City Map Compare/Athens vs Boston
vs
5 km
|

Athens

39 km²

Boston

232 km²

Athens vs Boston - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Boston - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

Area39 km²
Population0.64M
Density16,410 /km²
Elevation74 m
Founded7000 BC
ClimateMediterranean climate
Boston

USA

Area232 km²
Population0.68M
Density2,931 /km²
Elevation43 m
Metro Pop.4.9M
Founded1630
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Athens is 5.9x smaller than Boston

Population Comparison

Athens has 1.1x fewer people than Boston

Is Athens Bigger Than Boston?

Yes — Boston is 5.9x larger than Athens by area. Boston spans 232 km² (90 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 193 km². You could fit Athens inside Boston approximately 5 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Boston at 232 km² is roughly the same size as Amsterdam.

Picture Athens another way: its area is large enough to fit about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco. Boston, by comparison, equals about 32,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Monaco, or 68 times the area of Central Park.

About Athens

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica region and is the southernmost capital on the European mainland. With its urban area's population numbering over 3.6 million, it is the eighth-largest urban area in the European Union (EU).

Known as "Cradle of Western Civilization", Athens covers 39 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 7000 BC. Athens is known for Acropolis of Athens, Parthenon, Plaka neighborhood, among other attractions.

Athens is the southernmost capital on the European mainland and capital of the Attica region.

About Boston

Boston is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It serves as a cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. Boston has an area of 48.4 sq mi (125 km2) and a population of 675,647 as of the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in the Northeastern United States after New York City and Philadelphia.

Nicknamed "Beantown", Boston has an area of 232 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1630. Visitors come for Fenway Park, Freedom Trail, Harvard University, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MBTA (The T).

Boston covers just 125 km2 yet serves as the cultural and financial heart of all New England

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Boston, with 2,931 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Athens is dramatically more crowded, with 5.6x the population density.

Climate & Time Zone

Athens has a Mediterranean climate climate while Boston experiences humid continental conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Boston ~5 times

Density Gap

Athens is 5.6x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~8,630 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Athens

Athens covers 39 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Manila (43 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Boston

Boston covers 232 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Osaka (225 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Amsterdam (219 km²), Helsinki (214 km²), or Edinburgh (259 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens actually bigger than Boston?
Boston is 5.9 times larger than Athens by area. Boston covers 232 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 193 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Boston?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Boston (232 km²) approximately 5 times. That means Boston is 5.9x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Boston?
Boston has approximately 0.7 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. Boston has 0.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Boston?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 2,931 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Boston?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Boston was established around 1630 — a difference of about 8630 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Athens and Boston

The straight-line distance from Athens to Boston is 7,620 km (4,735 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 28m.

Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.