Top 10 Destinations For Your Digital Nomad Future

With the world becoming more and more connected by the minute, working and making a living while travelling the world has become a very realistic – and definitely appealing – possibility for many. Swapping the (home) office for a white sand beach, a cosy cabin with mountain views, or just some peace and quiet in the middle of nowhere? Sounds like a plan – and you’re welcome to join us.

But before packing your bags, make sure you know where you’re going, and that it will offer everything you need. Sure, a beautiful Instagram-worthy spot is non-negotiable, but there’s so much more to consider. The good news? We’re one step ahead, and can help save you some time.

We asked expert digital nomads from around the world to share their favourite work-friendly destinations, taking into account the cost of living, people, culture, safety, high-speed internet access, and anything else that might help turn complete geographical freedom into an actual way of life.

TBILISI, GEORGIA
Francisco Ortiz from Viajando Con Fran

“Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, is a vibrant city that is increasingly chosen by digital nomads from around the world. You can live quite well for an affordable price. It is also very safe, you can stay in the country for almost a year without a visa, there is no bureaucracy, and if you open a business, you pay only 1% tax up to approximately 150,000 USD annually in turnover.

“The city is normally very well-connected to the most important cities in Europe and the Middle East, but you don’t have to go far. The country has tons of different landscapes and very diverse cultures, with a good emphasis on food and wine.

“There are a lot of coworking options and cafés in the city where you can easily spend the whole day working. I would recommend visiting Fabrika. For accommodation, I recommend renting an apartment in the neighbourhood of Vake.”

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
Christa Romano from christabellatravels

“The most underrated digital nomad destination I’ve ever been to is Antigua, Guatemala. It has perfect weather all year, epic travel experiences (there are active volcanoes, hiking, ancient ruins to explore, a rich local culture to learn about, and so much more), an amazing café culture (with world-class coffee) and the most gorgeous mountain scenery as a backdrop to one of the most charming cities I’ve ever been in. It’s a really special place – one that I felt surprisingly safe and happy in.

“I stayed in an Airbnb there, but there are so many awesome hostels there; one in particular, Selina Antigua, is especially great for digital nomads. It actually has a coworking space and a really cool café inside. 10/10 I would recommend Antigua, Guatemala to anyone… go now before the secret gets out!”

MAGNETIC ISLAND, AUSTRALIA
Alesha Bradford and Jarryd Salem from NOMADasaurus and Van Life Theory

“Our favourite place for remote working is Magnetic Island, located in the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. A twenty-minute ferry ride from the city of Townsville lands you in pure paradise, with swaying palm trees, secluded beaches, diverse wildlife (including koalas) and a small yet bustling community of 2,000 people. 

“As a digital nomad, the lifestyle here is fantastic, with an atmosphere that feels more like an island in Southern Thailand than Australia. Travellers will find good Wi-Fi and phone service, excellent cafés (Scallywags is our favourite), a variety of restaurants and a brand-new coworking space called Jungle Club to set up shop in.

“Magnetic Island has become a haven for people searching for unique, beautiful, creative and fun places to work remotely, and with more and more people flocking to ‘Maggie’ it’s soon going to become Australia’s most sought-after digital nomad hotspot.”

SPLIT, CROATIA
Carla Díaz from carlaconwifi 

“Split has become a very popular destination for digital nomads, thanks to the #CroatiaYourNewOffice campaign and the visa offerings for remote workers. But is it worth it? Definitely! If you love the beach or nature, you will be happy here. You have hundreds of things to do, from going on a boat ride to visiting one of the filming locations for Game of Thrones.

“Also, the community has grown a lot, and there are more and more options to find accommodation designed exclusively for nomads, such as GrabAHome, Trawerk and GoingRemotely, or even coworking spaces such as Amosfera that, due to its location, lets you end your working hours with a dip in Žnjan beach.”

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND 
Stefania Guglielmi from Every Steph

“Chiang Mai, a city located in the north of Thailand, used to be the digital nomad capital of the world before the pandemic started, with thousands of digital nomads flocking there from all around the globe. We’ll see what happens after Thailand reopens!

“Chiang Mai is great for its low cost of living, mixed with the large array of hipster cafés and restaurants that are nomad-friendly. Plus, there are tons of events organised every day, for nomads by nomads, so it’s really easy to meet people even if you’re travelling solo.

“My favourite café to work from is the super Instagrammable Barisotel by the Baristro in the Nimman neighborhood. But nomads have plenty of choices when it comes to coworking spaces. Check out CAMP, a free coworking space located inside of Maya Mall (you just have to buy a drink to be able to use the space), or the fancier Punspace (two locations around town).”

SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS, MEXICO
Isabella Biava from Boundless Roads

“San Cristóbal de las Casas is one of the prettiest among the ‘Mexican Magic’ towns. Nestled in the Chiapas central highlands, it’s mainly popular for its rich and profound cultural heritage that shows in the narrow cobblestone roads and the colourful colonial houses, most of them turned into exquisite luxury hotels and trendy hostels.

[Photo: Charlie Marchant/Flickr]

“The pretty town is one of the newest additions to digital nomads’ favourite destinations in Mexico. I say ‘new’ because San Cristóbal has only recently upgraded the internet service to fibre optic, a guarantee of optimal high speed wi-fi service which is available in many homes, cafés and coworking spaces. The most popular coworking space is Centralita, where you can spend the entire day in a calm and cosy environment, focusing on your projects for only five USD. However, there are also many cafés where you can sit all day and work undisturbed for a little spend on food. My favourites are Amor Negro and Sarajevo. The prestigious Hotel Bo has a cosy and fancy café/restaurant that welcomes digital nomads as well. Among the many hostels available, the most popular are Puerta Vieja and Casa Azabache.

“San Cristobal is also a great hub for nature lovers and adventure seekers, as it’s so close to many interesting natural attractions and archaeological sites, so remote workers have a lot to keep themselves entertained when they are not on their laptops.”

LISBON, PORTUGAL
Firuza and Ramin Sultanov from E-Com Academie

“A great spot for digital nomads who love a modern city mixed with European charm. Lisbon is a beautiful city, so colourful and full of character. The famous azulejo tiles make it unique and different from any other European capital! Why do we think it’s a great location for digital nomads? 

“Firstly, it has everything a digital nomad could possibly need: a variety of coworking spaces and cafés with high-speed internet, super-friendly people, delicious food, sunny weather and the ocean within a twenty-minute drive away. What else do you need?

“Our favourite spots to work in Lisbon are Cotidiano, Bowls Bar and Fauna & Flora.  Accommodation might be a little costly (compared to other European countries or other parts of Portugal). We’d recommend checking Airbnb or Flatio.”

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Valentina Correa and Jesper Klucken from Un Poco De Sur 

“We spent about three months in Cape Town, and it really surprised us. We only planned to stay about a week, and it was hard to leave after three months!

“It has all the vibes of a multicultural city, amazing people, beach, tasty and diverse food and some very trendy neighbourhoods and, aside from other South African cities, an amazing public transport network. But the best part of it is that you can use it as a base to discover amazing parts of South Africa, go on a road trip along the coast to see the whales or spend a week in one of the national reserves watching wild animals from your car.

For digital nomads, Cape Town has a good variety of coworking spaces and cafés perfect for working during the day. The best are No.80, an industrial and artistic space for remote workers, Craft+Graft, with in-house baristas that make the best coffee, and Folk Café – the internet is great, the staff is very friendly to digital nomads, and the food and coffee are locally sourced.”

SIARGAO ISLAND, PHILIPPINES 
Marco Ilagan and Fran Cassaniti of Map the Unknown

“Siargao Island for us is the best island to visit and stay as a digital nomad. It is known for the insane amount of palm trees and is also a world-renowned surfing spot. We love this island because there are lots of activities and sights that you can visit, like the Magpupungko natural pools, Sugba Lagoon, island hopping to Guyam Island and Naked Island, and of course surfing, plus several pristine beaches, rivers and waterfalls.

“Most of the people stay in General Luna, which is the main town on the island where you can find all types of accommodations from budget hostels to luxury hotels, cafés with fast-speed internet, a variety of local and international cuisine restaurants, and lively nightlife. If you love surfing, then we recommend that you stay in the Cloud 9 area to be as close as possible to the best surf spot. There are some places to eat, and it’s a short ten-minute ride to General Luna. If you like to chill and unwind like us, we highly recommend renting a motorbike ($7-$8/day) and driving up north to Pacifico. It’s a small beach village with white sand beaches, surfing, restaurants and cheap accommodations. We stayed at Pacifico Big Wish Beach Resort – they have beach view rooms and a small restaurant where you can work.

“The only downside of Pacifico (or anywhere in the Philippines) is that the internet is not always reliable in public cafés or restaurants, so we recommend that you buy a local SIM card and purchase your own data package if you plan to explore this beautiful island.”

ANNECY, FRANCE
Camille Courtenvert of camillecourtenvert

“Annecy is an ideal city for all digital nomads who love nature and sports! Accessible by TGV train, you can do everything on foot or by public transport from the city, including nice hikes, paddle boarding on the lake or jogging with a view… while still having access to a very urban lifestyle with many cafés with wi-fi and coworking spaces!

“Among my favourite places, I have to mention Mylk Tea Café for its calmness and its warm environment. I also like Haven, where you can enjoy a nice brunch while working – the pleasure of teleworking – or The 7th Element, a coworking space accessible to all and payable by the hour.”