Vienna Prater Amusement Park Guide 2026: Rides & Tickets

Vienna Prater Amusement Park: The Giant Ferris Wheel

Location and How to Get There

Amusement Ride Ticket Prices: A Complete Guide

Text/Photos ©Sunny

Hello, I'm Traveler Sunny!

Today, I'm excited to introduce you to the

Prater Amusement Park, located in Vienna, Austria.

Vienna Prater: What Kind of Place Is It?

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Vienna Prater: Location and How to Get There

The Prater is located in Leopoldstadt (District 2),

just a short distance from the Old Town.

If you take the subway and get off at Praterstern station,

it's right in front of you, making public transport super convenient!

Beyond the subway, Praterstern station also has

bus and tram stops, so it's a breeze to

get there from any major tourist spot.

I used my Vienna 24-hour pass to visit the Prater by subway.

The station itself was quite large, almost like a terminal, but finding my way was easy thanks to signs with a giant Ferris wheel icon and the fact that most people were heading in the direction of the amusement park.

As soon as I exited the station, the Giant Ferris Wheel was immediately visible, so I just followed the crowd in that direction. Even on a weekday afternoon, it was surprisingly bustling!

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Vienna Prater: Detailed Information

1. The Prater Giant Ferris Wheel: A Filming Location from "Before Sunrise"

First up, I **visited the Prater's iconic Giant Ferris Wheel**.

Built in 1897, it boasts a history of over 120 years,

and stands as **one of the oldest operating Ferris wheels in the world**,

a facility that's still **in operation to this day**.

It became even more famous as a filming location for the movie 'Before Sunrise',

but I actually haven't seen 'Before Sunrise'.

Instead, I went after **seeing it in 'Poonghyanggo 2'**.

Unlike the typical Ferris wheels we're familiar with,

its appearance, **like a small train, was quite striking**.

Most of the tourists visiting Prater

were gathered near the Giant Ferris Wheel, snapping memorable photos.

I did consider riding the Giant Ferris Wheel myself, but

I'm not particularly **fond of Ferris wheels**, and

the price felt **more expensive than I'd anticipated**.

Personally, I was content just viewing the

Ferris wheel from the outside,

but if you're keen to **experience it by riding it yourself**,

I recommend **purchasing your admission ticket in advance at the platform**.

Despite the higher price, there were still many people lining up to ride,

and if you purchase your admission tickets online,

you can enter with a QR code without any waiting.

However, since you need to purchase tickets for a specific date,

I recommend **purchasing and using it on the day of your visit**.

▶ Buy Prater Giant Ferris Wheel Admission Ticket ◀

2. Vienna Riesenrad Souvenir Shop

There's a **building entrance right below the Giant Ferris Wheel**,

and **next to the ticket counter is a souvenir shop**,

so I could freely browse inside.

The **souvenir shop was truly massive, with a huge variety of items**,

allowing me to catch up on any shopping I might have missed in the Old Town.

The items sold here are **mostly similar to what you'd find in the Old Town**,

and the **prices are pretty much the same**,

so you can comfortably make your purchases wherever is most convenient for you.

There were so many souvenirs related to the Prater Giant Ferris Wheel,

it was an absolute joy choosing magnets!

Beyond magnets, they also had a Vienna shopping essential:

they were **also selling Mozart chocolates**.

It seemed like **Mozart chocolates were a bit cheaper**

**in the Old Town area**.

Personally, I thought the **snow globe shaped like the Prater Ferris Wheel**

was the prettiest.

I seriously debated whether to buy a small one,

but since Vienna was the starting point of my trip,

I reluctantly gave it up, worrying it might become a burden later.

There were also **music boxes in various designs.**

As a city of art, it was wonderful to see classic masterpieces captured in music boxes,

making them perfect souvenirs to commemorate the trip.

Next to the souvenir shop, there was also a cafe,

so it seemed like a perfect spot to relax and enjoy the Ferris Wheel views

on a nice day.

3. Prater Vienna: Ride Types and Fares

It turns out the Prater isn't just about the Ferris Wheel;

it's bursting with **all kinds of thrilling rides!**

It seemed like various companies operate their own rides here.

This might be why there are many similar attractions,

and **even with a crowd, there were no queues for the rides.**

From **charming little rides for the kids**

to massive roller coasters and immersive VR experiences,

there were so many **attractions that adults could enjoy too.**

The park is truly vast, with an incredible number of rides,

so exploring everything would definitely take quite some time.

It seemed like individual ride tickets were **around 6-7 Euros each,**

and there wasn't an all-you-can-ride pass available.

The **bumper cars** near the Ferris Wheel

even appeared in 'Poonghyang High 2',

and seeing it in person felt oddly nostalgic and welcoming.

There was even a spooky horror ride,

decked out creepily right from the entrance. Overall, the rides seemed pretty uncrowded.

While I'm not usually one for rides,

I thought, "I've come all this way, I should try at least one!"

I wandered around, checking out all the options, but **there were so many it was genuinely hard to choose.**

What's more, the rain, which had been light, got heavier,

so in the end, we couldn't ride anything and had to head back.

There were some indoor rides we could have gone on,

but we skipped them, thinking they might be a bit childish.

Looking back, even if they were a bit childish,

I regret not trying at least one of them.

Except for the winter season,

some rides operate 24 hours,

so it would be great to enjoy the evening there

while you're visiting to see the night view from the Ferris wheel.

There are also plenty of extreme rides,

and they all cost the same, around 6-7 euros each,

making it easy to just try one or two without much thought.

With snack stalls brimming with amusement park vibes,

and plenty of carnival games where you can win dolls,

I recommend exploring them together after your Ferris wheel ride.

Traveler Sunny's Real Travel Review Chart

Recommended for:

• ​Those who want to see the filming location of "Before Sunrise" and the historic Ferris wheel for themselves.

• Those who want to enjoy a unique amusement park experience in Vienna.

Not Recommended for:

• ​Those who prioritize visiting Vienna's historical and cultural attractions.

• Those visiting on a very rainy day.

One-Line Summary

• A large-scale amusement park where you can enjoy Vienna's historic Ferris wheel and a variety of rides; highly recommended if you're looking for something to visit beyond museums and art galleries.

▶ Purchase Prater Ferris Wheel Tickets ◀