City Map Compare/Brussels vs Munich
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Brussels

161 km²

Munich

311 km²

Brussels vs Munich - City Size Comparison

Brussels vs Munich - City Size Comparison

Brussels

Belgium

Area161 km²
Population1.26M
Density7,826 /km²
Elevation13 m
Founded1989
Munich

Germany

Area311 km²
Population1.51M
Density4,855 /km²
Elevation519 m
Founded1158

Area Comparison

Brussels is 1.9x smaller than Munich

Population Comparison

Brussels has 1.2x fewer people than Munich

Is Brussels Bigger Than Munich?

In terms of area, Munich is 1.9x the size of Brussels. Munich spans 311 km² (120 mi²) while Brussels covers 161 km² (62 mi²) — a difference of 150 km².

To put Brussels's size in perspective, its area of 161 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C.. Meanwhile, Munich at 311 km² is about 1.4x the size of Amsterdam.

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. Munich works out to about 44,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Monaco, or 91 times the area of Central Park.

About Brussels

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.

About Munich

Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is not a state of its own, and it ranks as the 11th-largest city in the European Union (EU). The metropolitan area has around 3 million inhabitants, and the broader Munich Metropolitan Region is home to about 6.2 million people.

Also known as "Weltstadt mit Herz", Munich has an area of 311 km² and is home to 1.5 million people. It was established in 1158. Visitors come for Oktoberfest, Marienplatz, BMW headquarters, and much more.

Munich is the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, with over 1.6 million residents.

Population Density

Brussels has a population density of 7,826 people per km² — a densely populated city. Munich, with 4,855 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Brussels is noticeably denser, packing 1.6 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Brussels is 1.6x more densely populated

History

Munich is ~831 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Brussels

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Munich

Munich covers 311 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Atlanta (348 km²), Taipei (272 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Philadelphia (370 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brussels actually bigger than Munich?
Munich is 1.9 times larger than Brussels by area. Munich covers 311 km² while Brussels spans 161 km², a difference of 150 km².
How many times does Brussels fit inside Munich?
Brussels (161 km²) fits inside Munich (311 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Munich is 1.9x the area of Brussels.
What is the population difference between Brussels and Munich?
Munich has approximately 1.5 million people, while Brussels has about 1.3 million. Munich has 0.3 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Brussels or Munich?
Brussels is more densely populated with 7,826 people per km², compared to 4,855 people per km².
Which city is older, Brussels or Munich?
Munich is older, founded around 1158, while Brussels was established around 1989 — 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 Brussels and Munich

The straight-line distance from Brussels to Munich is 602 km (374 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 12m.

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