Madrid
604 km²
Barcelona
101 km²
Spain
Spain
Area Comparison
Madrid is 6.0x larger than Barcelona
Population Comparison
Madrid has 2.0x more people than Barcelona
Yes — Madrid is 6.0x larger than Barcelona by area. Madrid spans 604 km² (233 mi²) while Barcelona covers 101 km² (39 mi²) — a difference of 503 km². You could fit Barcelona inside Madrid approximately 5 times.
To put Madrid's size in perspective, its area of 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul. Meanwhile, Barcelona at 101 km² is roughly the same size as Paris (city proper).
In more relatable units, Madrid's 604 km² is about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. Barcelona, by comparison, equals about 14,000 American football fields, 50 times the area of Monaco, or 30 times the area of Central Park.
Madrid is the capital and most populous city of Spain. It had a population of over 3.4 million in the city proper in 2025, and a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.8 million. Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union (EU), after Berlin, and its metropolitan area is the second-largest in the EU, after Paris. The municipality covers an area of 605.77 square kilometres (233.89 sq mi).
Known as "La Villa y Corte", Madrid covers 604 km² with a population of 3.3 million. The city was established in 852. Madrid is known for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Madrid Metro.
Madrid is the second-largest city in the European Union after Berlin, with over 3.4 million residents in the city proper
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.
Often called "Ciutat Comtal", Barcelona has an area of 101 km² and is home to 1.7 million people. Its history stretches back to 230 BC. Visitors come for Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, La Rambla, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Barcelona Metro (TMB).
Barcelona is the second-most populous municipality in Spain and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Madrid metropolitan area covers 8,028 km², which is 10.0x larger than greater Barcelona at 803 km². The Madrid metro area is also more populous, with 6.8 million people compared to 5.6 million.
Madrid has a population density of 5,513 people per km² — a densely populated city. Barcelona, with 16,436 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Barcelona is noticeably denser, packing 3.0 times more people per square kilometer.
Both Madrid and Barcelona are in Spain, making this a domestic size comparison that reveals how differently cities can develop within the same nation.
Madrid has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate while Barcelona experiences Mediterranean conditions.
Size Ratio
Barcelona fits inside Madrid ~5 times
Density Gap
Barcelona is 3.0x more densely populated
History
Barcelona is ~1,082 years older
Madrid covers 604 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Seoul (605 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Chicago (606 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
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).
The straight-line distance from Madrid to Barcelona is 505 km (314 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 6m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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