Thermal baths in Portugal

In spa towns from the north to the Spanish border. In the north, Chaves, Vidago, Pedras Salgadas and Gerês, inside the Peneda-Gerês National Park, sell pool time to day visitors; Chaves sits on a spring that rises at 76 °C and Gerês on one at 50 °C. Further south, Luso at the foot of the Buçaco forest, São Pedro do Sul, whose spring rises at 68.7 °C, Unhais da Serra on the Serra da Estrela and Termas de Monfortinho on the Spanish border do the same. The Termas & Spa do Gerês closes for the winter season from 1 November 2026.

Usually not. At Termas de Monfortinho the pool, whirlpool and themed baths are sold as wellness services that need a signed informed-consent form but no consultation; only the cures need the bathhouse doctor. São Pedro do Sul sells its thermal circuit without a medical consultation but rules it out for anyone with cancer in the last five years, severe heart, liver or kidney failure or an infectious disease. Termas de Chaves is the exception: a health professional assesses each visitor before the Aquae Salutem pools.

On the mainland, mostly yes. A swimming cap is compulsory at Termas de Chaves, Termas de Monfortinho, São Pedro do Sul, the Termas & Spa do Gerês, the Vidago Palace spa and the Pedras Salgadas thermal spa, and in the warm-water pool at the Aquadome in Unhais da Serra. Chaves also requires flip-flops and a bathrobe, São Pedro do Sul and Vidago want slippers, and Chaves and São Pedro do Sul lend a bathrobe free.

It depends on the spa. São Pedro do Sul takes children from 5 in its thermal pool with a responsible adult, Monfortinho's pool is for over-12s and the Aquae Salutem pools at Chaves are from 14, with an adult. Luso is from 16, and the Vidago Palace spa is for over-16s, though under-16s may use the indoor pool from 10:00 to 17:00 with an adult. At Pedras Salgadas under-16s may use the spa only from 10:00 to 16:00, and the Aquadome in Unhais da Serra lets children up to 5 in free.

Yes, at most. Termas de Chaves sells its open-air pools in sessions booked ahead, São Pedro do Sul books time windows that the operator confirms, and Luso and the Aquadome in Unhais da Serra ask you to book every visit, the Aquadome sometimes with a 50 % deposit. The Termas & Spa do Gerês charges cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead in full. In Furnas, the Octant hotel's thermal circuit is booked with the spa team, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

It can. The operator recommends a dark swimsuit because the iron-rich water can stain light swimwear, and washing it promptly before it dries. Poça da Dona Beija gives the same advice and suggests a shower cap, because dyed or blonde hair may change color for good.

Tickets are sold online only, for a session of an hour and a half, with no refunds or changes. Evening sessions cost more than daytime ones.

Yes. Entry to the pools is a booked slot of an hour and a half, with at most 100 people in the thermal pools and 250 on site at once. Under-7s go free.

Yes. Terra Nostra sets no minimum age and asks adults to supervise young children, with youth tickets for ages 6 to 17. At Poça da Dona Beija minors come with an adult, babies need swim diapers, and under-2s go free. At the Octant Furnas hotel, children up to 12 may use the indoor pool from 09:00 to 13:00.