City Map Compare/Lisbon vs Seoul
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5 km
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Lisbon

100 km²

Seoul

605 km²

Lisbon vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Lisbon vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Lisbon

Portugal

Area100 km²
Population0.55M
Density5,500 /km²
Elevation77 m
Metro Pop.2.9M
Founded1200 BC
ClimateMediterranean
Seoul

South Korea

Area605 km²
Population9.77M
Density16,149 /km²
Elevation38 m
Metro Pop.25.5M
Founded18 BC
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Lisbon is 6.0x smaller than Seoul

Population Comparison

Lisbon has 17.8x fewer people than Seoul

Is Lisbon Bigger Than Seoul?

Yes — Seoul is 6.0x larger than Lisbon by area. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Lisbon covers 100 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 505 km². You could fit Lisbon inside Seoul approximately 6 times.

To put Lisbon's size in perspective, its area of 100 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.

In more relatable units, Lisbon's 100 km² is about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 29 times the area of Central Park. Seoul, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

About Lisbon

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.

Known as "City of Seven Hills", Lisbon covers 100 km² with a population of 0.6 million. The city was founded around 1200 BC. Lisbon is known for Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, Tram 28, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Lisbon Metro.

Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only European capital along the Atlantic coast.

About Seoul

Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.

Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. The city dates back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.

Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 3.9x larger than greater Lisbon at 3,015 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 2.9 million.

Population Density

Lisbon has a population density of 5,500 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.9 times more people per square kilometer.

This comparison spans continents — Lisbon in Europe versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Lisbon has a Mediterranean climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 3:00 AM in Lisbon — a 9-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Lisbon fits inside Seoul ~6 times

Density Gap

Seoul is 2.9x more densely populated

Time Difference

9 hours apart

History

Lisbon is ~1,182 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Lisbon

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).

Cities Similar in Size to Seoul

Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lisbon actually bigger than Seoul?
Seoul is 6.0 times larger than Lisbon by area. Seoul covers 605 km² while Lisbon spans 100 km², a difference of 505 km².
How many times does Lisbon fit inside Seoul?
Lisbon (100 km²) fits inside Seoul (605 km²) approximately 6 times. That means Seoul is 6.0x the area of Lisbon.
What is the population difference between Lisbon and Seoul?
Seoul has approximately 9.8 million people, while Lisbon has about 0.6 million. Seoul has 9.2 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Lisbon or Seoul?
Seoul is more densely populated with 16,149 people per km², compared to 5,500 people per km².
What is the time difference between Lisbon and Seoul?
Lisbon is in the UTC+0 timezone while Seoul is UTC+9. There is a 9-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Lisbon or Seoul?
Lisbon is older, founded around -1200, while Seoul was established around -18 — a difference of about 1182 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 Lisbon and Seoul

The straight-line distance from Lisbon to Seoul is 10,418 km (6,473 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 45m.

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