City Map Compare/Barcelona vs Edinburgh
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Barcelona

101 km²

Edinburgh

259 km²

Barcelona vs Edinburgh - City Size Comparison

Barcelona vs Edinburgh - City Size Comparison

Barcelona

Spain

Area101 km²
Population1.66M
Density16,436 /km²
Elevation12 m
Metro Pop.5.6M
Founded230 BC
ClimateMediterranean
Edinburgh

United Kingdom

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

Area Comparison

Barcelona is 2.6x smaller than Edinburgh

Population Comparison

Barcelona has 3.4x more people than Edinburgh

Is Barcelona Bigger Than Edinburgh?

In terms of area, Edinburgh is 2.6x the size of Barcelona. Edinburgh spans 259 km² (100 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 158 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Edinburgh approximately 2 times.

To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Edinburgh at 259 km² is about 1.2x the size of Amsterdam.

In more relatable units, Barcelona's 101 km² is about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 30 times the area of Central Park. For Edinburgh, that's about 36,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Monaco, or 76 times the area of Central Park.

About Barcelona

Barcelona is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.7 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the province of Barcelona and is home to around 5.7 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area of the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan.

Known as "Ciutat Comtal", Barcelona covers 101 km² with a population of 1.7 million. The city was founded around 230 BC. Barcelona is known for Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Barcelona Metro (TMB).

Barcelona is the second-most populous municipality in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia.

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.

Often called "Auld Reekie", Edinburgh has an area of 259 km² and is home to 0.5 million people. It was established in 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

Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Edinburgh, with 1,892 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 8.7x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Barcelona fits inside Edinburgh ~2 times

Density Gap

Barcelona is 8.7x more densely populated

History

Barcelona is ~831 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Barcelona

Barcelona covers 101 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lisbon (100 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Vancouver (115 km²), or Zurich (88 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 Barcelona bigger than Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is 2.6 times larger than Barcelona by area. Edinburgh covers 259 km² while Barcelona spans 101 km², a difference of 158 km².
How many times does Barcelona fit inside Edinburgh?
Barcelona (101 km²) fits inside Edinburgh (259 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Edinburgh is 2.6x the area of Barcelona.
What is the population difference between Barcelona and Edinburgh?
Barcelona has approximately 1.7 million people, while Edinburgh has about 0.5 million. Barcelona has 1.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Barcelona or Edinburgh?
Barcelona is more densely populated with 16,436 people per km², compared to 1,892 people per km².
Which city is older, Barcelona or Edinburgh?
Barcelona is older, founded around -230, while Edinburgh was established around 601 — a difference of about 831 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 Barcelona and Edinburgh

The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Edinburgh is 1,666 km (1,035 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 28m.

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