Best cities to visit in South America

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South America's world cities span the full range of the continent's cultural and geographic diversity, with Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Lima and Santiago each offering a distinct urban identity built around different histories, landscapes and cultural traditions. The continent's leading cities have developed visitor infrastructure of increasing quality while retaining the authentic urban character that comes from places operating primarily for their residents.

Food and music culture are central to the experience across all five cities, with distinct culinary traditions, live music scenes and market cultures that reward extended exploration well beyond headline landmarks. São Paulo and Buenos Aires operate at a metropolitan scale that takes time to calibrate, while Rio, Lima and Santiago offer more immediately legible urban environments where geography plays a defining role in the character of city life.

Safety conditions vary significantly by city and neighbourhood and basic area research before arrival is essential. Your money goes a long way across most of the five cities making extended urban stays practical, though costs in Santiago and parts of Buenos Aires are broadly in line with mid-range international urban destinations. Public transport quality varies and ride-sharing apps have become the most practical navigation tool across most centres.