11 best destinations to move to in Portugal for remote workers

Portugal - a haven for remote workers and digital nomads: A few things to note: 

Madeira digital nomad village

The Madeira Digital Nomads project allows remote workers to live in the village of Ponta do Sol, a Digital Nomad village with villa and hotel accommodation, co-working stations, free WiFi and scheduled social events. If you work as a digital nomad in Portugal, you can take advantage of the Non-Habitual Residents programme (NHR) to save money on tax.

Portugal's digital nomad visa

If you’re travelling from the EU, a visa is not required, as Portugal is within the Schengen area, which means EU citizens have the right to live, work, and settle in Portugal. If you’re travelling from outside the EU (including the UK) and you plan to spend more than 90 days in a row living and working in Portugal as a digital nomad, you’ll need to apply for a D7 visa. Portugal is one of a handful of European countries that offers a long-stay visa option to digital nomads and remote workers. If accepted for the D7 visa, you can live and work remotely in Portugal for up to two years. After that, you can renew your visa for a further three years. And once you have lived in Portugal for five years, you can make an application for permanent residency (subject to passing a basic language test).

Choosing where to live

When making a choice on where to move in Portugal, it’s important to consider your hobbies and interests, lifestyle preferences, and working arrangements. You can choose between the bustling cities of Porto and Lisbon, the magnificent golden beaches of the Algarve or peaceful islands such as the Azores or Madeira. Cafés with WiFi make a great casual workplace to set up for the day, or meet with other digital nomads, but there are many dedicated co-working spaces with additional amenities and services.

Read on to find out more about the best place to live in Portugal for digital nomads. 
 

Lisbon

With its exciting combination of rich history, striking architecture, buzzing nightlife, and fascinating culture, Lisbon is the obvious choice for digital nomads who thrive on city life. In fact, for many remote workers, it is probably the best place to live in Portugal. Although Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city, the pace of life on its cobblestone streets is relatively slow and steady compared to London or New York. There’s an array of local independent restaurants and a lively café scene. The people are warm, friendly and welcoming, and many locals speak English. Most major landmarks and attractions are accessible on foot from the city’s main neighbourhoods.

Average internet download speed - Fast - 30 Mbps

Weather - Warm and sunny summers; mild winters

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €591 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Samesame is a creative co-living space working towards building a sustainable neighbourhood in Lisbon. The space comprises a co-living home, two co-working spaces, a sustainable restaurant, and a cultural event venue.

Selina Secret Garden is in trendy Cais do Sodre. Private and shared rooms are available, plus a shared common room, pool, bar, patio, and rooftop deck. There is an on-site co-working space, plus a weekly social programme.

Outsite Lisbon is also in Cais do Sodré, close to the Time Out market. It boasts more than 30 en-suite rooms, shared kitchen facilities, co-working spaces, and an on-site café.

Co-working spaces

Options for co-working in Lisbon include the beautifully furnished Avila Spaces, Unicorn’s fully-serviced offices, Heden’s sustainable offices and the artsy Liberdade 229 offices.

The Lisbon Digital Nomads organization arranges weekly social events and co-working sessions, so it’s easy to make connections here. 

Porto

Close to the Douro River and its famous bridges, the romantic city of Porto has an easygoing atmosphere. The local people are welcoming, and most people speak English. Porto has a fantastic food scene, with a diverse choice of cosmopolitan local restaurants and tascas. The cost of living in Porto is slightly lower than in Lisbon, and the city is well-connected, with excellent air, rail, and public transport services. Porto’s Ribeira district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can stroll past the pastel-coloured houses that line the promenade, enjoy views of the Ponte de Dom Luis I, or explore the warren of medieval alleyways. The World of Wine complex is home to a variety of restaurants, bars, and museums, and is a great place to learn more about the history of Portugal and Porto.

Weather - Warm and sunny summers’ cool and rainy winters

Average internet download speed - Fast - 43.3 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €572 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Renting a room in a co-living property will likely cost €200 - €300 per month. You could also consider staying in an Airbnb property, with rates starting from around €700 per month.

Camilo Co-living is a newly-renovated home targeted at digital nomads, international students, and interns. Set in peaceful Bonfim, it offers both private rooms and rooms with shared bathroom facilities. It’s within a short walk of Campo 24 de Agosto metro station and bus stop, allowing fast access to the city's amenities and attractions.

