You can learn a great deal about a city’s personality from its buildings, statues, and monuments. From skyscrapers to medieval churches to mural-coated facades, I’ve taken countless architecture shots wherever I go. With an expressive sky in the background and the right angle, these pictures can turn out to be absolutely magical. As I go through my camera role and reminisce about past trips I’ve taken, I would like to share just a few sites that made me stop and smile.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Colorful buildings are par for the course in many cities around the world, particularly cities in South America. Buenos Aires represents a delightful amalgam of cultures, and the variety of colors adorning its buildings reflect this. I took this photo while walking through a residential neighborhood with my family; it certainly lifted my spirits and made me wish I lived in an apartment with a brightly-colored exterior! I am also fond of the balconies, which seem to offer the perfect outlet for sightseeing or chatting with neighbors.

St. Pete Beach, Florida

I’ve written a bit more extensively about my personal connection to St. Pete Beach in this post, but I would also like to add that buildings like this one help St. Pete Beach maintain an atmosphere that is simultaneously peppy and relaxed. It’s part of the appeal of vacationing here! This eye-catching mural is the exterior of a restaurant. I absolutely love it—it’s like “Day of the Dead” meets Woodstock. Murals like this one are effective at attracting more customers for restaurants, bars, and museums, but the people who commission them are making a wonderful artistic contribution to a place that already pulsates with festive beachside energy.

London, England

This is probably an obvious choice, but I’m sharing this particular London photo because I want to point out that it isn’t just London’s famous landmarks that feel like stunning relics of the early modern period or colonial times. Buildings like the ones pictured above house modern shops in their lobbies, but they still have the charm of a majestic structure that has been standing for a couple of centuries. I’m very into this vibe—even on one of London’s notorious cloudy days, walks outside are still vibrant.

Dublin, Republic of Ireland

I do have ancestors from Galway, Kerry, and Cork counties, but I can’t pretend like I was anything more than a flustered tourist when I visited Dublin. Nevertheless, I absolutely loved my walk along Dublin’s harbor. Many of the buildings made beautiful reflections in the water on this sunny day, and I loved the Irish flags proudly swinging above various awnings and entrances. If you’re ever able to visit Dublin, Trinity College Dublin also boasts some gorgeous campus architecture!

Ocean City, Maryland

I suppose some people might debate with me about whether or not the Ocean City Boardwalk constitutes architecture, but I’m going to say “yes.” I love romping in amusement parks and trotting down boardwalks in the summertime—sunburns won’t stop me! The colorful signs make me smile, as tacky as they may be (see “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” in the background?) I would also like to add that some of the buildings along the boardwalk contain scrumptious carnival food. Yes, I ate fries n’ vinegar at ten in the morning, and no, I don’t regret it!

Jerusalem, Israel

It’s hard not to be awed by a city that has powerful, ancient significance for Jews, Muslims, and Christians. On my visit to Jerusalem, I appreciated the moments when I wandered around a corner in a shadowed alleyway and met a striking, sunlit building that had been standing for hundreds of years. Architectural wonders of note include the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple of Jerusalem, and the Dome of the Rock mosque, where the prophet Muhammad is believed to have ascended to Heaven.

Edinburgh, Scotland

I’m a big fan of cities with a specific architectural aesthetic, and Edinburgh fits the bill. You’ll find regal buildings made of gray sandstone throughout the city (with the notable exception of the Scottish Parliament Building, which is quite funky and modern!) Additionally, Edinburgh’s historic sites and monuments just can’t be beat; I took this photo of the Scottish National monument after an exhausting (but invigorating) trek up Calton Hill. For the full architectural experience, you’ll want to walk Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.

Are you an architecture fanatic like me? Do you spend your travels with your camera constantly pointed upward, trying to get the best building shots possible? I’d love to hear where your favorite architecture is located!