The 20 Most Colorful Places In The World

“Color is a power that directly impacts the spirit,” wrote Russian painter and art theorist Wassily Kandinsky in his book Concerning the Spiritual in Art. The father of abstract painting frequently emphasized how color, both in the natural world and in art, may have a direct influence on one’s mood or memory.

The impact of color should not be underestimated, especially when looking for your next romantic getaway. A day trip to a tranquil, lush bamboo forest might help melt away job stress, while a week among the vibrant pink buildings of one of India’s most vibrant cities can leave you feeling rejuvenated. We look at some of the most colorful sites on the planet, from the towering rice terraces of Vietnam to the vibrant coral reefs of the Caribbean.

We look at some of the world’s most colorful locales, from Vietnam’s towering rice terraces to Morocco’s Blue Pearl.

1. Burano. Italy

Burano is an island in the Northern Venetian Lagoon, 11 kilometers northeast of Murano and Venice, and is connected by the Canale Bisatto – Canale Carbonera – Scomenzera San Giacomo path, which takes 45 minutes by boat from Venice to Burano. This island is also easily accessible from Treporti (10 minutes) and Punta Sabbioni (30 minutes), two Cavallino-Treporti resorts with lagoon views.

2. Morocco, Chefchaouen

Every structure and alleyway of this old castle town in the Rif Mountains is coated in a lovely blue tone, earning it the nickname “the Blue Pearl of Morocco.” Some claim that Jewish exiles from Spain painted the city blue in the 1930s to reflect the divine, while others believe it signifies the color of the sea and keeps mosquitos away. Whatever the cause, this Moroccan treasure provides a tranquil yet colorful setting for photographers to hone their talents and marvel at its beauty.

3. Pamukkale Thermal Pools in Turkey

People have traveled across Turkey to the little town of Pamukkale since ancient Roman times merely to soak in the magnificent travertine limestone pools. Warm water cascading down the terraced pool reflects the color of the sky, giving it a turquoise hue. Locals commonly relate stories of individuals traveling to the hot springs in the River Menderes valley to alleviate their diseases, including Cleopatra. People are no longer authorized to swim in the lake after its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

4. Troms, Norway’s Northern Lights

Is there anything more romantic than looking up into the night sky and seeing bursts of vibrant greens, gentle reds, and deep violets dance over it? The Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, originate when solar particles penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere and impact with atoms. While the phenomena may be viewed in a variety of high-latitude locales, Troms provides some of the greatest views owing to its proximity to the Arctic Circle.

5. Moscow’s Saint Basil’s Cathedral

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, often known as Saint Basil’s Cathedral, is an Orthodox cathedral on Moscow’s Red Square and one of Russia’s most recognized cultural landmarks.

6. Puerto Rico’s Old San Juan

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico’s oldest town, is steeped in old-world beauty and history. A beautiful afternoon here is spent walking around the cobblestone streets and admiring the vividly colored buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries.

7. New Zealand’s Waitomo Caves

Entering New Zealand’s Waitomo Caves is like wandering into the ethereal abode of a thousand fairies. The Mori people are thought to have found the twisting, underground tunnels beneath Waitomo in the 1700s. The blue, star-like ceiling is created by bioluminescent glowworms suspended from the limestone rock. The caverns have sculpted crystal formations and roaring waterfalls in addition to the shimmering ceiling.

8. Sintra, Portugal’s Palácio da Pena

Palácio da Pena, which rises on a beautiful hillside above Sintra, combines Moorish arches, Neo-Gothic towers, and Baroque elements in a bright and eccentric show. In the nineteenth century, King Ferdinand II commissioned the palace to be erected as a vacation residence for Portuguese royalty. A man of lavish taste, Ferdinand ordered the builders to incorporate a range of sumptuous styles and colors, resulting in the palace’s eclectic design. The unusual castle is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and is regarded as one of the finest examples of Romantic architecture in Portugal.

9. Arizona’s Antelope Canyon

The spectacular canyon, carved by millions of years of water erosion, exists as a natural sandstone sculpture inside the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation. Upper Antelope Canyon and Lower Antelope Canyon are the two portions of the slot canyon, where visitors may see its famed wave-like structure and natural marbling of bright hues. Due to the delicate structures of the rock, only 20 persons are permitted to view the “wave” every day.

10. Lavender Fields in Provence, France

For centuries, artists and travelers have been inspired by the endless sea of fragrant lavender dotting the French countryside. The Provence region’s rolling purple hills serve as a backdrop to countless quaint villages and world-renowned vineyards. Several local distilleries and shops create essential oils and soaps using the blooms. July and August are the best months to see the lavender fields in full bloom.

