The Most Colorful Places Around The World
Sometimes we look at the world with rose-colored glasses, but there are ACTUAL places on our planet that prove that life can be as colorful as we decide to make it!
I love colors, and even more so when I can combine them with traveling to beautiful destinations, with a camera in hand, of course!
I decided to round up a list of some of the most colorful, gawk-inspiring destinations around the world, so you can put them on your travel bucket list ASAP!
The Most Colorful Places in The World
Jodipan, Malang, Indonesia
The island of Java in Indonesia is all about its striking volcanoes, but there’s a little gem in the city of Malang that most don’t know about!
Jodipan, better known as “Java’s Rainbow Village” is a wonderland of houses painted in all shades of the rainbow, artsy wall murals, and all sorts of colorful umbrellas hanging on every corner. Jodipan wasn’t always this colorful – in fact, Jodipan was once considered a slum in the city, but a group of students came up with the idea to splash colors all over it in order to attract visitors!
Bo Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is your go-to when it comes to all things instagrammable. From sky-high mountains, to crashing sea waves and all things wildlife, there’s probably nothing in this world that Cape Town lacks.
That said, one of our favorite things to do when visiting the city is checking out Bo Kaap, a colorful neighborhood set on the slopes of Signal Hill that is also the historical center of Cape Malay culture in the city.
Willemstad, Curaçao
Ah, Willemstad! How can we even begin to describe how picturesque this place is? Oh, and did we mention that all those bright colors are backdropped by Caribbean beaches? Willemstad is the capital of Curaçao in the Netherlands Antilles, and it’s pretty much a photographers’ dream. From endless streets lined by bright-colored houses and eateries, to entire neighborhoods plastered with wall art all over, and yep – the turquoise water of the Caribbean sea!
Check out this guide on the most instagrammable places in Willemstad!
Dallol, Ethiopia
Into adventure? Dallol doesn’t necessarily boast bright pink buildings, because, well, almost nothing can actually survive here, but what it lacks in life, it makes up for with striking colors that will make you feel as though you’re in an entirely different planet!
Getting here isn’t exactly easy, but trust us, you’re in for the adventure of a lifetime. Did we also mention is the hottest place on Earth?!
Guanajuato, Mexico
Mexico is known for its love for all things colorful, so we naturally had to include at least one of its magical towns on the list! Like many others in Mexico, Guanajuato is a beautiful colonial town, but rumor has it that it’s the most beautiful around!
Guanajuato translates to “Place of Frogs” in the local indigenous language, and the entire city was built on a hilly ground, which means you’ll get glorious vistas of the colorful houses from any spot in town!
If you get tired of the color mania, though, you can also head underground. Guanajuato has a network of underground tunnels that act as roads, making the city it an incredibly unique place in the world!
The Nubian villages of Aswan, Egypt
Down in the south of Egypt, near the city of Aswan, you’ll find one of the quaintest places on earth. Think of it as walking over a rainbow, but add like, two hundred extra shades!
You’ll find Nubian villages all over Sudan and southern Egypt, but the most popular ones are undoubtedly found near Aswan – a breathtaking two-hour boat trip over the Nile River will get you there, which makes visiting these fascinating corners of Earth an easy day trip in your Egypt itinerary! Most people visit the country to gawk at the pyramids, but the enthralling culture of the Nubians alone makes it worth a visit!
Chefchaouen, Morocco
Chefchaouen is another destination that NEEDS to be in your travel bucket list if you’re the creative type! This town tucked deep in the Atlas Mountains in northern Morocco is famously known for its blue-shaded medina. I’ve bee lucky enough to visit this place twice, and every single time, I feel as though I’ve jumped into a painting!
The exact story behind Chefchaouen’s blue-shaded walls isn’t clear. Some say it is because the color keeps mosquitoes away, while a much more poetic theory is that the color blue symbolizes the sky and acts as a reminder to lead a spiritual life.
Burano, Italy
Italy is a dream destination for us all, and while there are TONS of colorful villages to visit all over the country, Burano is easily our favorite! Visiting Burano is an easy day trip from Venice (yes, it’s actually an island set on the lagoon, which makes it even more special!).
This picturesque place is obviously known for its striking fishermen houses, but you’ll also rejoice here if you’re a seafood lover, as you’ll find beautiful, but casual eateries serving fresh seafood from the lagoon.
Provence, France
Provence is a popular tourist destination in the Cote D’Azur region in France, and while the beaches tend to be one of the biggest pulls for visitors, the town becomes a wonderland of lavender shades come June, when fields of lavender decorate the outskirts of the region with purple hues.
Fun fact: Vincent Van Gogh spent quite some time here!
Rainbow Mountain, Peru
It’s crazy to think about it, but just a few years back, nobody actually knew this place even existed! For centuries, the mountain’s multicolor shades were hidden under thick layers of snow, but it gradually melted and the mountain’s colors were discovered in 2015!
Today, the Rainbow Mountain is a must-visit for everyone traveling Peru. Its stripes of red, yellow, and orange have become an Instagram sensation, but beware: the altitude sucks, so come prepared!
And that’s the list! Have you ever visited any of these colorful places?