One South American riverside city's Christmas light display ranks among the most elaborate anywhere in the world, transforming entire parks each December into a major tourist draw. Other countries further south add a quieter, more modest version.
The destinations on this list range from large-scale riverside and park installations drawing visitors from across the country to smaller city centre displays built around shopping districts and main squares. Both run on the Northern Hemisphere's Christmas calendar despite the continent's mixed seasons.
Visiting in the weeks immediately after the official switch-on tends to mean a better balance of full displays and slightly smaller crowds than opening night itself. Dressing warmly for evening viewing also matters considerably given the cooler night-time temperatures. Most displays run nightly through the season.
