South America vs Europe: 10 Travel Alternatives You’ll Love

If you've wandered Europe's cobbled lanes a few times and are now looking to avoid overtourism and steep prices, South America offers incredible alternatives. You'll find plenty of parallels here, from historic towns and gorgeous architecture to world-class wine regions and river cruises, alongside landscapes that feel far less tamed than those in Europe. The best part? You get freedom, space, and choice. South America’s size means you can always find a place that feels uncrowded, and so many regions are great to visit all year.

Wondering whether to visit South America or Europe? Let us show you our favourite South America holiday ideas and how rewarding alternatives to Europe can be.

Here’s what we'll cover in this guide.

1. River Cruising: Danube vs Magdalena

2. Seville vs Cartagena

3. Croatia’s Islands vs the Galápagos

4. Paris vs Buenos Aires

5. Wine Time: France vs Argentina

6. Patagonia vs the Alps

7. Lisbon vs Rio

8. Parthenon vs Machu Picchu

9. Netherlands Tulips vs Medellín’s Flower Festival

10. Iceland vs Atacama Desert

Need a Few More Reasons to Visit South America?

1. River Cruising: Danube vs Magdalena

The Danube is Europe's most famous river journey, flowing from Germany through Austria and into Eastern Europe. River cruises here carry you past castles and tall spires of medieval towns, where cobbled lanes lead to tidy market squares. The whole trip feels perfectly polished and familiar, but the catch is that most Danube cruises are seasonal, with only limited sailings in winter and hardly any in January or February. Water levels can also be unpredictable. If they rise or drop too much and ships may not be able to pass, your journey can end up being done by coach instead.

By contrast, Colombia’s Magdalena River offers year-round cruises as sailings are less affected by fluctuating water levels. It may not be as well known, but cruises here also guide you along a waterway that has been the country’s lifeline for centuries. Flowing almost 1,500km (more than 900 miles) from the Andes to the Caribbean, the river links towns and villages in a way no road ever could.

As you cruise, you glide past painted houses on stilts, hear music from cafés along the banks, and watch fishermen pull in their catch. Look up and you may even see howler monkeys moving through the trees. The pace is as gentle as the Danube, and the cruise is just as comfortable; yet, the experience feels more intimate and authentic. Nothing on this river is designed to please the eyes of tourists. Life, on these shores, still plays out the way it has been since time immemorial.

> Find out more about what to expect when cruising the Magdalena River

Exploring the lesser-known Magdalena River is one of the best alternatives to Europe's Danube.

2. Seville vs Cartagena

Seville captures hearts with its narrow lanes, quaint shaded courtyards, and flamenco tunes that drift out into the night. It is a city where tradition is steeped into every stone and the atmosphere is almost theatrical.

Cartagena boasts much the same enticement, yet the charm here is quintessentially Colombian. The old town sits behind centuries-old stone walls, its streets lined with bright houses and balconies spilling over with bougainvillea. By day, you wander between churches and plazas shaded by mango trees, and at night, the town is transformed by the sounds of salsa and champeta. There is always some impromptu dancing in the streets and small crowds gathering at bustling food stalls serving fried arepas, ceviche, and fresh fruit juices.

Cartagena pairs beautifully with our Magic of Colombia Magdalena River Cruise

While Seville can feel like you are watching a performance, Cartagena makes you part of the scene.

3. Croatia’s Islands vs the Galápagos

Island-hopping in Croatia is about dropping anchor in medieval ports, strolling through small fishing villages, and finishing the day with grilled seafood by the water. History is everywhere, as are summer crowds, and the scale is small and personal.

If you're looking for an exquisite island-hopping alternative, look no further than the Galápagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador. You still get to explore on small and luxurious ships, but that’s where the similarity ends. Instead of stone walls and fortresses, you get to meet sea lions stretched across the pier, giant tortoises slowly lumbering through the grass, and blue-footed boobies showing off their quirky dance. Days are spent snorkelling, kayaking through mangroves, walking on the dramatic isles, or watching marine iguanas sunning themselves on volcanic rock. Galápagos is an animal lover's dream, and the only way to explore it well is on an island cruise.

In the South America vs Europe travel debate, Croatia and the Galapagos cruises couldn't be more contrasting.

> See Viva’s Galapagos cruises

Wildlife in the Galápagos has lived without predators for centuries, so animals are wonderfully relaxed around people and close encounters are daily occurrences.

4. Paris vs Buenos Aires

The wide boulevards, elegant buildings, and café culture are just a few of the reasons Paris is the most visited city in Europe. Sitting at a corner table to people-watch with a coffee in one hand and a croissant in the other is as much a part of the experience as the sights themselves. But with the crowds and the pressure of its fast-paced life, Paris can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Enter Buenos Aires, often nicknamed the "Paris of the South," where the coffee and pastries are just as delicious but with space to breathe. You can linger in a café without hurry, stroll through leafy plazas, and browse bookshops tucked inside old theatres. Food shapes the day here: mornings start with medialunas, evenings centre on steak cooked over open fires, and a glass of Malbec from Mendoza is never far away. Nights stretch into tango shows and live music, which you can enjoy on a sidewalk or in a restaurant, as your mood dictates.

If you are looking for places like Paris but with more warmth and less pressure, our Highlights of Buenos Aires tour delivers.

> Discover the best dishes in Latin America

There are many places like Paris in South America, but Buenos Aires always tops the list.

5. Wine Time: France vs Argentina

Wine-tasting in France is a classic, with Bordeaux and Burgundy drawing travellers to their vineyards and grand châteaux. The experience is refined, well-structured, and steeped in tradition.

In Argentina, the focus is firmly on Mendoza. The wine-making gem sits at the foot of the Andes, its vineyards stretching across sunny valleys framed by snow-capped peaks. Tastings here often take place at family-run wineries as well as larger estates, and many turn into long, relaxed lunches. The wine is excellent, but it’s really the combination of flavours and setting that makes Mendoza immensely special.

If you are deciding whether to visit South America or Europe for a wine tour, Mendoza will show you that some of the world's finest vintages are found right here.

> Top 5 Reasons to Visit Argentina

Mendoza is one of the finest alternatives to Europe for wine lovers.

6. Patagonia vs the Swiss Alps

Hiking in the Alps is iconic: flower-filled meadows, wooden chalets, and trails marked with Swiss precision. The mountains are undeniably beautiful, but they are also carefully managed, and you are rarely far from a village, a well-trodden trail, or a ski lift.

Patagonia offers an altogether different kind of hiking experience, one that isn't overly curated. Trails here lead past high granite towers, expansive plains, and glaciers tumbling into impossibly turquoise lakes. Routes like the W Trek in Torres del Paine or the trails around Mount Fitz Roy take days to complete and reward you with views that make the Alps seem small. Guanacos graze on the steppe, condors soar overhead, and you feel the space all around you. Both regions are wonderful for trekking, but if you prefer wilderness over order, Patagonia is hard to match. And don’t worry, there is still plenty of outstanding food and stunning lodges to keep you well-fed and comfortable.

> See all our Tours in Patagonia

The jaw-dropping peaks of Mount Fitz Roy in Patagonia, showing how different South America vs Europe travel can be.

7. Lisbon vs Rio

Lisbon is one of Europe's most likeable capitals and the hottest destination in recent years. Its hills slope toward the Atlantic, trams rattle through tiled streets, and the neighbourhoods burst at the seams with cafés and fado music. The city is compact, so it can quickly become overcrowded. Plus, you can see much of it in just a couple of days.

Rio de Janeiro feels larger than life. It has the distinct charm of Lisbon but magnified on a much grander scale. The city sprawls between mountains and ocean, with Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer towering over its skyline. Famous Copacabana and Ipanema beaches are part of everyday life, with locals and visitors alike gathering on the sand. Samba drifts out of bohemian Santa Teresa, and the nightlife in Lapa carries on well into the early hours. Lisbon charms with intimacy; Rio sweeps you along with its sheer scale.

Ipanema Beach is one of the grandest alternatives to Europe's coastal capitals.

 

8. Parthenon vs Machu Picchu

The Parthenon in Athens is a masterpiece of ancient Greece, a monument to politics, philosophy, and art. It looks down on the modern city, still carrying the weight of history.

South America has plenty of archaeological sites of its own accord, and, among them, Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the most famous. High in the Andes of Peru, the Inca citadel sits in a picturesque valley among misty peaks. Walking its terraces and temples here is about learning about the advanced engineering skill and the spiritual depth of its builders. Reaching it, by train, bus, or on foot, is what adds to the adventure of a visit and what distinguishes it from its Greek counterpart. Both are UNESCO icons, but while the Parthenon roots you in the heart of a city, Machu Picchu entices you to step into a lost world.

> See Viva’s Tours to Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is one of the ultimate South America holiday ideas.

9. Netherlands Tulips vs Medellín’s Flower Festival

In the Netherlands, tourists flock to fields of tulips that stretch across the countryside in the spring. The displays are striking, but it is something you (should) mostly stand back and admire, often on just a single day trip.

Medellín's Flower Festival in Colombia, however, is a celebration you walk right into. Every August, the city’s streets are taken over by parades, music, and fantastical floral displays. Farmers known as silleteros carry huge flower arrangements on their backs, a deeply rooted tradition dating back to the late 1800s when blooms were carried into Medellín’s markets on foot. The programme is jam-packed for 10 days, with concerts and neighbourhood events held across the city.

Visit Medellin alongside Cartagena on our Signature Colombia Tour. Find out more about Colombia’s fascinating flower growing industry.

Not just a side outing for the day: Floral displays during Medellín's festival, a fabulous alternative to Europe's tulip season.

10. Iceland vs the Atacama Desert

Iceland has become Europe's go-to destination for raw, unspoiled nature, with geysers shooting into the air, waterfalls tumbling over black cliffs, and lava fields stretching across the island. The scenery is dramatic, but the country is also very popular, and in many places you are never far from a busload of visitors. 

What’s more, it is also one of Europe’s most expensive destinations, especially during the peak summer period. 

Chile's Atacama Desert gives you that same sense of being somewhere otherworldly, only here it is endless space and silence that stand out. You’ll see salt flats shimmering in the sun, flamingos gathering in shallow lagoons, and valleys glowing red as the sun goes down. At night, the desert sky opens into some of the clearest stargazing on earth, and a few of the lodges host star-spotting evenings with their own telescopes. For travellers comparing South America vs Europe travel, our 4-day Atacama Tour will prove to you that the south has landscapes that are every bit as extraordinary.

> Which Salt Flats to Visit in South America?

The driest desert on earth, the Atacama, is spellbinding yet also so barren that NASA uses its soil to simulate conditions on Mars.