Berlin vs Zurich
Berlin leads Zurich by 1 points on the CIRA Index, 74 to 73. Berlin grades better on 7 measures, Zurich on 9; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Berlin 74, Zurich 73
- OECD: Berlin 74, Zurich 74
- UN Tourism: Berlin 78, Zurich 74
- UNDRR: Berlin 63, Zurich 72
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Berlin 71, Zurich 63
- Economy and jobs: Berlin 75, Zurich 100
- Climate and hazards: Berlin 65, Zurich 85
- Water and environment: Berlin 88, Zurich 75
- Community and housing: Berlin 81, Zurich 75
- Access and continuity: Berlin 71, Zurich 71
Where Berlin is stronger
- Nights in the three busiest months: 28.5 % of annual nights (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg, Tourismus in Berlin / Pressemitteilung Nr. 22, 2024). At or below 30: grade 4/4.
- Domestic share of nights: 58.2 % of nights by residents of the same country (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg / Berlin Business Location Center, 2024). At or above 45: grade 4/4.
- Largest foreign market: 10.7 % of international arrivals or nights (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg, Jan–Sep 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Average length of stay: 2.4 nights per visitor (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg / visitBerlin, 2025). Between 2.2 and 2.8: grade 2/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 231.6 kg per resident per year (Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg, Höchste Pro-Kopf-Abfallmenge in Cottbus / Abfallwirtschaft, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
- Short-let density: 0.3 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (Airbtics & Amt für Statistik Berlin-Brandenburg, 2025–2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated, tested plan that names visitors and tourism operators, with warnings in several languages (Berlin.de & Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK), 2024). Grade 4/4.
Where Zurich is stronger
- Recovery against 2019: 112.7 % of 2019 visitor nights reached in the latest full year (region figure) (Federal Statistical Office (FSO / BFS), Schweizer Tourismusstatistik / HESTA, 2024). At or above 110: grade 4/4.
- Jobs in tourism industries: 4.8 % of employment in accommodation and food services (country figure) (World Economic Forum, TTDI 2026 (data: Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research by World Travel & Tourism Council; Travel & Tourism by World Travel & Tourism Council), 2026). At or below 8: grade 4/4.
- Unemployment rate: 3.3 % of the labour force (Statistik Stadt Zürich, Arbeitslosigkeit, August 2026). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Flood hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- 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.
- Green space: 43 % of the urban area that is green or tree-covered (Urban Forestry & Urban Greening / City of Zurich Grün Stadt Zürich, 2021). At or above 40: grade 4/4.
- Rent growth: 2.2 % change in rents over the last 12 months (SMG Swiss Marketplace Group / ZKB, Homegate Rent Index, 2025). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- 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)
- Germany: #6 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Switzerland: #9 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
Berlin in full · Zurich in full
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