12 Top Places in Portugal for Digital Nomads That Make Remote Work Feel Like a Holiday
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One of the best things about Portugal, besides the fascinating cities, pristine beaches, and beautiful wines, is how perfect it is for digital nomads. It attracts remote workers with the promise of affordable accommodation, many things to see and do, plenty of amenities, and a laid-back lifestyle.
In fact, the only problem digital nomads have is deciding where to stay. With so many exciting options, committing to one place takes a lot of work. Luckily, we’re here to help. In this article, you’ll find a list of 12 top places in Portugal for digital nomads. We’ve selected these entries because they offer affordable living costs, magnificent attractions, and essential digital nomad amenities.
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Lisbon
Let’s kick this list off with Lisbon, the Portuguese capital. This beautiful city is best known for its charming old neighborhoods, colorful architecture, rich history, and iconic old-fashioned trams. It’s also one of Europe’s cheapest capital cities, making it a big hit with money-saving digital nomads and backpackers.
Furthermore, almost everyone in the city understands and speaks at least some English. Explore the city’s exciting attractions when you’re not working hard in one of many coworking spaces with high-speed WiFi or from your apartment balcony. You don’t want to miss São Jorge Castle, Belém Tower, the National Azulejo Museum, and Elevador de Santa Justa.
Read more: Unmissable Things To Do in Lisbon
Porto
Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto, is another excellent place to live if you’re a digital nomad. Here, you’ll find everything you need to work easily, including remote work-friendly cafes, coworking spaces, and English-speaking locals. Then, when you’ve finished work, you’ll have easy access to some of Portugal’s most famous attractions and landmarks.
Better still, the cost of living in Porto is only $1,386 monthly, including rent, utilities, and food. You’ll always have options regarding things to do in the city. History buffs can visit historic sites, sports fans can watch FC Porto, and night owls can get their buzz in one of many nightclubs. Must-visit points of interest in the city include Luís I Bridge, Bolsa Palace, Porto Cathedral, and Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.
Read more: Best Things To Do in Porto
Tomar
If you’d prefer to live somewhere quieter, consider moving to Tomar. Tomar is a charming city in Central Portugal, and it is an easy train ride from the capital. It may have fewer amenities and English speakers, but it makes up for that with the promise of affordable living, a relaxed atmosphere, and beautiful architecture.
Besides, you’ll still find coworking spaces with high-speed WiFi in the city center, such as Offício Cowork Tomar. Regarding living costs, a single person pays just $1,114 monthly to live in Tomar. Spend your free time strolling along the river, admiring the architecture, and tucking into local cuisine. Popular attractions include Igreja de São João Baptista, the Vieira Guimarães Building, and Castillo de Tomar.
Read also: Small Towns in Portugal for Budget-Friendly Getaway
Funchal
Funchal is a top destination for digital nomads drawn to Portugal by the promise of sun, sand, and sea. Capital of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago, this city is famed for its serene landscapes, centuries-old architecture, lush gardens, and lively harbor. Funchal is also often considered the gateway to the island.
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In Funchal, the opportunities for both work and fun are endless. You’ll find many places to work from, a thriving expat community, many outdoor adventure opportunities, and a city center packed with history. You can live like a local in Funchal for less than $1,000 monthly. When you’re not hiking in Madeira Natural Park or sunbathing at Formosa Beach, explore São Tiago Fortress and get lost in the Old Town.
Read also: Hidden Gems in Portugal
Cascais
Cascais is a lesser-known city in Portugal, approximately 30 minutes from Lisbon by train. Digital nomads living in the city can expect a slower pace of life, affordable living costs, gorgeous beaches, and plenty of fun things to do. Like Lisbon and Porto, Cascais also has many coworking spaces offering high-speed WiFi.
Meanwhile, the average cost of living in the city is $1,682, almost the same as the capital. Perfect for beach-loving digital nomads, you’ll likely spend most of your time in Cascais sunbathing at Praia da Rainha, hiking to the scenic Pedra da Nau viewpoint, and strolling along the pedestrian esplanade. Other notable points of interest include the Santa Maria House Museum, Boca do Inferno, and Cascais Marina.
Read also: Cheap Beach Towns in Portugal
Lagos
Another popular destination for beach-going digital nomads is Lagos, a picturesque coastal town in Portugal’s famous Algarve region. This town is perfect if you want to enjoy year-round sunshine, lazy days by the beach, and laid-back vibes. Lagos also has a growing digital nomad community, so you’ll likely encounter other English speakers.
You won’t find as many coworking spaces and internet cafes as in Lisbon, but you’ll enjoy an excellent quality of life and more natural beauty. That said, the town has reliable internet, a low cost of living ($1,416 monthly), and a selection of coworking spaces. Regarding things to do, don’t miss Ponta da Piedade, Praia Dona Ana, and Marina de Lagos.
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Read also: Insta-Worthy Places in Portugal
Coimbra
Coimbra is a beautiful riverbank city in Central Portugal that is most loved for its rich cultural scene, impressive history, vibrant nightlife, and affordable living costs. On your days off, Coimbra will entertain you with a lively Old Town brimming with medieval architecture, a downtown area lined with bars and nightclubs, and river walks that offer incredible city views.
Must-see locations in the city include the University of Coimbra, founded in 1209, the Barbican Gate, Praça do Comércio, and Santa Cruz Church. From a working standpoint, this student city offers modern amenities like fast internet, many workplaces, including cafes and libraries, countless budget-friendly grocery stores, and affordable accommodation options. You can rent a flat in Coimbra for as little as $600 monthly.
Read also: Tourist Mistakes To Avoid When Visiting Portugal
Braga
Digital nomads with a love for the big city but a tight budget will find everything they need in Braga, a vibrant city in Northern Portugal best known for its historical monuments. The average cost of living in Braga is just $1,217 monthly, leaving you with more money to spend on the things you enjoy.
Other perks to living in Braga include more English speakers, several coworking offices with high-speed WiFi, affordable grocery stores, and many things to see and do. As one of the oldest cities in Europe, you’ll spend most of your time in Braga hunting down the best landmarks, including Braga Cathedral, Bom Jesus do Monte, Santa Barbara Garden, and Arco da Porta Nova.
Read also: Fairytale Villages in Portugal
Ericeira
This hidden gem on the west coast of Portugal is famed for being the nation’s premier surfing destination. In fact, the town is famous for being Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve. Therefore, it’s the perfect place to live if you want to spend your free time hitting the waves. Living like a local, you’ll comfortably survive in Ericeira on $1,500 monthly.
Aside from surfing, Ericeira offers many more outdoor opportunities, including hiking, skateboarding, and biking. However, we prefer sitting on the beach with a refreshing beer. The town also comes to life in summer with events, live music, and vibrant nightlife. Noteworthy locations in Ericeira include Praia do Sul, the Old Town, and Santa Marta Park. Surprisingly, you’ll also find multiple nomad working spaces in the town.
Read also: Surreal Places in Portugal
Portimão
Next, we have Portimão, one of the larger cities in Portugal’s Algarve region. This is a top choice for digital nomads because it offers an excellent mixture of essential amenities, scenic views, pristine beaches, and things to do. It’s also an affordable place to live, with an average cost of living of approximately $1,200 monthly, including rent.
Essential amenities in the city include grocery stores, coworking spaces, free parking, and free public WiFi. Regarding things to do, most people spend their time in Portimão enjoying the great outdoors. We highly recommend visiting Praia do Vau, Praia dos Três Castelos, and Museu de Portimão and strolling along the river.
Read also: Tourist Traps To Avoid in Portugal
Faro
The penultimate destination on our list is Faro, the capital of Portugal’s Algarve region. This lively coastal city is famed for its vibrant nightlife and beaches, making it a big hit with beach and party-loving tourists and digital nomads. As such, you can expect to find essential amenities, such as high-speed WiFi, many English speakers, and endless things to see and do.
In Faro, work hard but play harder. Get your work done in a coworking space like Faro Avenida, head to Praia de Faro to soak up the sun and swim in the sea, and party the night away like a rockstar in Rua Conselheiro Bivar. Regarding the cost of living, you can expect to spend approximately $1,700 monthly.
Read also: Top Beach Destinations in Portugal
São Miguel
Digital nomads who want to be one with nature will quickly fall in love with São Miguel, the largest of nine islands in the Azores archipelago. You’ll find lush forests, picturesque lakes, breathtaking beaches, and immense volcanic scenery here. Despite the island’s rugged landscape, you’ll still have access to high-speed WiFi and a handful of coworking or coliving spaces.
Hiking, climbing, and boating are all popular things to do in São Miguel. On a boat trip, you can spot blue whales, sharks, and leatherback turtles. Meanwhile, staying in Ponta Delgada, the island capital, is a solid choice. You’ll find beautiful 16th-century architecture, traditional restaurants, and a scenic yacht-filled harbor here. Finally, you can live in the Azores for approximately $1,451 monthly.
Read also: Awesome Places To Retire in Portugal
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