PRATER, Tour
Language: English / USA
Of the various buildings you may encounter in the huge Prater, the most popular are in the northern part, near the Praterstern roundabout, where two subway lines converge.
Here, in the shadow of the famous Ferris wheel, you will find not only the old Planetarium that belonged to the Zeiss family, but also the Pratermuseum, an exhibition center focused on the history of the fairground, created in the late 19th century. However, if you’re not a fan of enclosed spaces, don't worry: just a short walk away is the famous Viennese Toyland, to which the Madame Tussauds wax museum was added in 2011.
The rides and stalls of all kinds, along with the typical hot-dogs accompanied by beer, will be enough to keep you entertained until late, perhaps until dawn, should you decide to head to the nearby PraterDome, the largest disco in Austria, where you can have fun on four different dance floors.
Walking along the main avenue of the park, when you reach the intersection with Meiereistraße, you can catch a glimpse in the distance of the outline of the famous Ernst Happel National Stadium, the largest in the country, where Spain defeated Germany in the final of the 2008 European Championship.
If you also feel like visiting the southern end of the park, don't miss Charles VI's original hunting lodge, the Lusthaus, rebuilt in 1782 as an octagonal-shaped pavilion and now used as a restaurant. Within its walls steeped in history, where succulent "imperial" banquets were once served, you can indulge in a romantic dinner, imagining you are a modern-day kaiser.
An interesting fact: If you fancy being spun like a load of washing, check out the new addition to the classic attractions of the Prater: a new, almost 120-meter-high spinning wheel with seats called the Praterturm. If you’re up for it, be aware that your body will be put to the test for two minutes at more than 60 kilometers per hour, at a height of almost 100 meters. So I recommend you take your seat with an empty stomach, and don’t forget to leave your belongings on the ground.
