Our Expert Guide to the Best Digital Nomad Destinations
The top places to set up life and work abroad
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While all the talk during the pandemic was of being grounded, isolated, and cut off from the world, many were already right where they wanted to be. Life is a holiday, when you’re a digital nomad. Well, not quite a holiday, as the digital part of the title suggest they have to work...but at least they’re able to live out their dreams by earning a living abroad. According to a report by MBO Partners, 4.8 million Americans today consider themselves digital nomads, and that figure is rising fast. So, where will you move to in order to join the craze? We’ll be looking at several factors when picking our top digital nomad destinations. Climate, beauty, and location all come into play, while the ease of learning the language (or the proficiency of the locals in English) makes for a linguistic cherry on top. Affordability can never be overlooked, either. Most digital nomads work online, so their earning power doesn’t change in each city, while the price of local goods and one’s ability to enjoy the region’s upscale gems varies quite dramatically. So, we here at Plum Guide have done the hard work, and pooled together some of our favourite spots for digital nomads to reside.
Be the envy of your colleagues in Berlin
A digital nomad working on their laptop in a public cafe
Despite being the capital city, Berlin is one of the most affordable places to move to in Germany, putting it right up there with the very best digital nomad destinations. Its cultural and historical highlights, dating back to the time before the wall fell, also make this city an intriguing and unforgettable choice for a place to stay as a digital worker. While German isn’t the easiest language to learn (Mark Twain coined it ‘the awful German language’), the city has a thriving international culture, with many locals speaking perfect English. That said, there are still enough locals who don’t communicate in the Sprache of Shakespeare, so you'll have ample opportunity to practice your Deutsch while there. Countless hip and trendy cafés serve as hubs for hungry freelancers, laptops out on tables as they tackle a slice of apple strudel. While in the city, check out the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building (register online to see the dome), and Museum Island.
The Reformer, Plum Guide home in Berlin, Germany
Discover a luxurious work-life balance in Lisbon
A young digital nomad working on her laptop on a roof terrace in Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal is the on-trend country of choice for digital nomads. In fact, its year-on-year growth for foreigners moving in has set records in recent years - it also appears that around 80% of those new to the country are between 25 and 44. This makes them prime suspects as wanderers who work on the web (or digital nomads). Like Berlin, Lisbon is (for now), very much affordable relative to other capital cities in Europe. The language is probably not quite as daunting as German, although some of the pronunciations and spellings are a little more complex than the idioma of neighbouring Spain. Practice your Portuguese as you wander through the quaint neighbourhood of Alfama, or take an old-world tram up the alleys of the Bairro Alto. Head west to Sintra for the majestic castles and beaches, stopping in at the Convento dos Capuchos or the Palácio & Parque de Monserrate.
Swim Good, Plum Guide home in Lisbon
Sight-see between meetings in Barcelona
An aerial view of the Cathedral of Barcelona, Spain
Hey, do you like surrealist gothic architecture? You do, huh? Well, you’ll feel right at home in Barcelona. It’s not bad at all in terms of affordability, and you’ll find yourself right in the middle of a Gaudí (the architect) dream (or nightmare, depending on your taste). Admire the iconic gothic features of the Cathedral of Barcelona (it’s been under construction for a million years, so it better be worth it), and hang around the otherworldly works of art in Park Güell. Work on your tan down at the beach, or watch a game at the world-famous Camp Nou Stadium. Oh, and put down those Spanish translation books…the locals speak Catalan - and they can get a little uppity at the sound of Spanish. Well, most do understand and speak it, so maybe a few phrases won’t go amiss.
Mellow Musings, Plum Guide home in Barcelona, Spain
Take your business to the beach in the Canary Islands
A person working on their laptop on a sun lounger at the beach, Canary Islands
If you’re looking for something different, away from city life, why not fly out to the Canary Islands. You’ll still want to be vaguely connected to the world, with strong Wi-Fi and a host of cultural activities to do during down time, so Las Palmas makes for one of the best digital nomad destinations around. The weather is mild-to-hot, the city is affordable, and the language is (finally) Spanish. We’d say that it’s the easiest of the languages we’ve mentioned today for English natives, so get learning. That said, there’s a lot of English going around these parts too. Visit the Pueblo Canario for an insight into a typical old Canarian village, and relax on one of the many sandy strands. You may want to stay in the upmarket Ciudad Jardín district that was set up by the British in the late 1800s.
By Camel Back, Plum Guide home in Spain
Join swathes of hard-working nomads in Greece
A man working on his laptop while exploring large rocks near Meteora Monasteries, Greece
Greece is arguably becoming the place for digital nomads, so take note. The Greek government recently implemented a special visa, allowing internationals engaged in remote jobs to work from Greece. It comes with tax incentives to support those opting for the modern way of earning, so any fears of sustainability will be eased significantly. As well as that, it is also still Greece, so there really doesn't seem to be a downside to this plan. Whether you're taking in the history of Athens, discovering the ancient theatre of Epidaurus, or working from a boat on the Aegean, your time will be well spent. The language is tricky, but that just makes it even sweeter when you finally learn how to say 'I want to to stay here forever'.
Enjoy earning in Croatia
A narrow cobblestone street in Dalmatia, Croatia
Like Greece, Croatia liked the idea of introducing a special digital nomad visa, and implemented it from January 1st 2021. The visa allows remote workers from outside the EU (yep, that includes the UK now) to gain a one-year permanent residence, and omits them from having to pay any income tax. Sounds good, right? Well, it'll sound even better when you remember that Croatia is also full of beaches. Who would want to work from an office, when the alternative is earning money while dipping your toes in the Adriatic? And if you get bored of lounging around on the beach every day (is that possible?), you can always spend a day as a tourist. Visit Diocletian's Palace or Amphitheatre de Pula, and wonder why it's taken you so long to discover the digital nomad lifestyle.
