The most colourful streets in the world

Around the world, there are hundreds of cities with brightly coloured streets and incredible graffiti that help to bring the streets alive with vibrant hues. Some streets have rows of houses that are known as a “rainbow row” because of the variety of colours. Some streets have ornate decorations flying high above as an art installation or as part of a local festival. And some streets are even painted varying shades of the same colour that means something to the community. We’ve rounded up 13 of the most colourful streets in the world to add to your list of places to visit.

If you’re looking for even more colour, check out the most colourful cities in the world.

Within the La Boca neighbourhood of Buenos Aires lies El Caminito Street. This small but colourful street has rows of homes and businesses painted in every colour imaginable. On the ground, you’ll find pretty turquoise and yellow pavers that make the street even more beautiful. Home to cafes and shops, this street is typically a hot spot for tourists.

France is filled with beautiful sites and sounds, but one of the most colourful areas in the country is Old Town Colmar, a little village often referred to as the Little Venice of France. The canal that runs through the center of the village is surrounded by half-timber houses of different colours. The village takes special care of the flowers that line the canal, which adds to its collection of vibrant hues.

The harbour district of Copenhagen is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions, with good reason—the colourful street is only outdone by the views of the boats on the harbour. Nyhavn is home to traditional homes painted in bright colours; some have been transformed into cafes and shops.

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Rainbow Row is one of the most Instagrammed places in South Carolina. In fact, many people claim that if you don’t visit Rainbow Row then you haven’t really been to Charleston at all. The row of 13 houses, painted an array of pretty pastel colours including baby blue, soft pink, lemon yellow, and green, are private residences that date back to the 1700s. Just around the corner in the same neighbourhood, you’ll find small ice cream shops, coffee shops, and independently owned stores to do some window shopping for a fun girls getaway weekend.

The fishing village of St. John’s isn’t necessarily a tourist destination, but you would definitely spot it from a boat ride out on the water. The small village has quite a few homes leading up to the hills that are painted all different colours to look like little gems against the natural colour of the hills. Many houses are orange, blue, red, or yellow, and look to have a great view of the water.

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The Bo Kaap neighbourhood in Cape Town, South Africa was a former township known as the Malay Quarter. The neighbourhood is sprawling with blocks of colour on each home. When the city has a festival or celebration, the neighbourhood gets even more colourful as residents and visitors wear vibrant outfits.

The Balat district of Istanbul, Turkey is one of the most colourful areas in this city that is the only one in the world to straddle two continents. The streets are lined with blocks of colour, staircases are painted with different hues for each individual stair, and coloured lights are strung across alleyways. Small tables and chairs are even painted in mismatched colours to bring even more fun to the area.

The Pelourinho neighbourhood in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil is one of the most vibrant places in the South American country. A plaza in the middle connects many of the main streets and is home to cafes, restaurants, and shops, all of which are painted in fun colours like blue, pink, yellow, and green.

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The neighbourhood of Palmitas was previously known for one thing: Crime. So in the mid-2010s, the government sponsored an initiative to change the view of the neighbourhood, literally. The entire area, including homes and businesses, was turned into a candy-coloured mural. Locals say it has made the area a happier place to live, too.