The newly-renovated accommodation at Selina, Porto, is within walking distance of Porto’s Ribeira district. It offers a co-working space with high-speed WiFi, meeting rooms, café and courtyard bar. Depending on your preferences and budget, you can choose between comfortable dormitories or private rooms.

Co-working spaces

Options for co-working in Porto include Synergy Coworking, which provides free coffee, and has a garden to work from when the weather is good. The owners organize regular events for the digital nomad community.

Porto i/o has four beautiful office locations in Porto - riverside, seaside, downtown, and Santa Catarina. These creative co-working offices facilitate regular workshops, lectures, and social events. 

Braga

With more than 30 churches and small palaces in the Old Town, the ancient city of Braga is Portugal’s religious centre. It’s home to one of Portugal’s most famous landmarks, the church of Bom Jesus do Monte. Located in northern Portugal between the Douro and Minho rivers, Braga is the third largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and Porto, but there are fewer tourists, and fewer people are English-speaking. Transport links and infrastructure are good, and the city is well-known for its rich history and lively social scene. This up-and-coming city is only around 30 minutes from the beach, and in 2020, 97% of people living in Braga were happy that they lived there. The city has many pretty gardens and squares to explore, so Braga is the ideal choice if you’re looking for a beautiful place to live and work in Portugal.

Weather - Warm and sunny summer; mild and rainy winters

Average internet download speed - Fast - 37 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €526 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Sharing an apartment will likely cost €200 - €300 per month. You could also consider staying in an Airbnb property, with rates starting from around €700 per month. There are no dedicated co-living spaces in Braga at the time of writing.

Co-working spaces

Factory Braga is a three-floor co-working space hosting more than 70 different companies. You can choose between a hot desk, private office, or meeting/event space.

Home2Work is a modern, comfortable, and well-equipped space just two minutes from the city centre. It offers private offices, hot desks and meeting rooms, and a chill-out lounge space to relax and meet other digital nomads.

Sagres

Perched on the western tip of the Algarve, Sagres's remote, rugged coastal village boasts fantastic surfing, breathtaking clifftop landscapes, and stunning beaches. Sagres is becoming increasingly appealing to the digital nomad community, the perfect choice for adventure lovers, surfers, and sun-worshippers. Praia do Tonel sits close to the village centre and offers some of the most beautiful scenic views, including Cabo de Sao Vicente (Europe’s most south-westerly point) and the fortress of Sagres. Beach lovers will be drawn to Praia do Beliche, which is slightly off the beaten track and accessed via steep wooden stairs onto the beach. The classic Algarve village of Vila do Bispo is a peaceful neighbourhood with white-washed villas dotted along the narrow streets.

Weather - Warm, humid, dry and clear summers; cool and cloudy winters; windy year-round

Average internet download speed - Fast - 41 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €556 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Flat-sharing is likely to cost between €150 - €250 per month. Renting an Airbnb property in the local area will probably cost you around €700 per month.

Digital nomads can stay and work at Outsite Sagres, a contemporary coastal home with a private one-bedroom apartment, private rooms with bathrooms, and private rooms with shared bathrooms. The property has many work-friendly spaces with fast WiFi, multiple outdoor decked areas, balconies, and a spacious, well-equipped kitchen. Staying here provides many opportunities to meet other digital nomads, and guests can access an online Member Hub.

Co-working spaces

There are no dedicated co-working spaces in Sagres unless you stay at Outsite Sagres. However, there are several cafés and informal spaces to work from, including the Laundry Lounge, where you can enjoy delicious snacks, meals, and drinks while you work (or even do your laundry!)

Surfers and digital nomads often head to The Hangout, which has live music events and serves coffee, beer, and pizzas.
 

Ponta do Sol, Madeira

There is a dedicated digital nomad village in Ponta do Sol, Madeira. Located on the island's south coast, the ocean is warm, the weather is good all year, internet speeds are fast, and the food and wine are delicious. The nomad village is the first of its kind in Europe. It has a dedicated free working space and supports the digital nomad community, including a dedicated Slack Channel. Regular events and classes are on offer, including mindfulness exercises, reiki, yoga, and Tai Chi. Inside the village, you can work, participate in workshops and lectures, and meet other digital nomads for networking opportunities. The nomad village is at the heart of Ponta do Sol, just a short walk from the many local bars, restaurants and cafés. It is also only a few steps from the ocean bay.

