Amsterdam
219 km²
Barcelona
101 km²
Netherlands
Spain
Area Comparison
Amsterdam is 2.2x larger than Barcelona
Population Comparison
Amsterdam has 1.8x fewer people than Barcelona
Yes — Amsterdam is 2.2x larger than Barcelona by area. Amsterdam spans 219 km² (85 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 118 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Amsterdam approximately 2 times.
To put Amsterdam's size in perspective, its area of 219 km² is about 1.2x the size of Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Barcelona at 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).
In more relatable units, Amsterdam's 219 km² is about 31,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 64 times the area of Central Park. Barcelona works out to about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 30 times the area of Central Park.
Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known as "Venice of the North", Amsterdam covers 219 km² with a population of 0.9 million. The city was established in 1275. Amsterdam is known for Anne Frank House, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the GVB (Metro & Tram).
Amsterdam's historic canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, earning it the nickname Venice of the North
Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.7 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the province of Barcelona and is home to around 5.7 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area of the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan.
Nicknamed "Ciutat Comtal", Barcelona has an area of 101 km² and is home to 1.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 230 BC. Visitors come for Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Barcelona Metro (TMB).
Barcelona is the second-most populous municipality in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Amsterdam metropolitan area covers 2,580 km², which is 3.2x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Barcelona metro area is also more populous, with 5.6 million people compared to 2.5 million.
Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Barcelona, with 16,436 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 3.9x the population density.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Amsterdam (Netherlands) and Barcelona (Spain) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Amsterdam has a oceanic climate while Barcelona experiences Mediterranean conditions.
Size Ratio
Barcelona fits inside Amsterdam ~2 times
Density Gap
Barcelona is 3.9x more densely populated
History
Barcelona is ~1,505 years older
Amsterdam covers 219 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Helsinki (214 km²), Osaka (225 km²), Boston (232 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), or Kuala Lumpur (243 km²).
Barcelona covers 101 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lisbon (100 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), or Zurich (88 km²).
The straight-line distance from Amsterdam to Barcelona is 1,238 km (769 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 57m.
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