Mexico City vs Rio de Janeiro

One of the largest cities in the Americas, Mexico City sits atop the ruins of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, with the Templo Mayor excavation visible steps from the colonial-era Zócalo. World-class museums, a thriving taco and street food scene, and leafy neighbourhoods like Roma and Condesa have made the city one of the most talked-about food and culture destinations in the region.

Rio's setting is unmatched — granite peaks rise directly from the city between Copacabana and Ipanema's beaches, with the Christ the Redeemer statue watching over it all from Corcovado mountain. Samba, Carnival, and a beach-centred daily culture define the city's rhythm, alongside favela communities that are an essential, complicated part of Rio's social fabric.