Grand Voyager | Exploring Budapest

By Lilly Douse

Published on 15/07/2026 - 16:00 GMT+2

Few cities in central Europe are more beautiful than Budapest. Divided by the River Danube, it's a city of historic castles, thermal baths and world-class cuisine.

In this episode of Grand Voyager, Euronews Presenter Lilly Douse explores why this city is so popular. Her journey begins on the “Pest” side of the city at Széchenyi Thermal Baths, one of the city’s most famous bathhouses. Built in 1913, the baths attract over a million people each year.

From there, she visits City Park, where the Country’s 1896 Millennium exhibition took place. Here she visits the iconic Vajdahunyad Castle, Heroes’ Square and the Hungarian State Opera House. Her journey around the Pest district concludes at St. Stephen's Basilica, one of Budapest’s most important religious landmarks.

Lilly then heads to Buda, the historical side of the city, where she visits the towers of Fisherman's Bastion. Close by, she stops off at Buda Castle and Matthias Church, where she learns more about the historic Castle District. To end her walking tour, she boards a boat for a scenic trip over the Danube River.

For her time in Budapest, Lilly stayed at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, a historic hotel in the heart of the city. Here she is pampered at the hotel wellness centre, an experience that reflects Hungary’s spa culture.

After exploring Budapest, Lilly heads to Kóspallag village to see what lies beyond the city. She joins a guide for a foraging experience, tasting food that grows naturally in the countryside. Whilst there, she visits an organic garden and a private basket-weaving workshop.

Lilly’s time in Budapest concludes at the prestigious two-Michelin-starred Stand Resturant, where she has a cooking masterclass and tasting experience. An action-packed adventure to say the least!