City Map Compare/Athens vs Rome
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5 km
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Athens

39 km²

Rome

1,285 km²

Athens vs Rome - City Size Comparison

Athens vs Rome - City Size Comparison

Athens

Greece

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

Italy

Area1,285 km²
Population2.87M
Density2,233 /km²
Elevation21 m
Metro Pop.4.3M
Founded753 BC
ClimateMediterranean

Area Comparison

Athens is 32.9x smaller than Rome

Population Comparison

Athens has 4.5x fewer people than Rome

Is Athens Bigger Than Rome?

In terms of area, Rome is 32.9x the size of Athens. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while Athens covers 39 km² (15 mi²) — a difference of 1,246 km². You could fit Athens inside Rome approximately 32 times.

To put Athens's size in perspective, its area of 39 km² is about 1.5x smaller than Manhattan. Meanwhile, Rome at 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London.

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. For Rome, that's about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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 Rome

Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.

Also known as "The Eternal City", Rome has an area of 1,285 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 753 BC. Visitors come for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Rome Metro.

Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits

Population Density

Athens has a population density of 16,410 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Rome, with 2,233 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Athens is dramatically more crowded, with 7.3x the population density.

Climate & Time Zone

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

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Athens fits inside Rome ~32 times

Density Gap

Athens is 7.3x more densely populated

History

Athens is ~6,247 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 Rome

Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athens bigger than Rome?
Rome is 32.9 times larger than Athens by area. Rome covers 1,285 km² while Athens spans 39 km², a difference of 1,246 km².
How many times does Athens fit inside Rome?
Athens (39 km²) fits inside Rome (1,285 km²) approximately 32 times. That means Rome is 32.9x the area of Athens.
What is the population difference between Athens and Rome?
Rome has approximately 2.9 million people, while Athens has about 0.6 million. Rome has 2.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Athens or Rome?
Athens is more densely populated with 16,410 people per km², compared to 2,233 people per km².
Which city is older, Athens or Rome?
Athens is older, founded around -7000, while Rome was established around -753 — a difference of about 6247 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 Rome

The straight-line distance from Athens to Rome is 1,051 km (653 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 44m.

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