List of cities in Switzerland

Below is a list of towns and cities in Switzerland. Until 2014 municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants were considered to be towns (German: Stadt/Städte, French: ville(s), Italian: città). Since 2014, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) uses a new algorithm (called German: Statistische Städte 2012, or French: Villes statistiques 2012) to define whether a municipality can be called a town or not; it newly also depends on its character.[1] Currently, FSO considers 162 municipalities as towns (German: Statistische Städte, French: Villes statistiques) in Switzerland. Further, some municipalities, which would fulfill such a definition, nevertheless prefer to understand themselves still as a village, or consequently refer to themselves just as municipalities (German: Gemeinde, French: commune, Italian: comune).

See Municipalities of Switzerland for a table of the largest and smallest.[2]^:14–19

Population of towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants (2010)

Largest towns in Switzerland:

1. Zürich
2. Geneva
3. Basel
4. Lausanne
5. Bern
6. Winterthur
7. Lucerne
8. St. Gallen
9. Lugano
10. Biel/Bienne
11. Thun
12. Bellinzona
13. Köniz (statistically only the whole municipality, but not the village)
14. Fribourg
15. La Chaux-de-Fonds
16. Schaffhausen
17. Chur
18. Vernier
19. Uster
20. Sion

List of towns

This is an alphabetical list of towns, which follows FSO's definition (German: Statistische Städte 2012, French: Villes statistiques 2012), and places with historic town rights (h) and/or market towns (m).[2]^:14–19

• Places in bold print are towns because of FSO's definition and historic town/market rights.
• Places in italics are towns excluded by FSO's definition, but places with, either, historic town rights (h), or, which were places with historic market rights (m).
• Places in normal print are towns according to the FSO's definition.
• Places that had lost historic town rights previously are identified with "-h".
• Cantonal capitals (German: Hauptort, French: chef-lieu, Italian: capoluogo) are underlined.

• 
  Zürich
• 
  Geneva
• 
  Basel
• 
  Lausanne
• 
  Bern
• 
  Lucerne
• 
  Lugano
• 
  St Gallen

