Munich
311 km²
Zurich
88 km²
Germany
Switzerland
Area Comparison
Munich is 3.5x larger than Zurich
Population Comparison
Munich has 3.5x more people than Zurich
In terms of area, Munich is 3.5x the size of Zurich. Munich spans 311 km² (120 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 223 km². You could fit Zurich inside Munich approximately 3 times.
To put Munich's size in perspective, its area of 311 km² is about 1.4x the size of Amsterdam. Meanwhile, Zurich at 88 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Paris (city proper).
Munich's footprint is roughly about 44,000 American football fields, 150 times the area of Monaco, or 91 times the area of Central Park — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Zurich, by comparison, equals about 12,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Vatican City, or 44 times the area of Monaco.
Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is not a state of its own, and it ranks as the 11th-largest city in the European Union (EU). The metropolitan area has around 3 million inhabitants, and the broader Munich Metropolitan Region is home to about 6.2 million people.
Known as "Weltstadt mit Herz", Munich covers 311 km² with a population of 1.5 million. The city was established in 1158. Munich is known for Oktoberfest, Marienplatz, BMW headquarters, among other attractions.
Munich is the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg, with over 1.6 million residents.
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.
Munich has a population density of 4,855 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.
Size Ratio
Zurich fits inside Munich ~3 times
History
Zurich is ~1,173 years older
Munich covers 311 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Atlanta (348 km²), Taipei (272 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Seattle (369 km²), or Philadelphia (370 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 Munich to Zurich is 242 km (150 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~47m.
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