Top 15 Vibrant Travel Destinations to Experience Color

1. Introduction

Spot rainbows in mountains, flowerbeds, rivers, and even a U.S. airport.

2. Exploring Colorful Locations

You don’t always have to wait for a spring or summer rain to get a spectacular view of a rainbow. At some of the most colorful places in the world, visitors are treated to a kaleidoscope of different hues year-round.

These worldwide multicolored attractions may occur naturally, like in striped mountains, technicolor geysers, or bright rivers. Rainbows can also be painted on city roads, incorporated into a city’s architecture or lighting schemes, or featured in houses and entire neighborhoods covered in vivid colors, bringing smiles to residents and visitors alike.

Here’s a look at some rainbow-filled destinations in the world’s most colorful places.

3. Vinicunca (Montaña de Siete Colores) in Cusco, Peru

These famous rainbow-colored mountains are located in the Andes mountains of the Cusco region of Peru. The rainbow-like stripes and colors formed due to water that mixed with minerals in the ground. The trailhead to reach Vinicunca is approximately a three-hour drive from Cusco, but it’s well worth it for the stunning view.

4. Caño Cristales River in La Macarena, Colombia

This colorful river is known as the “River of Five Colors” and “Liquid Rainbow” because of the bright greens, yellows, reds, and purples that seem to be flowing under the water, determined by the light and water conditions. The colors result from the Macarenia clavigera plant, which can appear in varying colors depending on the water’s depth.

5. McNamara Terminal in Detroit, Michigan

While this Detroit airport terminal may seem ordinary, if you walk through its passenger tunnel connecting concourses B and C, you’ll experience a mesmerizing light show. LED lights illuminate the tunnel walls in a fabulous artistic display that celebrates all the colors of the rainbow.

6. Palais des Congres in Montreal, Canada

Built in 1983, this Montreal convention center is widely used for conferences, meetings, galas, and exhibitions, but it also happens to be covered in multicolored glass window panels that create a brilliant display for all who pass by. The beautiful colors resonate particularly in this vibrant city, filled with art, culture, and history.

7. Bo-kaap Neighborhood in Cape Town, South Africa

Situated at the base of Signal Hill, the Bo-Kaap neighborhood was historically home to 18th-century enslaved people brought to Cape Town by Dutch colonists. Its traditional colorful houses emerged after the abolition of slavery in 1834, and today, visitors can stroll the cobblestone streets to see homes painted in bright green, robin’s-egg blue, buttercup yellow, and other cheerful colors.

8. Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple in Tamil Nadu, India

This ornate and historic temple welcomes around 15,000 devotees daily. Tourists are drawn to the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple to capture the beauty of its multicolored gopurams (towers), covered in sculptures of Hindu deities and mythical creatures. The tallest gopuram reaches 170 feet.

9. Rainbow Stairs in Istanbul, Turkey

Created by retired forestry engineer Huseyin Cetinel, these steps are found in the artsy neighborhoods of Findikli and Cihangir. Cetinel spent four days and his own funds on the project. Some groups interpret the colorful staircase as a political statement for LGBTQ rights; however, Cetinel stated he simply “did it to make people smile.”

10. Colmar in Alsace, France

The colorfully painted houses in Colmar enhance the charm of this Alsace region city, making it an excellent travel photo opportunity. The two-story homes located on cobblestoned streets and canals are painted in vibrant yellow, green, pink, blue, and purple hues, reflecting the residents’ desire to create beauty.

11. Rainbow Crossing in Sydney, Australia

The original rainbow-colored crosswalk was located on Oxford Street in Sydney but was removed due to “concern for public safety.” After years of protests, including DIY rainbow crosswalks, the city unveiled a permanent rainbow-colored crossing in honor of the 2019 Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

12. Victoria Falls in Zambia and Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls, located along the Zambezi River, is celebrated as the largest waterfall in the world, measuring about twice the height of Niagara Falls. Rainbows are prevalent during the day when the sun reflects off the mist, but this spot also offers a rare view of nighttime lunar rainbows thanks to the bright light of a full moon.

13. Grand Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

Yellowstone National Park’s largest spring, the Grand Prismatic Spring, is also one of its most photographed features. Its bright color comes from various species of bacteria that thrive in the heat, grouping together in different temperatures, which can reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Visitors can view this rainbow-colored spring from a boardwalk in the Midway Geyser Basin or take a short hike to an overlook.

14. Guatapé, Colombia

A two-hour drive east of Medellín, the lakeside town of Guatapé is filled with colorful buildings along its cobblestone streets. Be sure to enjoy the vibrant three-dimensional images (zocalos) painted on the lower section of the houses; some feature simple designs, while others portray more intricate depictions of the area’s history and culture.

15. Zhangye Danxia National Geopark in Gansu Province, China

The mountains in Zhangye Danxia National Geopark showcase vibrant colors, stemming from various minerals present during their formation from tectonic plate movement. Wind and water erosion have sculpted the gorges, pillars, and other rock formations, visible from numerous observation platforms within this picturesque park.

16. Burano, Italy

The island of Burano, a 45-minute water taxi ride from Venice, is famous for its intricate needle lace and its brightly tinted buildings lining the canals. This colorful tradition reportedly began to help fishermen spot their homes while working on boats in the ocean.

17. Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands

The countryside surrounding Amsterdam bursts with color every spring, showcasing rows of flowering tulip fields. A must-visit is Keukenhof, one of the world’s largest flower gardens, where over 7 million tulips bloom from mid-March to mid-May. Visitors can stroll through the park, dotted with ponds and winding canals, and enjoy the indoor exhibits of different tulip varieties.