Town	Town (h) or market (m) right, founded & reference	District	Canton	Population		Agglomeration[3]
				Town proper(2019) [4]	total Agglo (2015)[5]
Aarau	h 1240-1250[6]	Aarau	AG	21,773	76,636	Aarau
Aarberg	h 1220-1225[7]	Aarberg	BE	4,632		-
Aarburg	h ~1330[8]	Zofingen	AG	8,376	98,535	Olten–Zofingen
Adliswil	-	Horgen	ZH	18,944	1,334,269	Zurich
Aesch (BL)[note 1]	-	Arlesheim	BL	10,440	541,011	Basel (CH)
Affoltern am Albis[note 2]	-	Affoltern	ZH	12,303	1,334,269	Zurich
Agno[note 2]	m Roman & Middle Age[9]	Lugano	TI	4,403	151,037	Lugano (CH)
Aigle	m 1231[10]	Aigle	VD	10,197		-
Allschwil[note 2]	-	Arlesheim	BL	21,248	541,011	Basel (CH)
Altdorf (UR)[note 2]	m n.d., c. Late Middle Age[11]	-	UR	9,537	31,734	Altdorf (UR)
Altstätten	m[12]	Rheintal	SG	11,877	56,777	Rheintal (CH)
Amriswil	-	Arbon	TG	13,816	25,271	Amriswil–Romanshorn
Appenzell[note 1]	m	Appenzell	AI	5,778		-
Arbon	h[13] first half 13th c.	Arbon	TG	14,796	53,689	Arbon–Rorschach
Arlesheim[note 2]	-	Arlesheim	BL	9,130	541,011	Basel (CH)
Arosa[note 2]	-	Plessur	GR	3,145		-
Arth[note 1]	-	Schwyz	SZ	12,154		-
Ascona	h	Locarno	TI	5,497	55,528	Locarno (CH)
Aubonne	h	Aubonne	VD	3,807	409,295	Lausanne
Avenches	h	Avenches	VD	4,295		-
Baar	-	-	ZG	24,617	127,095	Zug
Baden	h	Baden	AG	19,547	109,255	Baden–Brugg
Basel	h	-	BS	178,722	541,011	Basel (CH)
Bassersdorf	-	Bülach	ZH	11,824	1,334,269	Zurich
Bellinzona	h	Bellinzona	TI	43,279	52,061	Bellinzona
Belp	-	Bern-Mittelland	BE	11,572	410,894	Bern
Bern	h	Bern-Mittelland	BE	134,591	410,894	Bern
Beromünster	m	Sursee	LU	6,624		-
Biasca	m	Riviera	TI	6,092		-
Biel/Bienne	h	Biel/Bienne	BE	55,602	104,542	Biel/Bienne
Binningen	-	Arlesheim	BL	15,869	541,011	Basel (CH)
Birsfelden	-	Arlesheim	BL	10,510	541,011	Basel (CH)
Bischofszell	h	Bischofszell	TG	5,982		-
Boudry	h	Boudry	NE	6,237	89,441	Neuchâtel
Bourg-Saint-Pierre	h	Entremont	VS	200		-
Bremgarten (AG)	h	Bremgarten	AG	8,211	1,334,269	Zurich
Brig-Glis	m	Brig	VS	13,079	47,041	Brig–Visp
Brugg	h	Brugg	AG	11,229	109,255	Baden–Brugg
Buchs (SG)	-	Werdenberg	SG	12,861	27,467	Buchs (SG) (CH)
Bülach	h	Bülach	ZH	21,372	1,334,269	Zurich
Büren a.A.	h	Seeland	BE	3,584		-
Bulle	h	Gruyère	FR	23,871	31,703	Bulle
Burgdorf	h	Burgdorf	BE	16,587		-
Bussigny	-	Ouest Lausannois	VD	8,930	409,295	Lausanne
Carouge (GE)	-	-	GE	22,621	579,227	Genève (CH)
Cham	-	-	ZG	16,893	127,095	Zug
Châtel-Saint-Denis	h	Veveyse	FR	7,216	84,869	Vevey–Montreux
Chêne-Bougeries	-	-	GE	12,504	579,227	Genève (CH)
Chiasso	h	-	TI	7,759	51,668	Chiasso–Mendrisio (CH)
Chur	h	Plessur	GR	36,560	58,266	Chur
Conthey	h	Conthey	VS	8,837	84,138	Sion
Coppet	h	Nyon	VD	3,239	579,227	Genève (CH)
Cossonay	h	Cossonay	VD	4,044	409,295	Lausanne
Croglio	h	Lugano	TI	858	151,037	Lugano (CH)
Crissier	-	Ouest Lausannois	VD	7,965	409,295	Lausanne
Cudrefin	h	Avenches	VD	1,733		-
Cully	h	Lavaux	VD	1,700?	409,295	Lausanne
Davos*	-	Prättigau/Davos	GR	10,862		-
Delémont	h	Delémont	JU	12,566	29,527	Delémont (CH)
Diessenhofen	h	Diessenhofen	TG	4,042		-
Dietikon	-	Dietikon	ZH	27,746	1,334,269	Zurich
Dübendorf	-	Uster	ZH	29,303	1,334,269	Zurich
Ebikon	-	Lucerne	LU	13,849	226,091	Lucerne
Échallens	h	Échallens	VD	5,726	409,295	Lausanne
Ecublens (VD)	-	Ouest Lausannois	VD	13,079	409,295	Lausanne
Eglisau	h	Bülach	ZH	5,339	1,334,269	Zurich
Einsiedeln	-	Einsiedeln	SZ	16,106		-
Elgg	h	Winterthur	ZH	4,942		-
Emmen	-	Hochdorf	LU	31,043	226,091	Lucerne
Erlach	h	Erlach	BE	1,388		-
Estavayer-le-Lac	h	Broye	FR	6,208		-
Flawil	-	Wil	SG	10,425		-
Frauenfeld	h	Frauenfeld	TG	25,781	24,864	Frauenfeld
Freienbach	-	Höfe	SZ	16,506	1,334,269	Zurich
Fribourg	h	Sarine	FR	38,197	105,406	Fribourg
Geneva	h	-	GE	203,951	579,227	Genève (CH)
Gland	-	Nyon	VD	13,181	579,227	Genève (CH)
Glarus	m	-	GL	12,511	30,367	Glarus
Glarus Nord*	-	-	GL	18,626	30,367	Glarus
Gordola	h	Locarno	TI	4,666	55,528	Locarno (CH)
Gossau (SG)	-	St. Gallen	SG	18,108	165,860	St. Gallen
Grandcour	h	Payerne	VD	952		-
Grandson	h	Grandson	VD	3,341	41,079	Yverdon-les-Bains
Greifensee	h	Uster	ZH	5,385	1,334,269	Zurich
Grenchen	-	Lebern	SO	17,468	26,570	Grenchen
Grüningen	-	Hinwil	ZH	3,641	1,334,269	Zurich
Gruyères	-	Gruyère	FR	2,212		-
Herisau	-	-	AR	15,763	165,860	St. Gallen
Hermance	h	-	GE	1,047	579,227	Genève (CH)
Hinwil	-	Hinwil	ZH	11,277	1,334,269	Zurich
Horgen	-	Horgen	ZH	22,992	1,334,269	Zurich
Horw	-	Lucerne	LU	14,243	226,091	Lucerne
Huttwil	h	Trachselwald	BE	5,004		-
Ilanz	h	Surselva	GR	4,757		-
Illnau-Effretikon	-	Pfäffikon	ZH	16,298	1,334,269	Zurich
Interlaken	-	Interlaken-Oberhasli	BE	5,634	23,943	Interlaken
Ittigen	-	Bern-Mittelland	BE	11,306	410,894	Bern
Kaiserstuhl (AG)	h	Zurzach	AG	415	1,334,269	Zurich
Klingnau	h	Zurzach	AG	3,536		-
Kloten	h	Bülach	ZH	20,130	1,334,269	Zurich
Köniz[note 2]	-	Bern-Mittelland	BE	42,044	410,894	Bern
Kreuzlingen	-	Kreuzlingen	TG	22,188	23,713	Kreuzlingen (CH)
Kriens	-	Lucerne	LU	27,847	226,091	Lucerne
Küsnacht (ZH)	-	Meilen	ZH	14,564	1,334,269	Zurich
La Chaux-de-Fonds	h	La Chaux-de-Fonds	NE	37,494	53,002	La Chaux-de-Fonds–Le Locle (CH)
La Neuveville	h	La Neuveville	BE	3,756		-
La Sarraz	h	Cossonay	VD	2,646		-
La Tour-de-Peilz	h	Vevey	VD	11,884	84,869	Vevey–Montreux
La Tour-de-Trême	h	Gruyère	FR	23,871	31,703	Bulle
Lachen (SZ)	m	March	SZ	8,883	29,124	Lachen
Lancy	-	-	GE	33,377	579,227	Genève (CH)
Langenthal	m	Oberaargau	BE	16,066		-
Laufen (BL)	h	Laufen	BL	5,707	541,011	Basel (CH)
Laufenburg	h	Laufenburg	AG	3,680		-
Laupen	h	Bern-Mittelland	BE	3,168	410,894	Bern
Lausanne	h	Lausanne	VD	139,408	409,295	Lausanne
Le Grand-Saconnex	-	-	GE	12,275	579,227	Genève (CH)
Le Landeron	h	Neuchâtel	NE	4,607		-
Le Locle	-	Le Locle	NE	11,131	53,002	La Chaux-de-Fonds–Le Locle (CH)
Lenzburg	h	Lenzburg	AG	10,822	22,188	Lenzburg
Les Clées	-	Orbe	VD	185		-
Leuk	m	Leuk	VS	3,932		-
Lichtensteig	h	Toggenburg	SG	1,896		-
Liestal	h	Liestal	BL	14,500	541,011	Basel (CH)
Locarno	h	Locarno	TI	15,776	55,528	Locarno (CH)
Losone	h	Locarno	TI	6,695	55,528	Locarno (CH)
Lugano	h	Lugano	TI	62,615	151,037	Lugano (CH)
Lutry	h	Lavaux	VD	10,348	409,295	Lausanne
Lucerne	h	Lucerne	LU	82,257	226,091	Lucerne
Lyss	-	Seeland	BE	15,525		-
Männedorf	-	Meilen	ZH	11,359	1,334,269	Zurich
Maienfeld	h	Landquart	GR	3,006		-
Martigny	h	Martigny	VS	20,210	20,818	Martigny
Meilen	-	Meilen	ZH	14,335	1,334,269	Zurich
Mellingen	h	Baden	AG	5,772	109,255	Baden–Brugg
Mendrisio	-	Mendrisio	TI	14,870	51,668	Chiasso–Mendrisio (CH)
Meyrin	-	-	GE	25,745	579,227	Genève (CH)
Möhlin	-	Rheinfelden	AG	11,047	541,011	Basel (CH)
Monthey	-	Monthey	VS	17,894	32,442	Monthey
Montreux	-	Vevey	VD	25,984	84,869	Vevey–Montreux
Morcote	h	Lugano	TI	715		-
Morges	h	Morges	VD	15,844	409,295	Lausanne
Moudon	h	Moudon	VD	6,067		-
Moutier	m	Jura bernois	BE	7,385		-
Münchenbuchsee	-	Bern-Mittelland	BE	10,355	410,894	Bern
Münchenstein	-h	Arlesheim	BL	12,134	541,011	Basel (CH)
Münsingen	-	Bern-Mittelland	BE	12,935		-
Muri bei Bern	-	Bern	BE	13,023	410,894	Bern
Murten	h	See	FR	8,259		-
Muttenz	-	Arlesheim	BL	18,006	541,011	Basel (CH)
Neuchâtel	h	Neuchâtel	NE	44,588	89,441	Neuchâtel
Neuhausen am Rheinfall	-	-	SH	10,467	69,517	Schaffhausen (CH)
Neunkirch	h	-	SH	2,326		-
Nidau	h	Biel/Bienne	BE	6,872	104,542	Biel/Bienne
Nyon	h	Nyon	VD	21,452	579,227	Genève (CH)
Oberwil (BL)	-	Arlesheim	BL	11,200	541,011	Basel (CH)
Oftringen	-	Zofingen	AG	14,101	98,535	Olten–Zofingen
Olten	-	Olten	SO	18,399	98,535	Olten–Zofingen
Onex	-	-	GE	19,058	579,227	Genève (CH)
Opfikon	-	Bülach	ZH	21,014	1,334,269	Zurich
Orbe	h	Orbe	VD	7,018		-
Orsières	m	Entremont	VS	3,172		-
Ostermundigen	-	Bern	BE	17,772	410,894	Bern
Payerne	h	Payerne	VD	10,040		-
Peseux	-	Boudry	NE	5,794	89,441	Neuchâtel
Pfäffikon	-	Uster	ZH	12,164	1,334,269	Zurich
Plan-les-Ouates	-	-	GE	10,620	579,227	Genève (CH)
Porrentruy	h	Porrentruy	JU	6,563		-
Pratteln	-	Liestal	BL	16,716	541,011	Basel (CH)
Prilly	-	Lausanne	VD	12,413	409,295	Lausanne
Pully	-	Lausanne	VD	18,458	409,295	Lausanne
Rapperswil-Jona	h	See-Gaster	SG	27,277	46,343	Rapperswil-Jona–Rüti
Regensberg	h	Dielsdorf	ZH	469	1,334,269	Zurich
Regensdorf	-	Dielsdorf	ZH	18,540	1,334,269	Zurich
Reinach (BL)	-	Arlesheim	BL	19,219	541,011	Basel (CH)
Renens (VD)	-	Lausanne	VD	20,886	409,295	Lausanne
Rheinau	h	Andelfingen	ZH	1,316		-
Rheineck	h	Rheintal	SG	3,398	53,689	Arbon–Rorschach
Rheinfelden	h	Rheinfelden	AG	13,503	541,011	Basel (CH)
Richterswil	-	Horgen	ZH	13,632	1,334,269	Zurich
Riehen	-	-	BS	21,562	541,011	Basel (CH)
Risch	-	-	ZG	10,990	127,095	Zug
Riva San Vitale	h	Mendrisio	TI	2,654	51,668	Chiasso–Mendrisio (CH)
Rolle	h	Rolle	VD	6,249		-
Romainmôtier	h	Orbe	VD	533		-
Romanshorn	h	Arbon	TG	11,269	25,271	Amriswil–Romanshorn
Romont (FR)	h	Glane	FR	5,366		-
Rorschach	m	Rorschach	SG	9,438	53,689	Arbon–Rorschach
