals are painted over or refreshed, giving the neighborhood a dynamic, ever?changing character that blends Mumbai’s cinematic glamour with grassroots creativity, making Bandra one of India’s most iconic street art districts.
Bonifacio Global City, Manila, Philippines
The murals of Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Manila transform its sleek business district into a massive open?air museum, where towering building facades, parking structures, and hidden alleys burst with color and creativity. Launched through the ArtBGC Festival, the initiative has brought together local and international artists to paint large?scale works that range from abstract patterns and surreal portraits to pieces celebrating Filipino culture, identity, and social themes. These murals—such as the vibrant faces by Filipino collective Team Manila or the dreamlike works of international artists like Cyrcle and Drew Merritt—add warmth and character to the modern skyline. Constantly growing and evolving, BGC’s street art scene has become one of Metro Manila’s most Instagrammable and culturally rich attractions, blending global artistry with local storytelling.
Ximending, Taipei, Taiwan
The murals of Ximending in Taipei turn the district’s backstreets—especially around Kunming Street and America Street—into a vibrant showcase of Taiwan’s urban creativity. Known as the city’s youth and pop?culture hub, Ximending features walls covered in colorful graffiti, anime?inspired characters, bold lettering, and large?scale murals created by both local and international artists. The art reflects the neighborhood’s edgy, trend?driven spirit, with themes ranging from playful street culture to social commentary, making it a favorite backdrop for photos and a living canvas that constantly evolves. Blending fashion, nightlife, and street art, Ximending’s murals capture the energy of modern Taipei while giving visitors a taste of its underground artistic scene.
Jun Dong, Associate Vice President at Agoda, said, “Art isn’t confined to galleries; it’s alive on the streets, telling stories and expressing the soul of the city. From the vibrant hues of Penang to the eclectic vibes of Taipei, Asia’s street art scene is a testament to the region’s rich cultural tapestry. At Agoda, we believe art should be accessible to everyone, and these neighborhoods offer a colorful canvas for travelers to enjoy.”
Travelers eager to explore Asia’s vibrant street art scenes can choose from over 6 million accommodation options, including hotels, guesthouses, and unique stays across cities renowned for their murals such as Penang, George Town, Seoul, and Bangkok. Agoda offers access to more than 130,000 international and domestic flight routes, along with over 300,000 curated activities—many tailored to art lovers, like guided mural tours, street art workshops, and local cultural experiences. These hotels, flights, and activities can be conveniently bundled into a single booking through Agoda’s platform. To find exclusive discounts and easy trip planning tools, download Agoda’s mobile app or visit Agoda.com for more details and inspiration for your next street art adventure.
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Paint the Town: Agoda Unveils Asia’s Top Cities for a Mural Art Walk
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog
