Day trip to Fertőd: the light park at Schloss Esterházy
Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy is a light park in Hungary, around 100 km from Vienna, operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site. The 2026 season is confirmed: 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, daily 17:00–21:00.
About the facts in this text: the checked dates and the links to every organiser are on the list of all markets (checked 21 September 2026). Opening hours, prices and programme mentioned in the running text refer to the 2025/26 season or to the state of the organiser's page when this was written — check before you travel.
A light park in Hungary, not in Vienna
Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy is operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site. The park is in Hungary, not in Vienna. Address: Esterházy-kastély, the Esterházy palace, Joseph Haydn u. 2, 9431 Fertőd, around 100 km by road to the south-east of central Vienna.
It is a light park you walk through, across the courtyard and garden. Illuminated façades, carriages and figures refer to the court of the Esterházy princes and to Joseph Haydn, who was Kapellmeister here. The route takes about an hour. The park is not a Christkindlmarkt, the Austrian word for a Christmas market.
Fertőd and Schloss Esterházy
Fertőd is in Hungary on the south-eastern shore of the Neusiedler See, around 28 km from Sopron and around 100 km by road from Vienna. Austria and Hungary are both in the Schengen area; there are no routine border checks, but you must carry a valid identity document. Payment is in forint (HUF), not euros. Card payment is widespread, with cash from a local ATM. The same time zone as Austria.
Schloss Esterházy was the baroque residence of the Esterházy princes and is referred to as the “Hungarian Versailles”. Joseph Haydn worked here as Kapellmeister. Check the palace’s winter opening hours in advance at eszterhaza.hu; they are restricted. Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy, operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site, uses the courtyard and garden and is not in Vienna but in Hungary.
The 2026 season: dates and opening hours
The 2026 dates are officially confirmed. Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy, operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site, is in Hungary, around 100 km from Vienna, and is open from 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. Daily 17:00–21:00, last admission 20:30. Closed on 1 November, 24 and 25 December and 1 January.
Admission prices
Source: storyoflights.eu/de/park/fertod, checked on 21 September 2026, currency forint (Ft). Advance sales run until further notice, at the latest until opening. All prices include VAT and the booking fee. Online is always cheaper than at the ticket desk. Standard: 15–64 years. Concession: 3–14 years, students, people with a disability plus a companion, 65+. Family 2+2: 2 adults plus 2 children, or 1 adult plus 3 children (child = 3–14 years). Free: children up to 2 years, pushchairs, assistance dogs. Tickets for Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy (DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site; Hungary, not Vienna, around 100 km) are quoted in forint.
| Category | Period | Ticket desk | Online | Advance sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Mon–Thu | 3 900 Ft | 3 700 Ft | 2 960 Ft |
| Concession | Mon–Thu | 3 400 Ft | 3 200 Ft | 2 560 Ft |
| Family 2+2 | Mon–Thu | 13 000 Ft | 12 500 Ft | 10 000 Ft |
| Family 2+3 | Mon–Thu | 14 400 Ft | 13 600 Ft | 10 880 Ft |
| Standard | Fri–Sun, public holidays | 4 200 Ft | 4 000 Ft | 3 200 Ft |
| Concession | Fri–Sun, public holidays | 4 000 Ft | 3 800 Ft | 3 040 Ft |
| Family 2+2 | Fri–Sun, public holidays | 14 800 Ft | 14 000 Ft | 11 200 Ft |
| Family 2+3 | Fri–Sun, public holidays | 16 300 Ft | 15 500 Ft | 12 400 Ft |
Getting from Vienna to Fertőd
Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy, operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site, is not in Vienna but around 100 km to the south-east, in Hungary (Joseph Haydn u. 2, 9431 Fertőd).
Main route by car: around 100 km from central Vienna, about 1 hour 25 to 1 hour 35 minutes without congestion. A2 and A3, or the S31, towards Eisenstadt/Sopron, the Klingenbach–Sopron border crossing, then trunk road 84/85 via Fertőszentmiklós to Fertőd; the shortest and as a rule the quickest connection. Alternative: A4 to Neusiedl am See, B50/B51 via Mörbisch am See and the Fertőrákos border crossing, or via Pamhagen into Hungary, then on the 85 to Fertőd; somewhat longer, running along the Neusiedler See.
Tolls: in Austria the A2, A3, A4 and S31 require a vignette. In Hungary the e-matrica, the electronic vignette, applies only on motorways and expressways; Sopron–Fertőd on trunk roads 84/85 is normally toll-free. Anyone switching to the M85 or M1 needs an e-matrica (ematrica.nemzetiutdij.hu or a petrol station).
