📍 Our Top 5 Digital Nomad Destinations in Portugal
Portugal is a hidden gem in the Mediterranean that is quickly becoming a hotspot destination for digital nomads. This country has everything a digital nomad needs, from various coworking places and cafes in bustling cities to beautiful sandy beaches and delicious cuisine.
With the recent introduction of the Portugal Digital Nomad visa, more and more digital nomads are heading to this diverse country to work remotely.
If you're considering making Portugal your home base, keep reading for our top recommended locations that tick all the right boxes for affordability, safety, internet speed, and more.
Make sure you're covered before your depart!
Why live in Portugal as a Digital Nomad?
You might be wondering, "Why would I go to Portugal for my digital nomad journey", allow us to list a few reasons why we love Portugal and think you will too:
- 🍷 If you love food as much as we do, you'll love Portugal's fantastic cuisine and wine. It offers a variety of delicious and affordable options. It is renowned for its seafood, sweet pastel de nata, and Port wine from Douro Valley.
- 🌞 The country has a pleasant Mediterranean climate that remains mild throughout the year.
- ⚡️ High-quality infrastructure - Portugal has many cafes and coworking spaces with stable and fast internet.
- 🍃 The nature in Portugal is just stunning and includes beautiful beaches, national parks, and picturesque countryside dotted with charming villages, vineyards, and olive groves.
Research Where You Want to Live
Portugal can be a great place to call home whilst working remotely. If you prefer the beach, you can enjoy the Algarve. If you like city life, Lisbon might be the place for you. Alternatively, if you enjoy the , you could base yourself surrounded by the vineyards.
Researching and comparing the pros and cons of different locations will help you prepare for your trip and book your accommodation with confidence.
One of the many good parts of being a digital nomad is that you are free to choose which location you want to work from—giving you more flexibility than being tied down to just one location.
Things to keep in mind when researching different destinations
- 💰 Cost of living – Researching and comparing prices is crucial before deciding, as it can significantly impact your budget.
- ⚡️ Internet speed and connectivity – For remote work to succeed, it is vital to have a fast and reliable internet connection.
- 🖥️ Coworking spaces can be a helpful indicator if you are looking for a place with a lively community of digital nomads.
- ⛑️ Safety –Choosing a safe place to live is crucial, especially for solo travellers.
Our 5 Recommended Digital Nomad Destinations in Portugal
#1 Lisbon
We've had a great time working and living in Lisbon for a while. It's a trendy destination that offers all the comforts of life in one place. Lisbon is a city renowned for its stunning architecture and famous for its cobblestone streets and yellow trams that traverse the city.
The city has a significant startup community with numerous coworking spaces, accelerators, and incubators that cater to entrepreneurs and innovators. And when you finish work, you can enjoy a diverse range of restaurants and cafes serving delicious food and drinks.
Lisbon at a Glance:
💶 Cost of living
€2,576 / $2,698
⚡️ Internet Speed
15.83 Mbps Upload / 93.82 Mbps Download
🔥 Coolest Areas
Baixa, Alfama, Chiado, Cais do Sodré
#2 Porto
A few years ago, we visited Porto, and we would love to revisit it in the future. If you're looking for a beautiful coastal city with a unique history and a rich culture, Porto is one destination you don't want to miss.
This picturesque city is famous for its iconic bridge spanning the Douro River and its world-renowned port wine, produced in the Douro Valley and shipped from the city's historic wine cellars.
And being the country's second-largest city, it is home to a small community of digital nomads. Plus, it is an affordable place.
Porto at a Glance:
💶 Cost of living
€2,098 / $2,197
⚡️ Internet Speed
14.54 Mbps Upload / 93.54 Mbps Download
🔥 Coolest Areas
Ribeira, Cedofeita, Foz do Douro, Baixa
#3 Algarve
The Algarve is a region in southern Portugal known for its stunning coastline, beautiful beaches, and Mediterranean climate. It is the perfect location for a digital nomad looking for a beach place to call home.
There are a few places in the Algarve that are perfect for digital nomads; below, we will highlight our favourites:
🍃 Faro
Faro, the capital city of the Algarve, is a stunning place with charming cobbled streets, beautiful beaches, and historical landmarks. The Ria Formosa National Park is nearby, where you can walk trails or take a kayak to explore and enjoy nature. Faro's only drawback is the limited number of coworking spaces and the high tourist crowds in summer.
🐚 Lagos
Although it's not as famous as Lisbon, the region has recently gained popularity among nomads, remote workers, and other creative people. The stunning beaches, great weather, surf spots, and relaxed atmosphere make it a hot destination.
🏄🏽♂️ Sagres
Sagres is a small town in the westernmost part of the Algarve region. This town is known for its stunning beaches and is one of the best places in Portugal for surfing. If you want to learn or enjoy surfing, Sagres is perfect.
However, just like Faro, few coworking spaces are available yet. Therefore, if you are looking for a big community of coworkers, Sagres might not be your ideal place.
🦑 Portimão
Portimão is a small town famous for its stunning beaches, lively vibe, and delicious seafood. It is an ideal destination to combine work with watersports like surfing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and stand-up paddleboarding. Besides, they have a great nightlife with many bars, nightclubs, restaurants and late-night shopping areas.
Algarve at a Glance:
💶 Cost of living
€2,468 / $2,585
⚡️ Internet Speed
14.71 Mbps Upload / 71.87 Mbps Download
🔥 Coolest Areas
Everywhere around the main towns and beaches
#4 Ericeira
We did a home exchange with a couple from Portugal a few years ago. We were based in Ericeira for a month and loved it. The town on the coast is stunning, with charming white houses, cobblestone streets, and picturesque squares.
The atmosphere is very laid back and relaxing. The beaches are breathtaking, and the town is popular with surfers. Over the past years, several coworking and coliving spaces have opened up.
Ericeira at a Glance:
💶 Cost of living
€1,694 / $1,774
⚡️ Internet Speed
9.2 Mbps Upload / 60.3 Mbps Download
🔥 Coolest Areas
Everywhere around the main town
#5 Madeira
Just off the coast of Portugal lies the beautiful archipelago, Madeira. Madeira is a stunning mountainous volcanic island with natural beauty, including lush forests, towering mountains, and a dramatic coastline.
If you're concerned that you will be too distracted to work, rest assured that numerous coworking and coliving spaces are available where you can complete your work and socialize with others.
Madeira at a Glance:
💶 Cost of living
€1,730 / $1,811
⚡️ Internet Speed
102.75 Upload / 190.85 Mbps Download
🔥 Coolest Areas
Machico, Santa Cruz, Funchal, Ponta do Sol
Not sure what to pack for Portugal? We've got you covered...
🌍 That's a wrap!
Now that we've outlined our five best hotspots for digital nomads in Portugal, it's up to you to select your desired destination.
Every place has something charming, and they all have in common that they share a beautiful Portuguese vibe and culture.
Have you considered living and working remotely as a digital nomad in Portugal? If so, let us know where - @remotevagabond.