Travelling Around Austria With a Local: #027 A surreal day at the Prater

The Riesenrad is still one of the two landmarks of Vienna. Picture by @theodora.austria

Black Mambas, a Giant Ferris Wheel, and Rip-Offs

Hi, Servus - and welcome to my blog Travelling Around Austria with a Local!

I'm Theodora from Austria. Together with friends from abroad, I'm exploring my home country - and I talk about its beauty and its curiosities. The twenty-seventh episode takes you, me, and the Belarusian kid, who is currently visiting, to Vienna's amusement park (Wurstel-)Prater, where there's not only the Giant Ferris Wheel but also a micronation called Kugelmugel.

Colourful diversity

I love going for walks in the Prater. Why? Because it's more than just an amusement park - in fact, the amusement park is just a small part of a large green area in the middle of the city. (By the way - just to avoid confusion: Prater is the whole thing, and Wurstelprater is just the amusement park.) The Wurstelprater is a wonderful place to take pictures because it's old and new at the same time. People have been having fun there since 1766 - but of course the rides have changed considerably. Here are a few lovely images before I start with the downsides:

The Giant Ferris Wheel, built in 1897, was the world's tallest extant Ferris Wheel for 65 years (thanks, Japan for changing that in 1985). Picture by @theodora.austria

Lights of the Wurstelprater at night-time. Picture by @theodora.austria

There are also dinosaurs to be found at the Wurstelprater. Picture by @theodora.austria

So what are the main attractions?

• Wanna take a picture with Eurovision Song Contest winner Conchita Wurst? Or meet Hundertwasser? Lay down on Sigmund Freud's couch to talk a little? Sit down at a coffee table with George Clooney? Madame Tussaud's is located right at the entrance to the Wurstelprater.
• The Wiener Riesenrad, which was the biggest extant Ferris Wheel for 65 years. And it's still pretty impressive to this day. A big plus: You'll see the whole city from up there. You can also have a candlelit dinner or coffee and cake in there.
• Reaching for the stars? Pay Vienna's Planetarium a visit. It's located near the Giant Ferris Wheel.
• Feel like going abroad? Visit the micronation Kugelmugel, which is located in the Prater as well. If you speak German, you'll find out more about the history of the republic Kugelmugel right here.

Tips from a local

• Rip-off-alert No. 1: Shooting small porcelain husks with a rifle can cost you 1 € per shot - 10 hits are necessary to win a medium-sized stuffed animal. Go figure how much such an animal can cost you ;-)
• Rip-off-alert No. 2: A roller coaster ride can easily cost 8.50 € - make sure it's worth it. The one the boys took was sort of lame. If you really want good value/adrenaline-for-money, we recommend you to take the Black Mamba. One ride is currently 5 € and it's crazy as hell. The boys loved it!
• At the main entrance near the Giant Ferris Wheel, there's a typical Viennese sausage stand owned by the same person who owns the sausage stand next to the opera house, where Opera Ball attendees have their last meal for the night. Help Sigi (the guy behind the counter) fulfill his dream of going to Papua New Guinea in 2041 by leaving a tip on his paper plate that reads "Urlaub 2041" because life goals matter. Also because he makes some kick-ass hot dogs and Bosnas (like a hot dog - only better because it is made with bratwurst, onions and curry powder). Great stuff.