Rue	h	Glane	FR	1,524		-
Rüti (ZH)[note 2]	-	Hinwil	ZH	12,286	46,343	Rapperswil-Jona–Rüti
Saillon	h	Martigny	VS	2,687		-
Saint-Maurice	-	Saint-Maurice	VS	4,556		-
Saint-Prex	h	Morges	VD	5,766	409,295	Lausanne
Saint-Ursanne	h	Porrentruy	JU	700?		-
Sargans	h	Sarganserland	SG	6,200		-
Sarnen	m	-	OW	10,458		-
Schaffhausen	h	-	SH	36,604	69,517	Schaffhausen (CH)
Schlieren	-	Dietikon	ZH	18,791	1,334,269	Zurich
Schwyz	m	Schwyz	SZ	15,239		-
Sembrancher	-	Entremont	VS	1,031		-
Sempach	h	Sursee	LU	4,208		-
Sierre	-	Sierre	VS	16,842	26,132	Sierre
Sion	h	Sion	VS	34,710	84,138	Sion
Solothurn	h	Solothurn	SO	16,933	78,046	Solothurn
Spiez	-h	Niedersimmental	BE	12,870		-
Spreitenbach	-	Baden	AG	12,065	1,334,269	Zurich
Splügen	m	Hinterrhein	GR	377		-
St. Gallen	h	St. Gallen	SG	76,090	165,860	St. Gallen
St. Moritz	-	Maloja	GR	4,882		-
Stäfa	-	Meilen	ZH	14,718	1,334,269	Zurich
Stans	-	m	NW	8,254		-
Steckborn	h	Steckborn	TG	3,746		-
Steffisburg	-	Thun	BE	15,692		-
Steinhausen	-	-	ZG	10,129	127,095	Zug
Suhr	-	Aarau	AG	10,476	76,636	Aarau
Stein am Rhein	h	-	SH	3,505		-
Sursee	h	Sursee	LU	10,195		-
Thalwil	-	Horgen	ZH	18,139	1,334,269	Zurich
Thônex	-	-	GE	14,182	579,227	Genève (CH)
Thun	h	Thun	BE	43,632	80,264	Thun
Thusis	h	Hinterrhein	GR	9,409		-
Unterseen	h 1280[14]	Interlaken	BE	5,852	23,943	Interlaken
Urdorf	-	Dietikon	ZH	9,981	1,334,269	Zurich
Uster	-	Uster	ZH	35,007	1,334,269	Zurich
Uznach	h	See-Gaster	SG	6,489		-
Uzwil	-	Wil	SG	13,129	73,299	Wil (SG)
Val-de-Travers	-	Val-de-Travers	NE	10,667		-
Valangin	h	Val-de-Ruz	NE	507		-
Vernier	-	-	GE	34,958	579,227	Genève (CH)
Versoix	-	-	GE	13,411	579,227	Genève (CH)
Vevey	h	Vevey	VD	19,824	84,869	Vevey–Montreux
Veyrier	-	-	GE	11,887	579,227	Genève (CH)
Villeneuve	h	Aigle	VD	5,763	84,869	Vevey–Montreux
Villars-sur-Glâne	-	Sarine	FR	12,228	105,406	Fribourg
Visp	m	Visp	VS	7,978	47,041	Brig–Visp
Volketswil	-	Uster	ZH	18,640	1,334,269	Zurich
Wädenswil	-	Horgen	ZH	21,792	1,334,269	Zurich
Waldenburg	h	Waldenburg	BL	1,135		-
Walenstadt	h	Sarganserland	SG	5,705		-
Wallisellen	-	Bülach	ZH	16,841		-
Wangen an der Aare	h	Wangen	BE	2,321		-
Werdenberg	h	Werdenberg	SG	60	27,467	Buchs (SG) (CH)
Weinfelden	-	Weinfelden	TG	11,602		-
Wettingen	-	Baden	AG	20,934	109,255	Baden–Brugg
Wetzikon (ZH)	-	Hinwil	ZH	24,990	1,334,269	Zurich
Wiedlisbach	h	Wangen	BE	2,378		-
Wil (SG)	h	Wil	SG	24,159	73,299	Wil (SG)
Willisau	h	Willisau	LU	8,970		-
Winterthur	h	Winterthur	ZH	113,173	138,252	Winterthur
Wohlen (AG)	-	Bremgarten	AG	16,613	22,621	Wohlen (AG)
Yverdon-les-Bains	h	Yverdon	VD	30,156	41,079	Yverdon-les-Bains
Zermatt	-	Visp	VS	5,765		-
Zofingen	h	Zofingen	AG	11,861	98,535	Olten–Zofingen
Zollikofen	-	Bern-Mittelland	BE	10,471	410,894	Bern
Zollikon	-	Meilen	ZH	13,067	1,334,269	Zurich
Zug	h	-	ZG	30,618	127,095	Zug
Zürich	h	Zurich	ZH	420,217	1,334,269	Zurich
Bad Zurzach	m	Zurzach	AG	4,365		-

