Fun and games at the Wienerriesenrad and the Prater Park, Vienna

Biking Vienna

The Ferris wheel at Prater park

Vienna’s famous Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) is a landmark in this city. It is 64.75 meters (212 feet) tall and was built back in 1897, to celebrate the golden jubilee of Emperor Franz Josef. It was one of the first ferris wheels every built.

It was the world’s tallest ferris wheel from 1920 until 1985. The original Ferris wheel, constructed in Chicago, US was taller before it was demolished.

Riesenrad, Vienna, AustriaMovie buffs will remember the Riesenrad from a scene in the 1949 film The Third Man, which was recently restored.

I’ve been many times, but enjoyed going back on a  recent trip to Vienna with my children – who wanted to go on the Riesenrad and to enjoy the rest of the Prater park where it is located.

Riesenrad, Vienna, AustriaI’ve already written in an earlier post about the fantastic time we had biking around Vienna, where we also biked through the Prater Park’s Grande Promenade, and admired views of the famous ferris wheel during the day time.

We then went back to enjoy a ride at night time, when I like to get a view over the city all illuminated. We had a great time seeing the city all lit up from up on high as we made our slow trip around.

Riesenrad, Vienna, AustriaMy sons were amused by the romantic dinner taking place in the cabin just beside ours – they kept adding courses when the cabin would get down to the ground.

The idea is nice, but I’m not sure how romantic the dinner can really be with two kids staring into your cabin the whole time to see what you’re eating. : )

Riesenrad, Vienna, AustriaOnce we wrapped up on the Riesenrad, my boys wanted to try their hand on some of the other rides, so we were able to explore the whole amusement park before the rides began to close.

All in all, it was a fun way to spend a few hours in Vienna, and you can reach the Prater park very conveniently by bicycle or metro from the center of the city.

So, on your next visit to beautiful Vienna, be sure to take a ride on the historic Wienerriesenrad, and enjoy the views.

3 Comments

  1. ledrakenoir on November 3, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    Not strange the boys want to see that they are eating in the cabins
    – romantic or not so boys are boys… 😀

    You are right, views from ferris wheels like this are perfect for exploring the cities and all the illuminated night atmosphere… 🙂

    • kimberlysullivan on November 5, 2015 at 7:27 pm

      You’re right, of course, but I don’t know if the romantic dinner was made a little less so by the gawkers in the next cabin. : ) And yes, I love seeing the cityscape at night from up in a ferris wheel!

  2. Queuing up for the London Eye | kimberlysullivan on January 19, 2016 at 7:07 am

    […] For another iconic European ferris wheel, see my earlier post on Vienna’s Riesenrad. […]

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