Graffiti Alley

Absolutely made it a point to stop here. Saw it in a post and knew it would be cool. The artistry is phenomenal. Loved all the artwork. Wish we lived closer to visit often and see how it changes.

Perfect place to view artwork . We had a blast ! Wish we had more time to spend because we didnt know how long the alleyway was next trip down we will be spending 3 hrs

Really cool artwork. I'd recommend the walk if you're in the area.

Amazing! Breath taking! True art! I love the memorials!

Recommended spot to go at least once. Inspiring artworks waits to be discovered.

Very cool to go for a walk through here! Definitely worth doing while in toronto

I’m glad this alley is much cleaner than it used to be. It’s fun to see cool graffiti arts while walking.

Amazing artwork on all canvases. The artwork has no set time for changes so come back here and there. The main part which changes all the time is the short wall and building where it stretches across the street. All other parts are more private. You may see something new. Careful walking around. The ground is uneven in some parts. Still easily accessible for anyone. It is also an active alley with vehicles so be curious and step aside.

Amazing art work everywhere. Central location in the middle of restaurants and Publix transportation. Clean and quiet. Loved itn

Yelp Review 2024 #40: I had dinner reservations at restaurant nearby and needed to kill time instead of just staying in my hotel room so, I went to Graffiti Alley. I appreciate all forms and sorts of art/ artistic expression whether it may be high art inside a museum or public art like murals and graffiti. I've been to multiple cities around the world with really fantastic graffiti: Barcelona, Prague, Belfast, Bogota (probably the best with a sad history behind it too), Melbourne, etc. Where does Toronto's Graffiti Alley rank? First of all, it's located between Portland and Spadina and runs parallel to Queen Street where you can access the streetcar/ tram. In this neighborhood, there are lots of restaurants, bars, cafes, and other businesses. I got to see an artist at work. I like the cute chicks. Some walls have graffiti but got tagged by some bored person with no talent. And some walls were simply just tags (when I went). But with graffiti, nothing is permanent. You might see one mural one time, and it's spray painted over the next year. It's not one of my top cities for graffiti but if you have time, go see it. And it's free!

A spot to take any tourists to. Graffiti Alley, as the name suggests is an alley filled with graffiti. It spans for a couple of streets long, with different graffiti art found throughout the alley. It's quite beautiful and definitely a place to take any tourists, friends or family that are out of town. It gets pretty busy on the weekends with a lot of people taking pictures for their social media accounts. Definitely a place to check out for some unique art, things to look at and just a beautiful casual stroll in the neighbourhood.

It's Canadian Thanksgiving Day! Virtually no foot traffic today! It was a worthwhile stop to check out the local graffiti. Parking seems to be a challenge if it weren't for the holiday. Lots of graffiti to checkout very interesting!

MMXXV Winter has arrived in the city , the vibe changes everything, the Alley just becomes this mesmerizing wall of Art .

I'm a sucker for public art. So naturally, when my weekend plans took me to Toronto, I knew Graffiti Alley was a must-see. STAR #1 - There's a little bit of everything here! From typical tags, throw-ups, wildstyle, stencils, pieces, and more! So no matter your graffiti-tastes, there's bound to be something you'll appreciate. STAR #2 - Seeking a creative place for a photo shoot? This may very well be the most interesting of backdrops to let those creative juices flow. Many people were doing just that during our visit. STAR #3 - Graffiti Alley is located within walking distance of some really fun neighborhoods. So it's super easy to check it out as you head from one place to the next. STAR #4 - It's free! So grab some coffee (Tim Horton's anyone) and meander a while. ...only downside here is that, being an alley, it's obviously got trash strewn about. Not terrible, but I can see where some people would want to steer clear of it, especially in the warmer summer months. If you're a fan of street art, Graffiti Alley should absolutely be on your must-see list when in Toronto.

Really cool few blocks of you have some time to explore. I enjoyed the various styles of graffiti, and how so much of it blended together despite being from different artists. Once you're done, head back down queen st and visit the awesome shops & restaurants!

We have visited many graffiti displays and murals in different cities and countries, and this is one of the better ones. + large variety of styles and higher quality artwork + graffitis are concentrated, it's easy to see most of the artwork all in one place - as with others, this is a residential neighborhood, some places are cleaner than others Tips: there are a ton of restaurants nearby, if you go around lunch time, and try some interesting food. Parking: there is a pretty large lot nearby, you can park conveniently using the Green-P app.

