Berlin
892 km²
Zurich
88 km²
Germany
Switzerland
Area Comparison
Berlin is 10.1x larger than Zurich
Population Comparison
Berlin has 8.5x more people than Zurich
Yes — Berlin is 10.1x larger than Zurich by area. Berlin spans 892 km² (344 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 804 km². You could fit Zurich inside Berlin approximately 10 times.
To put Berlin's size in perspective, its area of 892 km² is about 1.1x the size of New York City. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
Picture Berlin another way: its area is large enough to fit about 125,000 American football fields, 15 times the area of Manhattan, or 8 times the area of Paris. Zurich, by comparison, equals about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
Berlin is the capital of Germany, as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest.
Berlin covers 892 km² with a population of 3.6 million. The city was established in 1237. Berlin is known for Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, Reichstag Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BVG (U-Bahn & S-Bahn).
Berlin holds the highest population within city limits of any city in the European Union, with 3.7 million inhabitants.
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. As of the end of 2024, the municipality had a population of 436,551, while the urban area was home to 1.45 million people (2020), and the Zurich metropolitan area had a total population of 2.1 million (2020). Zurich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic.
Zurich has an area of 88 km² and is home to 0.4 million people. It was founded around 15 BC. Visitors come for Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse, Grossmünster, and much more. Getting around is easy with the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and sits at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich in north-central Switzerland.
Looking beyond city limits, the Berlin metropolitan area covers 3,743 km², which is 2.8x larger than greater Zurich at 1,334 km². The Berlin metro area is also more populous, with 6.1 million people compared to 1.4 million.
Berlin has a population density of 4,092 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Zurich is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Europe, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Berlin (Germany) and Zurich (Switzerland) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Zurich fits inside Berlin ~10 times
History
Zurich is ~1,252 years older
Berlin covers 892 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Santiago (838 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), San Diego (964 km²), Abu Dhabi (972 km²), or Dallas (997 km²).
Zurich covers 88 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Copenhagen (91 km²), Lisbon (100 km²), Barcelona (101 km²), Paris (105 km²), or Vancouver (115 km²).
The straight-line distance from Berlin to Zurich is 669 km (416 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 17m.
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