Is Madrid or Barcelona bigger?

Undoubtedly, the two most important and international cities of the Spanish State are Madrid and Barcelona. Each with its specific features and characteristics, has a very special charm and, therefore, both have become one of the favorite destinations of tourists, receiving millions of these each year. They are also the two largest cities in the country, but have you ever wondered which of them has the greatest territorial extension. Keep reading this article to find the answer to the question: is Madrid or Barcelona bigger?

Extension of Madrid

Madrid is the capital of Spain and also of the Community of Madrid; is a city located in the center of the Iberian Peninsula that is at an average height of 667 m above sea level, so we can say that it is one of the highest capitals of the European continent.

Besides being the capital, Madrid is also the largest and most populated city in Spain. Specifically, it has an area of 605.77 km2, a population of 3, 165, 235 inhabitants, according to the records of the INE (National Institute of Statistics) of 2014 and a density of 5225.14 inhabitants / km2. Now, if we also take into account the metropolitan area of Madrid, the figure of its population would amount to almost 7 million inhabitants. Since it became the capital of the Spanish State, the population has been growing tremendously but the most relevant increase is that which occurred between the years 1940-1970, a period in which the number of inhabitants practically tripled thanks to internal immigration.

In Madrid, the government headquarters, the Cortes Generales, the ministries, the institutions and the organisms are housed, as well as the residence of the Kings of Spain and the President of the Government. It is a city with an ample cultural wealth and that is worth knowing, because in it you can visit some of the most important museums in the world, highlighting the so-called Triangle of Art, which is composed of the Prado Museum, the Museum Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia Museum.

Extension of Barcelona

Barcelona, on the other hand, is a Spanish city and the capital of the autonomous community of Catalonia. It is located on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula about 120 km south of the Pyrenees, and because it was the capital of the county of Barcelona, it is often called the Ciudad Condal.

It has a territorial surface of 102.16 km2 and, after Madrid, it is the second most populated city in the Spanish State. Specifically, it has a population of 1, 602, 386 inhabitants according to the INE of 2014 and a density of 16, 315.91 inhabitants / km2. In addition, it has been indicated that including the entire metropolitan area of Barcelona, the figure would amount to more than 5 million inhabitants.

Although Madrid is the capital, Barcelona is considered one of the most important cities in Spain and of which it has a greater global projection. And it is that the Ciudad Condal has been, on numerous occasions, the site of many important international events, such as the Universal Exhibition of 1888, the International Exhibition of 1929 or the 1992 Olympic Games.

Barcelona attracts millions of tourists every year and has become a great global city, with a great cultural offer and incredible financial, commercial and tourist wealth. In addition, it has one of the most influential ports in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the most important and busiest airports in the country, the Barcelona-El Prat airport.

Enjoy Madrid or Barcelona

In short, we can say that Madrid is bigger than Barcelona, because it has a greater territorial extension and a higher number of population. However, both cities are a must visit within the Spanish State, because both with their particularities are worth visiting and visiting.

If you are thinking of taking a trip or a trip to Madrid or Barcelona, pay attention to the essential points and tourist attractions that you should not miss:

Points of interest in Madrid: Puerta del Sol, Playa Mayor, Gran Vía, Palacio Real, Jardines de Sabatini, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza de Callao, Plaza España, Cibeles Fountain, the Art Triangle ( the Prado Museum, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum), the Puerta de Alcalá and the Buen Retiro Park. In addition to these beautiful places, we recommend that you enjoy the nightlife of the Spanish capital and try some of the traditional recipes, such as cocido madrileño, calamari sandwich or a good cup of chocolate with churros.
Points of interest in Barcelona: the Sagrada Familia, the Pedrera, the Casa Batlló, the Park Güell, the Passeig de Gràcia, the Palau de la Música Catalana, Plaza Cataluña, Las Ramblas, the Paseo Colón, the Maritime Port, the Gothic Quarter, Montjuic You can also add to your trip, visit the Camp Nou, the FC Barcelona stadium, see some of the best beaches in Barcelona and enjoy Catalan cuisine through dishes such as escudella, esqueixada or escalivada.

In we want to help you with the planning of your trip to these wonderful Spanish cities and, therefore, depending on the time you have, we have prepared the following guides, do not miss them !: