Digital nomads seek new locations to experience, explore, work from, and add to their impressive list of “places I’ve been to and worked from”.  Mateja of Office Needle has compiled a list of the best 54 cities for digital nomads around the world.  Here we list the best cities in Europe for digital nomads.

Criteria That Best Cities For Digital Nomads Should Meet

Digital nomads look for good internet connection and speed in a country with a favourable climate that is not too costly, has reasonable levels of safety. The lifestyle is also a factor with fun things to do and attractive places to see, excellent food and an approachable community.  Practical issues can be important like whether there is an easy entry digital nomad visa, convenient workplaces and a lack of language barriers. The cost of living is another factor with accommodation and transportation costs to be considered.  These are the factors taken into account when compiling this list.

1. Budapest, Hungary

• MONTHLY COST: $1,525
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: no
• PLACES TO WORK: cafes and coworking spaces
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 40 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, warm in summer
• POPULATION: 1,756 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Hungarian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: good
• COMMUNITY: okay

Budapest is known for its rich history, a city divided in two by the Danube river. Digital nomads get to enjoy and experience both the old historic city and the new, modern one. Unlike other metropolitan hubs in central and Western Europe, the Hungarian capital is cheaper while offering a wide range of fun activities to do. Different city parts are linked by trams, buses, and the metro.

Digital nomads can work in cafes that offer a WiFi connection throughout the city and there are also affordable coworking spaces available. Budapest will also offer enough cultural upbringing for anyone interested in museums, galleries, and more. There are also many instagrammable and historical sights to visit that light up in the nighttime beautifully. For unwinding, the city is rich in hot springs so that you can spend your afternoon chilling in one of the many baths the city is famous for.

2. Lisbon, Portugal

• MONTHLY COST: $2,109
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: cafes and coworking spaces
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 26 Mbps
• CLIMATE: warm in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 0,504 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Portuguese
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: great
• COMMUNITY: close-knit

Portugal is a well-known country when it comes to digital nomads. Its appeal lies in natural beauty and relative affordability. Popular among digital nomads, Lisbon is a recognized hotspot with close-knit digital nomad communities. It also offers good weather and delicious food.

The Portugal capital awaits digital nomads with open arms, with more and more coworking spaces available. Whether digital nomads like to work alone, surrounded by others, in cafe shops, or luxurious offices, Lisbon has got them covered. Nightlife, hot beaches, and surfing are also popular, along with history, architecture, and good wine that bring a promise of a good time. Subway lines, buses, and trams will help with transportation in the city.

3. Barcelona, Spain

• MONTHLY COST: $3,110
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: no
• PLACES TO WORK: cafes and coworking spaces
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 33 Mbps
• CLIMATE: warm in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 1,62 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Spanish
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: okay
• COMMUNITY: okay

For digital nomads keen on Gaudí’s architecture, Barcelona is the place to be. The weather is okay, even at its worst, while offering long beaches and many opportunities for a good night out. The sunny climate, yummy foods, rich history, and plenty of touristy sights to see make Barcelona one of the most popular Spanish destinations.

Good WiFi connection is available in most cafes, but there are also excellent coworking setups available for those who seek out more. While the cost of this coastal Spanish city is more on the pricey side, it is still a desirable destination for many. However, it is more popular among serious digital nomads who can afford it.

4. London, England

• MONTHLY COST: $4,380
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: no
• PLACES TO WORK: cafes and coworking spaces
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 22 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, warm in summer
• POPULATION: 8,982 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: English
• COMMUNITY: good

The capital of the UK is a famous destination for tourists and digital nomads globally. While it is a costly destination, it surely offers one of the widest varieties of activities and things to do. The rent and transportation are costly but moving out of Central London could save a lot of money, without sacrificing on the things to do.

Although it rains most of the year, this beautiful city is still charming. Digital nomads can enjoy the nightlife, cultural events, go sightseeing, network, and more. The multicultural metropolis bustles with entrepreneurs, self-employed, and thus has not seen a shortage in coworking spaces. Pubs and cafes will also allow you to work there if you buy a drink. As the city is filled with professionals and tourists, digital nomads will fit right in.

5. Las Palmas, Canary Islands, Spain

• MONTHLY COST: $2,327
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: no
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking hubs
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 25 Mbps
• CLIMATE: warm in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 0,378 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Spanish
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: okay
• COMMUNITY: good

Part of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, Las Palmas is situated just west off the coast of Morocco. It is the capital city of the Canary Islands and has a very good reputation among tourists and expats who are welcoming to the new digital nomads arriving. The living cost is still a bit on the lower side, despite its popularity. Las Palmas is walkable, but also great for biking as an alternative.

This digital nomad hotspot offers many great locations to get work done by sitting down and connecting to the Internet. This city also doesn’t lack places for going out and having an entertaining morning, afternoon, or night. One disadvantage is that it can get rather crowded during the summer holidays in July and August, but the beaches are less empty and great for enjoying the rest of the year.

6. Belgrade, Serbia

• MONTHLY COST: $1,522
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking hubs and cafes
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 34 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 1,374 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Serbian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: good
• COMMUNITY: close-knit

Located in the Balkans, Belgrade is the capital of Serbia and is situated along the rivers Sava and Danube. It is famous for its nightlife adventures and affordable cost. The comfortable European city is very welcoming and offers plenty of affordable living accommodations. Moreover, Belgrade is also walkable if you stay central, but buses and trams can also get you elsewhere. It is also easy to connect to other European cities by train or plane.

A productive atmosphere won’t be impossible to find as digital nomads can choose between different coworking offices. Apart from a good atmosphere, they are likely to find a person to chat to. However, for individuals keen on culture and sightseeing, Belgrade isn’t the best option. Alternatively, the rest of Serbia can offer that.

