1. Nyhavn, Denmark
If you want to know just where famous Danish author, Hans Christian Andersen, got his colorful inspiration from, look no further than Nyhavn. It lies across the harbor from Copenhagen, the Danish capital. Andersen lived here for 18 years while creating his wonderful tales, and looking at the colorful buildings here, you can see just how he came up with such vivid ideas.
2. Bo-Kaap, South Africa
It's a well-known fact that African people love a splash of color, but the inhabitants of this part of Cape Town tend to originate from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. Many slaves from those nations were relocated here during the time of the British Empire.
3. Zacatecas, Mexico
Although you might think the inhabitants of Zacatecas have struck gold with this colorful habitation, you would be wrong - although not by much. The town was actually built to house laborers from the nearby silver mines that enriched the Spanish Empire.
4. Kulusuk, Greenland
Here is a village any tourists lucky enough to make it to Greenland will never forget. With icebergs and mountains for company, the bold (but cold) locals have found the time to give themselves and their visitors an extra dose of color by dressing up their picturesque houses in various striking hues of blue, yellow, red and green.
5. La Boca (Buenos Aires), Argentina
The residents of La Boca are relatively poor financially, but they certainly put on a brave face if their homes are anything to go by. I only wonder why we didn't do like these Argentinians in my neighborhood and cover our humble homes with lively paint. There's some great inspiration here for people and communities everywhere.
6. Pelourinho, Brazil
So many of the cities that make this list seem to be historically colorful, as well as physically colorful, and this is also true about the historic center of Salvador in Pelourinho, Brazil. This city and many of its gorgeous streets were constructed under Portuguese orders during Brazil's colonial period. Some beautifully colored wonders came out of that period.
7. Manarola, Italy
Manarola is a sensational town, not just because of its cliff-side location that overlooks the great Mediterranean Sea, nor because of the delicious Italian food and coffee you can sit back and enjoy in its homely eateries, but also, and principally in my opinion, because of its beautifully painted buildings.
8. Jodhpur, India
Jodhpur, lying obscurely amid India's parched deserts, is really quite blue-tiful. They say when you take a lovely stroll through its palace and temple-lined streets, you feel yourself blinded by a piercing white light that makes you feel like you're approaching the tunnel to heaven. But just look how blue it becomes when you draw yourself away from the city bustle, rather like our entire planet Earth.
9. Punda, Curacao
Curacao is another colonial city, founded under Dutch jurisdiction - and the result is a place familiarly glorious. It's amazing what you get when you combine northern European architecture (of previous ages) with stunning, paradise-like Caribbean wonderlands.
10. Guanajuato, Mexico
Our final colonial city also comes from Mexico and is a product of the silver boom that changed the face of South America in the 16th Century. Its haciendas, churches and lovely car-free pedestrian zones make this a terrific destination for the discerning traveler.
