Quick Answer: The Best Digital Nomad Cities in Europe:
Lisbon, Portugal
Bansko Bulgaria
Barcelona, Spain
Budapest, Hungary
Tbilisi, Georgia
Split, Croatia
Sarandë, Albania
Today we have countries offering digital nomad visas, coworking spaces popping up like gas stations, annual events geared towards remote workers, and cities chomping at the bit to be the next big digital nomad hot spot.
We’ve lived in Europe on and off for a few years now, and over that time we’ve lived in dozens of digital nomad cities around the continent.
But I didn’t want this to be based on just one or two people’s opinions, so we called on the expertise of our team here at Goats On The Road to build this list. There are over 15 nomadic writers here at Goats On The Road who have lived and traveled around Europe as digital nomads for many lifetimes when combined.
So, I’ve used Dariece and my own experiences, plus those of our team, to narrow down the 7 best cities in Europe for Digital Nomads.
How We Chose The Cities
We’ve narrowed down this list from hundreds of potential cities that we and our team have lived in around Europe. We used pretty strict criteria.
For the city to have made the list, it has to have great internet, a decent digital nomad scene (coworking spaces, conferences, an overall entrepreneurial vibe), have an easy long stay or digital nomad visa program, be well connected with flights (us nomads like to travel), have good weather, a solid mixture of nature and amenities, and good accommodation options.
You’ll note that I didn’t mention that it has to be cheap.
While there are some great affordable cities on this list, I don’t like the idea that digital nomads are always looking for the cheapest possible places; many of us enjoy some comfort and amenities, and don’t mind paying a bit extra for it.
Not all digital nomads are poor.
So, this list isn’t all about the cheapest places to live! If you want that, there’s a link to a blog post about cheap cities in the description below and we’ll have a video for it as well.
7 Best Cities in Europe For Digital Nomads
Let’s get into the list. After much deliberation, here’s our list of the top 7 best digital nomad cities in Europe:
1. Lisbon, Portugal
Population: 550,000
Internet Speed: 100mbps /74mbps
1 Bedroom Apartment: €1,200/mo
Entry: Schengen 90/180 days
Digital Nomad Visa: Yes
Lisbon is one of our favorite cities on the continent and there’s a reason it appears on pretty much every list of the best digital nomad cities in Europe.
Dariece & Nick enjoying a drink at sunset in Lisbon
Lisbon is fun, vibrant, cultured, exciting, and absolutely breathtaking. We lived in Lisbon as digital nomads for 7 months and loved it for many reasons.
Like the San Fransico of Europe, with trollies climbing its steep hills and colorful tiled buildings lining its narrow cobbled streets, this is easily one of the most aesthetically appealing cities in Europe.
This is no longer a cheap destination for digital nomads, but there are still some decent 1 bedroom apartments for rent for under €1,200 per month, and there are plenty of digital nomad cafes, co-working spaces , and events going on here every year.
The internet is super fast as well. While the average speed test in the country is 100mbps down and 73 up, there are providers in the city that have WiFi at over 2000 Mbps.
Pair this with excellent restaurants, great accessibility to the rest of Europe and internationally, and a pretty solid digital nomad visa program and you have what is probably the best digital nomad city in Europe overall.
2. Bansko, Bulgaria
Population: 12,774
Internet Speed: 100mbps /36mbps
1 Bedroom Apartment: €300/mo
Entry: 90/180 days
Digital Nomad Visa: Yes (D-Visa to Extended Residency)
As current residents of this eastern European country, we can honestly say that this is a great destination for Digital Nomads who want the historic charm of Europe without the crowds and high costs.
Bansko is definitely the country’s digital nomad hot spot. It holds many annual events for digital nomads, has more coworking spaces per capita than any other city in the country, and super cheap accommodation starting at less than €300 per month for a decent 1 bedroom apartment.
Bulgaria offers a 90-day stay in any 180-day period, it’s outside of the Schengen Zone, and there are also some attractive visa and residency programs for digital nomads here.
People flock to this small mountain village for the ski slopes, but Bansko has a lot to offer year-round.
We often go here in the summer to meet up with our digital nomad friends during conferences and events, and while we’re there we head up to the mountains for excellent hiking and often finish the days off at one of the town’s many great restaurants, which include international food and local “Mahanas” or taverns.
3. Barcelona, Spain
Population: 1.6 Million
Internet Speed: 200mbps /165mbps
1 Bedroom Apartment: €750/mo
Entry: 90/180 days
Digital Nomad Visa: Yes
Ah… Barcelona. That place your friends start pronouncing differently immediately after they visit. It’s Bar-the-lona by the way
