Zurich vs Vienna - City Size Comparison

Is Zurich Bigger Than Vienna?

Yes — Vienna is 4.7x larger than Zurich by area. Vienna spans 415 km² (160 mi²) while Zurich covers 88 km² (34 mi²) — a difference of 327 km². You could fit Zurich inside Vienna approximately 4 times.

About Zurich

Switzerland's largest city and a global finance center. Known as "The Little Big City", Zurich covers 88 km² with a population of 0.4 million. The city was founded around 15 BC. Zurich is known for Banking and finance, Lake Zurich, Bahnhofstrasse shopping, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the ZVV (S-Bahn & Tram).

Zurich is consistently ranked among the most expensive cities in the world

About Vienna

Austria's capital and a center of classical music. Often called "City of Music", Vienna has an area of 415 km² and is home to 2.0 million people. It was founded around 500 BC. Visitors come for Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna State Opera, Sachertorte, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Wiener Linien (U-Bahn).

Vienna has been ranked the world's most liveable city multiple times by the Economist Intelligence Unit

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Vienna metropolitan area covers 3,840 km², which is 2.9x larger than greater Zurich at 1,334 km². The Vienna metro area is also more populous, with 2.8 million people compared to 1.4 million.

Population Density

Zurich has a population density of 4,886 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Vienna, with 4,771 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Zurich is slightly more compact.

Climate & Time Zone

Both cities share a oceanic climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.