In a nutshell
- The Prater in Vienna is a massive park combining a classic amusement park with a huge nature reserve — totally free to enter.
- We’ll walk you through all the highlights: from the best rides to the most scenic spots in the Green Prater.
- The top must-do is a ride on the historic Giant Ferris Wheel from 1897 — pure nostalgia and a seriously beautiful view over Vienna.
What is the Prater?
The Prater is a huge nature and leisure park in Vienna. It features rides, a park railway, numerous playgrounds, and a nature park with plenty of greenery and lovely walking paths.
The term “Prater” is often used as a synonym for the well-known amusement park, which is actually only a small part of the entire park grounds.
In total, the Prater covers an area of 6 square kilometers — that’s almost twice the size of Central Park in New York! Pretty big, right.
The Vienna Prater on a Map
To give you an idea of how large the Prater is and what you’ll find where, we’ve put together a map with all the highlights.
What can you do at the Prater?
There’s a lot of fun to be had at the Prater.
There are around 250 different rides and attractions at the Prater, so boredom is never an issue. From bumper cars to shooting galleries, haunted houses to flight simulators — there’s truly something for everyone.
If roller coasters aren’t really your thing, you can also just stroll through the park, grab a bite to eat, or lounge on a meadow.
The most important things to see at the Prater are:
- Giant Ferris Wheel (get tickets)
- Rides
- Praterbahn (park railway)
- Madame Tussauds
- Green Prater with Prater Hauptallee
Key Info at a Glance: Hours, Prices, and Prater Tickets
To make sure you’re fully prepared for your visit, let’s go over a few important things upfront.
Prater Prices and Tickets: How Much Does Admission to the Vienna Prater Cost?
Admission to the Prater is free! That makes it one of the attractions in Vienna you can enjoy without spending a cent.
You will, of course, need to pay for the individual rides and attractions.
How much do the attractions at the Prater cost?
- Rides: 3 – 7 euros
- Praterbahn: 6 euros
- Giant Ferris Wheel: 14.50 euros
- Madame Tussauds: from 26 euros
For the Giant Ferris Wheel and Madame Tussauds, we recommend buying your ticket online in advance:
Skip-the-Line Ticket for the Giant Ferris Wheel
Prater Hours
The Prater itself is open 365 days a year, around the clock.
The rides in the amusement park are open from March 15 to October 31.
That said, some attractions run year-round — the Giant Ferris Wheel and Madame Tussauds both stay open in winter.
There are no uniform opening hours for the rides — it depends on the weather and is decided on the spot by individual operators.
You can find the exact hours for the Giant Ferris Wheel on their website.
Attractions at the Prater: Our Top 5 Prater Highlights
Main Attraction: Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel
What do you need to know? The Giant Ferris Wheel is the star of the Prater and one of Vienna’s most iconic landmarks. A ride on the historic wheel — dating back to 1897 — takes about five minutes and costs 14 euros.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! The Giant Ferris Wheel is a must on any city trip to Vienna. The views are lovely and the gondolas have a wonderfully nostalgic charm. Even without the adrenaline rush: we loved it!
Our tip: Buy your ticket online in advance to cut down on wait times. That said, even with an online ticket you won’t skip the line entirely — our wait with a pre-booked ticket was around 15 minutes.
Giant Ferris Wheel Skip-the-Line
Wurstelprater: the Amusement Park in the Prater
What do you need to know? The Wurstelprater, as the Prater amusement park is also known, is a fairground with around 250 rides. The name Wurstelprater, by the way, comes from a character in a puppet theater called “Hanswurst.” Long story, but that’s where the name comes from.
Is it worth it? Totally! We love nostalgic amusement parks right in the middle of a city — like Tivoli in Copenhagen or Gröna Lund in Stockholm — and we always enjoy coming back to the Wiener Prater.
Our tip: At the Prater Museum, you can learn more about the 250-year history of this famous amusement park. Admission costs 8 euros. Well worth it!
Liliput Railway: the Praterbahn
What do you need to know? The Liliput Railway is a narrow-gauge park railway that has been making loops through the Prater since 1928. The ride takes 20 minutes and you can board and alight at four stops. Tickets cost 6 euros and are available on-site at the stops.
Is it worth it? Oh yes! Who doesn’t love puttering around a park in open carriages? A fun experience even without kids.
Our tip: The Liliput Railway is one of the few railways in Europe that still operates with steam locomotives — though they’re only used occasionally, mostly on weekends. The Praterbahn mainly runs with diesel locomotives, which are practically vintage in their own right.