Super unique and cool area in Toronto. We heard it changes every year but it was cool to see the work of different artists and especially cool to see murals of things that relate to Toronto. A must see when visiting Toronto! Just about 2 blocks long but quick and easy to get to and see.

So many different artist was really interesting to see. This is a must see while visiting Toronto.

"Going home, running home Down to Gasoline Alley where I started from" (Rod Stewart) Where does the word "graffiti" come from? It's a plural of the Italian word 'graffito'. It describes a drawing or writing scratched on a wall or other surface. Today, the word graffiti is used for "art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view". (Wikipedia) As you walk north toward Chinatown on Spadina Avenue in Toronto you'll catch a splash of color on your left. Welcome to Graffiti Alley - a small section of town where graffiti is encouraged and the kaleidoscope of colors and designs will blow your mind. The spray painted colors are everywhere - alleys, back streets and even the trash dumpsters. Just be careful where you walk because the street/alley surfaces aren't in tip-top condition. It's a pretty amazing sight and I can only imagine how many photos, selfies, and Instagram posts originated in Graffiti Alley!

As a fan of street art, I was delighted with my visit to the Graffiti Alley. Overall, this area was definitely bigger than expected! To get to this place, simply plug in Graffiti Alley into Google Maps/Apple Maps and you really can't miss this place since it's located in an alley full of graffiti/street art. Came here right before sunset on a weekday and was pleasantly surprised to find it empty. Some say this place can get a bit sketchy but for me, I found it to be pretty safe. Just keep an eye out of your surroundings and you should be fine. Some areas are a tad bit rough and dirty but then again, almost all alleys are like this, so don't be too surprised. For the graffiti, you can find it anywhere from the trash bins, to the walls, and even interesting structures. The art can vary from the standard random words to really well drawn art pieces. Make sure to look up and around and you'll definitely find some interesting pieces. Took so many pictures and videos and overall, definitely enjoy my time here.

Stopped here while shopping on Queen Street. Very cool visuals, and though I'm not sure a review is needed here's mine: It's an alley, this kind of graffiti is art, and it breathes new life into what regularly would be a dark, dirty area.

I wish we'd had a little more time to walk slowly down this alley and really look at the artwork. There are some fabulous works of graffiti, very colorful and upbeat. If you're visiting Toronto, take some time to meander through this short alley.

One of the larger graffiti alleys I've been too. There were a couple oversized vehicles that drove down so be mindful while admiring the artwork. I dug the vibe. I got some great pictures. There were some young people standing around posing for pictures which was comical like every comedy sketch you've ever seen about influencers. I met a couple of really nice people. One guy lived in one of the buildings and he was lamenting about how the tourists found the place online. We shared a laugh because I told him that's how I found it. There is a well kept memorial garden there as well. It didn't say who it was for but there were little signs around some of the plants. I'm sure the folks were well loved. It was a beautiful small garden. It was not crowded. I went on a weekday. Enjoy.

I'm not a fan of illegal graffiti that is deemed destruction of public or private property. That said, the City of Toronto has provided this legal forum for graffiti artists to express their craft on local buildings and structures. Bravo! A walking tour is the best way to enjoy Graffiti Alley located within Toronto's Fashion District. Toronto P street parking is available close by.

The late Rob Ford, Toronto's corpulent and controversial mayor from 2010 to 2014, declared an all-out war on the graffiti in the city when he began his term. The response has been defiant ever since with this three-block stretch between Spadina Avenue and Portland Street the epicenter of this artistic revolution. Even though it's a pretty grimy back alley with many of the murals hidden by autos and trash containers, it's definitely worth a stroll since it's on the tourist corridor between the CN Tower and Kensington Market anyway. Some murals are quite impressive in scale and style, while others look more like tags than true art. But the beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so behold, will ya? RELATED - Traveling to Toronto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2LETSfV

Beautiful and temporary artworks here, lots of interesting and well done spray paintings that goes on for several blocks. There are cities that have similar but this is the most extensive and the most "tolerated" that I've seen. The ground is a little broken up as it is an alley so watch your step. There are plenty of people around so I had no concerns about personal safety. If you're wanting some new picture for your profile or your Instagram, head directly to Graffiti Alley. [Review 10999 overall, 772 of 2019.]

A great spot to check out if you're in the area! I'm not really a big fan of graffiti art, but I was still impressed by the beautiful displays. One of my favorites include the one with the Toronto landscape with the CN Tower, and the display with the various fishes swimming around the window. Many people were sitting on the window sill display, which makes for a really nice photo! Admission is free, as it is all outdoors and you can come at any time. The roads are a bit rough, so be careful of the little rocks when walking.

