In recent years there’s been a significant uptick in people working remotely while traveling abroad, particularly in Portugal. People are craving flexibility in their work life and the ability to see the world. Portugal offers European access, a low cost of living, great weather, and so much more.
According to a report from Flatio, Portugal has claimed the title for the most desired destination by digital nomads. And since it’s the official hot spot, we’re sharing the best places in Portugal for digital nomads.
Why Portugal for Digital Nomads?
The sunshine, abundant things to do and unique places to explore are only a few reasons why so many people are making Portugal their new home. Fortunately, the country has responded to this movement by making it easier for digital nomads to set up shop.
There are countless coworking and co-living spaces, along with a visa that’s specific to digital nomads. Portugal also offers some of the strongest WiFi speeds in the world and an affordable cost of living.
Great WiFi Throughout the Country
Portugal ranks in the top 25 countries with highest internet speeds worldwide. You’re going to find good WiFi in popular towns and mostly everywhere throughout the country.
Portugal has tons of cafes, workspaces, and libraries that are great for connecting to the internet. When deciding where you’ll live, be sure to confirm with the host that their accommodation has strong WiFi.
Visas for Digital Nomads
Portugal offers what’s called the Digital Nomad Visa for foreigners looking to work remotely in the country. Under this visa there are two categories for stay duration.
The first is for up to one year and the second is for a residency permit that can be renewed for up to five years. Workers must generate an income of $3,350 (€3,040) per month.
Citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can apply for this visa and must meet the income requirements. EU, EEA, and Switzerland citizens will not require a visa to enter, live, or work in Portugal. Instead, they will need to register as residents with the SEF.
Cost of Living
The cost of living in Portugal is relatively low compared to other countries like the US and Australia. Portugal is one of the cheaper countries to live in Western Europe, while most individuals can live comfortably on $2,000 a month.
Things To Do
If you’re going to be uprooting to a new country, you want to ensure there’s a lot to do in between working. Fortunately, Portugal has a ton of great things to do throughout the country.
From surfing to exploring castles, Portugal offers something for everyone. There’s also so many unique places in Portugal that are the perfect destinations for weekend trips.
Getting Around
One of the best ways to get around Portugal is by car, as Portugal is well known for its popular road trips. However, Portugal offers great public transportation options for those without a car.
There are many trains that travel between larger cities, and buses that travel through smaller ones. In cities like Lisbon, Porto, and Sintra you’ll find trams that are popular vehicles for transportation.
Fortunately, majority of these places are walkable, so you can get around by foot or even rent a bike. The hills of Lisbon can be tough to climb at times, so the trams will be your friend here!
I like to use platforms such as Omio or Ride2Rio for finding train and bus routes. DiscoverCars and Enjoy Travel are great platforms for finding affordable rental cars if you’re looking to take a road trip or rent a car for a few days.
Best Places in Portugal for Digital Nomads
With so many amazing towns in Portugal, there’s a lot of great options for digital nomads to reside. Below are 13 of the best places in Portugal for digital nomads.
You’ll also find recommendations for the best coworking spaces in these cities, as well as resources for connecting with other digital nomads in those places.
Lisbon
As Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon is a bustling and vibrant destination that’s perfectly equipped for digital nomads. There’s cafes and coffee shops on practically every corner, so finding new places to work from comes as no problem.
Over recent years Lisbon has seen giant growth in its population, with countless foreigners wanting to join its colorful culture and warm climate. Lisbon is lined with amazing restaurants and shopping, along with tons of attractions to discover. With so many people migrating to Lisbon, the city offers numerous coworking and co-living spaces with great resources for those making the move.
- Best coworking spaces: Avila Spaces, Second Home Lisboa Coworking, IDEA Spaces
- Resources: Lisbon Digital Nomads & Expats
Ericeira
When I traveled to Ericeira I was amazed at how many digital nomads I met who were working from coffee shops in between surf sessions. If surfing, organic cafes, and a community-oriented culture is your vibe, I highly suggest choosing Ericeira as your home base.
The town of Ericeira seems to be filled with foreigners who have moved over, temporarily or permanently, to live and work in a laidback and welcoming lifestyle. Because of the community-oriented culture, meeting people and networking comes easily in Ericeira. Plus, it’s only 40 minutes north of Lisbon so you still have access to the big city.
