- Kuala Lumpur ranked No. 2 globally and No. 1 in Asia with nearly 2.5 million unique colors measured across representative images.
- The city’s vibrancy comes from a mix of modern skyscrapers, traditional architecture, lively markets, and nearby rainbow-hued Batu Caves.
- Lisbon and Porto also topped the list, while destinations across Latin America, Asia, and the U.S. rounded out the top 10.
Sometimes, all you need is to gaze upon something beautiful to feel a full reset. For those looking to do just that, there’s Kuala Lumpur.
In early April, JustCover, a travel insurance company, released its list of the most colorful destinations in the world. It created this ranking by first making a seed list of the world’s most “iconic color-drenched cities.” It then selected multiple representative photos of each place, including skyline views, street-level images of landmarks, architecture, and neighborhoods.
Each of those images was selected to “reflect the location’s typical scenery and was taken in clear daylight without heavy filters” to ensure it was a fully accurate representation of the place. Then, the team at JustCover used a color analysis tool to measure the number of unique colors in each image. The numbers from each photo were combined to calculate an overall vibrancy score. Coming in at No. 2 overall, and as the No. 1 destination in Asia, is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“With nearly 2.5 million unique colors, Kuala Lumpur follows in second place,” the JustCover team wrote about the destination, which scored a 94.5 out of 100. They further noted that the city’s modern skyscrapers offer a pleasing contrast to its traditional buildings and “ornate temples and shrines.” For a top-notch view, JustCover recommended a visit to those same skyscrapers, including Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, and Exchange 106, which all have rooftop viewing decks or bars. And the team offered one more hot tip: “To experience Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant street life, Chinatown is a popular destination, filled with lively markets and tempting street food.”
Those looking for even more color can head just outside the city to the Batu Caves, famous for their “rainbow-colored steps and shrines within the caves, which make them another popular attraction for many visitors.”
Joining Kuala Lumpur at the top of the rankings are two cities in Portugal, Lisbon and Porto, which ranked No. 1 and No. 3 overall, respectively. Both spots won high praise thanks to their colorful tiles blanketing the city, as well as epic viewpoints (specifically Miradouro da Senhora do Monte for Lisbon and the Dom Luis I Bridge in Porto), which allow visitors to drink it all in from one fantastic spot.
Other destinations to make the top 10 include Cartagena, Colombia, in third, followed by Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Guanajuato, Mexico; Havana, Cuba; Hanoi, Vietnam; New Orleans, United States; and Medellín, Colombia. See the full list and start plotting out your colorful trip at justcover.ie.