Madame Tussauds
What do you need to know? Madame Tussauds is the famous wax museum you may know from London, New York, or Berlin. At the Vienna location, Empress Sisi naturally plays a starring role.
Is it worth it? Honestly, it’s a matter of taste. We’re not big fans of Madame Tussauds. But if you’d love to snap a selfie with your favorite celebrity, this is the place.
Our tip: To avoid long lines, grab your ticket online in advance.
The Green Prater with the Prater Hauptallee
What do you need to know? The largest part of the Prater is a vast park with forests, meadows, and waterways — the Green Prater. Running right through the center is the 4.5-kilometer-long, perfectly straight Prater Hauptallee. It’s the main artery of the park — and completely car-free!
Is it worth it? We really love the Green Prater! On either side of the main avenue you’ll find lawns for lounging, playgrounds, an outdoor pool, and even a 13-kilometer loop trail. Perfect for a break from sightseeing.
Our tip: To explore the large park grounds, you can rent a bicycle rickshaw at the Hochschaubahn and leisurely pedal along the Prater Hauptallee. Super fun!
Prater with Kids
If you’re visiting Vienna with kids, you should definitely make time for the Prater.
You’ll find an activity for every age group that you can enjoy with the whole family.
Our top picks are the Giant Ferris Wheel, the roller coaster, the Praterbahn, and the many wonderful playgrounds in the Green Prater.
One more handy detail: there are restrooms all throughout the Prater.
Even more cool activities with kids in Vienna:
Restaurants in the Prater Park
A day at the amusement park is sure to work up an appetite! Lucky for you, you don’t have to leave the Prater to get a great meal.
We can personally vouch for a few restaurants in the Prater — all tested and approved.
Our restaurant picks in the Prater:
- Luftburg – Kolarik im Prater: Our favorite restaurant in the Prater! An organic spot serving delicious Viennese cuisine with plenty of space in the garden. Great for families: both indoor and outdoor playgrounds on-site.
- Schweizerhaus: A rustic beer garden with pork knuckle, Frittatensuppe, and more on the menu. A true institution in the Prater!
- Lusthaus: An elegant restaurant from the imperial era serving traditional Viennese cuisine, located in the southern part of the Prater, 4 kilometers from the Giant Ferris Wheel.
- Rollercoaster Restaurant: A great pick for families! Food arrives at your table via a roller coaster track, and orders are placed on tablets. Not a culinary highlight, but the experience is the whole point.
Staying in the Vienna Prater: Hotels near the Prater
Wondering whether you can stay overnight near the Prater? Absolutely, and it’s a great option!
On the northern edge of the Prater near the Messe-Prater subway station, there are several nice, newer hotels with views of the Giant Ferris Wheel, roller coasters, and more.
Hotels near the Prater tend to be a bit more affordable than those in the old town in the 1st district. And while many of Vienna’s top sights aren’t within walking distance from the Prater, the subway keeps you perfectly connected to the city center.
Our hotel picks for staying near the Prater:
Superbude Wien Prater: Our personal top pick near the Prater! Unique and quirky design — every room has its own theme.
Motel One Wien-Prater: A reliable classic with stylish design and great value for money.
Zoku Vienna: A super sleek apartment hotel with modern design and a cool rooftop terrace.
Not the right hotel in the mix? Then check out our detailed Vienna hotel tips:
Our Experience: Is the Prater Worth Visiting?
Yes, for us the Prater absolutely belongs on the list of Vienna’s top attractions. No matter whether we’re traveling to Vienna with or without kids.
Whenever we spend a long weekend in Vienna, we always make a point of heading to the Prater — it never gets old and there’s always something to do.
You can easily spend the whole day there.
Everything we’ve done at the Prater:
- Giant Ferris Wheel
- Amusement park
- Liliput Railway
- Green Prater
- Playgrounds (Our tip: Affenspielplatz)
- Restaurants (Our tip: Kolarik)
- Rickshaw ride
The absolute must-dos at the Prater for us are the Giant Ferris Wheel, the Praterbahn, and a ride on a roller coaster in the Wurstelprater.
If you have more time, we’d also highly recommend a stroll along the Prater Hauptallee.
With kids, we especially loved exploring the park by bicycle rickshaw.
You’ll find the rickshaw rental at the Hochschaubahn, which is also our favorite roller coaster in the Prater.