- Best coworking spaces: Kelp CoWork, Salt Studio, Coastal Collective
- Resources: Ericeira Freelancers & Digital Nomads
Madeira
You wouldn’t think that a Portuguese island would become a hot spot for digital nomads, but there’s a variety of reasons why people are flocking there. The island feels like you’ve escaped to one of nature’s hidden gems, with beautiful hiking trails and natural pools throughout. But its two towns of Ponta do Sol and Funchal have recently attracted digital nomad communities, and with that have come great coworking spaces and networking events. It’s the perfect place to reside if you’re looking for work life balance with a tropical flare.
- Best coworking spaces: Cowork Funchal, Digital Nomads Madeira
- Resources: Digital Nomads in Madeira
Lagos
The Algarve is Portugal’s beloved coastal region, known for its incredible beaches, water activities, and laidback lifestyle. Lagos is arguably the most popular town to visit in the Algarve, being close to attractions like the Benagil Cave, Praia da Marinha, and Ponta da Piedade.
And with so much to do in the region, digital nomads have gravitated to this beach town to take advantage of its year-round sunshine and easy lifestyle. Throughout the Algarve, Lagos has become the hub for digital nomads, so head here if you’re looking for a community of like-minded individuals.
- Best coworking spaces: The Office Lagos Cowork, Lagos Digital Nomads Cowork
- Resources: Lagos Digital Nomads – Algarve, Portugal
Porto
If you’re wanting to live in a big city and immerse in the beauty of Portugal’s northern region, then Porto is the perfect place to go. As Portugal’s second largest city, Porto is filled with cafes and coffee shops along with a growing number of coworking spaces.
The city offers a lifestyle that’s framed around the Douro River, port wine, and rich history. Porto is also a great place to settle for a while, with plenty of accommodation options available throughout the city. If you’re planning a longer stay, you can rent a flat in Porto and enjoy having your own comfortable base while exploring everything the city has to offer. Like Lisbon, there’s no shortage of trendy neighborhoods and cafes to work from and meet people.
- Best coworking spaces: Synergy Porto, CRU Creative Hub, Porto i/o Downtown
- Resources: Digital Nomads Porto
Braga
Just north of Porto is the city of Braga, known for its religious history and impressive landmarks throughout. Being a smaller city, Braga offers the perks of city living that’s more cost friendly.
Its more affordable lifestyle and abundant things to do have attracted digital nomads and tech companies to settle in here. With this influx of remote workers, several coworking spaces and coffee shops have popped up, making Braga a great place to consider.
- Best coworking spaces: Factory Braga, Green Utopia, Regus
- Resources: Braga Digital Nomads
Coimbra
Most people head to Coimbra to attend or admire the University of Coimbra, which is essentially the Oxford of Portugal. As a city centered around academia, it only makes sense for it to be a popular destination for digital nomads.
Coimbra offers one of the oldest Baroque libraries (part of the university), along with cozy parks and cafes to nestle in and work from.
- Best coworking spaces: Nest Collective, Fluxo Coworking
- Resources: Coimbra Digital Nomads & Entrepreneurs | Events for All
Faro
The capital city of the Algarve, Faro has a lovely Old Town and direct access to amazing beaches that make it an upcoming destination for digital nomads. There’s plenty to do in the town, like exploring historic cathedrals and chapels.
Many people pass through here since it houses the only airport in the region. Faro is a great place to reside if you’re wanting to explore the Algarve and easily fly into other parts of Europe.
- Best coworking spaces: Alandra Square, Faro Avenida Business Centre
- Resources: Algarve Digital Nomads
Sagres
At the southern tip of Portugal sits the lovely and quiet town of Sagres. This beach town in the Algarve is where surfers gravitate to, and where digital nomads have been settling in as well. In the small town, there’s a few different fantastic cafes where you’ll find people working remotely during the day and listening to live music at night.
Sagres is where you want to be in the Algarve if you’re looking for a relaxed lifestyle and welcoming community. My favorite place to work from in Sagres is the Laundry Lounge, where you can do laundry while working, have coffee, and enjoy yoga classes.
- Best coworking spaces: Cowork Surf
- Resources: Algarve Digital Nomads
Portimão
Another popular destination in the Algarve for digital nomads is the town of Portimão, just west of Lagos. The nomad community is growing there and hosts regular meetups and activities like surfing and various sports.
The cost of living is fairly low which makes this beach town a great place to consider. Outside of amazing beaches, Portimão also has great markets to explore, as well as a beautiful church and museum in the main part of town.
- Best coworking spaces: CoCreate Coworking, Hub Ativo
- Resources: Portimão Digital Nomads
Aveiro
Aveiro is often called the Venice of Portugal, with canals and gondolas that swim through the city. Aveiro comes with proximity to Porto and the Douro Valley as well as a more affordable cost of living.
