City Map Compare/Athens vs London
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Athens

39 km²

London

1,572 km²

Athens vs London - City Size Comparison

Athens vs London - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

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

UK

Area1,572 km²
Population8.98M
Density5,712 /km²
Elevation11 m
Metro Pop.14.3M
Founded43
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Athens is 40.3x smaller than London

Population Comparison

Athens has 14.0x fewer people than London

Is Athens Bigger Than London?

In terms of area, London is 40.3x the size of Athens. London spans 1,572 km² (607 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 1,533 km². You could fit Athens inside London approximately 40 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (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. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris.

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 London

London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.

Also known as "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. Its history stretches back to 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.

London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. Athens is noticeably denser, packing 2.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Climate & Time Zone

Athens has a Mediterranean climate climate while London experiences oceanic conditions.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside London ~40 times

Density Gap

Athens is 2.9x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~7,043 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 London

London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Athens or London?
London is 40.3 times larger than Athens by area. London covers 1,572 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 1,533 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside London?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside London (1,572 km²) approximately 40 times. That means London is 40.3x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and London?
London has approximately 9.0 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. London has 8.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or London?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 5,712 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or London?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while London was established around 43 — a difference of about 7043 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 London

The straight-line distance from Athens to London is 2,392 km (1,486 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~3h 19m.

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