AUSTRIA – Vienna, the Vienna Prater Ferris Wheel // The Living Daylights (1987)
James Bond and Kara share their first kiss at car No. 10 of the famous ferris wheel at the Vienna Prater. You should take your loved one there too – but wait for the sunset!
Why Bond was here
James Bond (Timothy Dalton) is assigned to take out a young Soviet sniper – in fact the cellist Kara Milovy (Maryam d’Abo). Bond soon realizes, Kara is not a professional killer but a mere KGB tool – and a bigger conspiracy unfolds behind her back. Both escape from Bratislava to Vienna and fall in love. Bond takes Kara to the opera and on a horse ride through Vienna. And sure shows her the famous Prater amusement park. Atop the giant ferris wheel both share their first kiss.
Bond and Kara in front of the ferris wheel
How you gonna get there
The ferris wheel – Riesenrad in German – is a mere 5 minute walk from the Praterstern subway and train station that is just across the entrance to the Prater park. U1 and U2 subway lines embark here, as well as the city train lines S1, S2, S3, S4 and S7. Trams also connect Praterstern with the city.
The entry to the ferris wheel is just right after the amusement parks main entrance. It’s open almost all year, but operating hours depend on the season. Check out the official website for more info.
Good to know
The Riesenrad was constructed in 1897 in celebration of the golden jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I. At that time it was the tallest ferris wheel in the world. And it still is amazing.
A single ride is 10 Euros, but you can rent a cabin for yourself as well – like Bond and Kara – and even enjoy a dinner on bord. They had been at car No. 10.
A funfair ride at the Vienna Prater
The ferris wheel isn’t the only thing to see at the Vienna Prater. There are numerous funfair rides, ghost trains and bumper car rides. The old ghost train from the movie is still there – take your time to stroll around and look for some of the settings from the movie.
One thing you won’t find at the Vienna Prater though: the Prater Café from the movie. There is a café with the same name, but it doesn’t look like the one from the film. That is because the café where agent Saunders got killed by mercenary Necros was a studio set back in Pinewood – including the rigged sliding door.
We recommend to visit the Vienna Prater just before sunset. Then the main crowd leaves for dinner and you don’t have to wait too long in line. Also the view from the ferris wheel when the sun sets over Vienna is just stunning. And afterwards you can take a rollercoaster ride in the dark. Or even a ghost train, if you dare.
© 2015 Huntingbond (1,3), © 1987 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation (2)