Sight guide · Vienna · Austria
Visiting Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
The Wurstelprater amusement park has free entry and rides paid individually, from vintage carousels to modern roller coasters.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel is a theme park in Leopoldstadt, Vienna. Allow 2–3 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Theme park
- Area
- Leopoldstadt
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- kids, couples, views and after dark
- Best months
- March–April and October
About Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
The Wurstelprater amusement park has free entry and rides paid individually, from vintage carousels to modern roller coasters. Its symbol is the Riesenrad, a giant Ferris wheel of 1897 with wooden cabins, made famous by the film The Third Man. Beyond it the Hauptallee, a chestnut-lined avenue of about 4.5 km, runs through green parkland.
Tip: Ride the Riesenrad just before sunset, then walk or cycle along the Hauptallee.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 2–3 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Leopoldstadt, the Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal.
Best time to visit Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- March: 10°C (50°F) highs, about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds.
- April: 16°C (61°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- October: 15°C (59°F) highs, about 6 rainy days, moderate crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-March the sun sets at about 18:00 local time (calculated for Vienna).
When to visit Vienna has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Vienna itinerary visits Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel on day 1, together with Schönbrunn Palace, Tiergarten Schönbrunn and Hofburg Imperial Apartments and Sisi Museum.
- No. 7 of the 20 sights in our Vienna things-to-do list.
- Day 1 of the 1-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 2-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 4-day plan.
- Day 1 of the 5-day plan.
- Day 2 of the 7-day plan.
- A family favourite in Vienna with kids.
If you like Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
- Schönbrunn Palace — Hietzing, Half a day
- Vienna State Opera — Innere Stadt, 1 hour tour; 3 hours for a performance
- Kahlenberg and the heurigen — Döbling, Half a day
Staying near Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel
Stay in Leopoldstadt ($$) to walk here: the Prater, Augarten park and a creative café scene across the Danube Canal. All areas to stay in Vienna.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel?
Plan 2–3 hours.
+Is Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel?
March–April and October, the quietest of the good months. Ride the Riesenrad just before sunset, then walk or cycle along the Hauptallee.
+Do I need to book Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Prater and the Giant Ferris Wheel good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Vienna. Vienna is one of Europe's easiest capitals with children: clean, calm public transport, the world's oldest zoo, the Prater amusement park, a dinosaur hall and a hands-on music museum.