a blue car parked on a colorful street in South Africa
sunset over water in the Lofoten archipelago, Norway
boys playing basketball in Havana, Cuba
two monks peeking from a curtain at a festival at Bhutan
a man surrounded by a crowd near the Shri Nath Mhaskoba temple, Maharashtra, India
a young girl dressed in pink near a pink sculpture Yoro Park, Gifu, Japan
an aerial view of the Ping River in Thailand
women working in rice fields, Indonesia
Wildebeest running in the Masai Mara, Kenya
Jodphur, the blue city, Rajasthan, India
mountains reflected in the water near Naeroyfjord at dawn, Norway
a snow covered walkway and lanterns in Kyoto, Japan
an aerial view of a black-tip reef shark swimming through a pool of fish, Maldives
a forest near the Adonis River, Lebanon
a boy jumping over a puddle at Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
trees reflecting in a lake during autumn in Japan
a painted wall in Marrakech, Morocco
colorful doors at an apartment complex, Tokyo, Japan
men peering over a wall at a ceremony in Rajasthan, India
trees reflecting in the blue pond at night, Japan
a woman drying blue leather in Bangladesh
snow monkeys huddled, Shodoshima Island, Japan
snow covered trees near a lake in Yamagata, Japan
a boat floating near lily pads, Thailand
a vegetable vendor Rajasthan, India
crocodiles seen from above in Costa Rica
balloons floating at sunrise in Myanmar
two Japanese maple trees Shinjuku City in Tokyo
busy vendors and people rushing through the street at dusk, Bangladesh
cherry blossom trees over a canal in Tokyo
a woman entering an alley in Chefchaouen, Morocco's Blue City
a snow covered bridge on the Kola peninsula, Russia
snow covered rice fields in fog, Nagaoka, Niigata, Japan
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The colorful streets of Bo Kaap weren't always this way. The facades were once mandated to be a drab, uniform color during Apartheid. After, the residents painted their homes every color of the rainbow to celebrate their freedom from oppression.  
Photograph and caption by The Scenic Suitcase

Colorful Travel Photos From Around the World

Follow rich hues and rainbow-sprinkled travel moments from destinations and cultures around the world.

BySarah Polger
May 06, 2018
2 min read
Captions were written and submitted by the photographer.

Brilliant blue corridors, golden-dawn balloon rides, jewel green basketball courts: Colors often streak a rainbow of experiences across traveler’s minds to leave lifelong memories. From ruby red powder used to celebrate in India, to a mustard yellow curtain in Bhutan, or historically significant paint in South Africa, colors mark time and place for locals and travelers alike.

As our editors comb through photos vying for the grand prize in the 2018 National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year contest, an array of scenes reminds us all of the colorful cultures, people, and places around the world. See which scenes brighten your day and spark your next travels. (Read: Colorful Destinations Around the World)

Think you have the winning photo? Learn how you can enter the 2018 Travel Photographer of the Year contest. Don't delay: The deadline is May 31.

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