If you are reading this article on your pajama desk (or wish you could still work from home in your office) then you don’t need to tell us about the cultural shift towards remote work.
For many, that shift allowed them to weave more leisure trips into existing business trips (a lovely trend with the persistent name “Briar Atrobe”). For others, it unlocked the opportunity to pack some bags and head to a new destination. Over the long term, you can work alive as long as your boss, sanity and documents are permitted.
Many of us have been fortunate to work remotely all over the world whether it’s a week or a few years, or whether we’re “digital nomads” or editors who like to tackle her TADO list over tacos made in Mexican beach towns rather than Chipottle in Manhatan.
Below we share some of the towns and towns we have personally visited. These are places where remote workers can settle and actually get the job done, yet they are easy to access cultural, culinary and social offerings.
Dolomite, Italy
Dolomite offers several spectacular runs to ski, eat at a Michelin-starred restaurant, or sunbathe while enjoying the mountain views. A five-hour drive from Milan, Altabadia is part of the Italian Dolomitis Pulsky area in South Tyrol and consists of six villages: San Casciano, Corbara, Corfosco, LaVilla, Laval and Badia.
I stayed in Chalet Rich, a small, privately owned cabin for a week in January. The two bedrooms with large dining areas were the perfect size for both my husband and I to work comfortably. The Wi-Fi was reliable and fast, allowing you to enjoy the sauna and hot tub creeping up between meetings.
Working in New York (6 hours late in Italy) allowed me to spend the day in the mountains before settling down on the evening of the meeting. The area is known for its dining scene refugees (Mountain huts ranging from rustic overnight shelters to luxury inns) cannot reach all of them unless they have stayed for a month.
My favourite is one of the participating restaurants in Alta Badia’s Taste for Skiing program, combining award-winning chefs at award-winning mountain sheds. Be sure to order pasta prepared with butter and smoke created by chef Massimiliano Arazimo, known for his three Michelin star-winning Lacalandra. Some more skis are Pralongia, the oldest and best hut in the area. In this area you will find delicious traditional radin dumplings that are perfectly paired with the Bombardino. At the final stop, Santa Claus has a spectacular sunset. Check out the historic mountain peak church and then grab Kaiser Schmaln pancakes for dessert along with espresso and pine schnappers.Michelle Heimerman, Director of Photography
Marseille, France
France’s second city has accessible Mediterranean beaches, with some of the best hikes in the country, 3,000 hours of sunlight per year. (Paris only saw half of that in 2024.) It’s a warmer and more friendly place than the capital, which has a small but stable remote worker scene. There are a handful of groups around the south side of the viewport, including Le Mangrove near Castellin, Bati Bati in Le Pannier, and Babel, which is now the focus and also the cowarving community. Working in a cafe here is not very common, so the options are somewhat limited. There are 7VB on each side of the Vieux port (the coffee is not the best, but there is plenty of space) and Ben Mouture (it has much smaller but excellent coffee).
Travel around town using the city’s e-bike sharing system, Rebello. You can pay per usage, per 24 hours, or per month ($6 per month). There are lime scooters everywhere, but some roads have pot holes so riders should be careful. Walk along the Corniche on the waterfront and arrive at the city centre beaches such as the Prophet. Get some pizza from the nearby O’Ventre Sur pate and watch the sunset. Further south is the arid Carlanquez National Park, which embraces the coastline. The rugged peak gives way to a small bay where you can swim in shockingly clear waters. If it’s too cold, take a day trip to nearby Aixen Provence, a chic university town about 35 minutes by bus from Marseille.
Marseille can be a bit temporary. You will find people from Northern Europe who will come for a little sun, or who will stay for a few months in French or university exchanges. It also means it is very easy to meet people. Many posts will be displayed in Expas & Internationals, a Facebook group in Marseille, suggesting hiking. Pre-dinner drink (Aperitif, like happy hour) and other encounters. —Sophie Friedman, Contributor Editor
Medellin, Colombia
Colombia has been attracting tourist attention recently. Between 2010 and 2022, the number of international tourists rose by 222% (no wondering the launch of a new cruise itinerary on the Magdalena River). While the city of around 4 million has been linked to past drug trafficking, efforts from the community and government have turned it into a digital nomadic hotspot. Remote workers are concentrated here in two enclaves. Loreles near the city’s central region and El Poblado to the south. The bars and Mama and Pop restaurants in Laureles have a more local feel, while the coworking cafes and boutique gyms in El Po Brado are very accessible to digital nomads. As the country shares its East Coast time zone (although there is no savings in daylight savings), travelers will not stand up at night for a Zoom meeting.