Meh I mostly attribute GRAFF ALLEY to tourists and VAPID people taking selfies... their 316th portrait photo of the day for the 'gram Some solid artists, but like many things in life; the HUMANS are the worst part..

Neat to check out. Cool to see the work of talented graffiti artists. Unique part of downtown Toronto. Even has its own street sign. There's also a nice memorial garden in the middle of the alley. The alley smells and you have to watch out for pot holes while you walk but worth it if you enjoy graffiti.

As a child of the suburbs, you grow up thinking graffiti is how hooligans mark their territories. It's no surprise when all of my suburban relatives were surprised such a place existed and asked how I "discovered" it for my engagement photos. When you have a whole block filled with colours and legitimate artists with spray paint bottles, suddenly, vandalism becomes art. Though there's graffiti all over the city, Graffiti Alley specifically points to Rush Lane that runs from Spadina to Portland. It's made up of a series of back alleys and laneways where you get to admire impressive street art while dodging the occasional car or two. The works really are a sight to behold, if you look past some of random spray painted words that look like they were done by drunk people. You've got professional-looking murals taking up the whole side of a building. Vibrant colours, a ton of creativity, and artwork that is uniquely Toronto. On weekends, Graffiti Alley becomes Instagram Alley as everyone and their mom brings a camera to the party. I'm almost sure there are tours being led down this place. The walls are a living canvas. People paint on top of things all the time, making way for new backdrops. I won't lie though, Graffiti Alley looks much better through a camera lens than with the naked eye. With a camera, you can point it upwards and avoid all the garbage and crap at your feet. Now that summer's here, I can imagine it only getting busier with social media influencers and tourists. Don't let that stop you though. Grab your best camera (phone), don't be afraid to get dirty, and get your 2 minute photo shoot with the famously brilliant Aquarium wall. Your followers will appreciate it. (27/100) - 2018

Graffiti Alley in Toronto was a highlight of my trip! I would definitely recommend a visit to this hotspot if you're in town. And the plus side, it was technically free. The beautiful graffiti art was pretty amazing and every time that I thought there was no more alley to explore, I crossed the street to find a vibrant piece to admire. The Alley itself spans over two blocks but with every turn of a corner, you could see the difference in how the local artists used the brick as their canvas and the city of Toronto as one of their inspirations. Located somewhat close by to Chinatown and between the Entertainment district, Graffiti Alley is a good way to kill two birds with one stone: My recommendation is to definitely go early to avoid too many people, and then hit up a dim sum place for breakfast in nearby Chinatown.

When they mean Graffiti Alley, they mean an actual alleyway. This is a great way to appreciate Toronto's unique graffiti art. From realistic portraits to cartoon characters, there's a good variety of expression here. Now, this is not to say this is the only spot to see graffiti art. There's actually graffiti art sprawled out in many spots in Toronto. But, this is a nice way to enjoy lots of graffiti art in one shot. I would suggest coming here in the daytime to peruse their art. It would be too sketchy at night, though. It's still worth checking out if you're in the area.

This was on my list of must see places for my recent Toronto trip. A friend had gone a couple years ago and I loved seeing her photos. As we don't have an area with a lot of graffiti art in one place in my local area, I really wanted to see Graffiti Alley in Toronto in person. We spent a couple hours there on a Sunday morning. There were only a couple other people there. I think the key is to go early! Street parking on Queen was easy to find at 10AM and led us right to the alley. Free parking until 1PM was nice too! I really loved the different styles of the artists. My friend noted that there were pieces that were covered up from her previous visit. So, it'll be interesting to see what is new next visit. Are the alleys clean? Nope. Can you walk through easily? Yes. There were some spots that had large puddles after the rain. Still, easy to get around. Will definitely go again next visit to Toronto!

This is an absolute must see destination! The best way to see and appreciate local art is to explore the street art in the heart of the art district. If you are lucky you might even see a local artist creating work right there! So many artists have come through and shared their talent with the world, told their story through the art. I recommend coordinating your visit with a tour. Having a tour guide is helpful to find the best art, tell the story behind the artist and help with taking pictures is a major plus!

Need a new pic for the gram? Come here for the free backdrops and appreciate the creativity behind some of these masterpieces. Every year you'll find new splashes of art up amongst the old favourites, making it a good detour en route to wherever it is you're headed. Personally I prefer stolling around here in the summer when the colours appear brighter from the sun and there aren't any leaves or slush mucking up the gutters.

