The Prater

The Prater is one of Europe's most popular fun fair. You can enjoy a magnificent view over Vienna from the giant Ferris wheel or do some sports and relax in an spacious area of parks, forest and fields.

The Prater is situated near Vienna city center and is ideal for walking, having fun, cycling, jogging or just lying on the grass. Furthermore you can find major sports and recreational facilities such as the Krieau harness racing track, the Prater Football Stadium, the Stadionbad, (a public swimming pool), the Freudenau flat racing track and the Pleasure Pavillion (Lusthaus) in the Vienna Prater.

Two further attractions of the Prater are the Vienna Wurschtlprater, a fun fair with the Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad), where you can enjoy a terrific view over Vienna from 60 meters altitude and the Lilliputian Railroad (Liliputbahn), a 2.6 mile amusement park line on a auge of old steam locomotives, providing transportation to the Trade Fair grounds and to the Prater Stadium of Vienna.

The Giant Ferris Wheel (Riesenrad) was built in 1897 for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the reign of Empereror Franz Joseph I. The Giant Ferris Wheel has 15 cabins and the upholding structure weigh a total of 430 tons and rotate at the speed of 0,65 m/sec. In 1944, at the peak of the World War II, the Giant Ferris Wheel burnt down but was rebuilt in 1945 - at the same time as St. Stephen's cathedral. The Viennese Riesenrad is the only giant ferris wheel of its time which is still in use today.