Weather - Warm, dry summers; mild winters

Average internet download speed - Fast - 40 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €521 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Outsite Ponta do sol is an ocean-view hideaway with 15 bedrooms, and you can choose between a studio, private room or apartment. All rooms have sea views. Designed for digital nomads and remote workers, you can be at the waters’ edge in less than one minute, and a ten-minute drive takes you to some of the best surfing beaches on the island. There are plenty of spaces to work, the Wifi is fast (average 101 Mbps), and it’s a great place to network with other digital nomads.

Another option is Banana House, a peaceful traditional Madeiran home around 2km from the centre of Ponta do Sol. 

Co-working spaces

Ponta do Sol’s free-to-use Working Space is inside the John do Passos Cultural Centre, right at the heart of the digital nomad village, and it’s the ideal setting for day-to-day work and networking. It’s close to the ocean bay and only a short distance from the best local restaurants, cafés and bars. It’s open between the hours of 9.00 am and 6.00 pm and provides free internet access. 
 

Aveiro

This compact city is close to the ocean, on the Silver Coast. Nicknamed the ‘Venice’ of Portugal, this is a popular option for digital nomads who want to escape city life's hustle and bustle. Although this beautiful city is considered relatively peaceful, it’s still well-connected and has all of the amenities you could ever need. Once a popular holiday destination, Aveiro is becoming increasingly popular with retirees, and there are fewer expats than in other Portuguese cities. The cost of living is generally lower than in Lisbon and Porto, but fewer people speak English. If you enjoy history and culture, the attractive neighbourhood of Gloria and Vera Cruz is one of the larger local civil parishes. Sao Bernardo is a popular choice for tourists and expats, while Santa Joana is home to several religious and architectural places of interest.

Weather - Comfortable, dry, mostly clear summers; cold, wet, somewhat cloudy winters

Average internet download speed - Fast - 40 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €515 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

You can expect to pay around €200 - €300 per month for a room in a co-living property. There is a wide choice of Airbnb properties in the area, but no dedicated co-living spaces at the time of writing.

Co-working spaces

Ocupa Aveiro is at the heart of the city, close to the river. It offers dedicated tables, private offices, meeting rooms - and free coffee!
 

Peniche

Also situated on Portugal’s Silver Coast, Peniche boasts some of the best waves in Europe, so it’s a paradise for surfers and water lovers. The town has a relaxed vibe, and the locals offer a warm welcome. Thanks to its popularity with tourists, there are many English-speaking people in the area. This fishing village has plenty of fresh seafood restaurants serving locally-caught crab and sea bass dishes. The town’s former fortress is now a museum and provides the ideal opportunity to learn more about building boats and maritime life.

Weather - Sunny but cool summers; mild and rainy winters

Average internet download speed - Fast - 40 mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €430 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

If you want to combine remote working with surfing, Baleal Surf Camp is open between December and March. You can choose between shared accommodation in Baleal Hostel (around €400 per month) or private apartment accommodation (around €800 per month). Both options are less than ten minutes from the beach. Benefits include shared or private kitchen facilities, surfboard and wetsuit, high-speed internet (average download speed 150 Mbps), and use of a desk and printing facilities for 4 hours per day.

Swelldesk is a combined co-living and co-working space next to Peniche. There’s space to store your surfboard here, so it’s a perfect choice if you enjoy surfing and watersports. WiFi strength is at least 200 Mbps (up to 1000 Mbps in some areas), and you can choose between sitting or standing desks. There is a Skype room for video calls and on-site surfboard and bicycle hire. The open-plan apartment can accommodate up to six people and offers sociable indoor and outdoor living spaces. Each private bedroom has its own desk, and there is a small Skype room, too.

Coworksurf

The workspace at this co-living/co-working space overlooks the pool. Room choices include doubles, twins, and rooms with a balcony. There is a large shared living room with a comfortable sofa and a TV. Work facilities include fast WiFi (200 Mbps), private workspaces, tea and coffee facilities, breakout spaces (indoor and outdoor), and quiet spaces to make calls. There is even a music studio providing the perfect space to record music, podcasts, film vlogs, and video content.

