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Light park · our parkStory of Lights Fertőd — Esterházy Palace
A walk-through light park in the courtyard and garden of the baroque Esterházy Palace in Fertőd, about 100 km by road south-east of Vienna. Illuminated facades, carriages and figures tell of the court of the Esterházy princes and of Joseph Haydn, who was Kapellmeister here. The walk takes about an hour. The park is in Hungary, not in Vienna, and is operated by Story of Lights / DECOLED.
Disclosure: this attraction is run by the publisher of this site
Transparency note: Story of Lights is the light-park brand of DECOLED s.r.o., the Czech company that publishes this guide. It is the only attraction on this site that we have a commercial interest in. The park is not in Vienna — it is in Hungary, and it is listed here as a day trip. Every other market on this site belongs to someone else, is listed for information only, and is neither rated nor promoted.
What it is — and where it is
Story of Lights Fertőd is a walk-through light park: a marked route through the courtyard and gardens of Esterházy Palace, lined with illuminated sculptures and scenes. It is not a Christmas market — there is no row of stalls and no Punsch stand on the Ring. You buy a ticket, you walk the route, and it takes roughly an hour at an unhurried pace.
The park is not in Vienna. Fertőd is a small Hungarian town on the south-eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl, about 100 km by road from Vienna and about 28 km from Sopron. Visiting means half a day and a border crossing — Schengen, but a different country and a different currency.
The palace
Esterházy Palace in Fertőd is the baroque residence of the Esterházy princes, often called “the Hungarian Versailles” because of its layout. Joseph Haydn was Kapellmeister to the princely court here for decades, and the north wing still carries his name. The light park plays on that inheritance: illuminated façades, carriages, dancers and musician figures in the garden.
About the season title
Story of Lights lists the 2026/27 season at Fertőd on its own pages under the title Fantáziakert (Fantasy Garden on the English pages). That is the operator's title, published on storyoflights.hu. We have no separate confirmation of the name from Esterházy Palace as the site partner, so we list the park neutrally as Story of Lights Fertőd — Esterházy Palace and give the season title only as the operator's own.
Practical notes
- The route is outdoors and crosses gravel and grass — winter clothing and proper shoes.
- Open daily from 17:00 to 21:00, last entry 20:30. Season: 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027.
- Closed on 1 November, on 24 and 25 December and on 1 January.
- Tickets bought online are cheaper than at the box office. There are reductions for children aged 3 to 14, students, disabled visitors with a companion, and visitors aged 65 and over; children aged 2 and under and prams go free.
- Dogs are not allowed because the route passes through grounds with wild game. Guide and assistance dogs are always admitted, free and without a muzzle.
- There is a palace café on site and a car park at the entrance. An accessible toilet is available; full accessibility details are to be confirmed before the season opens.
- Payment is in forint. SZÉP cards and vouchers are not accepted.
How this relates to the rest of this guide
This is the one attraction on this site that the publisher earns money from, which is why it has this page to itself and why the disclosure sits at the top of it. The Vienna Christmas markets listed elsewhere are other people's events: we list their dates and link to their organisers, and that is all. If you would rather skip the light park entirely, nothing else in this guide depends on it.
Photographs from the light park
Our own photographs from the light park at Esterházy Palace. Every picture on this site was taken by DECOLED — we do not publish photographs of other people's Christmas markets.
Checked on 21 September 2026 against the organiser's official page. Dates, opening hours and prices can change; the organiser's page is what counts. Corrections to [email protected].