Prater

The Prater is the oldest amusement park in the world and its 120-year-old Riesenrad (Giant Wheel) is one of the symbols of Vienna. The park was established in 1766, after Emperor Joseph II had made the former hunting ground open to the public. The first attraction was built no sooner than 1897 – the 64-metre tall Ferris wheel with old-fashioned cabins, which is nowadays still situated at the entrance to the park. Today, there are about 250 different attractions in the Prater. The oldest attractions include bumper cars, go-karts, the ghost train, the shop of laughter, etc. The Praterturm, a 117-metre tall chair-o-plane rotating at the speed of 60 km/h is a very popular attraction. Another popular attraction is the Wind-o-bona wind tunnel that simulates free-fall. One of the Prater’s highlights is the Madame Tussauds wax museum. Visitors can also rent a rickshaw or a bike and take a ride around the natural park surrounding the amusement park, a favourite place for picnics, sports and relaxation. The huge Jesuitenwiese playground is a popular place for families with children. In the Prater, there are public toilets, bowling clubs, cafés and restaurants. The Schweizerhaus (Swiss House) is a very famous restaurant dating back to 1776, which is inseparably linked with the Prater. They offer delicious beer and classic Viennese culinary specialties such as roasted pork knees, potato pancakes and the Stelzen bread. Unlike in the city centre, there are many P+R car parks around the Prater where visitors can park for about €3 a day. For more information, visit website www.parkeninwien.at.