A few years ago, the very mention of the term workcation might have caused confusion and raised some eyebrows. After all, aren’t work and vacation the exact opposite of each other? Why on earth would anyone want to combine the two?
As we all know now, living in a post-pandemic world has brought many changes to how we both work and vacation. The workcation trend is one that is definitely on the rise and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
Workcations are one aspect of a much larger and broader trend, falling under the remote working umbrella concept. The idea of working from anywhere is just too good to pass up for many, and with technology expanding to make this more possible, the trend seems here to stay. With remote workers on the rise and moving, where are the best places to set up their laptops and log on?
The Internet’s largest vacation rental metasearch engine, HomeToGo, has compiled a ranking of the best places for remote working in Europe. The list ranks more than 150 cities across Europe and takes into account important criteria such as internet speeds, tourist attractions, hours of daylight, vacation accommodation prices, and the number of coworking spaces available.
The Top 5 Destinations in Europe For Remote Workers:
Lisbon, Portugal
It’s no surprise to see not one but two cities from Portugal on this list, as the country became one of the most popular destinations of 2022. Lisbon tops the list for many reasons, one being the median cost of a vacation rental per night per person is around $70 a night.
In addition to this, Lisbon has a high number of tourist attractions, boasts numerous co-working spaces at various price points, and is the sunniest capital city in mainland Europe, with over 2,800 yearly hours of sunshine.
Porto, Portugal
Portugal’s second-largest city of Porto comes in next on the list and is a favorite for remote workers for its high internet speed. The center city of Porto averages a download speed of around 96Mbps and an upload of 14.08Mbps.
Porto is not only a clean and walkable city, but there are a relatively high number of English speakers living here as well, making remote workers from English-speaking countries, such as the U.S., Canada, and The U.K., feel more at home than other cities.
Barcelona, Spain
A sunny city almost year-round, it’s not surprising to find beloved Barcelona high on this list of remote workers’ top destinations in Europe. It’s important to know certain things before visiting this major attraction to be prepared for how to best tackle this massive city full of options.
The median price per night per person for a Barcelona vacation rental is around $130 a night, and it’s full of co-working spaces catering to all types of workers. Remote working, or ‘teletrabajo’ as it’s known in Spanish, is very popular in Barcelona, and those who seek opportunities to network should have no problem doing so here.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
After having undergone a bit of a rebranding recently, Amsterdam is trying its best to attract a different type of visitor these days. Trying to distance itself from the tourists who have been coming to this city to party, Amsterdam is now a favorite for those looking for a picturesque European city for remote working.
Aside from numerous canal-side coffee shops to sit and work from, it doesn’t hurt that the average download speed is just over 100Mbps, and the upload speed is a strong 16Mbps.
Dublin, Ireland
Having been named one of the top cultural hotspots to visit this year, Dublin is enjoying attention from tourists looking for both long and short-term stays. From numerous co-working spaces and specialty cafes to the traditional pub, there is somewhere for everyone to work in this colorful and lively city.
The average price for a vacation rental in Dublin is around $90 per night per person, and there is no shortage of tourist activities to keep you busy after work. While there is no denying that the average cost of living here is a bit high, the general quality of life reflects this for remote workers choosing Dublin as their next base.
In case you are interested, the next cities claiming spots 6-10 are: Paris, Madrid, Lyon, Bristol, and Frankfurt, and the whole report can be read on the HomesToGo website.
