A new study has revealed the world's most colourful cities, with two Irish locations ranking in the top 30.
Some destinations are renowned for their vivid aesthetics, whether it’s the blue streets of Chefchaouen or the electric buzz of New York City, offering striking backdrops for travellers. And in an age where travel is increasingly documented on social media, the visual appeal has never been more important. But how do these iconic destinations compare when their full visual spectrum is put to the test?
To find out, a new study by Irish travel insurance specialists at JustCover analysed images of 78 destinations well-known for their vibrant colours and measured colour variation using pixel-level data.
To examine the vibrancy of a destination, representative images for each location were selected to reflect the typical scenery, taken in clear daylight and without heavy filters. A colour analysis tool was then used to identify the number of unique colours in each image, revealing the most vivid destinations overall.
Across the top 15, the Americas come out on top, including Guanajuato, Havana, New Orleans, Antigua, and New York City. These cities stand out for their vibrant architecture, bustling streets with dazzling signage, and neon lighting. However, Europe is also well-represented, with two Portuguese cities in the top three, as well as Dubrovnik and Barcelona ranking highly.
Dublin City. (Getty Images)
Lisbon ranks as the world’s most colourful city, with more than 2.6 million unique colours identified in the analysis. The Portuguese capital is known for its pastel-hued buildings, patterned tiles lining its historic neighbourhoods, and the iconic yellow trams rattling through the narrow streets. The terracotta rooftops are a central part of the local aesthetic, attracting millions of visitors to the vibrant city each year.
Kuala Lumpur ranks second, with a striking contrast of modern skyscrapers and traditional buildings, including ornate temples and shrines.
Porto places third and is the second Portuguese city to rank for its colour variance.
Cartagena, Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, round out the top five.
How does Ireland rank?
Two Irish cities make the top 30: Cork ranks 17th with a vibrancy score of 54.3, while Dublin places 30th, scoring 42.6. Together, the two cities account for more than 2.5 million unique colours, showing that you don’t necessarily need to go far to find vibrant landscapes.
In Cork, Pope’s Quay offers scenic views of the River Lee, lined with colourful buildings. Meanwhile, Dublin’s Temple Bar district stands out for its vibrant colours, cobbled streets and lively atmosphere.
The top 20 most colourful cities in the world
- Lisbon,Portugal
- Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia
- Porto, Portugal
- Cartagena, Colombia
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Guanajuato, Mexico
- Havana, Cuba
- Hanoi, Vietnam
- New Orleans, United States
- Medellín, Colombia
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Singapore, Singapore
- Antigua, Guatemala
- Barcelona, Spain
- New York City, United States
- Cinque Terre, Italy
- Cork, Ireland
- Venice, Italy
- San Francisco, United States
- Buenos Aires
Aaron Brennan, Director at JustCover Travel Insurance, said: "When planning a trip today, a city’s visual appeal can be just as influential as its culture and cuisine. Places like Santorini are often associated with colourful scenery, but when it comes to colour variety, the research highlights which destinations truly stand out as a feast for the eyes.
"It’s not just architecture; even busy urban centres like Kuala Lumpur or New York City impress due to dense signage, billboards, and neon lighting, which increases the visual variation captured across the cities. It’s also encouraging to see some Irish cities rank highly too, which may not always be the first destination to come to mind, but highlights the beautiful aesthetics that can be found closer to home too.
"Whether travelling long-haul or just hopping on a short flight, trips don’t always go to plan, so it’s important to have the right cover in place before you book your trip, to help ensure maximum protection. It’s also important to check current travel advice from official government websites, as travelling against guidance can affect or limit insurance cover.”
For the full findings of the world’s most colourful cities, click here.
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