Portugal: on the route of digital nomads

If you are one of those digital nomads who love picturesque villages, in the middle of Nature, you will fall in love with Ponte da Barca. Surrounded by the Peneda-Gerês National Park and with a rich historical and cultural heritage, its welcoming people and its regional Minho gastronomy will make you feel at home. Make the most of it when you're not working to explore the territory's numerous lakes and waterfalls, take long walks in the middle of Nature or take a dip in the River Beach of Ponte da Barca.

“Among pine forests, river and sea…/ Reminds me Vila do Conde / I breathe a sigh!”, wrote the poet José Régio about this inspiring coastal city, whose historical and cultural heritage is linked to enormous names of Portuguese culture, from Eça de Queirós to the contemporary Valter Hugo Mãe. With attractive beaches, in the summer is very popular with vacationers and its annual calendar includes some mandatory events such as the Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival, the Independent Editions Exhibition or the International Handicraft Fair. If you're looking for a place to work with beach, river, Nature and entertainment, look no further!

“Portugal was born here”, as you can see written on a stone tower on the wall, in Largo do Toural, one of the main squares of the city. Make Praça da Oliveira – in the heart of the Historic Center, classified by UNESCO in 2001 as Cultural Heritage of Humanity – your daily office. In addition to the historical importance of the city and its beauty, it also has an interesting, intense and extensive associative movement. There are dozens of cultural associations, open to anyone who wants to join, that will allow you to feel part of Guimarães. At first, you will feel like a stranger, but soon the welcoming people from Guimarães will make you feel at home.

Images of the waves in Nazaré spread around the world when, in 2011, surfer Garrett McNamara achieved the unthinkable: surfing a 23.77 meter wave at Praia do Norte, breaking the Guinness World Record. If you love the sport and are looking for a place to work, this is a good destination for you. But this charming fishermen's town is not only full of waves, with narrow streets perpendicular to the beach, here tradition is still what it used to be.

In this mountain town, with Serra da Estrela as a backdrop, the narrow and steep streets are witnesses of the countless lives of this land. In the past, it welcomed the Jewish Community, was the capital of the Wool Industry and, more than 40 years ago, saw the birth of the University of Beira Interior. Since then, he has gained two lives: the university life, during school term, and another, much calmer, during school holidays. Go beyond the city and explore the natural beauties of the region, as well as the gastronomy, with an emphasis on Serra da Estrela cheese, the goat and the sausages.

Looking for a quiet place to stay? Continue through the Inland of Portugal, a sparsely inhabited territory with unparalleled natural beauties! There are a lot of picturesque villages that will welcome you with open arms. In the Protected Landscape of Serra da Gardunha, coworking spaces are also starting to appear. If you prefer more organized spaces, check out the Cowork Cooperative, promoted by the Mountain Villages Network, which creates a balance between enviable conditions for remote work for digital nomads and the pleasures of a welcoming rural environment.

A representative urban set from the 16th to the 18th centuries led UNESCO to classify Évora as a World Heritage Site. Have you ever imagined yourself, with your remote work, in a scenario like this as a background? With a peaceful and welcoming atmosphere, this museum city is perfect for those who love Art and History. Be surprised by the wealth of its heritage, such as the Roman Temple, the Cathedral or the Capela dos Ossos (decorated with human bones) with an inscription that reminds us of the fragility of life: “We bones that are here, we wait for yours”.

Still in Alentejo, but on the coast, you will find this beautiful place where nothing is missing: sea, river, great sand, good waves and the Southwest Alentejo and Costa Vicentina Natural Park to explore. The white houses, with doors and windows trimmed in yellow and blue, will immediately win you over. If you are a fan of outdoor activities, you will be delighted and will love discovering the Alentejo. Take a look at the routes of the Rota Vicentina and dive into the region's beaches. Zambujeira do Mar is one of the places not to be missed!

The Algarve has been a favorite destination for many years, both for tourists and foreigners looking for a welcoming destination to spend a long time. Now it's time for digital nomads to explore the region. The territory is vast, but if you don't know where to stay, we suggest you Tavira, a city with a certain oriental charm, rich in history, gastronomy and tradition; and with an extensive coastline with white sand beaches and waters with inviting temperatures. The city's charms also include the Ria Formosa, rich in fauna and flora.

It is the capital of São Miguel Island, the largest island in the Azores Archipelago, known as the “green island” because, despite its volcanic origin, this is the dominant color of the territory. Here, tradition coexists with cosmopolitanism and the calm of island life mixes well with the movement of foreigners who arrive to this paradise every day. Take a dip in the warm waters of the furnas, taste the stew made with the volcanic heat and don't miss one of the most original events in the city that takes music to the most unusual places, Tremor.

If you dream of living in a place with mild temperatures all year round, here you will find a Mediterranean weather with an annual average of 20 degrees! But there are more reasons to settle in the capital of the Madeira Archipelago, such as the Levadas and the Laurissilva Forest – a World Heritage Site –, Praia do Porto Santo – chosen by the “European Best Destinations” as the best beach destination in 2022 – or the constant flow of foreigners who arrive at the island every day, giving it a new lease of life. If you're a fan of football and Cristiano Ronaldo, walk through the streets where the ace grew up, visit the museum dedicated to his life and take a photo with his statue.