Lisbon, Portugal’s charming capital city, has become the most popular digital nomad hotspot in Europe in recent years. Still, it’s important to do a bit of research before coming. So if you’re a digital nomad or remote working considering Lisbon then I want to share all my tips with you in this Digital Nomad’s Guide to Lisbon!
Lisbon Digital Nomad Guide
Why is Lisbon so popular with digital nomads?
Lisbon has witnessed a meteoric rise in popularity over recent years and there are many reasons why Lisbon has become so popular with digital nomads.
Firstly, Portugal has a mild and sunny climate, charming historic towns, plenty of natural beauty spots, and world class surf beaches which appeals to digital nomads and remote workers looking for a better work life balance.
Another important factor is the affordable cost of living in Portugal (by European standards) combined with the ease of obtaining a digital nomad visa for Portugal. This has attracted many digital nomads and so plenty of stylish cafes, coworking and coliving facilities that have sprung up to cater for them.
The biggest pull for digital nomads, however, has to be the community. Lisbon has one of the best digital nomad communities in the world, with regular meetups, mastermind sessions, and a friendly group of people who are always open to meeting up
Is Lisbon still good for digital nomads in 2024?
Although Lisbon is nowhere near as cheap as it was a few years ago, particularly when it comes to rental prices, and the visa requirements have changed, it’s still a fantastic destination for digital nomads in Portugal.
Prices, particularly for eating out, are still very affordable when compared to the rest of Western Europe. It’s possible to get a three-course lunch menu with wine for less than €10 per person. If you just fancy a coffee and a cake, or a beer and a petisco, this will rarely cost more than a few Euros. So essentially, if you can find a reasonably-priced rental, you can easily enjoy a good quality of life here as your other living costs will be low.
The D7 visa has been so popular with digital nomads that even a new digital nomad village recently opened on the island of Madeira. Now a new Portugal digital nomad visa has been introduced with significantly higher income requirements so you’ll need to check that out to see if you qualify.
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Best Places for Digital Nomads to Stay in Lisbon
Due to Lisbon’s popularity, the biggest struggle for digital nomads is finding affordable accommodation in the city center.
A lot of digital nomads originally stayed in Alfama, which is the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon and the neighbourhood with the most Airbnbs, but it’s really not the best neighbourhood for digital nomads. Although it’s one of the most traditional neighbourhoods, it’s also one of the most touristic neighbourhoods: in recent years, the neighbourhood has almost become one giant Airbnb.
The problem isn’t just the level of tourism but also that so many everyday services are leaving the neighbourhood and being replaced by restaurants and bars to cater for tourists. If you want anything from a keycutter to a decent-sized supermarket, you’re probably going to have to go to another neighbourhood. Essentially, this is a neighbourhood for visiting as a tourist but not for living in.
Other Lisbon neighbourhoods that tend to be very touristic are Baixa and Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Cais do Sodré. Those last two neighbourhoods are popular going out neighbourhoods so, if you do decide to stay there, check the reviews to see any mention of noise.
Neighbourhoods that work well for digital nomads tend to be ones that have access to things like a co-working space, gym, decent-sized supermarket or market, and easy access to the centre of town. Two of my favourites are Alcântara and Campo de Ourique.
Check out my big post on Where to Stay in Lisbon which describes all the different neighbourhoods and areas of Lisbon that are best to stay in.
Read More: Where to Stay in Lisbon
Digital Nomad Accommodation in Lisbon
Most Lisbon digital nomads stay in Airbnbs or, if they’re only staying for a very short amount of time, a hostel or hotel. Airbnb generally works the best for digital nomads, as it means you have a table or desk to work from and a kitchen to cook in.
There are also many fun, sociable coliving spaces in Lisbon that are specifically set up with digital nomads in mind. Many have coworking spaces, fully equipped shared kitchens and social areas and activities allowing you to meet other like minded digital nomads. Check out the best coliving spaces in Portugal here.
A great place to find coliving spaces and apartments specifically for remote workers is Anyplace.com. They have buzzing coliving spaces and fabulous fully furnished apartments, not only in Portugal but all over the world.
