Wiener Riesenrad Amusement Park

Address: Wiener Riesenrad, Prater, Riesenradplatz 1/2, 1020 Vienna, Austria

Website: https://www.wienerriesenrad.com/

Hours: Seasonal opening hours - check official site

Admission: Admission charged (see official site)

The Wiener Riesenrad is a historic Ferris wheel located in the Prater amusement area of Vienna, Austria, first erected in 1897. It is an early and still-operating example of large observation wheels in Europe.

A ride in one of the wheel’s cabins gives panoramic views across Vienna toward the Danube and the city centre; the wheel’s cabins are enclosed and operate year-round subject to opening hours. The structure is a familiar city landmark and a common photographic subject for visitors to the Prater.

The wheel was damaged during the Second World War and reconstructed and returned to operation in the postwar period. Today it remains a single, stand-alone attraction at the edge of the Prater park, adjacent to the Praterstern transport hub.

Located within Vienna’s Prater leisure area, the Riesenrad sits close to central transit connections and is easily reached from the city centre by public transport.

• Height and age: Stands about 65 metres tall and dates from 1897, making it one of the oldest surviving large Ferris wheels in the world.
• Views: Situated inside the Prater amusement area, it provides uninterrupted views over central Vienna and the Danube when weather is clear.

The Wiener Riesenrad is in Vienna’s Prater amusement area. Take the U1 metro to Praterstern station (also a major S‑Bahn and regional rail hub) and it’s about a 5-10 minute walk into the Prater to the Ferris wheel. From central Stephansplatz the U1 ride is short; pedestrian and tram routes through the Prater also lead to the Riesenrad.

• Time your ride for dusk - a rotation that reaches the skyline as lights come on gives the best views of Vienna and avoids the largest daytime queues.
• Use public transport: take the U1 or S-Bahn to Praterstern and approach on foot along the main Prater promenade to reach the ticket booth quickly; this is faster than trying to park nearby during busy hours.
• If you prefer fewer people in your cabin, ride early on weekday mornings or late evenings outside peak tourist season rather than at midday or weekend evenings.