Wupper river, which flows through the city from east to west and is a tributary of the Rhine. Wuppertal is characterised by its steep hills and narrow valleys, giving the city a distinctive topography.

Wuppertal spans an area of 168.41 square kilometers (65.02 sq mi), with elevations ranging from 100 meters (330 ft) above sea level in the river valleys to over 350 meters (1,150 ft) in the surrounding uplands. The highest point is the Lichtscheid