11. Chilean Marble Caves

The captivating blue-and-white patterns of this solid marble peninsula in the Lago General Carrera reflect the region’s natural heritage. Waves lapping up against the calcium carbonate-rich patch of land built the whirling cavern walls about 6,000 years ago. The turquoise tones are closely related to the lake’s colors and fluctuate with the seasons.

12. Shiraz’s Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

At first appearance, the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque appears to be built in the same classic style as Shiraz’s other magnificent mosques. A peek inside, however, reveals a magnificent world of color and patterns just waiting to be found. Nasir al-Mulk, also known as the Pink Mosque, is an outstanding display of Persian stained-glass windows that cover the prayer area and rose-tiled arabesque arches in a rainbow of colors. The greatest time to observe the rainbow effect is in the early morning hours.

13. Istanbul, Balat

Hidden A world of colorful, old mansions along cobble lanes awaits tourists just beyond the banks of Eminönü, immersing visitors into a bygone Istanbul. The Balat neighborhood is made up of roughly 200-year-old timber houses and eateries. Traditionally home to numerous Jewish and Greek Orthodox families, some of the world’s most remarkable houses of worship are found in the region such as the Vaftizci Yahya Church and Yanbol Synagogue.

14. Vietnam’s Mu Cang Chai Rice Terrace Fields

Emerald terraces deep within the valleys and mountains of Mu Cang Chai demonstrate the expertise and accuracy of Northern Vietnam’s hill tribes. Over 2,200 hectares of immaculately groomed rice fields grow on a vertical terraced structure built by farmers centuries ago. The color of the fields changes throughout the year, from deep green in the spring and summer to a beautiful yellow in the fall when the rice ripens.

15. Yellowstone National Park’s Grand Prismatic Spring

The Grand Prismatic Spring, discovered in the nineteenth century at Yellowstone National Park, is the biggest and arguably most colorful hot spring in the United States. Each vivid ring of the hot spring is home to a unique thermophile or microbe. The thermophiles respond differently to UV light from the sun, resulting in the diverse hues of the water.

16. Colombia, Guatapé

Guatapé, a charming holiday town, is alive with color, with practically every home and structure decorated with vibrant frieze. Many residents and business owners paint their facades with fresco-style panels depicting everything from bright flowers to adorable animals to delicious foods on bakery doors. It’s unknown when and why the custom began, but that hasn’t prevented the city from retaining its twisting rainbow streets that feel like they’re right out of a fairy tale.

17. Indonesia’s Komodo Island

The pink shoreline of Komodo Island is caused by the erosion of red coral reefs combined with white sand. The beach, also known as Pantai Merah, is part of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park, which encompasses 29 volcanic islands with a diverse range of terrains and species. Although the island is technically deserted, visitors are invited to snorkel and explore the colorful coral reefs. However, keep an eye out for Komodo dragons that live on the island.

18. Ethiopia, Dallol

Mounds of iron- and sulphur-rich salt in electrifying colors and slow-flowing lakes give Ethiopia’s Dallol hamlet and volcano an otherworldly beauty. Dallol is one of the hottest spots on Earth, with yearly temperatures averaging 94 degrees Fahrenheit, making it uninhabitable for most species. The volcano, with its hydrothermal system of miniature geysers, very acidic springs, and salt mushrooms, is thought to have developed around 1926.

Because the region may reach temperatures well into the 100s, it is best to come during the colder months of October to February. During that time, many scientists visit the volcanic area to research the hydrothermal system, which is supposed to be comparable to the scenery on Mars.

19. Las Palmitas, Pachuca, Mexico

Las Palmitas’ colorful history is the story of its community. The hillside neighborhood of Pachuca was long considered an underprivileged region with high crime rates. That is until a group of government-funded artists led by Enrique Gómez began to transform the cluster of dwellings into a massive piece of art while also assisting the residents in finding work. The muralists and inhabitants worked together to paint 2c09 buildings in swirling patterns, with a few also exhibiting pictures of the community. Since the murals were completed, the small Mexican neighborhood has gained international fame, as well as become an area full of community spirit.

20. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto, Japan

A tranquil, verdant getaway from the high-energy of Kyoto is created by towering bamboo stalks softly swaying in the wind. Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, located on the outskirts of the city, has various meandering trails allowing tourists to immerse themselves in its natural beauty and the tranquil whispering of the leaves. The sounds of the bamboo groves are so calming that the Ministry of the Environment named it one of Japan’s Top 100 Soundscapes in 1996.