7. Prague, Czech Republic

• MONTHLY COST: $2,193
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking hubs and cafes
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 38 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, warm in summer
• POPULATION: 1,309 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Czech
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: good
• COMMUNITY: good

Walking down the Charles Bridge across the Vltava river might be on the list of many digital nomads and tourists. The Czech metropolis promises a lot of cultural entertainment and has rising popularity among remote workers. The living cost is slightly on the rise but it can still be quite affordable during off-peak season.

As it is a popular tourist destination filled with good beer and opportunities to have fun, it is also easy to find accommodation. Staying central allows digital nomads to get anywhere nearby on foot, including sights to see and parks to walk and visit. Otherwise, buses, trams, and the subway will come in handy. Alongside the river banks, many cafes and coworking hubs offer a great WiFi connection to get work done.

8. Krakow, Poland

• MONTHLY COST: $1,556
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking hubs and cafes
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 43 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, warm in summer
• POPULATION: 0,766 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Polish
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: good
• COMMUNITY: okay

Compared to Prague which is relatively nearby, Krakow is even cheaper in living costs and located in the neighbouring country, Poland. This West Slavic town is an exciting medieval European location and affordable to live in. It also has impressive Internet speed, along with nightlife, and plenty of coworking spaces to choose from.

Krakow is a great choice for any digital nomad as it offers a diversity of attractions while not going over the budget. One con of this beautiful cultural city, though, is that it can get rather chilly in the winter months. The numerous coworking offices offer really fast internet while not costing a lot of money.

9. Sofia, Bulgaria

• MONTHLY COST: $1,402
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking offices
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 28 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 1,236 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Bulgarian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: okay
• COMMUNITY: good

It will be hard to go cheaper than spending a month working remotely in Sofia. The capital of Bulgaria, situated in the eastern Balkans is an affordable place to live while working remotely. It is developing fast and thus rising as a desirable destination for digital nomads. For digital nomads who want to experience Europe but are a bit tighter on the budget, Sofia is a great place to start.

Offices for working are packed with friendly digital nomads that are happy to help others. When not working, they can also explore the city or visit other parts of Bulgaria, including the coast of the Black Sea, and more. Besides that, it is cheap to get to the neighbouring countries, such as Turkey, Romania, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Greece.

10. Tallinn, Estonia

• MONTHLY COST: $3,050
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking offices and cafes
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 17 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cool in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 0,426 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Estonian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: good
• COMMUNITY: good

Tallinn is the Estonian capital, known for cooler weather, where anyone loving winter will feel right at home. It is relatively affordable for living and accommodations are plentiful, with both cheaper and more expensive options available. The compact city is easily walkable so saving on transport is possible when staying central. In terms of transport, buses and trams are also available. Finally, it is also well connected with other European cities by air.

Moreover, Tallinn is famous for the technology and finance sectors, thus offering great internet coverage across town. This is why it appeals to entrepreneurs and nomads working in the fintech sector, as it heavily invests in digital infrastructure. One disadvantage of Tallinn, however, is that it is costly compared to some other cities that can offer a warmer climate.

11. Split, Croatia

• MONTHLY COST: $2,108
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: yes
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking offices and cafes
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 17 Mbps
• CLIMATE: mild in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 0,178 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Croatian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: good
• COMMUNITY: good

Situated on the Adriatic Coast of Croatia, Split is its second-largest city in population, after the capital of Zagreb. It offers nice weather, a chilled atmosphere, a rich history, and great hospitality thanks to tourism. Being a popular tourist location on the Mediterranean, it can be a little harder to find cheap accommodation, especially at the peak of the summer season.

Along with a relatively strong Internet connection, getting work done is easy thanks to the new emerging coworking offices. As the Croatian nation enjoys a slow cup of coffee or two every day, there are also plenty of cafes available. Moreover, Split will allow you to get to the other popular Croatian coastal, as well as off-coast cities, as it is connected with most of the country.

• Palermo, Italy

• MONTHLY COST: $2,467
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: no
• PLACES TO WORK: coworking offices and cafes
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 28 Mbps
• CLIMATE: mild in winter, hot in summer
• POPULATION: 0,673 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Italian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: okay
• COMMUNITY: okay

For digital nomads keen on having an Italian experience, Palermo can offer that while not being as costly as some other cities in Italy. Full of sunny days in the year, Palermo is cheaper in accommodation than many other desirable European destinations. The locals are friendly and the Italian food is amazing.

Although the Internet is fast, there are many spots in the city where it might be hard to connect to it, so this is one downside of Sicily’s main town. Moreover, Palermo has a rich history and offers different markets to explore, as well. As a digital nomad base in Italy, this city has many great bars and restaurants to offer.

13. Sochi, Russia

• MONTHLY COST: $1,396
• DIGITAL NOMAD VISA: no
• PLACES TO WORK: lacking
• INTERNET CONNECTION & SPEED: 13 Mbps
• CLIMATE: cold in winter, warm in summer
• POPULATION: 0,364 million
• LOCAL LANGUAGE: Russian
• ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: bad
• COMMUNITY: okay

The largest Russian resort city, Sochi, is also known as Russia’s summer capital. The vacation city is situated on the Black Sea and unlike other cold spots in Russia, the climate is not that bad and it doesn’t get freezing during the winter months. The average Internet and lack of coworking spaces can be a bit of a problem, though.

The cost of living is low, while Sochi’s population enjoys a higher quality of life. This is what makes it appealing to digital nomads who want to experience living in one of the most powerful countries in the world. While the temperatures hardly drop below zero, Sochi is still an attractive option.