Brussels
161 km²
Lisbon
100 km²
Belgium
Portugal
Area Comparison
Brussels is 1.6x larger than Lisbon
Population Comparison
Brussels has 2.3x more people than Lisbon
In terms of area, Brussels is 1.6x the size of Lisbon. Brussels spans 161 km² (62 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 61 km².
To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Lisbon at 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).
In more relatable units, Brussels's 161 km² is about 23,000 American football fields, 80 times the area of Monaco, or 47 times the area of Central Park. Lisbon works out to about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park.
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is a region of Belgium comprising 19 municipalities, including the City of Brussels, which is the capital of Belgium. The Brussels-Capital Region is located in the central portion of the country. It is a part of both the French Community of Belgium and the Flemish Community, and is separate from the Flemish Region (Flanders), within which it forms an enclave, and the Walloon Region (Wallonia), located less than 4 km (2.5 mi) south.
Known as "Capital of Europe", Brussels covers 161 km² with a population of 1.3 million. The city was established in 1989. Brussels is known for Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Atomium, among other attractions.
The Brussels-Capital Region comprises 19 municipalities and forms an enclave entirely within the Flemish Region.
Lisbon is the capital and most populous city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 575,739 as of 2024, within its administrative limits and 3,028,000 within the metropolis, as of 2025. Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city, and the only one along the Atlantic coast, the others being on islands. The city lies in the western portion of the Iberian Peninsula, on the northern shore of the River Tagus.
Also known as "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon has an area of 100 km² and is home to 0.6 million people. It was founded around 1200 BC. Visitors come for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Lisbon Metro.
Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.
Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. Lisbon, with 5,500 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though Brussels is slightly more compact.
Density Gap
Brussels is 1.4x more densely populated
History
Lisbon is ~3,189 years older
Brussels covers 161 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Minneapolis (149 km²), Washington D.C. (177 km²), Miami (143 km²), Stockholm (188 km²), or Buenos Aires (203 km²).
Lisbon covers 100 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), Zurich (88 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Brussels to Lisbon is 1,712 km (1,064 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 31m.
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