Discover 23 Cities That Start With S

There’s no shortage of cities that start with the letter S around the world. Some are large metropolises with a growing economy, arts, and culture. Others are small towns with quaint charm or scenic views. If you want to find your next must-visit destination, consider one of these amazing places. Every continent in the world has a city that starts with an S and many feature multiple. However, “research station” better describes the settlements in frigid Antarctica.

North America

Salem: Famous for the witch-hunting fervor and resulting “trials” that took place in the small town of Salem in 1692, this Massachusetts city now has around 45,000 residents. There are plenty of haunted places to visit and learn about the city’s history.

Salt Lake City: This Utah city is the state’s capital. Around 200,000 people call Salt Lake City home. It is known for the Mormon temple, the Natural History Museum, and the Great Salt Lake which is located just outside the city.

San Francisco: With its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, this city in California has a rich and interesting history. It is home to just over 800,000 residents within the city itself and around 7 million residents in the entire San Francisco Bay region. It is a major city for culture, cuisine, and tourism in Northern California.

Seattle: A visit to Washington State is incomplete without a stop by Seattle, the largest city in the state. While there, you can visit the iconic Space Needle, the Pike Place Market, or the original Starbucks location.

San Antonio: The site of the Alamo, this Texas town has an important role in the state’s history and culture. It is home to roughly 1.4 million residents.

South America

San Bernardo: This city in Chili has a rich heritage and many traditions. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and home to numerous historic churches.

São Paolo: With 11.2 residents, this city in Brazil is the largest in the entire Southern Hemisphere and the seventh largest city in the world.

Santiago: This Chilean city is the country’s capital and home to 5.6 million residents. It is at the foot of the Andes Mountains and has a rich history of culture, government, and the arts.

Africa

Sabie: The forests and scenery around Sabie, South Africa are legendary and influential for both tourism and the country’s economy.

Serowe: A large village in Botswana, Serowe has around 60,000 residents. It is known for being the birthplace of numerous Botswanan Presidents in recent decades.

Saldanha: Saldanha is located on Saldanha Bay in South Africa and is a major shipping port. While just around 20,000 people live in the city, it is a major site for maritime commerce in the region.

Soyo: Because of its location on the Congo River and the coast of Zaire in Angola, Soyo is an important trade location. It is known for its oil production and has around 200,000 residents.

Salé: Home to around 890,000 people, Salé is a city in Morocco famous for its colorful history as a pirate safe haven in the 1600s. It was founded around 1030 by a North African tribe and later became part of Morocco. The Great Mosque of Salé was built around the time of the city’s founding and is still visited today.

Salt Rock: Another South African town, Salt Rock is a vacation spot for South Africans as well as those from surrounding countries.

Europe

Saint Petersburg: This city in Russia was known by various names, including Petrograd and Leningrad, since it was founded in 1703. It is the second-largest city in Russia and the cultural center of the country, known for its vibrant performing and visual arts performances.

Saint-Tropez: A jewel on the French Riveria, Saint-Tropez is a hot spot for vacationers in Europe and all over the world. Saint-Tropez enjoys a reputation as a luxurious getaway on the French coast. Because it is so exclusive, Saint-Tropez can be very expensive.

Salamanca: This city in Northwestern Spain is also the capital of the Salamanca region. It is one of the oldest cities in Spain, dating back to the 1100s, and home of the prestigious Universidad de Salamanca.

Salzburg: A vibrant city in Austria, Salzburg is in the shadow of the Alps. The city is divided into the Altstadt, the old city, and the Neustadt, the new city, by the Salzach River. Mozart, one of the most famous Austrian composers, was born in Altstadt.

Seville: Seville is a city in Southern Spain and the capital of Andalusia. Because of its rich history, Seville combines multiple architectural styles from Spain’s history. The Alcazar of Seville, the Seville Cathedral, and the Plaza de España showcase the history of Spain.

Southampton: This port city is located in Hampshire on the southern coast of England. It was made famous as the departure port of the ill-fated Titanic in 1912. Southampton remains a busy port city.

Asia

Shanghai: This city in China is home to over 26 million residents as well as the second-tallest building in the world, the Shanghai Tower, which stands over 2,000 feet tall. It is the third-largest city in the world.

Shenzhen: A large city in southeastern China, Shenzhen is home to around 12.6 million people.

Sapporo: Located on the island of Hokkaido, Sapporo has skiing and snow. The annual Sapporo Snow Festival brings tourists from all over the world to see the city’s ice sculptures. Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympic Games.

Saitama: Around 1.3 million people live in Saitama, the capital of Japan’s Saitama Prefecture. If you visit the city, make sure to stop by the Bonsai Village where these traditionally manicured plants are on display.

Australia

Sydney: Famous for its iconic Opera House, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the skyline, Sydney has around 5.4 million residents. Even though it is not the capital of Australia, Sydney is a major cultural center.

Salamander Bay: A destination in New South Wales, Salamander Bay is the ancestral homeland of the Worimi people. Because of its location, Salamander Bay is primarily residential and a charming coastal town near the larger Port Stevens.

Antarctica

SANAE IV: South Africa established this permanent research station in 1997. Depending on the season, anywhere from 15 to over 100 researchers live at the station.

Showa: Japan established this research station in 1957, making it one of the oldest in Antarctica. Because of the research needs, the population varies at Showa just like in other research stations. In the winter months, roughly 40 people live at Showa. That number increases to around 170 in the summer.

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