10 Fantastic City Destinations for Digital Nomads

A ‘digital nomad’ is someone who travels the world while working from a laptop. This has become a very popular lifestyle for young remote workers - offering the opportunity to satisfy one’s wanderlust while supporting one’s travels with an income. But as many digital nomads discover, not everywhere in the world is suitable for this type of work. You need somewhere where you can get a good quality internet connection, work peacefully and not have to spend a fortune on accommodation.

There are few cities around the world that tick these boxes. Below is a list of 10 of the best city destinations for digital nomads, along with a few reasons as to why they’re so good.

1. Seoul, South Korea: the City with the Fastest Public Wi-fi

South Korea’s capital has become a hub for digital nomads in recent years due to the installation of 20,000+ free high-speed citywide Wi-fi hotspots. If you want a destination where you don’t have to worry about finding a connection, Seoul is a good choice. When it comes to sights and attractions, Seoul meanwhile has ancient temples, grand places, impressive skyscraper viewpoints, K-pop concerts, buzzing street markets and great restaurants where you can try authentic Korean BBQ.

2. London, UK: the City with the Most Co-working Spaces

London’s high prices may put some tourists off. However, it’s one of the most popular cities for digital nomads thanks to its extensive choice of co-working spaces - currently over 1,400 of them. Wherever you go in London, you can easily find somewhere to rent a desk. And you’ll never run out of things to do in your free time; London’s attractions include its iconic historical landmarks, its many free museums, its vibrant shopping, its world-class restaurants and its numerous music/sports venues. You’ve also got the whole of the UK on your doorstep.

3. Melbourne, Australia: the Coffee Capital of the World

If you want a plethora of high-quality coffee bars to work from, choose Melbourne. This Australian city has long been regarded as the best city in the world for coffee lovers. Unsurprisingly, it therefore has a rich digital nomad culture. On top of this, the city has many attractions to explore including its museums, botanical gardens, beaches, vineyards, restaurants and bars. Take advantage of luggage storage in Southern Cross Station to keep your belongings safe while you explore the city.

4. Chiang Mai: the Most Budget-friendly Digital Nomad City

Chiang Mai has a wide range of co-working spaces, fast public internet and a rich digital nomad culture. What makes it stand out is its relatively low cost of living. You can find very cheap high-quality accommodation here, plus food and drink is very cheap. You should also visit Chiang Mai for the chance to tour temples, swim under waterfalls, look after elephants and see other animals like tigers.

5. Lisbon: the Best Hotels for Digital Nomads

Lisbon in Portugal has attracted digital nomads for several years now for its great internet infrastructure and relative affordability compared to other European cities. This has led to an increasing number of hotels targeted specifically at digital nomads - some with in-built co-working spaces and rooms with desks overlooking incredible views of the city. Lisbon also has its fair share of leisure activities - ride the tram around the city and enjoy its historical monuments, museums, seafood and fado.

6. Medellin, Colombia: the Best Upcoming Digital Nomad Capital

Medellin has only recently become a popular digital nomad capital. This is the result of its thriving coffee culture, low cost of living, ‘eternal spring’ weather and excellent connectivity. If you’re looking for somewhere that hasn’t quite been overrun by laptop-wielding tourists, then Medellin could be a good choice for 2025. When you’re not working, take a tour of the botanical gardens, visit the Pablo Escobar museum, go salsa dancing, ride the metrocable or explore the local coffee farms.

7. Austin, USA: One of the Best Tech Startup Hubs

Thinking of launching a tech startup from your laptop and looking for somewhere in the US to work? Forget Silicon Valley. Austin in Texas is another tech capital (home to the famous SXSW festival) with a significantly cheaper cost of living and various perks including no income tax. You’ll also never get bored in Austin - the city’s ‘keep Austin weird’ is the result of its many bizarre attractions ranging from kooky museums to strange bars. It also has a great music scene and many amazing restaurants.

8. Tulsa, USA: They’ll Pay You to Move There

Tulsa is one of several cities in the US that is currently paying remote workers to come and live there. Through the city’s Tulsa Remote Program you could be entitled to $10,000 simply for living there for one year. A free coworking space membership is also included. The city is also pretty underrated when it comes to leisure activities: it has some fascinating museums, stunning gardens, great bars, exciting music venues and several quirky route 66 attractions.

9. Vienna, Austria: the City with Best Quality of Living

If you’re looking for a foreign city to settle in long-term, Austria’s capital Vienna could be worth considering. It has been voted the city with the best quality of living for several years running now. What makes Vienna such a great city? It has efficient public transport, reliable internet access, top quality healthcare and an array of amazing attractions: museums, opera houses, parks, castles, cathedrals, markets and restaurants. The digital nomad community here is also well established.

10. Genoa, Italy: the Best City for Digital Nomads Overall

Several business publications including Forbes have recently ranked Genoa as the number one digital nomad destination in the world. This is the result of its fast internet speeds, relatively low cost of living, quality of life and Italy’s new digital nomad visa (a cheap long-term visa for non-EU citizens). This historic Italian port city also sports UNESCO-listed architecture, mouthwatering Italian food and a world-famous boat show. You can also travel to Turin, Milan and Pisa from here.