A glow-soaked night walk is back at the Royal Palace of Gödöllő (Gödöllői Királyi Kastély), just 18.6 miles from Budapest. Sisi’s Light Garden switches on from October 24, 2025, to February 1, 2026, flooding the Baroque grounds with hundreds of thousands of lights, a thicket of luminous sculptures, and a new showstopper: a 98-foot Ferris wheel with panoramic views of the illuminated palace and its park. Think history meets fantasy, with interactive photo spots, button-activated musical light sculptures, and a dazzling stroll for every age.
Dates, Scale, Spectacle
The installation occupies roughly 344,445 square feet across the palace gardens, Sisi’s beloved summer retreat. More than 370,000 bulbs and over 7.5 miles of light strings weave through the landscape, with dynamic façade projections to boot. New themes guide the route after sundown: Music, Children, Sisi’s Garden, and Baroque. Expect a 98-foot Ferris wheel, an LED-programmed Sisi garden using twinkling smart LED technology, and a 380-foot Baroque tree-lined avenue lit like a tunnel for a time-travel vibe.
Four Themes, Dozens of Installs
– Music: instrument-shaped light sculptures that actually sound off at the push of a button, plus scenes inspired by melodies of the past.
– Children: playful moments crafted for smiles and photos, designed for families to linger.
– Sisi’s Garden: a tribute to the empress’s favorite retreat, carpeted in glowing flowers and programmable light patterns that extend her story.
– Baroque: grand illusions of imperial elegance, with ornate motifs and a stately glow across the historic axis of the grounds.
Built Big, Built Smart
A site crew of more than 20 assembled the show in about two weeks, supported by over 30 colleagues behind the scenes. The operator, DECOLED, uses only modern, low-energy LED systems. One hour of the light park consumes about the same energy as an hour of cooking on an electric stove. In 2023, DECOLED invested in large-scale 3D printing that uses recycled plastic waste, aiming to gradually replace production with a process that reuses rather than creates new material. This season, part of the proceeds will help replant trees lost in the palace garden in recent years.
Why Gödöllő Works
The project’s magic is the setting: an iconic Baroque garden where elegance and playfulness coexist. The result is a family-friendly, interactive evening walk that turns the chilly months into a warm-lit celebration of heritage. As Dr. Tamás Ujváry, managing director of the Royal Palace of Gödöllő (Gödöllői Királyi Kastély), puts it: “The garden’s evening lights become a time travel: historical heritage merges with contemporary technology during the walk. Our goal is for Gödöllő to be a living, communal space in winter — where music, play, and history meet.”
Step Into Sisi’s After-Dark World
When the sun dips, Sisi’s universe lights up. The palace backdrop delivers a romantic, winter-market mood with a buffet, the Ferris wheel, and the first hints of the holiday season. Wander through scenes of courtly life, peek into Sisi’s favorite corners, spot a glowing forest hunting tableau, and stack up bright memories with friends and family.
Tickets and Prices
– Child/Student/Senior (65+): about $10.75; weekends + about $1.40
– Adult: about $11.85; weekends + about $1.40
– Family (2 adults + 2 children, or 1 adult + 3 children): about $40.80; weekends + about $1.95
– Under age 2: free
– Season Pass (name-specific, unlimited visits): Child/Student/Senior about $27.30; Adult about $31.75
– Combo Ticket (Palace Museum + Light Park): Child/Student/Senior about $15.00; weekends about $16.60. Adult about $21.05; weekends about $22.95. Family about $65.75; weekends about $68.80
– Ferris Wheel: on-site only. Single: about $1.40; weekends about $4.10. Family: about $5.50; weekends about $13.80
Tickets are available online or at the on-site ticket office.
Opening Hours
– Light Park: daily, October 24, 2025 – February 1, 2026, 17:00–21:00. Last entry: 20:30
– Closed: November 1; December 24, 25, and 31
– Palace permanent exhibition with combo ticket: Monday–Sunday, 10:00–18:00
Getting There, House Rules
The Royal Palace of Gödöllő (Gödöllői Királyi Kastély) sits about 18.6 miles from Budapest. The palace park is a protected nature reserve. Due to protected flora and fauna, bringing dogs onto the grounds is strictly prohibited by law.
Story of Lights: More Than Pretty Bulbs
The annual DECOLED Story of Lights series in Gödöllő intertwines light, art, and local tales so visitors don’t just see lights — they collect stories. As DECOLED managing director Eva Poláčková says: “Sisi’s Light Garden is a celebration of elegance and playfulness. From Baroque motifs to children’s laughter and musical themes, the light exhibition tells its story in several chapters and invites everyone to discover it step by step.”
