Chaves Thermal Spa Receives Five Stars Award and Records All-Time High Demand for Wellness

In the first half of this year alone, over 17,000 spa-goers visited the Balneário Flaviense – already surpassing the 13,612 recorded throughout the entire year of 2024. The Wellness area saw the most significant growth, registering a 282% increase, driven by the opening of the Aquae Salutem Thermal Complex.

These are highly positive figures that highlight the growing demand for the Chaves Thermal Spa. In the first six months of this year, over 17,000 people visited the Balneário Flaviense, already exceeding the total number of spa-goers for 2024. The Wellness sector experienced the highest growth, with a 282% rise, largely due to the opening of the Aquae Salutem Thermal Complex – a unique facility in Portugal. Therapeutic Thermalism also saw an increase of 6.5%. These numbers were released at the same time as the spa was awarded the Five Stars Prize during a ceremony held in Sabrosa. The Balneário Flaviense was recognised, for the second consecutive year, in the "Thermal Spa" category for the Vila Real district.

For Nuno Vaz, Mayor of Chaves, this is true "national recognition" of the relevance of the spa and its growing impact in the region. “It is yet another quality certification that strengthens the unique identity of the Chaves Thermal Spa and will help us communicate more effectively, reaching new audiences. On one hand, we want to promote and make this unique thermal spa known, and on the other, provide truly rejuvenating experiences to all who visit us,” he said.

Brigite Gonçalves, Administrator of the Chaves Thermal Spa, who received the award on 27 June in São Martinho de Anta, stated that this recognition consolidates the team’s commitment to delivering high-quality services: “It is a recognition of the daily effort made by all staff to ensure excellence in our services and to provide unique experiences to our guests. It also represents a greater responsibility to keep innovating and raising the quality standards of the Chaves Thermal Spa. We’ve already started doing that, especially with the opening of the Aquae Salutem Thermal Complex – a wellness space that offers something truly unique in mainland Portugal,” she explained.

The Balneário Flaviense is already an established thermal destination, showing growing demand in both health and wellness segments. The spa received more visitors in the first half of 2025 than in all of 2024, which had already been a record year. Compared to the same period last year, the growth in the Wellness segment is especially remarkable, with a 282% increase, totalling 15,965 visitors – 11,263 of whom enjoyed the newly opened Aquae Salutem Thermal Complex, which has been operating since 23 March this year. The Therapeutic area also grew by 6.5%, with 1,518 spa patients.

Expectations remain high for the second half of the year, with demand expected to continue across both Therapeutic Thermalism and Wellness Experiences.