Barcelona vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Is Barcelona Bigger Than Seoul?

Seoul is significantly larger, covering 6.0 times the area of Barcelona. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 504 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Seoul approximately 5 times.

About Barcelona

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

Gaudí's Sagrada Família has been under construction since 1882 and is expected to be completed around 2026

About Seoul

Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Often called "The Soul of Asia", Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, K-pop culture, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.

Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 14.6x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 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. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Both cities have comparable density, though Barcelona is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 4:00 AM in Barcelona — a 8-hour time difference.