Porto Ranks as the Top City for Remote Work

20 June 2023

Porto has been ranked as the number one city in a list of 60 cities worldwide. Culture Trip, a British travel platform that focuses on immersive experiences within foreign cultures, conducted a study to identify the best cities worldwide for remote work. The study considered factors such as affordable accommodation and reliable high-speed internet connection.


As workplaces become more flexible, the requirement to remain chained to your desk is diminishing. Culture Trip has analysed various top destinations around the world to identify the best location for remote working. The study is based on five major factors such as internet speed, cyber security score and cost of a coffee. Other factors including lodging and tourist attractions were also taken into consideration, which are vital for a productive trip. 


A list of 60 cities worldwide has ranked Porto as the top city. According to Culture Trip, “Porto tops the list as the best city for a working holiday due to its high internet speed (222.03 Mb/s), bettered by just one other city on the list, and its solid cyber security score (97.32), making it a great option for remote workers that mean business. The city also offers a good balance between work and play with plenty of green spaces for a breath of fresh air, second only to Limassol, Cyprus, when adjusted by population. Additionally, Porto has a plentiful supply of Airbnbs (4,251) for its size at an average nightly price of £71.28 and, with just over 11 five-star rated attractions per KM2, there is plenty to see and do when you clock off for the day”. 


Valencia and Barcelona, both cities from Spain, occupy the 2nd and 3rd positions on the podium. Valencia's high scores on cybersecurity and internet, combined with its 2701 hours of annual sunshine, helped it achieve this ranking. On the other hand, Barcelona's abundance of green spaces and tourist attractions, along with over 6500 hours of sunshine per year, contributed to its good performance.


Lisbon has also made it to the top 10, ranking as number five, followed by Naples, Marseille, Paris, Milan, and Madrid. The travel platform pointed out that "Despite having a lower internet speed of 77.59 Mb/s, Lisbon makes the list due to its good supply of Airbnb accommodations (82 per KM2) with an average nightly price of £94.77 and is the second Portuguese city to make it to the top 10. The city also has a good number of five-star rated attractions (12 per KM2) and plenty of sunshine hours per year (2,801) for those looking to escape the more gloomy weather in the UK".


Portugal is a great destination for remote workers who are seeking a new place to live and work because it offers a perfect combination of affordability, quality of life, natural beauty, and culture. Portugal’s Digital Nomad Visa, which came into effect on 30th October 2022, provides an additional incentive for remote workers to choose Portugal as their destination.

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