The benefit of using Anyplace over trying to rent an regular apartment yourself is that it’s flexible meaning you can live month-to-month in any city. It’s easy to find and apply for apartments online and there’s no hassle as the properties are fully furnished and ready to move in to and are all inclusive as utilities, WiFi and often weekly cleaning are included too.
If you can’t find anything on Airbnb or Anyplace, Uniplaces is another site to consider for medium and long-term rentals. It’s primarily focused on student rentals, but you don’t have to be a student to use the site. Experiences with landlords on the site have been mixed, so I’d stick to properties that have previous reviews.
Best Hostels for Digital Nomads in Lisbon
Hostels are another popular choice for digital nomads in Lisbon because they offer budget friendly accommodation and a social scene that makes it easy to meet other travelers and nomads. Some are even specifically designed with digital nomads in mind and include in house cafes and coworking spaces.
Outsite – Outsite is a coliving space that’s aimed at digital nomads visiting Lisbon. There are around 30 en-suite bedrooms, a co-working space, a cafe, and a shared kitchen for every 5 rooms.
Home Lisbon Hostel – Home Lisbon is both a hostel and a co-working space. Visitors get free access to the onsite coworking space, which is not only a great way to save money but also to get to know other digital nomads.
Selina Secret Garden– Lisbon’s sociable and lively branch of the popular coliving and coworking chain with a swimming pool on the rooftop deck located in trendy and convenient Cais de Sodre
Long Term Rentals for Digital Nomads in Lisbon
If you plan to stay long-term in Lisbon, say for longer than a couple of months, you’ll probably want to find something other than an Airbnb. Lisbon property rentals are generally listed on classifieds websites like olx.pt, sapo.pt, and idealista as well as with individual estate agents.
There’s also Spotahome, which aims to be Airbnb for medium and long-term rentals. Their properties are usually more expensive than renting privately, but many of the properties come with internet which saves you the hassle of getting the internet installed.
Due to Lisbon’s popularity, finding an affordable apartment isn’t as easy as it used to be but if you need support for moving to and settling in Portugal people like Portugalist can help.
Where do Digital Nomads work in Lisbon?
Lisbon is a city that’s packed with both traditional and hipster cafes. While I normally go to the traditional cafes for coffee and cake, I am more likely to work in the more modern cafes as there are usually other people in there doing the same.
Wish, LX Factory – You’re almost always guaranteed to spot a digital nomad in the LX Factory, with many working from places like Café na Fábrica and the Ler Devagar bookshop. Wish is also a popular spot to work, with good wi-fi and usually plenty of free tables.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab – Copenhagen is a small independent chain of cafes that feels like it was just built for remote working. Just about everyone in there has a laptop in front of them, and you feel very comfortable doing the same.
Coworking Spaces for Digital Nomads in Lisbon
There are co-working spaces in just about every corner of Lisbon, with more and more opening up every month. They vary in price, but the average is somewhere around €150 per month. Many offer a day’s free trial, so it’s worth trying a few out before making any big decisions.
Impact Hub – Situated in Lisbon’s LX Factory, this coworking space is bright and spacious. Unlike many other coworking spaces, it has a strong community feel with lots of events which makes it easy to meet other people.
Heden – Heden is a small but friendly co-working space with good natural light and plenty of space for working. It does host a few events and, because it’s so small, it’s easy to get chatting to other people there.
Second Home – Lisbon’s coolest, but also one of its most expensive, co-working spaces is ideal for those that aren’t confined to a budget. Second Home contains hundreds of plants, which help to filter the air, making it a very fun and instagramable place to work.
Meetups to Meet Fellow Digital Nomads in Lisbon
The best place to meet digital nomads in Lisbon is at the weekly Thursday meetup. This usually takes place in a different venue each week so, as well as getting to meet other nomads, it’s a great opportunity to get to see many of Lisbon’s best bars.
The Lisbon Digital Nomads Facebook group is always a good resource for connecting with other digital nomads and finding out about events that are on. If you’re only in town for a few days, it’s very easy to put a post up and find other people who want to join you on a night out, museum trip, or expedition to find the best pastéis de nata in Lisbon.
