City Map Compare/Athens vs Edinburgh
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Athens

39 km²

Edinburgh

259 km²

Athens vs Edinburgh - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Edinburgh - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

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

United Kingdom

Area259 km²
Population0.49M
Density1,892 /km²
Elevation47 m
Founded601

Area Comparison

Athens is 6.6x smaller than Edinburgh

Population Comparison

Athens has 1.3x more people than Edinburgh

Is Athens Bigger Than Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is significantly larger, covering 6.6 times the area of Athens. Edinburgh spans 259 km² (100 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 220 km². You could fit Athens inside Edinburgh approximately 6 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Edinburgh at 259 km² is about 1.2x the size of Amsterdam.

In more relatable units, Athens's 39 km² is about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco. Edinburgh, by comparison, equals about 36,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Monaco, or 76 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 Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. It is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh had a population of 506,520 in 2020, making it the second-most-populous city in Scotland and the seventh-most-populous in the United Kingdom. The wider metropolitan area had a population of 912,490 in the same year.

Nicknamed "Auld Reekie", Edinburgh has an area of 259 km² and is home to 0.5 million people. Its history stretches back to 601. Visitors come for Edinburgh Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat, and much more.

Edinburgh is bounded by the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Edinburgh, with 1,892 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Athens is dramatically more crowded, with 8.7x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Edinburgh ~6 times

Density Gap

Athens is 8.7x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~7,601 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 Edinburgh

Edinburgh covers 259 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Taipei (272 km²), Kuala Lumpur (243 km²), Boston (232 km²), Osaka (225 km²), or Amsterdam (219 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens bigger than Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is 6.6 times larger than Athens by area. Edinburgh covers 259 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 220 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Edinburgh?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Edinburgh (259 km²) approximately 6 times. That means Edinburgh is 6.6x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Edinburgh?
Athens has approximately 0.6 million people, while Edinburgh has about 0.5 million. Athens has 0.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Edinburgh?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 1,892 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Edinburgh?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Edinburgh was established around 601 — a difference of about 7601 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 Edinburgh

The straight-line distance from Athens to Edinburgh is 2,823 km (1,754 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 49m.

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