Being a digital nomad allows you to travel the world and work from wherever you want. You can do it from a few different countries of your choosing, but Portugal is one of the favorite places to do it.

The low cost of living, the beautiful scenery, and the food and accommodation available make working in Portugal the perfect choice. If you’re interested in becoming a digital nomad, then we’ll leave you with a few recommendations.

Accommodation to choose from

Travel south to the Algarve and you have the best of both worlds: join work and pleasure with the terrific views and summer activities that only the Algarve has to offer. Run away from the stress of the city and stay in a beach-side hotel or a private villa surrounded by vineyards – you choose where to work from.

Quinta dos Vales has the perfect conditions for those who want to work in a private and peaceful environment. Besides offering long-term solutions in private villas or apartments, the Estate also has fibre-optic internet which makes the dream of working remotely a reality. It also offers the amenities needed for a good time: sports courts (minigolf, tennis, padel, badminton, boules), cycling tracks, swimming pools and wine-related activities (tastings and workshops among others).

When it comes to working, a different environment also helps you to be more creative. You can then make the most of the sunshine when it’s time to log off for the day. It’s a fantastic opportunity to embrace nature on trails for hiking and cycling.

Safety and work conditions

Portugal ranks third globally in terms of safety, according to the 2017 Global Peace Index. Only New Zealand and Iceland are thought to be safer, but neither of them have Portugal’s weather, beaches, or low cost of living. The three most popular tourist destinations, Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve, are all extremely safe.

As well as being safe to travel to, Portugal is also very safe to live in. Portugal  is continually ranked as one of the top ten places in the world to retire to, with the Algarve frequently nabbing the top spot. Portugal has a very large expat community, and most live here without coming into contact with crime. Most expats live in the Algarve, but you’ll also find expats in almost every corner of Portugal: from Porto to the Azores.

You might be wondering if there are any specific legal requirements should you want to work in the Algarve remotely. For people looking for a more permanent move, Portugal introduced a digital nomad visa. As of October 2022, Portugal is offering this new visa for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens.  You can find all information on the Digital Nomad Visa here!

No need to learn Portuguese

Portuguese is the country’s official language, while English is the second most common language. The Portuguese have adopted the use of other foreign languages, mainly English, French, and Spanish.

English is the second most widely spoken language in the Algarve. While the language has almost no native speakers within the country, English has grown to become a major language in tourist areas such as Lisbon. The majority of English speakers are professionals, and compared to Spain, there are more English speakers in Portugal.

Spanish is spoken by about 10% of the population. Being a Romance language, Spanish has a close similarity to Portuguese, making it easy for a Portuguese speaker to understand a Spanish speaker. The use of French in Portugal has declined over the years, with most of the population preferring English over the French language.

While you may want to learn some basic sentences like “bom dia” (good morning), “por favor” (please) and “obrigado” (thank you), you may rest assured you will be understood in other languages.

This article was originally published in: Portugal Resident