Super cool alleyway in Toronto and a must visit for art lovers of all kinds. Love seeing all of the unique and beautiful pieces of art every time I visit. Strike a pose and "do it for the 'gram" - so many Instagram worthy spots here!

A very interesting display of a relatively uncelebrated urban art form. We found it quite interesting. Not high end, not likely a great meet up for a first date, but breathtaking to see so much in one area and out on full display. Definitely worthwhile seeing and pairing up with other activities and restaurants nearby. Worth the trip, and lots of photographers were nearby taking lots of pictures and hopefully sharing. ;)

"This world is but a canvas to our imagination." - Henry David Thoreau One of the many things I love about Toronto is that if you look closely you can find art anywhere. The 5 star rating is for the total experience you can have if you expand your vision of what art is all about. Go early to beat the heat and the crowds, find a parking space in the neighborhood ($2.25 an hour 3 hour max), wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera. Graffiti alley is located south of Queen Street before Richmond St and between Portland Street and Spadina Ave. It takes 20 minutes if you're rushing through but you should take your time and look at the murals like a painting - appreciate the vibrant colors, examine the little details close up then step back and take in the full impact of the mural. It takes skill to imagine a picture and then transpose it onto a brick wall by just using a can of spray paint. Try it at home and see how difficult it is to make a line, create shading, add expression. After we strolled through the alley and took pictures of our favorite artwork, hubby and I took a break from the heat and had lunch at Burger Priest (Bahn Mi Boys is also close by). We then expanded our search for artwork within the immediate vicinity and found it on the sidewalk (literally), storefronts, and the sides of the buildings. The neighborhood has a number of sidewalk cafes, Victorian style homes and gardens, Gothic style cathedrals, and geometric high rises truly a feast for the eyes. A few safety tips - don't go alone because it is still an alley, keep an eye on your purse and valuables and watch out for panhandlers. Note: Here's a link to the back story of the "HUG tree" http://justinpluslauren.com/toronto-street-art-graffiti-alley/ Pretty interesting read.

Definitely worth checking out! My friends and I took a stroll down Graffiti Alley during our trip to Toronto for my bachelorette weekend. It was very close to the hotel we were staying at (Thompson Hotel) and we spent maybe about 30 minutes walking through the streets, stopping to look and take pictures of all the artwork. There is much to do in the area (coffee shops, brunch and dinner spots) so it is very convenient to stop by before or after any activity you may have already planned. It's also very convenient that all the art work is together in one area. I have seen something similar to this in other places but had to search for the painted murals across a stretch of blocks. Not the case here, once you find the correct alley you can easily walk through admiring all the paintings.

Pretty cool walkway. There are the typical colorful graffiti art that have letters I can't make out, and then there are cute ones (my favorite ones lol). It's not a long alley, probably would take you up to 20 minutes to walk through the whole thing if you take your time. Entirely free. I went on a weekday at around sunset; at the time, there weren't much people there so if you want to take some artsy group/solo pics, this is a good spot.

Love walking through here on lunch hour to see what's changed. Always something neat to check out. Great background for photos too

I did not have too much expectation about this place, but boy, this place certainly blew me away with the creativities and COLORS!!!! To check out my experience on video, watch: https://youtu.be/GpjoRo8uL_0 Toronto is not a cheap place to visit, so it's nice to be able to see an attraction for FREE!! The place was easy to get to, very close to Chinatown and Kensington Market, so you can visit all these as long as you're willing to walk :). Just like all places in Toronto, this place is also very accessible by public transportation! One thing that I must point out is that the alleys are not sketchy at all and VERY CLEAN! I've been to other graffiti/mural alleys in other big cities and they are usually STINKY and nasty (lots of people seem to use it as public restrooms! bah!).... but this graffiti alley in Toronto is certainly CLEAN and didn't smell! There weren't lots of trash/litters either (other than the overflowing dumpsters we came across near Rush st). So, kudo to you Toronto-ers for keeping this place clean! The graffiti and murals are amazingly pretty and colorful. It made me smile just looking at the bright colors on the walls! I definitely was not disappointed coming here!

One of my favorite places in Toronto. A whole alley full of amazing graffiti art where you can amazing photos especially for Instagram. There's different grafffiti art to choose from. Really a gem here.

