Portugal has SO much to offer digital nomads. Year round sunshine, a low cost of living and a thriving digital nomad community, it really does tick all the boxes!
Cities full of colour and charm, endless beaches, cliffs and caves, world famous surfing and amazing food. English is widely spoken in Portugal and the Digital Nomad lifestyle is embraced, the locals are friendly and welcoming to people from all over the world.
What makes Portugal even more appealing to Digital Nomads is the abundance of co-working spaces, co-living opportunities, digital nomad meet-ups and events to help you connect and be inspired by like minded remote workers and entrepreneurs.
I’ve been living the Digital Nomad life in Portugal for almost 2 years now, last year based in Lisbon and this year running coliving retreats for Digital Nomads in the stunning Algarve!
Here are my best tips about life as a Digital Nomad in Portugal!
Digital Nomads Guide to Lisbon
Lisbon really is one of the best places in the world for Digital Nomads. The city itself is stunningly beautiful with cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and the iconic yellow tram.
Lisbon is full of Instagrammable cafes, restaurants, and bars to meet with friends and fellow nomads, there is a real cafe culture here so coworking over coffee is very much encouraged.
Torre de Belém was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1983.
As well as Digital Nomad friendly cafes there is a coworking space on almost every corner in Lisbon. My favorites when I’m in town are Selina and Time to Cowork.
There is a lot of affordable accommodation in Lisbon, starting from $400 for a co-living space and $800 per month for a private apartment. Check out Nomadx who specializes in medium to long-stay apartments and co-living for Digital Nomads in Portugal.
I couldn’t speak about Digital Nomad life in Lisbon without mentioning the world-famous Thursday meet-up for Digital Nomads which now attracts hundreds of Digital Nomads every week!
For the weekends, Lisbon is just a thirty-minute train ride from stunning beaches, hiking, and surfing as well as just a few hour’s drive from the Algarve for a weekend away.
Digital Nomad life in Porto
Porto is Portugal’s second-largest city and another great choice for Digital Nomads. Smaller but arguably even more charming and beautiful than Lisbon, Porto is even closer to some of the best surfing in Europe!
The digital nomad community in Porto isn’t as big as in Lisbon but it’s definitely catching up with new co-working spaces and meet up groups popping up.
Do you like surfing? In Porto, you can find spots for beginners and pros.
Being smaller, Porto is very walkable and the cost of accommodation is around 30% less than in Lisbon but being further north it can get a bit chillier in the winter!
Porto is a great place to base yourself to explore some of the less-visited parts of Northern Portugal such as the historical city of Guimarães and the wine region of Douro Valley.
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Get our most valuable 6 must-do’s when working from home. Everything starts with a nice Evening/Morning routine. And than?
Lagos – A new hotspot for Digital Nomads in Portugal
If you prefer to have the beach within walking distance, head to Lagos.
The Algarve region’s endless beaches, 300 days of sunshine per year, and all the fresh seafood you can eat have been attracting more and more sun-seeking Digital Nomads to this area of Portugal.
Beautiful right? Don’t forget to visit Praia da Balança if you go to Lagos.
In 2020, several new co-working spaces opened for Digital Nomads in Lagos with more co-living and Digital Nomad friendly cafes on the way. And the best bit?
As soon as you’re finished work, you can walk to the beach and on the weekends explore all that the Algarve has to offer right on your doorstep.
Check out Mar d’Estórias coworking space and join the Lagos Digital Nomads Facebook group to connect with the Digital Nomad community in Lagos, Portugal.
Immerse yourself in the Digital Nomad lifestyle by co-living in Portugal
Co-living for Digital Nomads in Portugal has exploded in the last few years!
Working every day alongside experienced and inspiring professionals gives you an opportunity to share skills and bounce ideas off of each other that will help you develop and grow much faster than if you were struggling to figure it all out by yourself.
Then on the weekends unplug and explore in between still brainstorming about ideas and having inspiring conversations!
Sound good? Why not join one of our co-living escapes in Portugal for Digital Nomads. Just come as you are, be open to share and learn, relax, and be inspired!
Co-Living in Portugal? Yes! It definitely exists. Give it a try. You will not regret it.
NOMAD ISLAND FEST!
Join the Nomad Island Fest: Our 7-day life-changing experience in Madeira from 7 – 13 Dec 2023.
Visas for Digital Nomads travelling to Portugal
Portugal is a member of the Schengen Agreement so digital nomads from other EU countries can live and work freely in Portugal without a visa.
Digital nomads travelling from the US, Canada, and further afield will need to apply for a Schengen Visa which allows travel within the EU, including Portugal for a 90 day period.
Is Portugal a tax haven for Digital Nomads?
Paying tax as a Digital Nomad can be complicated but Portugal has some really interesting options for remote workers and freelancers to pay a reduced rate or even no tax on income earned outside the country.
Tax-free income in Portugal is income earned outside of the country that, according to the DTA, could have been taxed in the country of origin but, in practice, is not.
This means that income from certain professions, royalties and income from intellectual property, investment income and capital contributions, and non-governmental pensions are all tax-free in Portugal.
Portugal: not only a tax haven but also a natural paradise.
To sum up, I really believe one of the best places in the world for digital nomads is Portugal! I have been living as a digital nomad in Portugal for almost two years now and I don’t plan on leaving any time soon. It really does have everything you need to live the digital nomad life to the fullest!
Want to connect with other Digital Nomads in Portugal? Join our free Facebook group to be part of a community of 2000+ digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers in Europe!
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