Geraldine Mills is a self-confessed wanderlust from the land down under, Australia! She funds her adventures by working as a brand consultant and as a travel writer. She loves sharing the allure of backpacking and being one with nature.
Nowadays, people have begun to realize that your career and life doesn’t necessarily have to be in one place at all times. You can live quite a fulfilling life even as you travel around the world—without having to let go of a career that you’ve built up.
As you’ve probably heard, the term used to refer to the type of people who live this kind of life is digital nomads.
Instead of traffic or being late for work, digital nomads worry about the size of their carry-on luggage. And for many, the most exciting thing on their mind is where to next.
If you’re a digital nomad looking for ideas on a great place to travel to that’s accommodating for your specific needs, we think you should turn your eye to Europe. There are a ton of cities on this continent perfect for digital nomads, each with their own unique culture and vibe.
Here are nine European destinations that digital nomads should consider:
1. Berlin, Germany
One of the best metropolitan cities in Europe for any digital nomad is in Germany—yep, we’re talking about Berlin.
In the city of Berlin, you’ll find speedy internet because of the robust and lively tech industry there, and plenty of cafes and coworking spaces to work from. You can find affordable rooms, too, if you know where to look. The food here is tasty and it has a crazy nightlife that you won’t want to miss.
Berlin is welcoming towards foreigners, so you definitely won’t feel too alienated when you’re there, either. Just a note: The city can get quite cold in the winter—you might want to go in the warmer months.
2. Budapest, Hungary
Another amazing European city for digital nomads is Budapest. It’s a lot cheaper than other cities in western Europe and has loads of potential for remote workers.
The monthly cost of living for digital nomads in Budapest is around $1,400 a month, making it quite affordable for most with a decent job or steady gigs. Aside from that, there are plenty of available coworking spaces, and the internet is fast as well.
The beauty and charm that the city has to offer make it worthy of a trip, and given the incredible affordability, it’s near the top of our list for digital nomad destinations.
3. Barcelona, Spain
¡Viva Barcelona! This major European city has fantastic weather, rich culture, and undeniably good food (paella, anyone?). It’s well known for its lively nightlife, so when the sun drops, you won’t have to worry about getting bored. Plus, the Mediterranean setting is sure to help you relax and mellow out.
WiFi in the city is prevalent, and the internet speed hovers around 37 Mbps, which is average for Europe. There’s no shortage of cafes and coworking spaces, which is always a bonus for a digital nomad.
The only downside is that Barcelona is quite populated, with 5.5 million in the city, and the cost of living can be quite high. That said, to lower costs I recommend checking out a co-living space, where you can both live and do your work.
4. Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, also known as the Peace Capital, is ranked third in cities in regard to the highest quality of life in the world. That’s something to tip your hat at!
For digital nomads, this is an enticing place to stay if you want to experience the serenity and livability that Geneva is known for. Both coworking spaces and WiFi are available throughout the city, too.
One of the most significant issues you’re going to have to overcome, though, is the cost of living. It can rack up to around $5,000 / month, which can be pretty steep for some digital nomads. But, if you have the financial capabilities to do so, you may want to consider living in one of the most peaceful places in the world.
5. Vienna, Austria
A big reason why people choose the digital nomad lifestyle is that they want to be able to experience all sorts of diverse cultures. Enter: Vienna
The terrific thing about Vienna, is that it has such an active art and culture scene that any digital nomad would feel blessed to be able to call it home for a while. There’s so much to see and so much to do in this city!
As a digital nomad, you’re most certainly concerned about access to the internet. Luckily in Vienna, there’s free Wi-Fi available all over the city. If you want to hunker down and do some work, then there are also a multitude of coworking spaces open with reliable and fast internet and hot coffee.
6. Poznań, Poland
Have you heard of Poznań? It might not be on your shortlist, but it should be: this medium-sized Polish city is a solid option for digital nomads looking for affordability and a chill, but fun atmosphere. Poznań is under the tourist radar and just the right size to explore; it’s full of surprises, from cafes in hidden courtyards to riverbank pop-ups.
With a monthly cost of living of less than $1,500, it’s relatively cheap to set up shop here for a few months or longer. There are plenty of places to work from as well, and the internet speed is decent (25 Mbps).
Poznań might be a city of 500,000 people, but it’s quaint and rustic, so you won’t find a wild nightlife here. However, if you’re looking for a more subdued travel experience in a place you’ve never been to before, then Poznań could be it.
7. Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is another European city worthwhile for a long visit. It’s very welcoming to foreigners, so you won’t have a difficult time at all staying there as a digital nomad and calling it home for a while. Edinburgh has free WiFi around the city and a good amount of new coworking spaces. Also, if you’re looking for work, freelance gigs are in abundance in Scotland—all you need to make it in this beautiful country is your laptop and some digital skills.
The old town in Edinburgh is magnificent and full of character. You’ll find cobblestone streets with towering Gothic architecture overhead. Juxtapose that with the “new town” area, which is modern, sophisticated, and lined with trendy pubs and cafes.
Edinburgh is on the higher end of the spectrum on this list in regards to expesnes, with a monthly cost of living sits around $3,000. Given all the city has to offer, though, it’s for a good reason.
8. Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is a digital nomad-friendly city with fast internet, a vibrant nomad community, and an abundance of coworking spaces available. This colorful Portugal capital has amazing weather, too: mild winters, long summers, and about 300 days of sun!
The tech and start-up scenes are all booming in Lisbon, making it an excellent choice for location-independent workers, no matter what industry you might work in. There’s also an insane amount of things to explore: from museums to castles to aquariums. And, the nightlife is happening, with musicians playing on the streets across the city and lively bars and restaurants.
Lisbon is on the slightly more affordable side, making it attractive to digital nomads who want to spend some time in Western Europe. The monthly cost of living is around $2,500, which is much less than that of other thriving nearby European cities like Paris or London. Our recommendation: if you plan on going, try visiting during December.
9. Belgrade, Serbia
If you’re looking for another inexpensive place to live for a spell in Europe, Belgrade is an excellent choice. The average monthly cost of living for a digital nomad is a little over $1,500, which is among the lowest on this list.
Belgrade has started opening coworking spaces in the last few years, and there are now numerous spaces to work from. The average internet speed (24 Mbps) is and Wi-Fi is available throughout the city.
The nightlife is hopping in Belgrade, so if that’s your thing, you won’t be disappointed. The Serbian people are super friendly and accepting of foreigners, which is an added bonus.
Wrap Up
Digital nomads have the privilege of living a life unfettered by physical constraints. So if you are one, make the most out of it! If you’re planning on staying somewhere in Europe, consider choosing a location from the nine European cities listed above. You’ll find affordable choices, famous and not-so-popular destinations, but all-in-all, everything in the list is welcoming in some ways to digital nomads. Bon voyage and stay safe!
Where to next? Find flexible month-to-month rentals across the globe on Anyplace.
