Famous Ferris wheels of the world range from the 250 m Ain Dubai and Las Vegas's High Roller to Vienna's 1897 Riesenrad and Coney Island's Wonder Wheel.[1]
This Finepedia guide, written in October 2026, looks at ten giant wheels that have set height records or become symbols of their cities. Each entry gives the wheel's height, when it opened and one story that riders may not know. Heights come from operators, official city sources and encyclopaedias, and we note where a wheel has had long closures. For more thrills and views, see the Finepedia guides Top 10 Record-Breaking Roller Coasters of the World and Top 10 Tallest TV and Observation Towers.
How We Chose These
We started with the tallest wheels that carry passengers today, then added older wheels that are loved for their history rather than their size. We left out wheels that have closed for good or are still being built, and we checked each wheel's status in October 2026, as several have stopped turning for years at a time. The list runs from tallest to shortest, and five of the ten stand in Asia.
The 10 Famous Ferris Wheels at a Glance
| No. | Wheel | City | Height | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ain Dubai | Dubai, UAE | 250 m | 2021 |
| 2 | High Roller | Las Vegas, US | 167.6 m | 2014 |
| 3 | Singapore Flyer | Singapore | 165 m | 2008 |
| 4 | Star of Nanchang | Nanchang, China | 160 m | 2006 |
| 5 | London Eye | London, UK | 135 m | 2000 |
| 6 | Tianjin Eye | Tianjin, China | 120 m | 2008 |
| 7 | Melbourne Star | Melbourne, Australia | 120 m | 2008 |
| 8 | Cosmo Clock 21 | Yokohama, Japan | 112.5 m | 1989 |
| 9 | Wiener Riesenrad | Vienna, Austria | 64.75 m | 1897 |
| 10 | Wonder Wheel | New York City, US | 46 m | 1920 |
1. Ain Dubai Towers Over Every Other Wheel
Ain Dubai, whose name means Dubai Eye, stands on Bluewaters Island off the Dubai coast. At 250 m, it is the tallest observation wheel ever built, about 82 m taller than the previous record holder. It opened on 21 October 2021, after years of delays, and its cabins look out over the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Marina and the Burj Khalifa.
Key Facts
- Height: 250 m to the top of the highest cabin
- Cabins: 48, carrying up to 1,750 riders at once
- One turn: about 38 minutes
- Drive: hydraulic motors turning 64 rubber tyre rollers
Did You Know?
Ain Dubai has spent more time closed than open. It shut in March 2022 for what its operators called periodic enhancements, reopened on 26 December 2024, and was reported temporarily closed again in spring 2026, so check its status before planning a visit.
2. The High Roller Lights Up the Las Vegas Strip
The High Roller rises 167.6 m above the Las Vegas Strip and opened on 31 March 2014, taking the height record for Ferris wheels. It held that title for seven years until Ain Dubai opened. The wheel is the centrepiece of The LINQ, an outdoor shopping and dining street, and is lit by LEDs at night.
Key Facts
- Height: 167.6 m, or 550 feet
- Diameter: 158.5 m
- Cabins: 28, each holding up to 40 people
- Capacity: 1,120 riders per turn
Why It Matters
Each cabin weighs about 20 tonnes and is turned by its own electric motors, so the floor stays level as the wheel moves. Some cabins can be hired for private parties. The High Roller showed that a giant wheel could become a top attraction in a city already full of them.
3. The Singapore Flyer Turned Around for Good Luck
The Singapore Flyer stands beside Marina Bay and opened on 15 April 2008.[2] At 165 m, it held the height record until the High Roller beat it by less than 3 m. Its 28 cooled capsules sit outside the rim, so riders enjoy clear views over the city and out to sea.
Key Facts
- Height: 165 m
- Capsules: 28, each for up to 28 riders
- One turn: about 32 minutes
- Visitors: designed for millions of riders a year
Did You Know?
The wheel first turned anticlockwise when seen from Marina Centre. On 4 August 2008, after feng shui experts were consulted, its direction was reversed so that good fortune would flow towards the city. On a clear day riders can see parts of Malaysia and Indonesia.
4. The Star of Nanchang Briefly Led the World
The Star of Nanchang, in the capital of Jiangxi Province in eastern China, opened in May 2006. At 160 m, no Ferris wheel was taller until the Singapore Flyer opened less than two years later. It cost about 57 million yuan to build, a small sum for a structure of its size.
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Key Facts
- Height: 160 m
- Gondolas: 60, each carrying up to 8 people
- Capacity: up to 960 riders an hour
- One turn: about 30 minutes
Why It Matters
The wheel moves so slowly that riders step on and off without it stopping. It marked the start of a boom in giant wheels across China, including the Tianjin Eye two years later.
5. The London Eye Hangs From One Side
The London Eye, first called the Millennium Wheel, stands on the Thames's South Bank, facing the Houses of Parliament. Designed by the married architects Julia Barfield and David Marks, it opened to the paying public on 9 March 2000. A single A-frame on one side holds it up, making it the tallest cantilevered wheel on Earth.
