Going on vacation isn’t just about seeing famous places, it’s also about going to places that make you feel like you’ve entered another planet. The colorful old towns around the world are some of the most memorable destinations to visit. These beautiful old town centres, with their bright colors and cobblestone streets are like living works of art. They don’t simply share stories about culture and custom, they also make memories that will last a lifetime for every traveler.
These historic towns look more like art galleries than neighborhoods. For example, the pastel villages in Europe and the rainbow-colored streets in Latin America. Let’s take you on a trip to the most colorful historic towns in the world that really appear like paintings.
Burano, Italy
Venice’s Colourful Secret
Burano is a fishing island with vividly painted cottages in every colour of the rainbow. It’s only a short boat ride from Venice. According to legend, the fishermen painted their cottages in bright colours to assist them make their way home in the fog.
Walking around Burano is like being in a real-life watercolour picture. Red, yellow, pink, green and blue buildings border the narrow canals and laundry hanging over the streets gives the area even more flair. Burano is known for more than just its beauty. It is also known for lace-making which has been going on for hundreds of years and is still going strong now.
For tourists, this small island is more than just a pretty picture, it’s an opportunity to see what life is really like in Venice away from the busy Piazza San Marco.
Tip for travelers: Go in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the throng from Venice.
Guanajuato, Mexico
A Colorful Festival
Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage City in central Mexico, looks a lot like a painter’s pallet. There are colourful houses, twisting alleyways and busy plazas where music fills the air all over the hills.
The town is charming because its streets are so winding that lovers may kiss from their balconies. Guanajuato is known as the “City of Frogs” because of its rocky landscape. It also has a lot of colonial history, beautiful churches and cultural events like the Cervantino.
The view from above is amazing. The rooftops are painted in reds, yellows, blues and greens and they fit together well.
Travel Tip: Don’t miss the famous Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss) which has a romantic legend.
Chefchaouen, Morocco
The Blue Pearl of Africa
Chefchaouen, Morocco’s Blue City, is one of a kind. The teal and turquoise colours on every street, staircase and archway make the place look like a dream.
Some people think the blue colour represents calm and spirituality, while others think it was brought to the area by Jewish refugees in the 15th century. Whatever the cause, going around Chefchaouen’s medina is like stepping inside a sky-colored picture.
For photographers, it’s utopia. For tourists, it’s a cultural treasure with Moroccan crafts, traditional textiles and views of the mountains.
Travel Tip: Head to the Spanish Mosque on the mountaintop for panoramic sunset views of the entire blue town.
Willemstad, Curaçao
A Rainbow in the Caribbean
The capital of Curaçao, Willemstad, is a tropical fantasy with Dutch colonial buildings painted in pastel pinks, yellows, greens and blues. According to legend, a past governor who had migraines from the brilliant light of white buildings told people to paint their dwellings vivid colours. Today, Willemstad remains as one of the most vibrant historic towns in the Caribbean.
Handelskade, the waterfront area, is the most famous place. The row of candy-colored buildings there reflects in the harbour. With the floating Queen Emma Bridge and busy markets, you’ll feel like you’re in a Caribbean picture.
Travel Tip: Take a boat excursion to catch Willemstad’s skyline from the water, it’s postcard perfection.
Jodhpur, India
The Blue City of Rajasthan
People call Jodhpur the “Blue City” because of the many blue-painted houses that sit below the huge Mehrangarh Fort. Originally painted to denote the residences of Brahmins, the blue tint also helps keep houses cool in the desert heat.
From the fort’s ramparts, the vista is extraordinary, thousands of blue rooftops stretching into the horizon. But Jodhpur isn’t just about color, it’s about culture. The busy bazaars, spice markets and traditional Rajasthani food make it a trip you’ll never forget.
Travel Tip: Stay in a heritage haveli inside the old town for an authentic royal experience.
Valparaíso, Chile
A Canvas by the Sea
Valparaíso, Chile’s bohemian port city, is one of the most colourful destinations in South America. People call it “Valpo,” and it’s a town on a hill where paintings, graffiti and buildings in rainbow colours make an open-air art exhibition.
Many artists and poets have found inspiration here, including the Nobel Prize winning poet Pablo Neruda. The city’s funiculars, steep staircases and quirky cafés add to its charm. Every turn brings a blast of color, sometimes from houses painted pink, orange, and teal and occasionally from gigantic street art works.
Tip for travelers: To really get a feel for the city’s artistic spirit, take a walking tour of its street art.
Nyhavn, Denmark
Copenhagen’s Colorful Waterfront
Nyhavn, a 17th-century harbour with brilliantly painted townhouses in mustard yellow, deep crimson and pastel blue, is one of the most famous pictures of Copenhagen. Nyhavn used to be a place where sailors and taverns lived. Now it is a vibrant centre of cafés, restaurants and old ships.
The way these colourful houses reflect in the canal makes for a beautiful view, especially around sunset. Nyhavn is more than simply a tourist spot and also it’s a part of Danish history that shows how friendly and cosy Copenhagen is.
Travel Tip: The waterfront is full of holiday lights and markets throughout Christmas.
Bo-Kaap, South Africa
Cape Town’s Rainbow Quarter
Perched on the slopes of Signal Hill, Bo-Kaap is one of Cape Town’s most photographed areas. Its cobbled streets are adorned with houses painted in vibrant tints of pink, lime, yellow and purple.
In the past, liberated slaves lived in Bo-Kaap and painting their houses vivid colours became a sign of freedom and identity. Today, it serves as a cultural hub where visitors can learn Cape Malay traditions, eat traditional cuisine and meet inhabitants who proudly preserve the neighborhood’s identity.
Travel Tip: Visit the Bo-Kaap Museum to understand the deeper history behind the hues.
Manarola, Italy
Manarola is the most beautiful of the five villages in Cinque Terre. One of the most photographed landscapes in Italy is the pastel-colored villas that sit dramatically on cliffs above the Ligurian Sea.
Every viewpoint looks like a masterpiece, from the terraced vines above to the fishing boats below. The colours of the buildings shine against the water at sunset, making it a magical time.
Tip for Travelers: The trekking path to Riomaggiore gives you the best views of Manarola.
Jellybean Row in St. John’s, Canada
St. John’s in Newfoundland, Canada, is noted for its “Jellybean Row,” which is a street with rows of houses painted in bright pink, green, orange and purple colours. These colours make me happy and warm against the grey sky of the North Atlantic.
The colours used to help fishermen make their way home through storms and fog but now they stand for the community’s energy and strength. Walking through Jellybean Row is like stepping into a children’s storybook.
Travel Tip: Visit in summer when colorful flowers add even more charm to the streets.
These old towns with the most colour in the world remind us that travel is more than just seeing new places, it’s about getting to know them and letting them wake up your senses. The azure walls of Chefchaouen, the candy-colored beauty of Willemstad and the artistic essence of Valparaíso all make you feel like you’re in a work of art.
So, when you plan your next trip don’t do what everyone else does. Do something different. These villages aren’t simply on postcards, they’re waiting for you to visit them in real life. Pack your bags, grab your camera and step into a world painted in every color imaginable.
Which of these lovely historical towns would you love to visit first? Share your dream destination in the comments below!