When looking for the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads, you want a location that promises a strong internet connection, an excellent remote culture, plenty of workspaces, and a vibrant expat/digital nomad community.
Portugal is a fascinating country known for its affordability, high quality of living, and laid-back lifestyle. Thousands of remote workers and expats are moving to the country to seek an environment that promises an optimum balance between travel, leisure, and work.
Portugal also recently launched the Digital Nomad visa, which allows remote workers, freelancers, and many more to live in the country for a given time. Beyond that, freelancers also use other popular options, such as the D7 passive income visa, which is also favorable. But then you want to choose the right place in Portugal to make your home. This article will discuss the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads.
Best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads
Lisbon
Lisbon is one of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads and expats. You’ll love the thriving startup scene with many networking and collaboration opportunities.
There are also plenty of co-working and co-living spaces. You could also always go beyond the formal workspaces to use the diverse cafes and outlets that are also friendly to digital nomads.
That said, Lisbon, being the capital, is slightly higher in terms of cost of living than other Portuguese cities. But you can always manage your budget by living outside the city’s center and prioritizing home-cooked meals. Even so, your rent may range from €900 to €1,500 for a 1-bedroom apartment.
Lisbon promises many side attractions with its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, like the many Sintra castles, Belem towers, Gothic cathedrals, and Fado shows in the historic Alfama district.
Pros of staying in Lisbon
- Diverse co-working spaces
- Assortment of co-living spaces for rentals
- Fast internet
- Easy to get by speaking English
- Plenty of amenities include malls, clubs, bars, and more.
- Excellent transportation network
- Fast internet
Downsides
- It can be crowded, especially in peak season
- Winters are still cold, and non-insulated houses have no heating
- Some locations within Lisbon have more digital nomads than locals
- The cost of living is higher than in most Portuguese cities
Co-working spaces in Lisbon
- Village Underground
- Liberdade229
- Outside Lisbon
- Secret Garden
Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and is in Northern Portugal. It’s a destination renowned for its famous port wine houses in historic Vila Nova de Gaia.
Portugal offers a vibrant city life but is also remarkably more affordable than Lisbon. However, you might still expect to pay up to €700 to €1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. There are also plenty of co-working cafes in the region. The co-working cafes often serve as networking hubs, making meeting other digital nomads and expats easier. Hence, it’s one of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads.
You’ll also love the many explorative adventures, including trips to the Douro Valley, food and wine expeditions, surf sports like Leca and Espinho, and many more. If you like, you can even take your adventures to Spain, only a little over an hour from Porto.
Pros of living in Porto
- The charming riverside city
- has a more laid-back vibe than Lisbon.
- Lower cost of living compared to Lisbon.
- Co-working spaces available.
- Excellent social scene and nightlife
- Access to beautiful beaches and natural attractions.
Downsides
- Not as bustling as Lisbon
- Plenty of hills and stairs
- Wet winters and most housing doesn’t have heating
- Rising living costs
- Fewer international flight connections.
Co-working spaces in Porto
- Mesa325
- Typographia Cowork
- Selina Porto
Algarve Region
The Algarve Region offers a variety of towns and villages with some of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads. Here, you can expect near-perfect weather, sun-soaked beaches, 300 days of sunshine per year, abundant outdoor activities, and a growing digital nomad community. All over the Algarve, there are places to go hiking, sailing, cycling, and kayaking.
Faro, the regional capital, is home to various remote workers and a perfect place for networking and collaboration. But the town can feel ultra-urban as there’s a broad international community, which is opposed to enjoying a truly authentic Portuguese experience.
Lagos gives you a party atmosphere since it’s trendy among tourists and digital nomads. But then, remember, Lagos isn’t a city. So you’ll have plenty of amenities for a laid-back beach life, but if you want to do serious shopping, you can always go to Faro.
Tavira is a charming historic town that comes alive seasonally. Also, note that these locations in the Algarve are popular tourist destinations. So why this mean you’ll find pristine restaurants, cafes, and co-working spaces? It also means they tend to be crowded during peak season.
Beyond that, you can rest easy that the Algarve Coast is highly affordable. However, unlike in Lisbon, you may only find a few co-living spaces. But you can still find great hostels that backpackers and digital nomads in the region use.
Pros
- Variety of towns and villages for everyone
- Lower cost of living than Lisbon and Porto
- Tons of gorgeous beaches
Cons
- Limited co-working and co-living spaces,
- It may feel too touristy during peak season.
- There are fewer amenities than in larger cities. For serious shopping, you must often plan trips to Porto or Lisbon.
- Many of the towns and villages would like decent public transport.
Co-working spaces in the Algarve
- Lagos Coworkers
- Alandra Square
- Noma Village
Braga
Braga is also another budget-friendly historic city in Northern Portugal. It offers a pleasant climate and is known for its welcoming community. Braga is also one of the oldest cities in the country. So you’ll find several historical landmarks and attractions.
That said, Braga is away from the coast. So there are no beaches there. But there are also plenty of outdoor activities, including biking, climbing, hiking, and much more. It’s also a small city with a population of less than 200,000. So, it will be less congested, and there will be no thriving hubs of digital nomads there.
It’s more of a relaxed spot for digital nomads who want to soak into the local scene and avoid the tourism hubs. Nevertheless, Braga has a lower cost of living. Many things cost up to 50% less than in Lisbon. You can even pay €550 to €900 for a one-bedroom apartment. This is why Braga is one of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomas.
Pros
- A budget-friendly historical city in northern Portugal.
- A friendly and welcoming community with,
- Strong local culture.
- It is more affordable than other cities in Portugal
- An hour or two away from the larger locations.
