Located in northern Portugal, this thermal spring town has Roman baths from the 1st century and a 14th-century castle tower. Its natural hot springs reach 73°C.
Chaves, a town in northern Portugal close to Spain, invites you to cross its Roman bridge from the 1st century AD, dip your feet in steaming thermal springs, and walk along stone walls that protected the area for centuries. Local shops sell smoked ham aged in mountain air, and the N2 highway begins here, stretching south through the country. You’ll pass Roman ruins near Baroque church facades, spot a 14th-century castle tower above rooftops, and find hot water fountains in parks beside the Tâmega River.
Walk Through Chaves’ Ancient and Medieval Sites
Begin at Ponte de Trajano—a 140-meter Roman bridge over the Tâmega River with original pillars still visible. Find the Padrão dos Povos column at its northern edge, etched with Latin text honoring Emperor Trajan. Hike up to the Castelo de Chaves, a stone tower from the 1300s where you’ll see the town spread below, surrounded by hills. Downhill, sections of 14th-century walls wrap around narrow streets in the old town. Stop at Igreja da Misericórdia to see its interior covered in blue-and-white tile scenes from the 1700s. On the town’s edges, two star-shaped forts built in the 1600s—Forte de São Neutel and Forte de São Francisco—highlight Chaves’ importance as a border stronghold.
Bathe in Hot Springs and Try Spa Treatments
Natural hot water flows here at 73°C, a feature Romans used when they named the area Aquae Flaviae. Visit Termas & Spa for modern hydrotherapy sessions or taste mineral water at the fountain in Jardim Público. Parque Termal, a park near the river, has warm outdoor pools connected to underground springs. Explore excavated Roman baths just west of the bridge, where stone pipes and heating systems from ancient times remain visible.
Eat Smoked Meats and Flaky Meat Pastries
Presunto smoked ham and sausages like alheira dominate menus here. Order pastel de Chaves—a savory pastry stuffed with spiced veal—at family-run bakeries such as Pastelaria Ana. At Adega de Faustino, try feijoada à transmontana, a pork and bean stew cooked in clay pots. Drink red wines from nearby Trás-os-Montes vineyards, which cultivate grapes suited to the region’s dry summers.
Tour Museums and Walk Along the Tâmega River
Museu da Região Flaviense, inside an 18th-century palace on Praça de Camões, exhibits Roman coins, 19th-century military uniforms, and regional pottery. Cross the river to the Nadir Afonso Museum, a angular concrete building by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, displaying modern art. Walk the tree-lined Alameda de Trajano promenade or follow riverside paths to Poldras de Chaves—flat stones placed in the water centuries ago as a crossing point. Spend time in Jardim Público de Chaves, where thermal water fountains and benches sit under large oak trees.
Take Short Drives to Nearby Castles and Spa Towns
Go 12 km east to Castelo de Monforte, a hilltop fortress from the 1300s with towers overlooking Spanish borderlands. Drive 17 km southwest to Vidago, home to the early 20th-century Vidago Palace Hotel surrounded by forests and floral gardens. Chaves sits at the northern end of the N2 highway; consider renting a car to explore the route’s first stretch through terraced vineyards and granite-walled villages.
Reach Chaves and Sleep in Historic Buildings
Fly into Porto International Airport, 150 km southwest. Buses leave Porto’s Campanhã station multiple times daily, taking about 2.5 hours. Stay at Hotel Forte de São Francisco, a former military convent from the 1600s with thermal baths, or book rooms at Casa Guardião, a small guesthouse near the Roman bridge. Quinta da Mata, a renovated farmhouse 3 km outside town, provides rural stays with views of olive groves.
