Is Remote work here to stay?
The covid pandemic fundamentally changed how we did a lot of things; socialize, communicate, interacts. While some of the personal and social parts of life have come to some level of normality, very few parts of our lives got so impacted as much as our work.
Remote work became a norm, with companies small and large allowing for many positions to be worked away from the office. Many people embraced and still embrace this as it has shown that commute times and proximity to an actual office may not need to be as important as we thought.
But times seem to once again be changing. Many of the largest companies like Apple, Facebook and more are mandating people back at the office again. If we follow the previous trend, will we go back to before? We don’t think so.
More innovative and trusting companies have rolled out so-called “hybrid” models of work in addition to programs that allow workers to take periods of time to basically work from everywhere. So for a bunch of us who are not in the lineage of what is known as a digital nomad, what are our options?
Here are the top 5 warm European destinations for remote work and why:
Lisbon, Portugal
One of the least best kept secrets, Lisbon has grown into a hub for international professionals and digital nomads. It has also emerged a great place for startups with a mix of growing talent, several working visa schemes, English becoming more and more prominent. While prices have risen in the last years, it still happens to be quite affordable for a European capital and has beautiful beaches and surfing not too far away!
Pros:
Cons:
Barcelona, Spain
The glorious seaside gem that is Barcelona is already touted by many as a top touristic destination, but how does it fare as a place to live and work?
Well for starters, the Spanish Digital Nomad Visa makes it a lot easier to make the hop over but there are some restrictions.
Pros: Great weather, architecture, food and vibes. Barcelona is vibrant with it’s colours, majestically designed neighboorhoods. It also has a well connected international airport that makes it easy to be move in and out.
Cons: Very touristic city yearround, so accommodation prices tend to be somewhat high yearround. Also, securing a long-term lease for a flat can be difficult, unless you go via a rather pricey agency.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Croatia no longer the secret pearl of the Adriatic but have you considered working from one of the most majestic seaside structures in the world?
This place is truly inspirational, compact and yet, feels like a fairytale. It has good to great weather for about 10 months a year, strong Adriatic winds makes a slightly unpleasant in wintertime. It has an unequivocal charm and beauty.
Pros: Stunning, grammable views, beautiful islands in proximity, a growing scene
Cons: inconsistent internet speeds, pricey food and drinks, especially in the touristic season (June- August), relatively bad parking situation.
Rome, Italy
Italy’s capital is by far one of the most visited and cherished cities, not only in Europe but also in the world!
While it is technically not possible to swim in the spanish steps nor play a pick up football match within the amphiteater, it has plenty to offer for someone looking for a base to work remotely in Italy.
Pros: With some research, finding affordable places to eat, drink and work can be quite efficient. Even if it is the capital, for the most part, Italy can be a more relaxed destination than most in Europe
Cons: Finding longer term and reliable accommodation can be difficult. Rome does have a bit of a reputation of being a haven of pick pockets and tourist scams. Some level of street smarts should be required for this location.
Athens, Greece:
The Greek digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live and work in Greece for a year, with a possible two-year extension. The visa also permits you to travel freely in the Schengen area and, if eligible, receive a 50% tax reduction.
We also recommend to check out this site to have pretty simple breakdowns of living costs in different cities around the world: https://nomadtraveltools.com/
odjgergerpger
odjgergerpger
