Paris’s 13th arrondissement has become an open-air gallery, and this smartphone tour gives you a smart way to see it. Giant murals by Zabou, OBEY, C215, DFace, Invader, and other artists turn ordinary streets into a living art walk, while the app explains the people, places, and business behind the paint.

• Automatic audio at each artwork: The Rewind app starts the relevant commentary as you reach each stop.
• A focused walk through the 13th: The route runs from the town hall at Place d’Italie to 78 Rue Dunois.
• Large-scale street art: Expect monumental works by artists including OBEY, C215, DFace, Invader, Pantonio, and David de la Mano.
• More than a picture walk: The commentary covers how street art developed in the area and how commissioned murals are financed.
• Flexible private experience: Your group uses the app independently, with no fixed walking pace or live group to keep up with.
• Low price, useful introduction: At $11.85 per person, it costs little compared with a private guided walk, though the route is relatively short.

A street-art museum without walls

The most striking part of this experience is the scale of the work. Paris street art is not limited to small stickers or quick tags here. Along Boulevard Vincent Auriol and nearby streets, you can find huge painted facades that change the feel of the entire block.

The 13th arrondissement is a particularly good setting because the murals are spread through normal city streets rather than gathered inside one formal gallery. You see apartment buildings, squares, traffic, shops, and neighborhood life alongside the art. That gives the walk a useful sense of place. You are not simply looking at paintings. You are seeing how art becomes part of a district.

The Rewind app acts as your guide. Audio begins automatically when you reach the correct location, and a map shows where to go next. If you make a wrong turn, the built-in geolocation helps point you back toward the route. That matters in a neighborhood where a mural may be on a side street or around a corner rather than directly on the main road.

The guide is described as a professional and passionate Paris local who also runs a café in Montmartre. His name is not provided, but his approach is clearly meant to be personal rather than academic. The commentary looks at the artists and the works, then connects them to the area’s development and the practical business model behind large commissioned murals.

Starting at Place d’Italie

The walk begins at the town hall of the 13th arrondissement, at 1 Place d’Italie. This is a practical starting point near public transportation, and it gives you an easy place to get your bearings before the first artwork.

The first stop is the Paper Planes fresco by Zabou. The commentary lasts about 15 minutes, making it one of the more substantial stops on the route. Zabou’s mural provides a clear introduction to the kind of work you will see: large, public-facing art designed to be read from the street and appreciated at a distance.

This opening stop is useful if you are new to street art. The app does not simply identify the artist and send you onward. It sets up the idea that murals can have a relationship with the building, the neighborhood, and the people passing below. You can take your time looking at details while the audio plays, then continue when ready.

The main practical issue is your phone battery and headphones. The experience depends on your smartphone, the Rewind app, and location services. The supplied information does not specify whether headphones are provided, so bring your own if you prefer not to use the phone speaker.

Rue Pinel and the business behind the paint

At Rue Pinel, the commentary turns from individual art to the story of street art itself. You learn how this once less formal art became recognized around the world and how the work is funded or commissioned today.

That business discussion gives the walk more substance. A giant wall painting does not appear by magic. Property owners, local groups, art organizations, and sponsors can all play a role, and the arrangement affects what artists can create and where they can work. The 13th arrondissement offers a good case study because street art here is not an isolated act hidden from public view. It has become part of the area’s public identity.

The stop takes about 10 minutes. I would listen carefully here, especially if you normally focus only on the image itself. Understanding who supports a mural can change the way you look at public art. It also helps explain the tension at the heart of street art: an art form associated with independence now often depends on permission, money, and official wall space.

Place Pinel, where the scale increases

Place Pinel brings you to another group of major works. The stop is planned for about 10 minutes and gives you time to admire several artists rather than one single mural.

This is a good point to pause the audio and look around before moving on. The app provides interpretation, but the art still rewards simple observation. Notice the size, color, characters, lettering, and the way each artist uses the wall. You may find that one piece works best from across the square, while another asks you to look closely at small marks and details.

The route is not designed as a race. If you finish the commentary before you have finished looking, keep the app paused and stay with the artwork. One of the strongest features here is control. You are not part of a large group waiting for everyone to take a photograph.

OBEY and a serious Paris memorial

The OBEY stop focuses on the artist’s tribute to the victims of the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. This changes the tone of the walk. Street art can be playful, strange, political, or decorative, but it can also act as public remembrance.

The artwork is worth approaching with a little patience. The commentary helps place it in context, while the setting reminds you that these murals are part of daily life. People pass by, work nearby, and use the surrounding streets. A memorial in this setting does not sit apart from the city. It meets the public where ordinary life continues.

This is one reason an audio guide can add value. Without explanation, you might notice the image but miss its connection to Paris and the event it remembers. The app gives you a little time to consider the work instead of treating it as just another photo stop.

Boulevard Vincent Auriol, the main event

The longest section is Boulevard Vincent Auriol, with about 30 minutes devoted to a run of major frescoes. This is the heart of the experience.

Here you may encounter works by DFace, C215, OBEY, David de la Mano, Pantonio, Invader, and more. The range of styles is part of the appeal. Some murals are bold and graphic. Others are more delicate, detailed, or dreamlike. The buildings provide enormous canvases, so the art can feel almost theatrical when you first see it.

The route includes works by Zabou, OBEY, DFace, C215, David de la Mano, Pantonio, and Invader, among others.

Does the audio start automatically?

Yes. The Rewind app uses geolocation to trigger commentary when you reach the relevant artwork.

Can I pause the tour?

Yes. You can stop for a terrace, shop, or snack and resume from where you paused.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

What happens if I cancel?

You receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.