Looking For an Adrenaline Rush in Vienna? Visit Prater Park

Vienna is more than coffee and pretty architecture. Get your adrenaline fix in the Prater park.

Vienna is the capital of Austria and by far the largest city with its 1.7 million inhabitants. It's one of the cities in the world with the highest quality of living. The beauty that surrounds Vienna is immense, in 2001 the old city centre was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition the the city centre, Vienna has a lot to offer its visitors, the coffee house culture, the art nouveau architecture and the Hofburg castle. But, the most interesting part of the city in my opinion is the Parter park and the amusement park with the ferris wheel. It's central Europe's version of Coney Island.

Prater has two parts, a very large park and a year-round fair. While the park is pretty nice, especially along the central alley of chestnut trees, the more exciting part is the fair. It canýt offer the thrills of a giant amusement park by far, but it has a turn of the century feeling and lots of charme. Itýsý Viennaýs Coney Island, much revered by the local population. Definitely have an up close look at the ferris wheel. While 8 Euros will set you back quite a bit, a ride offers nice views and is an experience for itself, since the wheel is already quite old.

If youýre more of a thrill seeker, donýt miss out on some of the rides. The mix is great, there are some antique ones like the mirror cabinet and some modern attractions, that certainly will get your adrenaline pumping. Donýt miss out on the haunted houses- they are absolutely comical, but probably not intended that way with their rattling cars, Halloween masks jumping at you, plastic intestines falling out of a mannequinýs abdomen and cheap laser show consisting of a couple of green beams aimed at you. Itýsý highly entertaining to ride on one of those.

During the summer months, from March until October, you can also participate in a Prater adventure tour (register with +43 (0)1 893 88 03).
Of course, Prater isnýt all about adrenaline rushes, there are also numerous stands selling cotton candy, some eateries offering typical Austrian food (even though the fair isnýt really the best place to try it), and lots of souvenirs. If you really wanted to learn more about it, thereýs also a museum about the park.

In case youýre planning on making the trip to the park later in the evening (the wheel operates until midnight during some summer months), head over to Praterdome, the biggest discotheque in Austria, and prepare to party on 4 different levels (open only on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and the day before a public holiday).

Why you should go? The Prater park is one of the top attractions in Vienna, the fair and ferris wheel are great fun and the wheel offers good views of Vienna. Donýt miss out on the unique atmosphere there.

How to get there? Takeý U1 and get off at Praterstern; several buses go there, as well as, and almost all of the regional trains (S-Bahn), since itýs a central station. Just follow the exit signs for Prater from there.

Ken Sand know what a tight budget is. At his Vienna travel guide, DirtCheapVienna.com you get tips on where to sleep cheap, eat for less and which attractions that are free. In addition to tips on how to meet local girls and photos and info about Vienna's Prater park.