Sometimes, you just have to be creative: if you have one of the biggest mobile ferris wheels in the neighboring city – why not just taking it to your town and putting it up as a social distancing-compliant attraction? This is my rough essay of why Cologne is featuring the Europe Rad in summer 2020. The idea is very successful – the operation period had recently been prolonged. Here are some impressions of the observation wheel ride.
Europa Rad – The Ferris Wheel
The Europa Rad (“Europe Wheel”) is a Ferris wheel whis is typically used at funfairs / county fairs in Europe. Driven by the Kipp & Sohn company from Bonn, it is the world-largest mobile wheel with open and rotatable gondolas. There are 42 gondolas, each with a maximum capacity of six people. The Ferris wheel is operating since 1992. There was one deadly accident with the wheel, when in 2017 a worked fell at deconstruction after the Pützchens Markt Fair in Bonn from some 27 meters and died. The total height of the wheel is 55 meters.
Europa Rad in Cologne – Location & Admission
The Ferris wheel is located right in front of the Chocolate Museum in Cologne. There are are a couple of attractions and interesting places around, like the Historic Mustard Mill, the Sports- and Olympic Museum or the posh Rheinauhafen district with expansive living and interesting bar / restaurant options. The location is just a short walk from the shopping district. There is a bus stop very close to the Ferris wheel – you may however walk from Heumarkt station if you want to visit the Europa Rad in Cologne.
The adult trip on the wheel is 8 Euro. For 17.50 Euro, you get one ride and admission to the Chocolate Museum. If you thereby visit the lovely museum cafe, you also receive a free Prosecco (adults) or children’s drink. The Ferris wheel was already scheduled to be closed – currently it is scheduled to operate until 1st November 2020. Operating times are 11:00 to 22:00 hrs, daily. Please note that these times do not match the opening times of the museum.
Europa Rad in Cologne – The Ride
The ride was surprisingly nice. I was a afraid of wind due to the open capsules – Sarah did not feel too comfortable when the capsule was spinning (which majorly just happened when you intended to turn… Might be different with major wind). Overall, we had a very beautiful and low wind day, so that the ride, which roughly gave us six full rotations, was enjoyable.
Views from Europa Rad in Cologne (Pictured Story)
Here are some views from the Ferris wheel. I did enjoy the ride – I just felt that a single Ferris wheel ride is not sufficient to give a valid and reasonable rating. Thus, I present Europa Rad in Cologne as a Pictured Story – less text, no rating, but bigger pictures. The location feels a bit odd – but in fact it is a nice place to have good views of the city, but also adjacent cities and areas. Having rotating gondolas thereby helps a lot to enjoy the view.
Postings about Cologne
Here are all postings about my home town Cologne:

Ron Pope (23rd September 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 15 September 2023)

Randall King (15th September 2023, Cologne)

The Blackwhitecolorful – Brace for Impact

Mo-Torres – Heute war alles Besser

Pullman Cologne

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 August 2023)

Mercure Hotel Severinshof Cologne City

Mercure Cologne City Friesenstrasse

German Athletics Nationals 2023 – Day 2 Track (9th July 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 23 June 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 June 2023)

The Deslondes (6th June 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 June 2023)

Everette & Austin Jenckes (23rd May 2023, Cologne)

Kip Moore (14th May 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 12 May 2023)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 April 2023)

The Longest Johns (21st April 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 31 March 2023)

Wolfgang Petry – Stark wie wir

AnnenMayKantereit – Es ist Abend und wir sitzen bei mir

Five Years of Flyctory.com – My 20 Most Popular Travel Posts (so far…)

Julian Taylor (15th February 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 January 2023)

IUMA – Genug EP

Kane Brown (27th January 2023, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 13 January 2023)

Groenalund – #lovestorm

Wasserturm Hotel Cologne (Curio Collection by Hilton)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 30 December 2022)

ICE 3neo High-Speed Rail First Class (Pictured Story)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 09 December 2022)

Neufundland – Grind

Brett Young (19th November 2022, Cologne)

Milky Chance (18th November 2022, Cologne)

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Nik Wallner (November 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 04 November 2022)

Superläuche – Superläuche

Alexander Ludwig (2nd November 2022, Cologne)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 28 October 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 October 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 14 October 2022)

Rock of Ages – International Dates of the Musical in 2023

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 16 September 2022)

Spotlight – Flyctory.com meets Lindsay Ell (before her Cologne Show in Aug 2022)

Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 02 September 2022)

Lindsay Ell (with Kyle Daniel & Shy Carter, 23rd August 2022, Cologne)

Gipsy Kings & More Than Words (11th August 2022, Cologne)

Marie Reim – Bist Du dafür bereit?