Co-working spaces

Coworksurf also offers a private workspace for non-residents, which can be arranged on an ad-hoc basis.

Other options include cafés with WiFi, such as Cafe do Mercado and Bar do Brono, or this private office space for rent.
 

Ericeira

This calm, peaceful town is popular with the people of Portugal, with many choosing to visit for a weekend break or summer holiday. It’s a fairly small town, but it’s rapidly developing, and plenty of dedicated co-working and co-living spaces exist. The lifestyle here is relaxed by day and lively by night, and there are a number of highly-rated tourist attractions and facilities. 

Around one hour from Lisbon, this small town enjoys its reputation as ‘the surfing capital of Europe’, and it was the only town in Europe to reach the World Surfing Reserves. The town’s landscape combines white-washed houses with clifftops high above the Atlantic Ocean. The cost of living is lower than many other options on our list, and there are countless recreational opportunities to enjoy, including surfing, cycling, yoga, and coastal walks. There’s a lively online Facebook group for digital nomads.

Weather - Warm, dry, and generally clear summers; cold, wet, partly cloudy winters; windy year-round

Average internet download speed - Fast - 36 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €410, excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Sunago Co-living & Co-working House is a traditional Portuguese house with separate work and living spaces, as well as outdoor green spaces and a patio to work from if you prefer. The communal workspace is light and airy, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors. If you want to stay here too, private rooms cost €50 per day, or a shared room is around €25 per day. You can choose various co-working passes to suit your needs, including daily, weekly, and monthly passes. If you choose a monthly pass, you will have 24-hour access to the workspace, plus a dedicated desk.

Co-working spaces

The Base Ericeira is dedicated to creating a sense of community for digital nomads and remote workers. It hosts a variety of regular events, including meet-ups, networking opportunities, and breakfasts. It’s very close to the beach, and you can choose different membership packages to suit your needs. If you want to ‘try before you buy’, a one-day drop-in member package is a good choice. You can also buy weekly passes, monthly passes, dedicated desk space, or a private office. Members can access the co-working space 24/7, while non-members can sign in via reception between the hours of 9.00 am and 4.00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Salt Studio is a beautiful and nurturing setting to work from. It offers a range of packages, from daily passes to 90-day passes. You can even choose a flexible package, which allows you access for five days over a two-week period, or ten days over a one-month period. The WiFi download speed is 300 Mbps (on average), and the co-working space is open 24/7. The desks and seating are comfortable, and there are meeting rooms and private places to take phone calls. You can even enjoy free tea, coffee, and cookies while working here. 

If you prefer to work somewhere less formal, there are plenty of cafés with WiFi to choose from. Mama’s Caffe Ericeira is a popular choice for digital nomads. It’s open between 9.00 am and 7.00 pm every day. If you prefer to work into the night, Amour Soul Space is open until 9.00 am and offers an excellent vegan menu. 

Lagos

Within easy walking distance of some of Portugal’s most beautiful beaches, this city on the Algarve is an up-and-coming destination for digital nomads. With a fantastic foodie scene, a warm and sunny climate all year round, fascinating history, and an attractive city center, you can find some of the best waves in Portugal here. There are a number of exciting bars and restaurants to visit, and the atmosphere is increasingly lively as the evening wears on. Lagos attracts people from all age groups thanks to its welcoming atmosphere, but it is particularly popular with backpackers and surfers in their 20s and 30s. 

Lagos has its own gorgeous beaches, and there are plenty of other options to explore nearby. If you want to explore further afield, there is a train station and bus station connecting the city with other local towns and villages. You can walk to Praia Porto Mos and Meia Praia beaches from Lagos’ town centre. Lagos is within easy reach of Portimao, which is the second-biggest city on the Algarve. It is a popular choice for holidaymakers and tourists. The cost of living is higher than in other towns on the Algarve. There is an active community for digital nomads here: The Lagos Digital Nomads Community.

Weather - Warm, dry summers; mild winters

Average internet download speed - Fast - 41 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €646 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

Noma Village is a dedicated co-living/co-working village in the city. A minimum stay of 10 days applies to all bookings. Noma Village aims to attract digital nomads and remote workers interested in self-development and spirituality. 15 people can co-live here in a community at full capacity. The accommodation includes private bedrooms and shared living spaces. There is a varied activity programme, including yoga, meditation, surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, beach clean-ups, and parties. There are two separate spaces to work from, each with large common desks and comfortable seating. You can also work in outdoor spaces such as the balcony, which offers views of the pool and ocean.