Key Facts
- Height: 135 m
- Diameter: 120 m
- Capsules: 32, one for each London borough
- Visitors: more than 3 million a year
Did You Know?
The Eye was meant to stand for only five years, but it proved so popular that it became permanent. Its parts came from six countries, including steel from Britain shaped in the Netherlands and cables from Italy. No paid attraction in Britain draws more visitors.
6. The Tianjin Eye Spins Above a Bridge
The Tianjin Eye is the only wheel on this list built on top of a bridge. It sits on the Yongle Bridge, which crosses the Hai River in the port city of Tianjin near Beijing, so boats and traffic pass beneath it. Riders were first let on board on 7 April 2008, after its main frame was finished in December 2007.
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Key Facts
- Height: 120 m
- Capsules: 48, each for 8 people
- One turn: about 30 minutes
- Capacity: up to 768 riders an hour
Why It Matters
Building a giant wheel over a river crossing saved precious land in the city centre and turned an ordinary bridge into a landmark. At night the wheel and bridge are lit in changing colours that reflect in the water, making it one of the best-known images of Tianjin.
7. The Melbourne Star Is Turning Again
The Melbourne Star in the Docklands area of Melbourne first opened in December 2008, but closed after only 40 days because of cracks in its structure.[3] The wheel was rebuilt with new spokes and reopened in late 2013. It stopped again in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and came back to life on 15 October 2026 under new owners.
Key Facts
- Height: 120 m
- One turn: about 30 minutes
- Views: up to about 40 km on a clear day
- Cost to restart in 2026: about 11 million Australian dollars
Did You Know?
Before the rebuild, the first wheel went for scrap, apart from the support columns and cabins, which were kept and reused. The new owners took apart and checked every mechanical part before the 2026 reopening, and local businesses hope the wheel will bring hundreds of thousands of extra visitors each year.
8. Cosmo Clock 21 Tells the Time in Yokohama
Cosmo Clock 21 stands in Cosmo World, a funfair in Yokohama's waterfront Minato Mirai 21 district. Built for the Yokohama Exposition in 1989, it briefly held the height record at 107.5 m. A huge digital clock at its centre makes it one of the largest clocks on Earth.
Key Facts
- Height today: 112.5 m
- Cars: 60, each for up to 8 people
- Diameter: 100 m
- One turn: about 15 minutes
Why It Matters
In 1997 the wheel was taken down and in 1999 it was rebuilt on a taller base, which raised it to its present height. It has appeared in Godzilla films, and its changing light shows have made it a symbol of Yokohama's modern harbour front.
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9. The Wiener Riesenrad Is a Vienna Classic
The Wiener Riesenrad, or Vienna Giant Wheel, stands at the entrance to the Prater amusement park.[4] Built in 1897 to mark 50 years of Emperor Franz Joseph I on the throne, it is one of the oldest Ferris wheels still turning. For about 65 years after 1920 it was the tallest working Ferris wheel anywhere.
Key Facts
- Height: 64.75 m
- Built by: the English engineer Walter Basset
- Gondolas: 30 at first, 15 after rebuilding
- Famous film: The Third Man, 1949
Did You Know?
A permit to demolish the wheel was issued in 1916, but there was not enough money to pull it down. It burned in 1944 during the Second World War and was rebuilt with half its old gondolas. It also features in The Living Daylights, a James Bond film from 1987.
10. The Wonder Wheel Thrills Riders at Coney Island
The Wonder Wheel at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, was built in 1920.[5] It stands only 46 m tall, but it is famous for its eccentric design. Some cabins are fixed to the rim, while others slide along curved rails towards the centre, giving riders a sudden swing as the wheel turns.
Key Facts
- Height: about 46 m, or 150 feet
- Opened: 1920
- Designer: Charles Hermann
- Landmark status: New York City landmark since 1989
Why It Matters
The Wonder Wheel kept turning through Coney Island's long decline in the 20th century and helped keep the beach resort alive. Since 1983 it has been run by the Vourderis family, who restored it and still operate it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called a Ferris wheel?
The name comes from George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., an American engineer who built the first giant wheel in 1893 as the star of Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition. It stood about 80 m tall and was meant to rival the Eiffel Tower. It was taken down in 1906.
Is an observation wheel the same as a Ferris wheel?
The terms are often used for the same thing. Observation wheel usually means a large modern wheel with closed cabins mounted outside the rim, built for views. Ferris wheel is the older, broader name and also covers smaller fairground wheels with open seats.
Conclusion
From a Victorian wheel in Vienna to a 250 m giant in Dubai, these wheels show how a simple idea from 1893 keeps growing taller. Several have had long closures, but each one remains a landmark of its city. For more thrills and views, read the Finepedia guides Top 10 Record-Breaking Roller Coasters of the World and Top 10 Tallest TV and Observation Towers.
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