Barcelona vs Lisbon

Barcelona leads Lisbon by 4 points on the CIRA Index, 65 to 61. Barcelona grades better on 9 measures, Lisbon on 8; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.

Scores by each organisation's criteria

• CIRA Index: Barcelona 65, Lisbon 61
• OECD: Barcelona 65, Lisbon 62
• UN Tourism: Barcelona 66, Lisbon 56
• UNDRR: Barcelona 70, Lisbon 72

Theme by theme

• Demand and seasonality: Barcelona 71, Lisbon 71
• Economy and jobs: Barcelona 58, Lisbon 69
• Climate and hazards: Barcelona 60, Lisbon 75
• Water and environment: Barcelona 69, Lisbon 38
• Community and housing: Barcelona 45, Lisbon 25
• Access and continuity: Barcelona 75, Lisbon 83

Where Barcelona is stronger

• Largest foreign market: 12 % of international arrivals or nights (INE, foreign tourists by municipality and country of residence (mobile-phone positioning, table 52048), 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
• Extreme heat days: 1 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
• Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
• Wastewater safely treated: 81.2 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (country figure) (United Nations Statistics Division / WHO / UN-Habitat SDG 6.3.1 Database, 2022). Between 70 and 85: grade 2/4.
• Municipal waste per resident: 444.3 kg per resident per year (metro figure) (Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB), 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
• Green space: 35 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (European Environment Agency (EEA) / Climate-ADAPT, 2024). Between 30 and 40: grade 3/4.
• Tourism intensity: 12.7 visitor nights per resident per year (Barcelona Dades & Ajuntament de Barcelona - Oficina Municipal de Dades, 2024). Between 10 and 20: grade 2/4.
• Short-let density: 1.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Ajuntament de Barcelona & Inside Airbnb / Mabrian, 2024). Between 1 and 2: grade 2/4.
• Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Ajuntament de Barcelona - Protecció Civil, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4.

Where Lisbon is stronger

• Domestic share of nights: 18 % of nights by residents of the same country (region figure) (Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), Estatísticas do Turismo 2024 / Estatística Rápida, 2024). Between 15 and 25: grade 1/4.
• Unemployment rate: 7.4 % of the labour force (region figure) (Gabinete de Planeamento, Políticas e Administração Geral (GPP) / INE Inquérito ao Emprego, Q1 2026). Between 5 and 8: grade 3/4.
• Economic diversity: 78.8 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (metro figure) (Câmara Municipal de Lisboa / Statistics Portugal, Lisboa Economy in Figures 2024, 2022). Between 72 and 80: grade 3/4.
• Tropical nights: 11 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 10 and 30: grade 3/4.
• Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
• Country disaster risk: 1.9 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). At or below 2: grade 4/4.
• Tourism crisis and recovery plan: A plan with named owners, operators and recovery funding (Turismo de Portugal, 2021–2026). Grade 3/4.
• Travel advisory: 1 stricter of the US and Canadian government advisory for the country, 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel) (country figure) (US State Department and Government of Canada travel advisories, 2026-09-29). At or below 1: grade 4/4.

Country context (World Economic Forum)

• Spain: #3 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
• Portugal: #11 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026

Barcelona in full · Lisbon in full

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