Pete Wolf Band – Crosswalk To Nowhere EP

KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne


Kasalla – Rudeldiere


Johnossi (12th June 2022, Cologne)


Dan O’ Clock – Seelenhippie EP


The Lounge Cologne/Bonn Airport (CGN)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 27 May 2022)


Mrs. Greenbird – Love You To The Bone


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 25 March 2022)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 11 March 2022)


Following The Pittsburgh Penguins in March 2022 (Day 1, 10th March 2022)


Premier Inn Cologne City South


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 18 Feb 2022)


KEC “Die Haie” Cologne – ESC Planegg-Würmtal 1-6 (1-2, 0-1, 0-3)


Flyctory.com Songs Of The Week (week of 21 Jan 2022)


Flyctory.com Best Ones 2021


Some Non-Country Christmas Songs 2021


My Top 15 Airports Flown – With Some Brief Thoughts


Cat Ballou – Alles Bunt


Wolfgang Petry – Auf das Leben


Hyatt Regency Cologne


The Twelve Best Flights Of My Life (… so far)


Moxy Cologne Bonn Airport


MyWellness Cologne – Renting a Private Spa Experience


Luna Morgenstern – Taking The Blow EP


Paul Weber – Alles im Arsch EP


Durch & Durch – Nice Aber Nutzlos


Songs Of My Life: Nino De Angelo – Jenseits von Eden


Klee – Trotzalledem


Country Music Picks – The German Songs (28th April 2021)


Sarah Lombardi – Im Augenblick


A Walk Through Cologne / Bonn Airport Terminal at Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Songs Of My Life: John Miles – Music


PeterLicht – Beton Und Ibuprofen


Nino de Angelo – Gesegnet und Verflucht



Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne


Cologne – My Ten Favorite Songs About My Home Town


taku Dining Box in Cologne – Gourmet Food at Home


Chocolate Museum Cologne (Schokoladenmuseum)


Bläck Fööss – 5Ö


Maritim Hotel Cologne


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Krawietz / Mies (GER) – A. Zverev / M. Zverev (GER) 6-4 7-5


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Gilles Simon (FRA) – Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 6-1 4-6 6-2


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sharan (IND) / Sandgren (USA) – Marach (AUT) / Pavic (CRO) 4-6 2-6


bett1HULKS Championship: Egor Gerasimov (BLR) – Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-1 6-0


bett1HULKS Championship: Jordan Thompson (AUS) – Gilles Simon (FRA) 3-6 5-7


bett1HULKS Championship 2020: Sumit Nagal (IND) – Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) 6-3 (4)6-7 1-6


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Mischa Zverev (GER) 6-4 6-3


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Davidovich Fokina / Verdasco (ESP) – Masur / Molleker (GER) 3-6 6-1 10-8


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Gonzales (MEX) / K. Skupski (GBR) – Nielsen (DEN) / Puetz (GER) 4-6 6-1 10-5


bett1HULKS Indoors 2020: Sharan (IND) / Withrow (USA) – Herbert / Mahut (FRA) 3-6 3-6


Four Countries, Four Trains – A Trip on Tracks (Day 4, 10th August 2020)


Marie Reim – 14 Phasen


Women Soccer Bundesliga is back – But some Girls score in a different Way


Björn Heuser (28th May 2020, Drive-In Show, Bonn)


“Climbing” the Monte Troodelöh, Cologne’s Highest Point


Mrs. Greenbird: Strong Crowdfunding Start for New Album


Car Watch – A new Pop-up Drive-in Cinema in Cologne


Cologne/Bonn Airport during Covid-19 Times (Pictured Story)


Cologne DRIVE IN Movies – More than the Covid-19 Alternative


Brett Eldredge / Lauren Jenkins (24th January 2020, Cologne)


