City Map Compare/Barcelona vs Moscow
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5 km
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Barcelona

101 km²

Moscow

2,511 km²

Barcelona vs Moscow - City Size Comparison

Barcelona vs Moscow - City Size Comparison

Barcelona

Spain

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

Russia

Area2,511 km²
Population12.54M
Density4,994 /km²
Elevation156 m
Metro Pop.17.1M
Founded1147
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Barcelona is 24.9x smaller than Moscow

Population Comparison

Barcelona has 7.6x fewer people than Moscow

Is Barcelona Bigger Than Moscow?

Moscow is significantly larger, covering 24.9 times the area of Barcelona. Moscow spans 2,511 km² (970 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 2,410 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Moscow approximately 24 times.

To put Barcelona's size in perspective, its area of 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Moscow at 2,511 km² is roughly the same size as Luxembourg.

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. Moscow, by comparison, equals about 352,000 American football fields, 42 times the area of Manhattan, or 24 times the area of Paris.

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 Moscow

Moscow is the capital and largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents within the city limits, over 19.1 million residents in the urban area, and over 21.5 million residents in its metropolitan area. The city covers an area of 2,511 square kilometers (970 mi2), while the urban area covers 5,891 square kilometers (2,275 mi2), and the metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers (10,000 mi2).

Nicknamed "Third Rome", Moscow has an area of 2,511 km² and is home to 12.5 million people. Its history stretches back to 1147. Visitors come for Red Square, Kremlin, Saint Basil's Cathedral, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Moscow Metro.

Moscow's metropolitan area covers over 26,000 square kilometers, making it one of the largest metropolitan footprints in Europe.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Moscow metropolitan area covers 5,891 km², which is 7.3x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Moscow metro area is also more populous, with 17.1 million people compared to 5.6 million.

Population Density

Barcelona has a population density of 16,436 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Moscow, with 4,994 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Barcelona is dramatically more crowded, with 3.3x the population density.

Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Barcelona (Spain) and Moscow (Russia) offer a fascinating regional contrast.

Climate & Time Zone

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Moscow experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Barcelona stays around 10°C while Moscow drops to -8°C. When it's noon in Moscow, it's 10:00 AM in Barcelona — a 2-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Barcelona fits inside Moscow ~24 times

Density Gap

Barcelona is 3.3x more densely populated

History

Barcelona is ~1,377 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 Moscow

Moscow covers 2,511 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Cape Town (2,455 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Ho Chi Minh City (2,061 km²), or Cairo (3,085 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Barcelona or Moscow?
Moscow is 24.9 times larger than Barcelona by area. Moscow covers 2,511 km² while Barcelona spans 101 km², a difference of 2,410 km².
How many times does Barcelona fit inside Moscow?
Barcelona (101 km²) fits inside Moscow (2,511 km²) approximately 24 times. That means Moscow is 24.9x the area of Barcelona.
What is the population difference between Barcelona and Moscow?
Moscow has approximately 12.5 million people, while Barcelona has about 1.7 million. Moscow has 10.9 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Barcelona or Moscow?
Barcelona is more densely populated with 16,436 people per km², compared to 4,994 people per km².
Which city is older, Barcelona or Moscow?
Barcelona is older, founded around -230, while Moscow was established around 1147 — a difference of about 1377 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 Moscow

The straight-line distance from Barcelona to Moscow is 3,010 km (1,870 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 2m.

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