Amazing artistry. The alley is just filled with amazing colors. And during the day, you're bound to find some Toronto artist adding their own flare to the walls. There's a lot of colorful walls to take pics in front of do Instagram lol. The lighting is perfect on a cloudy day. The best places for pics are inside the cabinets that some walls have, however, post of them smell awfully like piss as you can imagine, they give good cover to someone with a heavy bladder lol.

Graffiti Alley is exactly what it sounds like - about 90% of this alley way is covered in legit and classic graffiti style art. This isn't a spot for those looking for murals and walls found in other cities - ie. Wynwood Walls (Miami) or Clarion Alley (San Fran) but there's still plenty of beautifully colorful art to enjoy. The walk will take you about 30 minutes or so... and don't forget to wander down the side streets coming off the alley - there's some great art work on those little streets too.

Graffiti Alley is one of Toronto's most unique tourist stops and "a must do" for any photographer or millennial on Instagram. It's centrally located near Kensington Market. As you walk along Queen Street W, pop into a colorful world of graffiti art. Go in the day time to see the masterpieces and to feel safe walking in alleys. Take photos and enjoy!

This is an awesome place to visit! The art in here is just amazing! There are sooooo many different paintings. And you might even see someone painting like we did. There are quite a few walls that they are on, and even down some other alleys other than the normal one. So If your in Toronto and want to see something pretty awesome, come here! It's like a free art museum! lol

This spot is an Instagrammers dream. So many spots to take pictures in front of; you'll have so many options for your new profile picture! You're sure to bump into photographers bringing their tripods to capture the perfect image or "IG models" striking a pose. If you want to stroll around on a nice day and not spend a dime, come check this place out.

Graffiti Alley is known in Toronto for the beautiful artworks, creativity and vibrant colours. As one of the free galleries in Toronto, it's a city treasure and quite known to many locals, but to my knowledge, it's not quite described in pamphlets. I can see why this might be the case though. For an alley that extends from Spadina to Portland on a street called Rush Lane, it's QUITE dirty on the side closer to Spadina. Although the side closer to Portland is also where people take out their trash, it's maintained a lot better than the side towards Spadina. Graffiti Alley has many beautiful pieces, but there's many word related pieces and one small aspect of it is linked throughout the whole alley. Having visited a couple graffiti works in the world, I didn't think Toronto's Graffiti Alley was anything too special. However, if you're in the city and you want to pose in an art filled alley, Graffiti is the destination to visit!

I loved graffiti Alley even though it was raining. So many cool art and so colorful but it is a shame it is absolutely disgusting with garbage and horrible smelling rotten food all over the alley. It is such a great tourist attraction and the City should make the restaurants and tenants around the alley maintain its cleanliness and make sure all garbage is inside the covered cans. Highly recommend stopping by

Great place to quickly stroll through if you're already in the area exploring Chinatown or Kensington Market. There's a lot of really beautiful artwork to admire and a bunch of fun backdrops for taking pictures. It makes me a little sad to think that the artwork is temporary though - you can clearly see some older works painted over. If I lived in the area, I'd want to regularly come back here to see what's changed and to admire the old and new.

When we first entered it was a lot of basic names but as you get further the art is revealed. Such a cool photo opportunity and nice break from the busy city

A great place nearby Kensington Markets and just off Queen St West. Perfect for tourists, artists and instagrammers alike. You'll find an alley a couple of side streets pimped with array of incredibly artistic graffiti. It's colourful and outright cool. Get those cameras ready.

Definitely a place to stop by if it's your first trip to Toronto. Probably rewards viewing in the Spring/Summer more than Winter, when the weather was super rainy and gray when we visited. It would be nice to see more information and be able to support the artists somehow. This city is so expensive that I wonder if the artists who contributed can still afford to live here, despite their work being a tourist attraction for the city.

Graffiti Alley was a definitely a great experience. The artwork on the walls is truly amazing. I don't know how tourism traffic is throughout the day but we visited in the morning around 9am and we were pretty much the only people there. Doesn't take long to walk the alley and take pictures, so I definitely recommend checking it out.

Such a cool area. I come from a place that this kind of art is illegal. Def worth the trip to walk around the area and appreciate the artists.

This place is great. It's really beautiful and it's a lot more captivating than I could've imagined. I thought it would've been a small area but it's been quite a few walls. I wish they would've cleaned it up a bit more although I do understand it is a back alley so there will be garbage and rodents in many of the places, but I wish it was maintained a little bit more because this is quite beautiful and definitely something I would be back to visit in the future.