See also

• List of municipalities of Switzerland
• List of places in Switzerland
• List of postal codes of Switzerland

Notes and references

Notes

1. It considers itself still as a village.
2. It does not call itself a town.

References

1. "Statistische Städte" (PDF) (official site) (in German and French). Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Statistical Office. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
2. "Statistik der Schweizer Städte 2016" (PDF) (Official Statistical Yearbook) (in German and French). Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Schweizerischer Städteverband / Swiss Federal Statistical Office. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-11-19.
3. "Die Raumgliederungen der Schweiz 2016" (in German, French, Italian, and English). Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Statistical Office. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
4. "Ständige und nichtständige Wohnbevölkerung nach institutionellen Gliederungen, Geburtsort und Staatsangehörigkeit". bfs.admin.ch (in German). Swiss Federal Statistical Office - STAT-TAB. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
5. "Städtische Bevölkerung: Agglomerationen und isolierte Städte" (in German and French). Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Statistical Office. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
6. Alfred Lüthi: Aarau in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2016-09-12.
7. Anne-Marie Dubler: Aarberg (Gemeinde) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2013-11-28.
8. Andreas Steigmeier: Aarburg (Gemeinde) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2009-06-23.
9. Bernardino Croci Maspoli: Agno in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2009-06-30.
10. Jean-Jacques Bouquet: Aigle (Gemeinde) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2009-06-25.
11. Hans Stadler: Altdorf (UR) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2011-10-05.
12. Johannes Vogel: Altstätten (Gemeinde) in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2010-10-07.
13. Albin Hasenfratz, Hansjörg Brem, Kurt Buenzli: Arbon in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2010-10-20.
14. Anne-Marie Dubler: Unterseen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland, 2013-02-13.

External links