Historic landmarks
Main monuments, best viewpoints, and what’s worth your time in Chaves.
Private Transfers in Chaves — Airport & Day Trips
Private and reliable transfers in Chaves – airport, hotel, business travel and day trips across Portugal.
Explore the best of Chaves
Chaves is in the Porto & North region of Portugal, about 448 km from Lisbon Airport.
Lisbon time
11:07
19 Oct 2026
Nearest airport
OPO
144 km
Porto Airport (OPO) · 144 km
Region
Porto & North
Portugal
Population
37,590
Residents
Overview
Plan your visit: the sights of Chaves, what to eat and where to stay.
Landmarks · Cuisine · Hotels
Hotels & stays
Book the right stay in Chaves: best areas, smart picks, and options for every budget.
Roman bridge
A 2nd-century bridge over the Tâmega built under Emperor Trajan, with two Roman milestones still standing on it.
Chaves thermal baths
Spa baths fed by springs at around 73 °C, used since Roman times; the Roman baths museum is nearby.
Castle keep
The medieval keep of Chaves Castle, now a small military museum, surrounded by gardens and the old walls.
São Francisco Fort
A 17th-century star-shaped fort built around an old convent, now a hotel with gardens on the ramparts.
Nadir Afonso Museum
A white contemporary museum by Álvaro Siza on the riverbank, dedicated to the geometric painter Nadir Afonso.
Pastel de Chaves
A crisp, flaky half-moon pastry filled with minced veal, with protected geographical indication.
Folar de Chaves
An Easter bread baked with layers of ham, sausage and other cured meats.
Chaves ham
Cured ham with protected indication, dried in the cold, dry air of the region.
Trás-os-Montes wine
Robust reds from the Chaves sub-region and the hills around.
Alheira
A garlicky smoked sausage of poultry and bread, fried and served with an egg.
Barroso honey
Dark heather honey from the Barroso hills west of Chaves.
Chaves travel guide & FAQ
Chaves travel guide
Chaves sits on the River Tâmega in Trás-os-Montes, close to Galicia. The Romans founded it as Aquae Flaviae for its hot springs, and their bridge still carries people across the river. Today it is a friendly spa town with a medieval centre, a castle keep and a strong food tradition.
What to see
Walk across the Roman bridge, built under Emperor Trajan, and visit the remains of the Roman baths. Try the hot spring water at the thermal baths, among the hottest in Europe. In the old town, climb the castle keep, now a military museum, and see the star-shaped São Francisco fort. The white Nadir Afonso Museum, designed by Álvaro Siza, shows the work of the painter born in Chaves.
What to eat
Chaves is famous for its pastéis, crisp pastries filled with minced veal, its presunto (cured ham) and its Easter folar, a bread with meats. Try alheira, honey from the nearby Barroso and robust Trás-os-Montes wines.
Nearby
Vila Real is about 50 minutes south, and the villages of Barroso and the Gerês mountains lie to the west.
Getting there
Chaves is about 165 km from Porto Airport. GoToo drives you door to door at a fixed price per vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers, so you can book with confidence.
It was built at the start of the 2nd century under Emperor Trajan and is still in use for pedestrians.
Crisp, flaky half-moon pastries filled with minced veal, with protected geographical indication.
Yes. The thermal baths in Chaves offer treatments using water that comes out at about 73 °C.
GoToo runs private transfers, about 165 km, at a fixed price per vehicle.
Map of Chaves
Highlights
- Historic city in the Trás-os-Montes region
- Roman heritage dating back to Aquae Flaviae
- Iconic Roman bridge over the Tâmega River
- Long tradition of thermal springs and wellness
- Proximity to the Spanish border
- Strong local gastronomy and regional products
Private transfers in Chaves
- ✓ Fixed price · no surprises
- ✓ Up to 90 min airport waiting included
- ✓ Professional licensed driver
Getting to Chaves
Chaves sits about 144 km from Porto Airport, roughly 125 minutes by road. Public transport often means changes and waiting, and may leave you a walk from where you want to be. A private transfer takes you door-to-door, with a fixed price and no connections — from €110 from Porto Airport.
