City Map Compare/Hamburg vs Zurich
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5 km
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Hamburg

755 km²

Zurich

88 km²

Hamburg vs Zurich - City Size Comparison

Hamburg vs Zurich - City Size Comparison

Hamburg

Germany

Area755 km²
Population1.91M
Density2,530 /km²
Elevation6 m
Zurich

Switzerland

Area88 km²
Population0.43M
Density4,886 /km²
Elevation408 m
Metro Pop.1.4M
Founded15 BC
Climateoceanic

Area Comparison

Hamburg is 8.6x larger than Zurich

Population Comparison

Hamburg has 4.4x more people than Zurich

Is Hamburg Bigger Than Zurich?

Hamburg is significantly larger, covering 8.6 times the area of Zurich. Hamburg spans 755 km² (292 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 667 km². You could fit Zurich inside Hamburg approximately 8 times.

To put Hamburg's size in perspective, its area of 755 km² is roughly the same size as New York City. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).

In more relatable units, Hamburg's 755 km² is about 106,000 American football fields, 13 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 times the area of Paris. For Zurich, that's about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.

About Hamburg

Hamburg, officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, is the second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and seventh-largest city in the European Union, with a population of over 1.9 million. The Hamburg Metropolitan Region has a population of over 5.1 million and is the tenth-largest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union.

Known as "Gateway to the World", Hamburg covers 755 km² with a population of 1.9 million. Hamburg is known for Port of Hamburg, Elbphilharmonie concert hall, Reeperbahn nightlife district, among other attractions.

Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and the seventh-largest in the European Union.

About Zurich

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. Its history stretches back to 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.

Population Density

Hamburg has a population density of 2,530 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Zurich, with 4,886 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Zurich is noticeably denser, packing 1.9 times more people per square kilometer.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Zurich fits inside Hamburg ~8 times

Density Gap

Zurich is 1.9x more densely populated

Cities Similar in Size to Hamburg

Hamburg covers 755 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangalore (741 km²), Singapore (733 km²), Tehran (730 km²), New York (783 km²), or Nairobi (696 km²).

Cities Similar in Size to Zurich

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is larger, Hamburg or Zurich?
Hamburg is 8.6 times larger than Zurich by area. Hamburg covers 755 km² while Zurich spans 88 km², a difference of 667 km².
How many times does Zurich fit inside Hamburg?
Zurich (88 km²) fits inside Hamburg (755 km²) approximately 8 times. That means Hamburg is 8.6x the area of Zurich.
What is the population difference between Hamburg and Zurich?
Hamburg has approximately 1.9 million people, while Zurich has about 0.4 million. Hamburg has 1.5 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Hamburg or Zurich?
Zurich is more densely populated with 4,886 people per km², compared to 2,530 people per km².
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Hamburg and Zurich

The straight-line distance from Hamburg to Zurich is 694 km (431 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 19m.

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