Overview

Best known for its giant Ferris wheel and amusement park, the Prater, a long stretch of woods and meadows between the Danube and its tributaries, originally served as the imperial hunting grounds. The park was opened to the public in 1766, and its giant Ferris wheel at a height of 67 meters and weighing 430 tons, was erected in 1896. The construction was used as a watchtower during World War I and was badly damaged in World War II. The Ferris wheel was immortalized in Orson Welles' The Third Man. Nowadays, the funfair is full of high-tech rides ranging from bumper cars to ghost trains, although some of the quainter elements still remain. To escape the noisy part of the Prater, walk along the quiet Hauptallee through the rolling meadows until you reach Lusthaus, a restaurant serving authentic Austrian dishes.