Public transport: ÖBB/GySEV regional train (REX) Wien Hauptbahnhof–Sopron, around 1 hour 15 minutes, several times a day, plus services with a change at Wiener Neustadt or Ebenfurth (oebb.at/de/fahrplan). The standard Vienna–Sopron ticket was most recently about 17 to 19 EUR one way, with the ÖBB Sparschiene advance fare from around 10 EUR; guide values from the 2025 season. Then the regional bus MÁV-Volán/Volánbusz, lines 7210, 7218 and 7073 towards Fertőd/Kapuvár/Győr, about 30 to 40 minutes, stop “Fertőd, Esterházy-kastély”. Timetables: volanbusz.hu, mavcsoport.hu; tickets: jegy.mav.hu. Alternative: train Sopron–Fertőszentmiklós (the Sopron–Szombathely line, around 15 to 20 minutes), then bus or taxi for the last 6 km or so. Taxi Sopron–Fertőd: around 28 km, about 30 minutes, agree the price in advance. There is no through bus line Vienna–Fertőd; the usual approach is train or coach to Sopron, then the regional bus.
| Route | Connection | Time / distance |
|---|---|---|
| Car via Eisenstadt | A2/A3 or S31, Klingenbach–Sopron, 84/85 | around 100 km; 1 h 25–1 h 35 without congestion |
| Car via Neusiedl/Mörbisch | A4, B50/B51, Fertőrákos or Pamhagen, 85 | somewhat longer |
| Train plus bus | Wien Hbf–Sopron (REX), buses 7210, 7218, 7073 | train around 1 h 15; bus 30–40 min |
| Train via Fertőszentmiklós | Sopron–Szombathely, then bus or taxi | train 15–20 min; last 6 km or so |
| Taxi from Sopron | Sopron–Fertőd | around 28 km, about 30 min |
Building the day from Vienna
Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy, operated by DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site, opens in Hungary at 17:00. The route is designed for darkness, which leaves the afternoon for Sopron or the Neusiedler See. The park is not in Vienna; the drive is around 100 km. Sopron option: afternoon in Sopron, evening by bus or taxi to the stop “Fertőd, Esterházy-kastély”, a walk of about an hour, return via Sopron. Lake option: by car via Neusiedl am See and Mörbisch am See or Pamhagen, afternoon at the lake, evening at the palace. Last admission 20:30, closing 21:00.
Practical notes
The route at Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy (DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site) is outdoors, through the courtyard and garden, from 17:00. Location Hungary, not Vienna, around 100 km. Carry an identity document. Payment in forint; cards are usual, cash from an ATM. The same time zone as Austria. Children up to 2 years, pushchairs and assistance dogs are free according to the price list.
On the season name
On its own pages Story of Lights runs the season as Fantasy Garden (Fantáziakert). There is no confirmation of this name from Schloss Esterházy as the site partner. In this guide the park is called Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy. The operator is DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site. The park is in Hungary, not in Vienna, around 100 km by road to the south-east of the city.
Common questions
Is the light park in Vienna?
No. Story of Lights Fertőd — Schloss Esterházy is in Fertőd in Hungary, around 100 km by road to the south-east of Vienna. The operator is DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site.
When is the 2026/27 season?
The 2026 dates are officially confirmed: 21 October 2026 to 10 January 2027. Daily 17:00 to 21:00, last admission 20:30; closed on 1 November, 24 and 25 December and 1 January.
What does admission cost?
Prices are in forint. In advance sales the standard ticket costs 2 960 Ft Monday to Thursday and 3 200 Ft Friday to Sunday, with concessions at 2 560 Ft and 3 040 Ft. Online is cheaper than at the ticket desk; advance sales run until further notice, at the latest until opening.
How do you get from Vienna to Fertőd by public transport?
With ÖBB/GySEV from Wien Hauptbahnhof to Sopron (around 1 hour 15 minutes) and then by regional bus (lines 7210, 7218, 7073) to the stop “Fertőd, Esterházy-kastély” in about 30 to 40 minutes; there is no through bus line Vienna–Fertőd. The standard Vienna–Sopron ticket was most recently about 17 to 19 EUR one way, or from around 10 EUR with the ÖBB Sparschiene fare (guide values from the 2025 season). Binding times are in the ÖBB timetable enquiry.
Is Story of Lights Fertőd a Christkindlmarkt?
No. It is a light park you walk through, across the courtyard and garden of Schloss Esterházy, lasting about an hour. The operator is DECOLED s.r.o., the publisher of this site; the park is in Hungary, not in Vienna, around 100 km by road.
