One way to ensure that you can immerse yourself in the best that Europe has to offer is by embracing the digital nomad lifestyle. Seamlessly mixing work and travel, a digital nomad can be employed and still travel the globe.
This is proving to be increasingly popular, as the data suggests that over 1.2 million people are pursuing a nomadic lifestyle in Europe alone. As such, there is comfort in numbers and the fact that the path to being a digital nomad in Europe is already well established.
How to be a digital nomad in Europe
Over the past decade, the landscape of work has transformed radically, to the point where the once inconceivable balance between work and travel is now an accessible reality for many. Traditional office boundaries have dissolved since the rise of remote work arrangements and individuals can operate efficiently from the comfort of their homes or from co-working spaces located anywhere across the globe.
The allure of stashing a laptop into your luggage and jetting off to your chosen European city might be strong, yet it is essential to preface such an adventure with diligent research and strategic planning. This ensures that you have a framework to guide your experience as a digital nomad.
The digital nomad lifestyle varies greatly among individuals. Some might choose to explore their surroundings during the day and focus on work after sunset, while others might reverse this routine, dedicating daylight hours to work and reserving the night for discovering their temporary home city.
Although there's no definitive guidebook on embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, having a flexible plan is crucial. This plan should outline your travel frequency, your intended duration of stay in each location, and accommodation preferences. Ranging from budget-friendly hostels and hotels to Airbnbs and apartment rentals.
Your workspace is another key aspect that demands careful consideration. While some can adapt to the ambience of a local café and tap into its Wi-Fi network for work, others might require the structure and relative tranquillity that dedicated co-working spaces offer.
Finally, the pivot around which your digital nomad life will revolve is your budget, as it will define the boundaries of your lifestyle, dictating how you live, work, and entertain yourself. By focusing on these aspects and preparing ahead, you can navigate the adventurous path of a digital nomad with greater confidence and enjoyment.
The best cities for a digital nomad in Europe
Budapest, Hungary
When it comes to the best cities in Europe for a digital nomad, look no further than Budapest, Hungary. This is largely because Budapest has a low cost of living and pleasant weather all year round.
Boasting a great food and wine scene, a vibrant nightlife atmosphere and unique architecture, there are plenty of things to see and do. Known for its great public transport infrastructure, travelling to certain landmarks or to coworking spaces feels seamless.
Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal is a great destination for lovers of the big city lifestyle. In Lisbon, nomads will enjoy great weather all while feeling safe and secure when travelling from destination to destination. While the cost is higher, nomads will have access to traditional city amenities like fine dining and much more.
For those looking for fun at a slower pace, Porto is a coastal city in Portugal that truly embraces the water and associated lifestyle. Digital nomads might visit here on a day trip from Lisbon or set up in Porto to enjoy the smell of the ocean and the taste of fresh seafood.
Split, Croatia
With a slice of history around every corner, Split is the quintessential European location. Combine this with great weather all year long and Split becomes an ideal location for many digital nomads.
Offering great food and wine, there is also another benefit to life as a digital nomad in Split - affordable living. This leaves room for a day trip to other cities such as Zagreb to explore museums and enjoy some well earned retail therapy.
Paros, Greece
A quaint fishing town with picturesque and unobstructed ocean views, Paros is a great place for digital nomads to call home. With the pace of work and life ultimately slower, Paros is a great place to sit back and enjoy the best of what the nomadic lifestyle can offer.
With a great food scene, Paros is also known for its nightlife, and can be used as a great base to hop along the different Greek Islands, soaking up the different way of life at each stop.
Krakow, Poland
While Krakow is Poland’s second biggest city, it is small enough not to prove too distracting during the hours when you really should be working. Another positive of Krakow is the fact that it is one of the cheapest cities in Europe.
With plenty of history around every corner, Krakow is a great destination for digital nomads. While a little left of centre, travelling to Krakow means that you can enjoy an interesting lesson in history and enjoy its vibrant nightlife scene.
Barcelona, Spain
Another one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads is Barcelona. While there has recently been an uptick in prices, Barcelona is still a must visit destination - thanks to its unique mix of art and architecture.
