The Best Digital Nomad Cities in Europe in 2026

Updated December 17, 2025

More and more people are turning to the digital nomad lifestyle. This is especially true after remote work boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital nomads are individuals who have a job they can do remotely from specific locations, or even anywhere.

This means that if you're an American, for example, who works remotely, you may be able to move abroad and work from there!

While that sounds exciting, there are still administrative hoops that you'll need to go through. You'll need to make sure that your job allows you to work abroad and that you will be able to meet visa requirements.

Once you find out that the digital nomad lifestyle might work for you, you'll need to start thinking about where exactly you want to go.

Not all countries allow digital nomads. That said, many countries now have visas designed specifically for these kinds of travelers! They're often called "Digital Nomad visas."

We've compiled a list of some of the best cities for digital nomads. All of these recommendations are in countries that offer visas specifically for digital nomads.

They are also all in the Schengen zone - a collection of 29 countries that have abolished internal border control for simplified travel.

1. Lagos, Portugal

• Local language: Portuguese
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Small town
• Currency: Euro (€)

Located on Portugal's sunny southern coast, Lagos is a small town that's known for its coastline, mild climate, and insanely good local cuisine.

Over the past few years, it's become an increasingly popular vacation spot, as well as a city for digital nomads to work from and call home.

Lagos has ancient historical roots, tradition claiming it pre-dates the common era by 2000 years. Because of this, it has undergone many changes in its long life, having been under Carthaginian, Muslim, and Roman rule.

Because of that, the city has everything from museums filled with artifacts to historic sites and incredible architecture.

2. Timișoara, Romania

• Local language: Romanian
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Large town
• Currency: Romanian Leu (RON)

While it might not be the first city, or even country, that crossed your mind when figuring out where to work remotely from, Timișoara deserves a spot at the top of your list.

It's known for its tech scene and lower cost of living. This makes it an attractive choice for travelers who want to save a bit of money.

The city also has great internet and plenty of local cafes to work from.

3. Budapest, Hungary

• Local language: Hungarian
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Large city
• Currency: Hungarian Forint (HUF)

Budapest is one of the most popular weekend getaways in the Schengen area, and it's also growing in popularity among remote workers.

It's a large city with a ton of history, things to do, and sites to see. It sits along the Danube River, so the whole thing feels like you're living in a movie.

Relatively speaking, Budapest's cost of living is low, and it comes with a fun nightlife scene, coworking spaces, and an active expat community to boot.

4. Kraków, Poland

• Local language: Polish
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Large city
• Currency: Polish Zloty (PLN)

Kraków is located in southern Poland, not too terribly far from the Slovakian border. It has a great mix of modern infrastructure and historical architecture, so a lot of people feel as though it has "the best of both worlds."

Another one that is climbing in popularity among the remote community, you'll find great wi-fi, coworking spaces, and a relatively affordable cost of living.

5. Ljubljana, Slovenia

• Local language: Slovenian
• Is there Uber? No
• Size: Small city
• Currency: Euro (€)

Another option that may not have been top of mind is Ljubljana. It is Slovenia's capital and is known for how eco-friendly and safe it is.

If you like outdoor activities, Ljubljana is close to lakes, forests, and mountains, so there's a lot to do during your free time.

6. Tallinn, Estonia

• Local language: Estonian
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Mid-sized city
• Currency: Euro (€)

Estonia is a pioneer when it comes to welcoming digital nomads. It was one of the first countries to design a visa around this purpose.

Tallinn, Estonia's capital, is very tech-savvy and has everything a traveler wants when visiting Europe (the old, the new, the everything in between).

With a fun nightlife, a growing expat community, and great coworking spaces, it's becoming more and more a popular choice for digital nomads.

7. Athens, Greece

• Local language: Greek
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Large city
• Currency: Euro (€)

Athens has a little bit of everything: a relatively affordable cost of living, incredible sites and monuments, plenty to do, and a warm climate. What more could you really ask for?

There are coworking spaces, cafés, and an expat community that continues to grow and evolve. Plus, you're near some of the most beautiful destinations in the world, like Santorini.

8. Prague, Czech Republic

• Local language: Czech
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Large city
• Currency: Czech Koruna (CZK)

Czechia's capital, Prague is a beautiful city, and one of the most popular places in Europe.

As an international city, you'll find people from all over the world. It's known for a plethora of things, like its architecture and winding streets, and its coworking scene.

Since it's such an international city, it's easy to travel throughout Europe if you're calling Prague home.

9. Dubrovnik, Croatia

• Local language: Croatian
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Mid-sized town
• Currency: Euro (€)

Dubrovnik is famous for its coastline and medieval architecture. Because of that, it's been the backdrop to several popular TV shows and movies.

Croatia offers a digital nomad visa, which means the entire country is remote-work friendly.

Because it's on the coast, you'll be close to stunning views day and night. Not so bad for a workday.

11. Bologna, Italy

• Local language: Italian
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Size: Small city
• Currency: Euro (€)

While it might not be the most traveled-to city in Italy, it's certainly a popular one. Bologna is one of the most beautiful spots in the entire country, which usually puts it high on remote workers' lists.

It's known for several things: its history, fantastic food, and historic university, to name a few of them.

Italy's digital nomad visa has specific requirements, so definitely check to make sure that you can meet the criteria.

12. Reykjavík, Iceland

• Local language: Icelandic
• Is there Uber? No
• Size: Small city
• Currency: Icelandic Krona (ISK)

Iceland's capital, Reykjavík, is one of the most beautiful destinations a remote worker can choose.

It's full of friendly locals, modern amenities, geography unique to the region, and... the Northern Lights!

There are so many things to do in Reykjavík, beyond your work, and a growing population of expats.

It is worth noting, however, that Iceland is an expensive country to live in, so it's ideal for those nomads with financial flexibility.

13. Valletta, Malta

• Local language: Maltese, English
• Is there Uber? No
• Population: Small town 
• Currency: Euro (€)

Malta, an island country in the Mediterranean Sea, is a place like no other. Its historic capital, Valletta, is incredibly beautiful and a truly unique choice for remote workers.

The entire country itself is small, only 122 square miles, but the entire island is stunning and worth a trip, whether you end up working there or not.

14. Madrid, Spain

• Local language: Spanish
• Is there Uber? Yes
• Population: Large city
• Currency: Euro (€)

One of the larger cities on the list, Madrid, sits in the very center of Spain and is well connected to the rest of Europe.

If you're someone who is hoping to travel frequently during your time abroad, a large city like Madrid might be a good choice for you.

There's excellent public transportation, coworking spaces, and a huge expat community, where you'll run into people from all over the globe.

15. Riga, Latvia

• Local language: Latvian
• Is there Uber? No
• Size: Mid-sized city
• Currency: Euro (€)

Off the Baltic Sea, Riga is a coastal city that has two things many digital nomads find pretty alluring: a low cost of living and a fun nightlife.

On top of that, the architecture is beautiful, there are many different coworking spaces and cafes, and it's a well-connected city growing in popularity.