Chaves rests in the Alto Tamega valley of far northern Portugal, a Roman spa town where a footbridge from the first century still crosses the river and thermal water has drawn visitors for two thousand years. It is also, practically speaking, car country: the pleasures here are scattered across a green border region that no bus timetable serves well. With a rental car, the pattern of days becomes effortless. The A24 motorway runs straight south toward the Douro, putting the terraced vineyards of Portugal's great wine river about an hour away, with Vila Real and the baroque Mateus Palace en route. North, the Spanish border town of Verin sits barely twenty-five minutes off, close enough that crossing for lunch is a local habit. The belle-epoque spa resort of Vidago, with its palace hotel and forested grounds, is a fifteen-minute hop south. Portugal drives on the right, EU licenses are valid as issued, and non-EU visitors should carry an International Driving Permit alongside a home license to keep everything smooth. The most important practical detail in this region is tolling: the A24 collects tolls exclusively through electronic gantries, with no cash booths at all. Sort payment before you drive, either through the car's onboard transponder or a prepaid toll arrangement offered at the rental desk, and the motorway becomes carefree. Beyond the A24, the national roads of Tras-os-Montes are quiet, scenic and blissfully free, winding between granite villages, chestnut groves and viewpoints over the valley. Winters bring fog and occasional morning ice to the high ground, so allow margin from November to March, while summer is dry and bright. Manual transmission is the Portuguese norm; book an automatic ahead if you need one, then let the spa town be your base and the border country your playground. Fill the tank in Chaves before setting out for the Barroso highlands, whose stone villages and shared pastures carry a farming heritage recognized worldwide.
We earn from qualifying purchases. Some links are affiliate — full disclosure.
Cross-trip essentials
Plan the rest of your trip
Vetted partners across the essentials. Bookings fulfilled by partner — Aurum earns commission on completed bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Need a ride?
Pre-book an airport transfer
Door-to-door private transfers in 100+ countries. Fixed prices, vetted drivers, instant confirmation.
Search transfers →Where you'll stay
Find a hotel or stay
Compare hotels, resorts, villas, and apartments through our trusted booking partners.
Browse stays →Travel covered
Get travel insurance
From about $1.50/day. Trip cancellation, medical, lost luggage — all from vetted partner underwriters.
Compare plans →