- Relatively slow pace of life,
- ideal for seeking calmness.
Downsides
- There are fewer co-working spaces and career opportunities compared to bigger cities.
- You’ll need basic Portuguese to get around there.
- It can be cold and wet in the winter
- It’s not on the coast
- Limited public transportation in the region.
The Island of Madeira
The sunny Island of Madeira is also a fascinating place to be. Holiday-makers and digital nomads alike all visit this popular destination. Right on the southern coast of the Island, you’ll love Ponta do Sol. It’s known for its tranquil environment with lush green mountains overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Plus, the climate here is mild all year round. So you can expect hot, sunny, and dry summers that don’t get too hot and super mild winters. What primarily makes Ponta do Sol a great place to be is that it’s the world’s first digital nomad village. So, beyond the weather, you’ll enjoy a thriving digital nomad community and superb internet connection.
Ponta do Sol also has a vibrant nightlife and lively cultural scene. Even so, the cost of accommodation around Maderia is fast becoming expensive. You should expect to pay €650 to €1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. It’s also more challenging to find co-living spaces here.
Pros of living in Madeira
- Decent weather all year round
- Countless attractions to commune with nature
- Island-perfect for a laid-back lifestyle
- Digital nomad community with plenty of free co-working spaces
Downsides
- Remote location. Often requires two and a half hours by ferry to mainland Portugal
- Lack of amenities.
- Limited co-living spaces
- Mostly pebble beaches that aren’t picturesque
- The rising cost of living
Ericeira
Ericiera is a small beach town with many outdoor activities and easy access to the larger cities. It’s also very laid-back for digital nomads who want to enjoy the outdoors. You can go surfing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and much more there.
The charming town is also about 45 minutes from Lisbon. So you can still visit the big city whenever you like. Surprisingly, Ericeira also offers a good mix of locals and foreigners. Therefore, it’s one of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads.
But we recommend honing your Portuguese skills to make it easier to go around there. Living in Ericeira is expensive compared to other towns, but it’s still cheaper than Lisbon. You should expect to pay anywhere from €700 to €1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Pros
- There are plenty of charming destinations to enjoy
- Laid-bike vibe
- Easy access to the bigger cities
- Ericeira offers mild and warm summers
Downsides
- It can get crowded during peak season
- Accommodation is also more expensive compared to other towns.
- Ericeira often gets windy, and it can get frigid in winter.
Coimbra
Coimbra is nestled in the heart of Portugal. As a historic city and home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, there are many sites to see here. Also, since it’s around the University, you’ll get a student atmosphere.
Even so, the fascinating town promises cobbled streets, gorgeous cathedrals, picture-perfect hills, and many more. Large cities like Lisbon and Porto are also 1 to 2 hours away. So whenever you miss a more vibrant city life, you can hop on a train or car. The cost of living here is also decent. You can expect to pay €500 to €850 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Hence, it’s one of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads. Plus, there are train connections, something lacking in many towns and beaches around Portugal. It’s also away from the tourist bubble, making it a good spot, especially around the summer months.
Pros
- Decent public transportation
- Reasonable cost-of-living compared to Lisbon and Porto
- Well-connected to other cities, towns, and villages in Portugal.
Downsides
- Fridays can be pretty crazy, as expected of a student city
- Rainty winters, but the temperatures are still decent
- Limited international networking opportunities
- Fewer digital nomad communities
Azores
The Azores offers one of the most stunning locations by the Atlantic Ocean. If you are okay with how remote it is, the Azores is a gorgeous place to set up camp as a digital nomad. The Azores comprises nine islands over 1,000 miles away from the mainland. But even with these nine islands, most are around Santa Maria, Terceira, and Sao Miguel. Azores also promises a lower cost of living and fantastic weather. That said, it’s not one of the mainstream locations. So the expat/digital nomad communities are limited here. Even so, it’s still one of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads.
Pros
- It is an ideal location to enjoy an incredible time in nature
- Lower cost of living compared to Lisbon
- Mild climate and temperatures
- High quality of life.
Downsides
- Limited connections
- Erratic and unpredictable weather all year around
- Inadequate amenities, including healthcare
- Remote and disconnected
- Fewer to no networking/collaboration hubs
Aveiro
Aveiro offers truly authentic Portuguese experiences. It’s the second most popular city in Portugal’s central area, known for its gorgeous water canals, stunning cafes, colorful boasts, and shops.
Even though Aveiro isn’t as big as Porto or Lisbon, it’s still one of the best places to relocate in Portugal as a digital nomad. The weather is decent all year around and does not get as intense as the Southern regions in summer.
Aveiro is also quite close to Porto by train. So you can always visit the more prominent city when you like. Beyond that, living costs are relatively lower than in Porto or Lisbon. You can expect to pay €650 to €1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Pros
- It’s so easy to get around this city on foot
- Incredibly colorful city
- Remarkably mild weather
- Proximity to the beach, such as the Costa Nova town
Cons
- It is pretty remote and smaller than many beach towns
- No digital nomad community
Conclusion
Portugal’s allure to digital nomads is undeniable. From sun-kissed beaches to vibrant cities, its diverse landscape and welcoming culture offer something for everyone. Whether you crave bustling nightlife, charming historical towns, or volcanic island getaways, Portugal has a corner to call your own. So, you will find many of the best places to relocate in Portugal for digital nomads.
Even so, Choosing the perfect spot depends on your priorities. Consider your budget, lifestyle preferences, work needs, and desire for community. You can begin researching your accommodation as well. It’s also an excellent idea to reach out to online communities and network with experienced digital nomads in Portugal to gain valuable insights.
