Vienna's beloved amusement park and 6 million square meters of green space are just 2 km away. Ride the U2 from Schottenring to Praterstern in 5 minutes. From €45/night.
The Wiener Prater is not just an amusement park - it is one of the largest public parks in Europe, covering over 6 square kilometers between the Danube Canal and the Danube River. For centuries it served as the imperial hunting grounds of the Habsburgs. Emperor Joseph II opened it to the public in 1766, and it has been the recreational heart of Vienna ever since.
The Wurstelprater, the amusement park section at the park's northern end, is home to the Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel), built in 1897 by English engineer Walter Basset to celebrate Emperor Franz Joseph I's Golden Jubilee. Standing 64.75 meters tall, it is one of the oldest operating Ferris wheels in the world. Film buffs know it from the iconic scene in Carol Reed's 1949 film The Third Man, where Orson Welles delivers his famous "cuckoo clock" speech from one of its gondolas. A ride takes about 15 minutes and offers sweeping views over the Vienna skyline, the Danube, and on clear days, the foothills of the Alps.
Beyond the Ferris wheel, the Wurstelprater has over 250 attractions - roller coasters, bumper cars, ghost trains, and classic carnival rides. Entrance to the park grounds is free; you pay per ride, making it easy to spend as much or as little as you like. The Hauptallee, a 4.4 km straight chestnut-lined avenue, runs through the center of the green Prater and is a favorite with joggers, cyclists, and inline skaters. The Prater also contains the Ernst Happel Stadium (Austria's largest), the Prater Planetarium, and the Liliputbahn miniature railway.
Old Vienna Apartments sits in Leopoldstadt, the same district as the Prater. You are already in the 2nd district, which means the park is your neighborhood green space, not a tourist excursion requiring complicated transit planning. Morning runs on the Hauptallee, evening rides on the Riesenrad, or simply a lazy afternoon on one of the park's vast meadows - it's all just minutes from your door.
Families with children especially benefit from this proximity. After a full day at the Wurstelprater, exhausted kids don't need to endure a long metro ride back to a distant hotel. You can walk or take a quick U2 ride home, cook dinner in your fully equipped kitchen, and get everyone to bed without hassle. Our pet-friendly policy also means your dog can join you on Prater walks - the park's meadows and trails are hugely popular with Viennese dog owners.
The area between our apartment and the Prater is itself full of life. The Praterstern transport hub connects the U1 and U2 metro lines with multiple tram and bus routes, plus regional trains. The streets around Praterstern have undergone significant renewal, with new restaurants, cafes, and shops opening regularly along Praterstrasse, one of Vienna's grandest boulevards.
Walk 1 minute to Schottenring station. Take the U2 towards Seestadt and ride 2 stops to Praterstern. Exit the station and the Riesenrad is visible immediately - a 3-minute walk to the entrance of the Wurstelprater. Total journey time: about 8 minutes door to wheel.
For a scenic walk, head east along Taborstrasse or Praterstrasse. Praterstrasse is the more atmospheric route - it was once the grand boulevard used by the imperial court to travel to the Prater. You'll pass the Johann Strauss monument in Stadtpark, the Nestroyhof theater, and numerous cafes and shops. When you reach the Praterstern roundabout with its tall obelisk-style monument, the Prater entrance is straight ahead.
Vienna's WienMobil Rad (formerly Citybike) station is nearby. Cycling along the Danube Canal path and then cutting through to the Prater is one of the most enjoyable rides in the city - flat, car-free, and scenic. The ride takes about 10 minutes.
Schweizerhaus (Prater 116): A legendary Prater beer garden operating since 1920, famous for Budweiser Budvar on tap and enormous roasted pork knuckle (Stelze). Open March through October. An absolute must-visit on warm evenings.
Meierei im Stadtpark (Am Heumarkt 2A): Located between our apartment and the Prater in the Stadtpark, this restaurant specializes in Austrian cheese dishes and dairy-based cuisine. The terrace overlooks the Wien River.
Cafe Ansari (Praterstrasse 15): A popular all-day cafe on Praterstrasse serving Middle Eastern-influenced brunch and Austrian bistro food. The weekend brunch draws locals from across the city.
Skopik & Lohn (Leopoldsgasse 17): A stylish restaurant in Leopoldstadt known for its ceiling covered entirely in black ink drawings. Serves modern European cuisine with an excellent wine list. Just 10 minutes' walk from the apartment.
| Destination | Distance | Walking | Public Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riesenrad (Giant Ferris Wheel) | 2.0 km | 25 min | 8 min (U2 to Praterstern) |
| Praterstern Station (U1/U2) | 1.8 km | 22 min | 5 min (U2, 2 stops) |
| Schottenring Metro (U2/U4) | 100 m | 1 min | - |
| Hauptallee (Prater main avenue) | 2.2 km | 28 min | 10 min (U2 + walk) |
| Ernst Happel Stadium | 3.5 km | - | 12 min (U2 to Stadion) |
Fully equipped apartments from €45/night. In the same district as the Prater, with U2 metro access in 1 minute.
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