The Hochschaubahn is a bumpy, historic roller coaster that’s a lot of fun and suitable for younger kids too. Even if our kid had had enough after one round, hehe.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Prater in Vienna
What's included in the Prater in Vienna?
The Prater is a 6-square-kilometer nature and leisure park.
It includes not only the amusement park with the Giant Ferris Wheel, but also the Green Prater — a large park area with plenty of greenery and recreational options.
How much does admission to the Vienna Prater cost?
Admission to the Prater in Vienna is free.
For the attractions and rides in the amusement park, you purchase individual tickets on-site.
A ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel, for example, costs 14 euros. You can grab tickets in advance here online.
What does a ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Prater cost?
A single ride on the Giant Ferris Wheel costs 14 euros for adults and 6.50 euros for children.
Children under three ride free and don’t need a ticket.
To skip the wait, buy your ticket online in advance: Ticket for the Vienna Giant Ferris Wheel.
For which attractions at the Prater should you buy tickets in advance?
Some attractions at the Prater — like the Giant Ferris Wheel — get crowded, and you should expect lines if you show up without a ticket.
For these spots at the Vienna Prater, we recommend booking online in advance:
- Wiener Riesenrad (get tickets)
- Madame Tussauds (get tickets)
For the rides in the amusement park and the Praterbahn, you can simply buy your ticket on-site.
How many attractions are there in the Prater?
There are a total of around 250 different attractions in the amusement park — from roller coasters to wild mouse rides.
The Prater has something for kids of all ages: from carousels for the little ones to proper roller coasters for older kids.
You can also enjoy plenty of sports at the Prater: soccer, tennis, golf, parkour, swimming, bowling, skating, and in winter sledding, ice skating, or cross-country skiing.
Is the Prater open year-round?
Yes, the entire Prater grounds are open all year round, 24 hours a day.
The rides and attractions in the amusement park are open from mid-March through the end of October.
The Giant Ferris Wheel and Madame Tussauds are open 365 days a year.
During the winter season, some attractions also open up when the weather is nice — but you can’t count on it, so it’s a bit of a lucky dip.
During the Christmas season, the Prater hosts a winter market with mulled punch, roasted almonds, and other festive treats.
What are the opening hours of the Vienna Prater?
The Prater has no uniform opening hours.
The attractions, restaurants, and rides each set their own hours.
The Ferris wheel’s hours vary depending on the month. Your best bet is to check the current schedule on the Ferris wheel’s website.
How do you get to the Prater in Vienna?
Getting to the Prater by public transportation is a breeze.
To reach the main entrance, your best option is to take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn (e.g., U1 & U2) to Praterstern Station.
Alternatively, you can also take the Hop-on/Hop-off Bus in Vienna to the Prater. The sightseeing buses stop at Praterstern, right at the main entrance.
The hotels near the Prater are best reached via the U2 at Messe-Prater Station.
You can also reach the Green Prater easily by tram. Tram line 1 terminates at the Prater Hauptallee stop.
From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk along the Prater Hauptallee to the Giant Ferris Wheel. It’s a lovely stroll — we highly recommend it.
We’d advise against arriving by car. There are some parking lots on-site, but they all charge a fee. Public transit is far more relaxing.
Are there parking lots at the Prater?
Yes, there are some paid parking lots at the Prater.
Here’s where you can park at the Prater:
- Garage Prater Ausstellungsstraße: five minutes on foot from the Giant Ferris Wheel.
- Garage Prater Waldsteingartenstraße: right in the middle of the Prater, near the Kolarik restaurant.
What can you do with kids at the Prater in Vienna?
The Prater is seriously one of the best places in Vienna for a family day out.
There are activities for every age group: the little ones will love the many playgrounds, while older kids will enjoy the rides at the amusement park.
The Giant Ferris Wheel is, in our opinion, a great option for kids of all ages.
For toddlers, a ride on the Liliput Railway — which loops through the Prater — is a real treat.
Can you save money at the Prater with a Vienna City Pass?
Yes! There are several attractions in the Prater where a city pass gets you in for free or at a discount.
The Vienna Pass and Vienna Flexi Pass both include Prater highlights such as the Giant Ferris Wheel, Madame Tussauds, and the Liliput Railway.
Read our detailed Vienna pass comparison to find out which option works best for your trip.
What was the Prater historically?
The Prater was once an imperial hunting ground, accessible only to the nobility.
In the 18th century, Emperor Josef opened the area to the public as a recreational space for all Viennese residents.