It’s also an ideal destination for creatives such as photographers or artists, with its colorful buildings and seaside lifestyle providing endless beauty and inspiration.
- Best coworking spaces: Fusion Cowork, Ocupa Cowork
- Resources: Portugal Digital Nomads
Peniche
About 90 minutes north of Lisbon sits the coastal town of Peniche, known for its beautiful beaches and thriving surf culture. Although it’s a smaller town, it’s become one of the more popular hubs for digital nomads and is perfect for anyone seeking a surf sanctuary.
Nearby Peniche is the charming village of Óbidos and the Berlengas Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Best coworking spaces: Cowork Surf, Swelldesk, Pipedream
- Resources: Digital Nomads & Freelancers Baleal (Peniche)
Azores
The Azores’ largest island, São Miguel, has attracted digital nomads who are looking for nature and lush landscapes. The Azores islands been compared to Hawaii, with stretches of tropical greenery that create a haven for nature lovers and those wanting to get outdoors.
The city of Ponta Delgada is most popular for nomads and isn’t too far away from the island’s nearby volcanoes and hot springs.
- Best coworking spaces: One Solmar, Cowork Surf
- Resources: Azores Digital Nomads
Where Do Digital Nomads Stay in Portugal?
Once you’ve decided where you want to live in Portugal, next is figuring out your accommodation. The best platforms to help with this are going to be Airbnb, Booking.com, and local co-living spaces.
Below is more information on each of these.
Airbnb
Airbnb is going to be the most popular site for finding extended stays. Of course, Airbnb can get costly with its additional fees, so be mindful of that when searching. It’s also important to read through all the reviews and double check the amenities to ensure there’s things like WiFi and a kitchen.
Co-Living Spaces
Another great option that will likely be more affordable than Airbnb are co-living spaces. These will be easier to find in bigger cities like Lisbon and Porto, but they’re popping up in more places that are popular for digital nomads.
Cowork Surf offers co-living and coworking spaces all throughout Portugal, particularly in popular surf destinations. They offer spaces in many of the destinations listed above, like Sagres, Azores, Peniche, and Ericeira.
Hostelworld
I’d also recommend checking out hostels for cheap and long-term accommodation. There are a lot of hostels throughout Portugal to choose from, and a great site to find them is Hostelworld. The only downside to living in hostels is that they can sometimes get loud with younger travelers on holiday, so make sure to read reviews and even email them to get a gauge of the environment.
Wotels is a great site to check out for finding various hostels and hotels throughout Portugal. You’ll find them throughout the country, and they offer affordable housing.
Booking.com Extended Stay
Booking.com is my go-to for finding hotels and apartments while traveling. If you scroll to the bottom of their page you’ll find “Discover Monthly Stays,” which will populate extended stays in the search bar.
I’d suggest filtering for apartments or hostels, as hotels can get expensive for longer durations. From there you should be able to find some good options on the site.
Which Island in Portugal is Best for Digital Nomads?
Between the two archipelagos in Portugal, Madeira is the best island for digital nomads. While the Azores have seen growth in digital nomads, Madeira has a larger community that makes it easier to connect with others and find relevant things to do.
The best areas in Madeira for digital nomads are Ponta do Sol and Funchal.
Tip! In case you need your English documents translated into Portuguese, it’s easy to find an online Portuguese translator.
Do Digital Nomads Pay Taxes in Portugal?
Anyone who spends more than 183 days a year in Portugal will become a tax resident. After this, one can apply for the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) status, which will reduce tax rates for 10 years.
Anyone with this status will not pay taxes on income that’s coming from abroad, and instead pay 20% in taxes opposed to 48%.
Conclusion: Best Places in Portugal for Digital Nomads
I hope this guide will help you feel confident in finding the best places in Portugal for digital nomads! Since Portugal has been deemed the most popular country for digital nomads, there are fortunately many amazing places to choose from that provide coworking and co-living spaces.
As mentioned, there’s so much to do and see all throughout the country, so finding exciting activities and events won’t be difficult. Whether you’re seeking a big city, or a relaxed surf stay, Portugal offers something for everyone.
Author the Author
Melanie is the owner and author of the travel blog, I Very Much Love It Here. When she’s not exploring new countries, Melanie loves cooking healthy and spending time outdoors where she lives in Venice Beach, California. She created her blog in hopes to inspire others to live a life they very much love.
