Amsterdam vs San Francisco - City Size Comparison

Is Amsterdam Bigger Than San Francisco?

Yes — Amsterdam is 1.8x larger than San Francisco by area. Amsterdam spans 219 km² (85 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 98 km².

About Amsterdam

Capital of the Netherlands, known for its canals. 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 Canal ring, Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the GVB (Metro & Tram).

Amsterdam sits 2 meters below sea level and is protected by an elaborate system of dikes and pumping stations

About San Francisco

A cultural and financial center in Northern California. Often called "SF", San Francisco has an area of 121 km² and is home to 0.9 million people. The city dates back to 1776. Visitors come for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, and much more. Getting around is easy with the BART & Muni.

San Francisco's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the San Francisco metropolitan area covers 6,984 km², which is 2.7x larger than greater Amsterdam at 2,580 km². The San Francisco metro area is also more populous, with 4.7 million people compared to 2.5 million.

Population Density

Amsterdam has a population density of 4,201 people per km² — a moderately dense city. San Francisco, with 7,190 people per km², is a densely populated city. San Francisco is noticeably denser, packing 1.7 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Amsterdam has a oceanic climate while San Francisco experiences Mediterranean conditions. When it's noon in Amsterdam, it's 3:00 AM in San Francisco — a 9-hour time difference.