1. Nyhavn, Denmark
Once a port city, Nyhavn is now an entertainment district in Copenhagen. The most well-known part of the area is Definitely the waterfront, lined with tightly-packed colorful 17-century buildings that now house a multitude of cozy cafes and restaurants. Fun fact: Hans Christian Andersen, the famous Danish author most well known for writing fairy tales, such as 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Princess and the Pea' and 'Ugly Duckling', lived here for 18 years and was greatly inspired by this neighborhood.
2. Cinque Terre, Italy
These five incredibly beautiful villages in Italy are definitely one of the brightest gems of the Italian Riviera, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These villages are famous for the terraces of stacked colorful buildings and a history that goes all the way back to Roman times. All five of the villages are conveniently linked by a walking route.
3. Chefchaouen, Morocco
In Chefchaeouen, a small town in Morocco, it is customary to paint the outside walls of buildings and the narrow walkways between them a sky blue color - a tradition that goes back to the early 20th century. The true origins of this tradition remain a mystery, but the blue town attracts a great number of visitors every year. You can see more pictures and read about the history and major sites in the town in our article 15 Photographs of Chefchaouen, Morocco.
4. St. John's, Canada
This lively little Canadian city is located on the northeastern coast of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. Legend has it that the houses near the harbor were painted into bright colors to help fishermen see the shore and their homes from a greater distance, but as it often happens with legends, it is almost certainly fictitious. In reality, the tradition to paint the houses was founded only in the 1970s as an attempt to liven up the historical downtown area of the city.
5. Bo Kaap, South Africa
Today, Bo Kaap is one of the neighborhoods of Cape Town - the second largest city in South Africa - but it originated as a separate township in the 18th century. Apart from being the oldest residential neighborhood in Cape Town, Bo Kaap is also definitely the most colorful one, famous for its cobblestone streets contrasting with brightly-colored homes. The brightly-colored buildings attract travelers from all over the world. After all, who wouldn't want a photo in such a fun and colorful place?
6. Rainbow Village, Taiwan
This small village in Taiwan was on the brink of demolition until the last of its residents, 93-year-old Huang Yung-Fu, came up with an idea to save his home village. In 2010, he started painting the village in vibrant colors, and soon, it became a popular destination for tourists and is now essentially an art object. Learn more about this village and several natural wonders in the article 10 Unforgettable Places In the World Full Of Color & Charm.
7. Wrocław, Poland
Wrocław is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland, and the old Market Square in the historical part of the city is, without doubt, one of the most picturesque and special areas in Wrocław. In many ways, the Market Square is like that of many other European cities - it features a lineup of richly-adorned historical buildings - but ever since the square was restored after being heavily damaged during WWII, the walls of the buildings were painted into bright colors to spread joy and cheer to both visitors and locals.
8. Guanajuato, Mexico
Guanajuato is an old colonial city situated near a mountain range that carries the same name. Once a silver mining town, Guanajuato today is considered to be among the most romantic tourist destinations in Mexico. Its emblematic narrow winding roads and colorful colonial-era buildings are the perfect setting for a romantic getaway. The most famous sight in the city is Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss) - an alley so narrow that the neighboring buildings are close enough for a couple to kiss by standing on two opposite balconies.
9. Jodipan, Indonesia
Above you can see an aerial view of the Jodipan villages in Indonesia, also known as the Rainbow Villages. And we assure you that the streets of Jodipan are even more colorful than the roofs of buildings here. It seems like every building in Jodipan, today part of the city of Malang in East Java, is painted a different bright color.
However, not so long ago, this part of the town was not so cheerful. In 2016, following a large-scale community program, the 3 villages of Jodipan were completely repainted and a variety of street art and other art objects were installed, completely changing the bleak trajectory of the neighborhood and transforming it into a tourist heaven.
10. Tasiilaq, Greenland
Tasilaq is a very small town, with only 2,017 inhabitants, but it's still the 7th largest city in Greenland and the largest city on the East Coast of Greenland. Obviously, nature is the greatest attraction for visitors here, but the colorful buildings scattered across the vast mountain landscape are equally as precious, in our opinion. Certainly, Tasilaq is a unique mix of modern European culture and traditional Inuit influences, and the colorful architecture is a prime example thereof.
11. Nassau, the Bahamas
The brilliant pastel palette of the capital city of the Bahamas, Nassau, is vastly entertaining. Wherever you go, you'll observe brightly colored buildings, and even government buildings, like the Senate and the Supreme Court, are painted in a bright pink hue. Certainly, Nassau is the ultimate place to go to view a unique combination of colonial-style architecture in vivid colors and enjoy the sea and the sun.
12. Júzcar, Spain
If you find an eerie resemblance between the color of this Spanish village and that of the famous cartoon characters, the Smurfs, let me tell you that you have a great eye for color, or maybe you just happen to know that Júzcar is also known as the Smurf Village. Fun story - the entire village painted its formerly white walls blue as a promotion of the 2011 'The Smurfs' animated movie. Now that's what we call dedication to the cause!
13. Burano, Italy
This incredibly beautiful island is just a short trip away from Venice, and it's world-famous for its multicolored fishermen's homes and seafood restaurants. Today, the island is primarily a tourist spot, but it has a long history that dates back to Roman times, reflected by the historical architecture scattered across the island. Interestingly, it is said that Leonardo da Vinci himself once visited Burano and it was there that he purchased the cloth he would end up using to adorn the main altar of the Milan Cathedral.
14. Willemstad, Curaçao
Willemstad is the capital city of Curaçao, an island in the Caribbean that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch-inspired historical waterfront of the city was once completely white, but in the 1800s, the king appointed a new governor to the island.
Legend tells that the new governor, Albert Kikkert, suffered from terrible migraines as a result of the bright white buildings reflecting the strong Caribbean sun, and so he ordered every building to be painted a different vibrant color to ease his pain. We don't know if it worked, but it's a fact that the buildings in downtown Curaçao are still being painted in every color of the rainbow.
15. Guatapé, Colombia
Witness the most colorful town in Colombia, the picturesque Guatapé. The town is known for its architecture, richly decorated with traditional multicolored bas-reliefs. Guatapé is surrounded by marvellous mountains, including Piedra del Peñol and the Marial Stone - both giant granite rocks that are a challenge to climb and offer a grand view of the surrounding landscape. Together, these sights make up a popular Andean tourist attraction that's definitely worth a visit!
