Observation wheels allow the exploration of cities and their surroundings from heights ranging from 25 to 250 meters. These steel structures rotate slowly, giving visitors time to observe monuments, watercourses, and neighborhoods spread at their feet. In London, the London Eye looms over the Thames at 135 meters, while in Singapore, the Singapore Flyer stands at 165 meters with views reaching into Malaysia and Indonesia. In Las Vegas, the High Roller rises 168 meters above the lit-up Strip. Each wheel has its unique technical and historical features. The Tianjin Eye in China is integrated into the Yongle Bridge structure above the Hai River. In Vienna, the Wiener Riesenrad in Prater dates from 1897 and retains its original 15 wooden cabins. These attractions offer an alternative way to see cities, taking height for a rotation duration typically between 15 and 30 minutes.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The Ain Dubai reaches a height of 820 feet and features 48 cabins, each designed to hold 40 people. This construction offers space for 1,750 passengers simultaneously and is located on the artificial island of Bluewaters Island.
Las Vegas, United States
The High Roller reaches a height of 168 meters and offers views of the illuminated streets of the Las Vegas Strip and the Nevada desert. This structure features 28 air-conditioned cabins that can accommodate up to 40 people each. A complete rotation takes approximately 30 minutes.
Singapore, Singapore
The Singapore Flyer is a 165-meter observation wheel that allows passengers to view the city and its surroundings from above. From the air-conditioned capsules, visitors can spot parts of Malaysia and Indonesia on clear days. The structure opened in 2008 and features 28 capsules, each accommodating up to 28 people.
Nanchang, China
The Star of Nanchang is a 153-meter diameter observation wheel located on the banks of the Gan River in Jiangxi Province. The structure opened in 2006 and reaches a maximum height of 160 meters. The 60 air-conditioned cabins can each accommodate up to 8 passengers and provide views over Nanchang city and the river during a complete rotation of approximately 30 minutes.
London, United Kingdom
The London Eye is a 135-meter observation wheel located on the South Bank of the Thames. This viewing platform offers a complete panorama of the British capital and the river. The ride in one of the glass capsules lasts approximately 30 minutes and allows visitors to observe numerous city landmarks from above.
Osaka, Japan
The Redhorse Osaka Wheel rises 123 meters above Osaka Bay and features 72 air-conditioned cabins that complete a full rotation. This observation wheel offers visitors extensive views of the port, the skyscrapers in the business district, and the mountains surrounding the Japanese metropolis. Located within the Expocity entertainment complex, the structure allows viewing the urban archipelago of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto on clear days, with perspectives extending to the Seto Inland Sea.
Orlando, United States
The Wheel is an observation wheel located on International Drive in Orlando, United States. Standing 122 meters tall, this Ferris wheel offers views over the city, its theme parks, and surrounding landscapes. The structure features 30 enclosed capsules that complete a full rotation in approximately 18 minutes. The wheel operates both during daytime and after dark, when LED lighting systems illuminate its frame. International Drive connects multiple attractions in the Orlando area, and The Wheel provides an elevated perspective of this tourism corridor. The installation opened in 2015 and has become part of the ICON Park complex, which includes restaurants, shops, and other entertainment facilities.
Suzhou, China
The Suzhou Ferris Wheel stands on the edge of Jinji Lake in China and has a height of 120 meters since opening in 2009. This observation wheel offers visitors panoramic views of the lake's shores, the districts of Suzhou, and the hills of Jiangsu. The air-conditioned cabins progressively ascend during a full rotation, allowing observation of the urban layout of this Yangtze Delta city and the water bodies that surround it.
Tianjin, China
The Tianjin Eye is a 120-meter tall Ferris wheel built on the Yongle Bridge over the Hai River. This construction is the only Ferris wheel in the world installed on a bridge. The wheel features 48 air-conditioned capsules and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete one full rotation. During the ride, it offers views over the city of Tianjin and the river.
Docklands, Australia
The Southern Star is an observation wheel located in Docklands, rising 120 meters above Melbourne Bay. This steel structure features 21 air-conditioned cabins, each capable of holding up to 20 passengers, completing a full rotation in about 30 minutes. From its gondolas, visitors can see Melbourne city centre, Port Phillip Bay, the Dandenong Ranges, and, on clear days, the profile of the Bellarine Peninsula. The wheel opened in 2008 and underwent several technical reconstructions before its final reopening in 2013, becoming one of the main attractions of the modern Docklands district.
Changsha, China
The Changsha Ferris wheel is located in Tianxin district. This 120-meter-high structure, put into service in 2004, offers views of the city and its surroundings. During the full rotation, visitors observe the urban development of the metropolis, the organization of neighborhoods, modern architecture, and the Xiang River running through Hunan’s capital. This observation wheel provides a different perspective on Changsha, gaining height to see how the city stretches between the hills and the developed areas along the banks.
Zhengzhou, China
The Zhengzhou Ferris Wheel stands in Century Amusement Park in Henan Province. This attraction reaches a height of 120 meters and features 56 air-conditioned cabins, each accommodating six passengers. The Ferris wheel opened in 2003 and provides views over Zhengzhou city and the surrounding region.
Fukuoka, Japan
Sky Dream Fukuoka reaches 120 meters in height and overlooks the Evergreen Marinoacity shopping complex in Hakata port. This observation wheel, opened in 2002, offers panoramic views of Fukuoka city, its seaport, and the Kyushu coastline. Its air-conditioned cabins make a full rotation, allowing views of the bay islands and, on clear days, the surrounding mountains. The structure is located near the ferry terminals serving South Korea and is accessible from the city center via the Kuko metro line.
Kasai Rinkai Park, Japan
The Diamond and Flower Ferris Wheel stands in Kasai Rinkai Park, Japan, offering elevated views over Tokyo Bay and the surrounding coastline. This observation wheel rises 117 meters above the park grounds, featuring gondolas that complete a full rotation while passengers observe the metropolitan area, the bay waters, and Mount Fuji on clear days. The structure operates year-round as part of the park's recreational facilities.
Tokyo, Japan
Daikanransha is a Ferris wheel located in the Aomi district of Tokyo, Japan. Standing at 115 meters tall, it was completed in 1999 and held the title of world's tallest Ferris wheel until 2001. The wheel features 64 gondolas, each accommodating up to six passengers, and completes one full rotation in approximately 16 minutes. From the top, visitors can observe Tokyo Bay, the Rainbow Bridge, and the surrounding urban landscape of Odaiba. The wheel operates year-round and includes transparent floor gondolas for those seeking a different perspective of the waterfront area below.
Yokohama, Japan
The Cosmo Clock 21 was erected in 1989 and reaches a height of 112.5 meters. This Ferris wheel construction integrates a clock face into its structure and is located in the Minato Mirai 21 entertainment complex in Yokohama. The installation combines ride operation with a functional timepiece display.
Paris, France
The Grande Roue de Paris was a 100-meter tall Ferris wheel built in 1900 for the World Exhibition. This monumental structure stood at Place de la Concorde and offered visitors panoramic views over the French capital. The Ferris wheel remained in operation until 1920, when it was eventually dismantled.
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan
The Alem Cultural and Entertaining Center in Ashgabat houses a 95-meter Ferris wheel, completed in 2012. This observation wheel holds the distinction of being the tallest enclosed Ferris wheel in the world, rotating within the building's climate-controlled structure. The Turkmen facility combines entertainment functions with its record-breaking wheel, which operates year-round protected from the desert environment. Visitors to the Alem Center can experience panoramic views of Ashgabat from the rotating cabins while remaining inside the architectural complex.
Vienna, Austria
The Wiener Riesenrad was built in 1897 in the Prater amusement park and reaches a height of 64.75 meters. The structure features 15 wooden cabins, each accommodating up to 15 passengers. A complete rotation takes approximately four minutes.
Taipei, Taiwan
The Miramar Ferris Wheel reaches a height of 70 meters and offers views of Taipei and the mountain ranges surrounding the capital. The cabins are equipped with climate control systems for rides in various weather conditions.
Baku, Azerbaijan
The Baku Ferris wheel rises 60 meters along the Caspian Sea and offers panoramic views of the Azerbaijani capital and its coastline. Built in 2014, this observation structure allows visitors to explore Baku, its modern and historic buildings, and the shores of the Caspian Sea from an elevated position. The rotations of this installation provide opportunities to see the city center, residential districts, and the coastline stretching along the sea. The Baku Ferris wheel thus provides a different perspective for observing the city's architecture, port activities, and the expanse of the Caspian Sea bordering the Azerbaijani metropolis.
Montreal, Canada
The Great Wheel of Montreal rises 60 meters above the Old Port district. The observation wheel offers views of the Saint Lawrence River, downtown Montreal, and surrounding neighborhoods. The climate-controlled gondolas accommodate up to eight passengers and complete a full rotation in approximately twenty minutes. The structure operates year-round and provides perspectives on the urban layout and waterfront geography of the city.
Chicago, United States
The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel rises 60 meters above the shore of Lake Michigan and allows visitors to observe Chicago from an elevated position. This attraction is located on Navy Pier, one of the most visited entertainment facilities in the city. The gondolas rotate throughout the year and provide views of the lake and downtown skyscrapers in all weather conditions.
Ravenna, Italy
The Eurowheel is a large observation wheel located in the Mirabilandia amusement park near Ravenna, Italy. This 90-meter-high metal structure has 42 air-conditioned cabins, each capable of holding up to six people. A full rotation lasts about 15 minutes, allowing visitors to observe the Romagna area, the Adriatic coast, and the park’s facilities from the glass cabins. This attraction has been operating since 1999 and is among the tallest observation wheels installed in a European theme park.