Co-working spaces

The Office is within easy reach of the city centre and the beach, with good links to public transport. If you choose to co-work here, you’ll enjoy a full desk, fast internet, screen rental options, and access to the kitchen facilities. You can choose from daily, weekly, and monthly memberships, with a variety of options to ensure maximum flexibility. There are private meeting room facilities and plans in the pipeline for recording and photography studios.  

If you want the best chance of meeting others in the Lagos Digital Nomads Community, head to Mar D’Estorias Cowork. With five co-working spaces available, the space offers an original, inspiring décor designed to inspire creativity. Comfortable and bright, it’s open from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday. It offers fast internet, as well as complimentary tea and coffee, printer access, lockers, and heating. There is also an on-site coffee shop serving coffee and pastries. Grab a seat on the terrace for first-class views of the city.
 

Figueira da Foz

Under two hours from Portela Airport, this oceanside city is at the mouth of the River Mondego, one of Portugal's most popular seaside resorts. This cosmopolitan town is historically significant since the start of the 19th century. It also hosted the first World Surf League Championship Tour event in 1996. With a variety of different surfing spots to try, this lively city is a paradise for surfers. It also boasts a casino, an excellent beach and beautiful scenery. Historical sites to visit include the Sotto Mayor Palace, the city museum and the Fort of Santa Catarina. There’s a local market selling fresh produce and flowers close to the marina, and you can visit the Clock Tower to enjoy a beach walk with wonderful ocean views.

Weather - Dry, comfortable, mostly clear in summer; cold, wet, somewhat cloudy in winter

Average internet download speed - Fast - 94 mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €514 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

There are no dedicated co-living accommodation options in Figueira da Foz at the time of writing. However, there is a wide range of hostels, apartments, and Airbnb's in the local area. The Paintshop hostel has an open-plan living space, including an internet café, bike hire, fully-equipped kitchen, pool table, and comfortable lounge. There is also a courtyard garden with a BBQ and pizza oven. The surf-themed bedrooms are comfortable and cosy, and the shared bathrooms are fitted with hot power showers.

Co-working spaces

Dedicated co-working spaces are limited, although there is a space within the Image Quartel, which is a former municipal firehouse. This space is designed to appeal to people working within the art, design, and multimedia industries.
 

Amarante

This enchanting town is full of beauty and character. Situated in the district of Porto, 56km from the city of Porto, and nestled between the Vinho Verde wine region and the Douro Valley, the Tamega River trickles through the town and boasts wonderful views of the Marao mountain range. There are a number of exciting attractions and landmarks to visit in this medieval town, including the home of Teixeira de Pascoaes, one of the most famous 20th-century Portuguese writers and poets of all time. In the heart of the town, weave your way past the colourful buildings to reach the city’s shops, museums and monuments.

Weather - Warm, dry, and generally clear in summer. Cold, wet and cloudy in winter

Average internet download speed - Fast - 36 Mbps

Monthly living costs for a single person - Around €430 excluding rent

Co-living accommodation

There are no dedicated co-living accommodation options in Amarante at present. However, there are a variety of apartments, Airbnb’s, and hostels in the local area. Casa da Juventude de Amarante provides affordable hostel accommodation within the town’s historic centre. It has an on-site vegetarian restaurant and a music studio for band rehearsals. When staying in the hostel, you can take advantage of free WiFi, a multipurpose co-working space, laundry facilities, a shared lounge and kitchen, and a room adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Co-working spaces

Dedicated co-working spaces are limited at the time of writing, but there are several cafés with WiFi that you can work from. When the weather is good, you can work outdoors and enjoy river views from the large terrace at Doçaria Mário café.
 

Summary

The trend for remote and digital working continues to rise steadily. Being approved for a visa to live and work in Portugal as a digital nomad is fairly simple - the most difficult choice will be finding the best place to live in Portugal. The best thing about working as a digital nomad is that you don’t have to commit to staying in one place for too long. Why not choose a few options from our list and start planning your next digital nomad adventure?