Rome
1,285 km²
Madrid
604 km²
Italy
Spain
Area Comparison
Rome is 2.1x larger than Madrid
Population Comparison
Rome has 1.2x fewer people than Madrid
Rome is significantly larger, covering 2.1 times the area of Madrid. Rome spans 1,285 km² (496 mi²) while Madrid covers 604 km² (233 mi²) — a difference of 681 km². You could fit Madrid inside Rome approximately 2 times.
To put Rome's size in perspective, its area of 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Madrid at 604 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Rome's footprint is roughly about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Madrid works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.
Known as "The Eternal City", Rome covers 1,285 km² with a population of 2.9 million. The city was founded around 753 BC. Rome is known for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Rome Metro.
Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits
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).
Often called "La Villa y Corte", Madrid has an area of 604 km² and is home to 3.3 million people. The city dates back to 852. Visitors come for Royal Palace of Madrid, Prado Museum, Plaza Mayor, and much more. Getting around is easy with 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
Looking beyond city limits, the Madrid metropolitan area covers 8,028 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater Rome at 5,352 km². The Madrid metro area is also more populous, with 6.8 million people compared to 4.3 million.
Rome has a population density of 2,233 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Madrid, with 5,513 people per km², is a densely populated city. Madrid is noticeably denser, packing 2.5 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Rome (Italy) and Madrid (Spain) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Rome has a Mediterranean climate while Madrid experiences hot-summer Mediterranean conditions.
Size Ratio
Madrid fits inside Rome ~2 times
Density Gap
Madrid is 2.5x more densely populated
History
Rome is ~1,605 years older
Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
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).
The straight-line distance from Rome to Madrid is 1,364 km (848 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 6m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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