Athens
39 km²
Philadelphia
370 km²
Greece
United States
Area Comparison
Athens is 9.5x smaller than Philadelphia
Population Comparison
Athens has 2.5x fewer people than Philadelphia
Philadelphia is significantly larger, covering 9.5 times the area of Athens. Philadelphia spans 370 km² (143 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 331 km². You could fit Athens inside Philadelphia approximately 9 times.
To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Philadelphia at 370 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul.
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. For Philadelphia, that's about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Philadelphia, colloquially referred to as Philly, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with a Census-estimated population of 1,574,281 in July 2025. The Philadelphia metropolitan area has 6.33 million residents and is the nation's ninth-largest metropolitan area. Philadelphia is known for its culture, cuisine, and history, maintaining contemporary influence in business and technology, sports, and music.
Often called "Philly", Philadelphia has an area of 370 km² and is home to 1.6 million people. The city dates back to 1682. Visitors come for Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philly Cheesesteak, and much more.
Philadelphia is the sixth-most populous US city, with an estimated 1,574,281 residents as of July 2025.
Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Philadelphia, with 4,324 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Athens is dramatically more crowded, with 3.8x the population density.
Size Ratio
Athens fits inside Philadelphia ~9 times
Density Gap
Athens is 3.8x more densely populated
History
Athens is ~8,682 years older
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).
Philadelphia covers 370 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seattle (369 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 km²).
The straight-line distance from Athens to Philadelphia is 8,054 km (5,005 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 59m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.