Historic Mustard Mill Cologne


Noah Guthrie (9th December 2019, Cologne)


Cologne Old Town Christmas Market


Cologne Stadtgarten Christmas Market


Cologne Cathedral / Roncalli Square Christmas Market


Björn Heuser – Kopp voll Dräum (Nashville Recordings)


Cologne Harbor Christmas Market at Chocolate Museum


Mrs. Greenbird (Frankfurt, 7th November 2019)


Ben Zucker & Van De Forst (6th November 2019, Cologne)


Willie Jones & Tyler Rich (29th October 2019, Cologne)


Logan Mize (26th October 2019, Cologne)


Scotty McCreery (24th October 2019, Cologne)


Jillian Jacqueline & Lauren Jenkins (9th September 2019, Cologne)


Wade Bowen (6th August 2019, Cologne)


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 3:5 (0:3) (31st July 2019)


The Scherz-Tour – A Different RheinEnergieSTADION Cologne Tour


Mrs. Greenbird – Dark Waters (Review)


Very Important Postings – July to December 2018


The Eau de Cologne Giants – 4711 vs. Farina


Flying with VLM from Cologne to Antwerp


SV Menden – 1. FC Köln 0:1 (0:1) (2018 pre-season)


History of Gaming in Cologne’s City Museum


Six Intercontinental Flight Weekend – Day 1 (Trip Report)


Six Intercontental Flights in 72 Hours (Overview)
Flyctory.com Views from Above
Here are all postings tagged as Views from Above, dealing with any kind up-in-the-air viewpoints:


nhow Frankfurt


Dyrholaey (Iceland, Pictured Story)


Florida Citrus Tower


Walking the City Walls of Dubrovnik


Riding the Heidelberg Funiculars


Watching Kansas City from Liberty Memorial Tower


Gateway Arch St. Louis


Dream Wheel NJ


Top of the Rock Observation Deck


Advent Time at Skanderbeg Square Tirana (Pictured Story)


Shacolas Tower Museum and Observatory (Nicosia)


Edge NYC Observation Deck


Kolossi Castle


Mirador Roc del Quer


Walking Along Castle Ruin Hohensyburg (Dortmund – Pictured Story)


Helsinki SkyWheel


View Over Akureyri from Hlidarfljall



KölnTriangle Cologne View – a great View of Cologne


Driving Up Jebel Jais Mountain


Dhayah Fort (Ras Al Khaimah)


Gasometer Oberhausen


Visiodrom Wuppertal


Bellver Castle & Palma Municipal Museum


Hallgrimskirkja Reykjavic – Church and View from Tower


High Tea at At.mosphere Burj Khalifa Dubai


AmberSky Ferris Wheel Gdansk


Schlossbergbahn Graz


Watching Helsinki from the Olympic Stadium Tower


Expo 2020 – Garden In The Sky


Ain Dubai – The World Largest Ferris Wheel


Olivia Star Observation Deck (Gdansk)


The View At The Palm (Dubai)


SkyView De Pier Scheveningen


At The Top – Visiting Burj Khalifa in Dubai


Riding the London Eye



Rhine Cable Car (Kölner Seilbahn) Cologne


Munich Olympic Tower and Rockmuseum


Views of London from One New Change (Pictured Story)


On the Rooftop of Milan Cathedral


High Tea at Euromast and Euroscoop (Rotterdam)


Umadum / Hi-Sky – A Giant Ferris Wheel in Munich


Elbphilharmonie (Elbe Philharmonic Hall) Hamburg


Dusseldorf Rhine Tower (Rheinturm)


Watching London from Sky Garden


The View from The Shard in London


Fujairah Fort (Pictured Story)


British Airways i360 in Brighton


Skydeck at Willis Tower by Night (Chicago)


Afternoon Tea with a View at Observation Deck at 300 in Abu Dhabi


360 Chicago and TILT!


Teide Cableway and National Park


Mount Washington and the Pittsburgh Inclines


Visting the Dubai Frame


Mashantucket Pequot Museum


On Top of Leverkusen Water Tower


The View of DC – The Observation Deck at CEB Tower Arlington


Petronas Towers & KLCC Park Kuala Lumpur


Riding the Singapore Flyer


Riding the The Wheel at ICON Park Orlando