Prater & Giant Ferris Wheel
Wurstelprater / Wiener Riesenrad
The 65-metre Giant Ferris Wheel from 1897 is Vienna's landmark and a film location for The Third Man. Beside it lies a century-old amusement park with free entry and 6 square kilometres of green parkland.
The Prater was once a Habsburg imperial hunting ground. Emperor Joseph II opened it to the public in 1766. Today it is a 6-square-kilometre green space in Vienna's 2nd district. Its 4.4-kilometre main avenue, the Hauptallee, is a favourite route for running, cycling and marathons.
In the northwest corner is the Wurstelprater amusement park, which has had side shows and puppet theatres since the 18th century. "Wurstel" is the clown character of the puppet plays. Today the park has more than 250 attractions. Entry is free, and you pay per ride, usually 2 to 10 euros. You'll find everything from vintage carousels and ghost trains to the 117-metre Praterturm swing tower and roller coasters. There are also traditional beer gardens and the Schweizerhaus restaurant, famous for its roast pork knuckle.
The park's signature landmark is the Riesenrad, the Giant Ferris Wheel. Built in 1897 to mark the 50th anniversary of Franz Joseph's accession, it stands 64.75 metres tall and was once the tallest Ferris wheel in the world. It was destroyed by fire during the Second World War and rebuilt in 1947. Its 15 red wooden cabins take about 15 minutes per revolution, with tickets around 14 euros. You can also book a private cabin with food and drink. From the top you can see the Danube, the city centre and the Vienna Woods. The wheel appeared in the 1949 film The Third Man and in the 1985 James Bond film A View to a Kill. There is a small exhibition at the entrance.
Nearby, the Prater Museum tells the history of the amusement park. Madame Tussauds wax museum and the Planetarium are also within the park.
Getting there: Exit at Praterstern station on the U1 or U2 metro line. The wheel's entrance is a 2-minute walk away.
On summer weekend evenings young people gather here and the atmosphere is lively. In winter most rides close and only the Ferris wheel and a few attractions stay open. A Christmas market is held during the festive season.
Opening hours
Ferris wheel approx. 10:00–21:45 (until 23:45 in summer); amusement park mid-March to October 10:00–24:00
Nearby sights
- Hundertwasserhaus
- Stadtpark
- Mozarthaus Vienna
- St. Stephen's Cathedral
- Hofburg Palace
- Haus der Musik
- Graben & Kohlmarkt
- Imperial Crypt (Kapuzinergruft)