The transition of the cylinder wake is investigated experimentally in a water channel and is computed numerically using a finite‐difference scheme. Four physically different instabilities are observed: a local ‘‘vortex‐adhesion mode,’’ and three near‐wake instabilities, which are associated with three different spanwise wavelengths of approximately 1, 2, and 4 diam. All four instability processes can originate in a narrow Reynolds‐number interval between 160 and 230, and may give rise to different transition scenarios. Thus, Williamson’s [Phys. Fluids31, 3165 (1988)] experimental observation of a hard transition is for the first time numerically reproduced, and is found to be induced by the vortex‐adhesion mode. Without vortex adhesion, a soft onset of three‐dimensionality is numerically and experimentally obtained. A control‐wire technique is proposed, which suppresses transition up to a Reynolds number of 230. ©1995 American Institute of Physics.