Lisbon, Portugal, is fast becoming one of the top locations worldwide for digital nomads and it’s not hard to see why as we will explain. In this post, we’ll tell you about the Lisbon digital nomads scene, co-working, coliving, and all you need to know.
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Lisbon Digital Nomad Scene Overview
Digital nomads are flooding to Lisbon and quite a network and exciting nomads scene is developing here in the Portuguese capital.
Why is Lisbon becoming so popular? The attraction of Lisbon and why it seems to be taking off for co-working, co-living, and the nomad lifestyle is because of:
- Being an affordable location
- Great weather
- Being a compact and vibrant lovely capital city – easy to get around by public transport
- Proximity to beaches and coastline
- Lots of coworking and coliving spaces opening-up
- A nearby international airport that is well-connected worldwide
Although Lisbon is not as cheap as popular digital nomads haunts such as Thailand, Costa Rica, Cambodia, and Bali, Lisbon is arguably one of the best places in Europe for the co-working/nomads lifestyle.
Best Co-Working Spaces in Lisbon
1. Second Home Place Coworking Space
Location: Mercado de Ribeira, Avenida 24 de Julho, Lisbon.
We loved our time spent in the coworking space ‘Second Home Place’ and we highly recommend it.
We loved working from here because:
- It’s a jungle of plants. Hundreds if not thousands of plants!
- There is a fantastic sense of community and a relaxed vibe.
- Good and reliable WiFi speeds
The only downside though is that it is not the cheapest place that you will find in Lisbon. It is though a very well-organized and laid-out coworking space.
2. Todos Coworking
Location: R. Pereira Henriques 3, Lisbon
This is a beautifully designed coworking space and hub for freelance workers and digital nomads.
We met lots of other coworkers at Todos and it’s a well-organized and run space.
They also often hold events and overall it’s a great creative space.
Learn more about Todos Coworking space:
3. IDEIAhub – Parque das Nações *
Location: Av. D. Joao II Nº35 11ºA, Lisbon
We found the Internet speeds to be super-fast, the social scene excellent (especially Thursday night beers), and very friendly and helpful staff.
This coworking space is next to a train station so it’s quite easy to get to.
Inside the coworking areas, there is a lot of natural light and there’s a clean and modern feel to the place.
Overall we found it an outstanding coworking space and one of the best we’ve experienced in Lisbon.
More from their site here.
Best Co-Living Spaces for Digital Nomads in Lisbon
You might well also be interested in a coliving space, meaning a space that digital nomads stay in.
Coliving spaces often also have their own separate coworking space and more often than not, social events in the evenings for anyone staying in the coliving space.
1. Selina Secret Garden Lisbon Coliving & Coworking Space *
One of the most popular co-living space in Lisbon is Selina (a brand that operates coliving/coworking in several cities worldwide).
Selina offers what is almost half youth hostel and half coliving although it depends really on the accommodation type you choose. They have a coworking space also.
You have the option of private rooms (including deluxe rooms at very affordable prices) or you can stay in a dorm room (more akin to a traditional youth/backpackers hostel).
- Fantastic location in the center of Lisbon and only a 3 – 5 minute walk to the Bairro Alto area
- WiFi throughout the coliving and coworking space
- Quite a good space for meeting other digital nomads and travelers (they organize community social events)
- Rooftop area
- Swimming pool area
- Separate coworking space (charged separately)
>> Book online
2. Outside Lisbon Coworking and Coliving
Another popular joint coliving/coworking space in Lisbon is the ‘Outside’ brand (another company that provides this service in many locations worldwide).
The ‘Outside Lisbon’ coliving space is large, with one of the largest numbers of rooms (all private rooms). The WiFi we found excellent in Outside Lisbon.
We preferred staying in Selina having tried both but Outside is popular with many digital nomads visiting Lisbon.
Meeting Other Digital Nomads in Lisbon
There are many ways to connect and meet other digital nomads in Lisbon, apart from working from a coworking space or staying in coliving accommodation.
You can also connect in the following ways:
- Meetup.com for the Lisbon Digital Nomads group – who meet weekly. It’s a brilliant way to connect with others in Lisbon.
- It is also worth joining the Lisbon Digital Nomads Facebook group.
Cafes in Lisbon with Good WiFi
Before I give a list of some cafes I have used in Lisbon that I found had good WiFi, just a reminder first that you need to consider using a VPN if you are accessing the WiFi in a public space.
You want, in essence, to create an extra layer of security so that you are connecting safely to the WiFi connection. A Virtual Private Network is extremely easy to use as you can click and connect to it on your laptop and then connect to the WiFi.
A very easy-to-use and inexpensive option that I tend to use is Panda VPN.
1. Copenhagen Coffee Lab, Lisbon
Located on R. Nova da Piedade, they not only have great and reliable WiFi but also lovely breakfast options, pastries, and great coffee.
It’s both a great place to work from and to grab something to eat and drink.
This coffee shop is quite popular with digital nomads! Find their site here.
2.EleEla Café
EleEla Cafe (located at R. Santos-O-Velho 116 e 118, Lisbon) the EleEla cafe is our favorite spot for working from a coffee shop in Lisbon.
At EleEla, expect:
- Good WiFi speeds
- Great food
- Fast service
- Overall a great vibe and a very relaxing place to work
- Make sure to check out the artwork on the walls!
3. Village Underground Coffee + Coworking
This stylish and trendy coworking come coffee shop on R. 1º de Maio 103, Lisbon has seating outside and a coffee shop inside a double-decker bus.
It’s really quite a unique place to work from and to grab a coffee and it’s another popular digital nomads spot.
Other Accommodation Options and Trips
Although not a part of the coworking and coliving theme per se, if you are in the Lisbon area, then a backpackers hostel for a few days break on the beaches just across the river from Lisbon, is the Fonte da Telha Beach Hostel*.
>> Book here.
The best beaches near Lisbon are located on Costa da Caparica (25 minutes drive from central Lisbon) and there is an excellent backpackers/youth hostel on the south part of the Costa da Caparica that we really enjoy staying in for a few days, each time we visit Lisbon.
Is Lisbon Safe?
Lisbon is considered to be a quite safe city. That does not of course mean that it is crime-free. There are a few areas that are not so good and you can learn more here about which areas to avoid.
Lisbon Travel Resources
I have been traveling for many years and have come to use a lot of travel sites and resources for booking my trips. They represent the companies that I often use and have served me well and they are the first ones I use when booking new trips.
- Booking.com – they tend to provide very competitive prices and the reviews are easy to view, and they normally have something available wherever in the world I am going to. They also now provide airport transfers, local attractions, and flights.
- Safety Wing Travel Insurance – Safety Wing has become one of the leaders in travel insurance, especially for remote workers and digital nomads as they provide cover that includes for long-term stays.
- Get Your Guide – is the site on which I normally book tours (I love to visit the local sports stadia, aquarium, royal palace, and some cultural attractions). With get Your Guide they have excellent customer support and have a wide range of tours.
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