It’s also worth looking out for co-working spaces that have a strong social element. Impact Hub in the LX Factory, for example, hosts volleyball games, workshops, and movie nights, all of which could be a fantastic way to meet other people.
Other Things to do in Lisbon
When you’re not working, Lisbon, and the rest of Portugal, has so many historic and cultured cities to explore, stunning natural beauty spots and beaches. Portugal also boasts some of the best surfing in Europe as well as thriving yoga scene.
Go to the beach – Lisbon isn’t quite on the coast, but it’s not far from it. The nearest beaches at Estoril and Cascais are less than an hour by train from Cais do Sodré or around 30 minutes by car. If you want to venture a little further afield, the coastal towns of Setúbal and Sesimbra are both worth a day trip and both have great beaches nearby.
See a Fado Show – Fado is a traditional style of Portuguese music that’s incredibly mournful and soulful. The lyrics tend to be sad and poetic, and speak of loves lost and better times for Portugal. Seeing a show is an incredibly powerful and moving experience, and something that everyone should try at least once.
Go on a pastel de nata quest – Lisbon is the home of the pastel de nata, the world’s favourite pastry, and there are an ever-increasing number of places that you need to try. Pastéis de Belém, the first café to begin making natas should be top of your list, but it’s also worth making the pilgrimage to other pastelarias like Manteigaria and Aloma.
If you want to kick off your time in the Portuguese capital with some sightseeing check out my Lisbon itinerary to find out how to fit all the highlights into 3 days.
Where to go next
Lisbon isn’t the only place that should be on your Portuguese bucket list. Porto, Portugal’s second city, is fast becoming a popular destination for digital nomads as well: it has a growing number of co-working spaces, small but regular meetups for nomads, and some great accommodation.
The Algarve is another popular destination for digital nomads who want to explore Portugal’s beautiful beaches and laidback lifestyle. The digital nomad scene in Lagos and Faro is much smaller, although there is a small community on Facebook, and there aren’t really any meetups yet. It’s still a nice place to spend some time, though, and definitely worthy of your time.
The Portuguese islands, particularly The Azores, are worth visiting. Despite their distance from the mainland, flights from Lisbon and Porto are very reasonable and it’s often possible to get a return for €35-€40. Whatever you go, you’ll never get bored as a digital nomad in Portugal!
Are you a Digital Nomad in Lisbon? Can you share any more tips?
7 comments
Having in control of your own time is what I find best about being a digital nomad. Making your hobby as your source of income is the best fulfillment in working life. Making yourself as a boss is really a good feeling. But the trade-off with this is that you have a firm self-discipline of yourself or else you will not succeed as a digital nomad. This is also the envy of the people from cubicle nation where they have to spend eight or more hours day juggling their best to finish their assigned tasks. A digital nomad is not like this, they were the ones to set the deadline of their tasks, so it is less stress.
Thanks for commenting. I agree with a lot of what you say and self discipline is one of the harder parts of digital nomad life but in my experience being a digital nomad can be just as, and sometimes more, stressful as working for someone else.
I’ve been considering heading to Lisbon and was looking for a guide exactly like this. What a perfect round up of useful information. Thank you! It can be really hard to choose the right neighborhood in a place, especially when you’re using Airbnb. When so many apartments are centered in one place, it’s easy to end up choosing one of them. You’re right, though — when there are a bunch of rentals squished in one place, there probably aren’t good supermarkets, gyms, etc. Thanks for describing the good nomad neighborhoods!
Thanks Kristen! Glad you liked the article and found it useful. I agree it’s so important to find the right area. Happy Travels 🙂
Moving to Lisbon next week..starting with 9-5 job but wanting to embark myself in digital nomad life..what you said about self discipline to succeed it s so true and the hardest part. I expect very much from Lisbon and thank you for all these very useful tips.
Yes, there are so many distractions you need alot of self discipline to work. All the best with your move to Lisbon! How exciting 🙂
[…] which has plenty of coworking spaces, like minded people to meet and events to get involved with (check out my Lisbon digital nomad guide here) The city of Porto in the North with it’s lovely riverside setting is another digital nomad […]