When you are not taking in the sights or walking through some of the world class museums, immerse yourself in local sports or the once in a lifetime food and drink scene that has become synonymous with Barcelona.
The most popular coworking spaces in Europe
While the majority of European sights are steeped in history, its cities have done well to mix the old with the new. Part of embracing modern life is the advent of coworking spaces, which are popping up all over Europe.
- One such coworking destination is that of Second Home. Located in Lisbon, Portugal, Second Home has the unique selling point of truly embracing elements of wellness. This can be seen through the membership packages that include everything from yoga to surfing lessons.
- Paper Hub is another unique coworking space, due to the fact that it only accepts payments in cryptocurrency. Once membership is acquired, you could either work in the open floor plan, one of the chill out zones or even out on the terrace.
- With three locations in Amsterdam, Spaces is becoming one of the premier coworking spaces in Europe. With over 6,000 metres of space to work with, Spaces offers a lively environment for workers to come and increase their output while also enjoying services such as a massage.
- As memberships to some of the most popular coworking spaces in Europe can vary in cost, it’s important to note that there are smaller coworking spaces in most European cities and countries. These options will generally be more cost effective for nomads on a budget.
Internet availability in Europe
Along with modern inventions such as coworking spaces, Europe has mostly embraced the internet. While a lot of destinations within Europe such as cafes and transport hubs will have free WiFi, it is important to travel prepared.
This is largely because some countries are a bit behind when it comes to fast internet connections. When travelling to these places, you might need to consider alternatives such as a portable WiFi dongle.
While a dongle can provide a 3G level connection, for those needing to download large attachments or work with complex files, an international SIM that can enable the use of mobile Wi-Fi may be a better option!
How are digital nomads taxed in Europe?
Being a digital nomad in Europe is relatively easy nowadays. Especially when you consider how infrastructure ranging from public transport, coworking spaces and the internet has facilitated this way of life.
However, there can be one complex element to the nomadic lifestyle - working out tax. This is made complicated when you consider that each European member state has its own tax system and rules.
For example, some countries will have different tax rates for non-residents and different rules again for self-employed people. To make matters more complex, countries like Hungary and Croatia offer a designated Digital Nomad Visa - while others do not.
The best way to understand tax obligations is to conduct research for each country within Europe that you plan on visiting. This way, you will learn how you are being taxed and why, if you need to pay taxes in your home country and what tax treaties and agreements you may take advantage of.
Insurance for digital nomads in Europe
There are many things to consider when embracing the digital nomad lifestyle, such as accommodation and overall budgeting. However, of equal importance is discussing travel insurance.
Most people will insure their holiday, in order to provide protection against cancelled flights to lost baggage. With the life of a digital nomad potentially impacting both your individual health and your livelihood, looking into travel insurance is key.
Taking the time to research travel insurance policies means that you know what you can be covered for and what you aren’t. While this can be time consuming, it is essential, in order to ensure you understand what steps to take if your trip was to be disrupted.
Another important consideration centres around sub-limits. As such, there may be sub-limits on digital equipment. As the livelihood of a digital nomad revolves around this equipment, you may have to pay more for coverage for your expensive items.
Finally, it’s vital to note that coverage may only be afforded to the items digital nomads actually own. This means that if your company paid for the laptop and it gets lost or damaged, you are responsible for all associated costs. On the other hand, if you can provide proof of purchase signifying that the laptop is yours, the claim for coverage may be approved.
European and the digital nomad lifestyle
Many people dream of visiting Europe and walking through cobblestone streets, swimming in Mediterranean beaches and visiting world-famous museums. Yet, few actually get to realise this dream.
With the increased adoption of remote work, visiting Europe and immersing yourself in the culture is easier than ever before. Armed with a laptop and some headphones, you can work from almost anywhere in the world and still be productive.
Thanks to Europe’s plethora of coworking spaces, more nomads are travelling to European countries than ever before, working during the day and exploring on the weekends, thus taking work-life balance to a whole new adventurous meaning.
