City Map Compare/Athens vs Lisbon
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5 km
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Athens

39 km²

Lisbon

100 km²

Athens vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Lisbon - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

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

Portugal

Area100 km²
Population0.55M
Density5,500 /km²
Elevation77 m
Metro Pop.2.9M
Founded1200 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Athens is 2.6x smaller than Lisbon

Population Comparison

Athens has 1.2x more people than Lisbon

Is Athens Bigger Than Lisbon?

In terms of area, Lisbon is 2.6x the size of Athens. Lisbon spans 100 km² (39 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 61 km². You could fit Athens inside Lisbon approximately 2 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).

Athens's footprint is roughly about 5,500 American football fields, 80 times the area of Vatican City, or 19 times the area of Monaco — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Lisbon works out to about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 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 Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.

Also known as "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. Its history stretches back to 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.

Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Athens is noticeably denser, packing 3.0 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Athens has a Mediterranean climate climate while Lisbon experiences Mediterranean conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Lisbon ~2 times

Density Gap

Athens is 3.0x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~5,800 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 Lisbon

Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Athens or Lisbon?
Lisbon is 2.6 times larger than Athens by area. Lisbon covers 100 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 61 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Lisbon?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Lisbon (100 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Lisbon is 2.6x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Lisbon?
Athens has approximately 0.6 million people, while Lisbon has about 0.6 million. Athens has 0.1 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Lisbon?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 5,500 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Lisbon?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Lisbon was established around -1200 — a difference of about 5800 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 Lisbon

The straight-line distance from Athens to Lisbon is 2,852 km (1,772 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 51m.

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