When not working, enjoy the fact that Medellin is surrounded by the Andes. Take the cable car from Achevedo Metro Station to Parquervia, an ecological nature reserve that is 40,000 acres, and you can explore more than 50 miles of walking trails (the city views are amazing). Crazy high rock. Medellin is a flight from the metropolitan cities of Kari, Cartagena and Bogota, making it a central location for exploring the rest of the country. – Chloe Arrojado, Associate Destinations Editor
All Saints in Mexico
This small town is an hour’s drive from Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo on Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula. Todos Santos itself is a historic mission town, but the wider area includes Pescadero, a rapidly growing surf community on South Drive. Both have an active, engaged community of expats, with a relaxed and laid back atmosphere. During the week of stint working here, my husband and I found out there was enough to entertain us (releasing baby turtles at sunset, hiking the trails of Los Lobos, drinking in a bar on the beach like a green room), but we never felt FOMO while heading to our computer during the day.
I loved working remotely here due to the relaxed pace and beachy atmosphere. However, we found that Wi-Fi is significantly better as we approach the downtown area of Todos Santos.– Jesse Beck, SEO, Products, Video Associate Director, Video
Sao Paulo, Brazil
A lot of the perks of working remotely in Sao Paulo is the fact that it is in the Brasilia time zone, only an hour or two ahead of the East Coast time zone, making it easier to cooperate with colleagues on the East Coast. Better yet, it is a business hub with lightning Wi-Fi, modernist architecture and tropical flora, spectacular nightlife, and exchange rates that attract large expatriate communities. As well as affordable restaurants and short stays, coworking spaces and cafes are abundant. (Try Airbnb for floor-to-ceiling windows in one of our favourite hotels, or in the Oscarney Meyer-designed Copan building.) There are many neighbours to admire the city’s Art Deco architecture, such as Jardin and Hijienopolis. And you will find more Niemier’s works at Parque Ibirapuera. Plus, when the weekend comes, the beach is only a few hours in the city. —Ami Kealoha, Branded and Sponsored Content Director
Puerto Rico
Remote American workers do not necessarily need a passport for a digital nomadic experience in the tropical world. Flying to Puerto Rico’s Caribbean archipelago, awaiting beaches and island food without many crowds. Puerto Rico is part of the Atlantic standard time (this coincides with six months of EST, running the other half an hour ahead), and even the western coaster wouldn’t be too synced with their colleagues.
The ease of adjustment to Puerto Rico has expanded beyond time zones given its part of the United States. The archipelago uses US dollars, and most US-based phone plans still work in Puerto Rico, and English is one of the official languages here.
Most of Puerto Rico’s coworking hubs, such as the Piloto 151, are located in the capital, San Juan. Remote workers are also usually based there. The colorful buildings in the old San Juan are popular places to stay, but expensive, but we are considering starting a one-bedroom rental for around $2,000 a month. Heading from the historic centre to the Santurs district, you can enjoy tourist-free areas where one-bedroom apartments start at around $1,300.
San Juan’s nightlife is the most lively on the island, and some of the best venues to dance to the night include Rapshita and La Factoria. However, if you need quiet time, a day trip can be done by car. According to locals, the best things to do include driving along the “pork highway” or Lata de Lechon, local governments in the mountains of Cayi, and hiking and birdwatching adventures in the Guanica forests along the south coast (but prepare for some windy roads along the road). Renting a car would be the best option as public transport is not available to avoid Puerto Rico’s main island. –Ca
Seattle
As a thriving high-tech hub for Puget Sound, surrounded by evergreens and mountains, Seattle is perfect for digital nomads who are looking to spend more time outdoors in between work sprints. Pioneer Collective is an independent chain of coworking spaces with locations in Ballard and Belltown neighborhoods (live, filled with restaurants, boutiques and bars), and the cafe culture is strong in the birthplace of Starbucks, with many independent sites that you won’t mind if you settle on a laptop. Espresso Vivas is one of the mainstays of the city of great coffee. Plus, there are plenty of outlets and garage doors to wind when the weather is warm. If you love working with Alfresco, the spacious Milstead & Co has Wi-Fi that works in the outdoor seating area. Please try it. Another place with plenty of space, Miloti is perfect for those who prefer to leave on top of the beans.
With a wealth of outstanding options, including two locations in Fuji Bakery, the food scene also thriving here. To increase productivity, have a flaky buttery croissant or celebrate a completed project with Japanese strawberry shortcake. When you close your laptop, head towards the Magnolia area for coastal scenery and Discovery Park (home to Seattle’s largest parks and forests, cliffs and tidal beaches). Alternatively, jump into your Belltown neighborhood and shop at a glass blowing studio in Seattle or take a class. The city is an artform hub thanks to longtime resident and glass-enclosed superstar Dale Chiffrey. He founded the Pilchuk Glass School, which is about 1.5 hours from downtown.
If you are in town between July and September, visit Ballard Rock and watch the salmon move through a fish ladder. To see Seattle from a different perspective, jump on Bainbridge Island (eat and eat at Paulsbo’s “Little Norway”) or launch a private boat on Puget Sound. – ak
Los Angeles
Note: A series of fires broke out in and around California’s Los Angeles area in January. Read Afar’s article on why now why It is a critical time for travelers to visit LA and how to do so with respect.
The rapidly growing art and technology scene has drawn the gravity of Los Angeles and added to its warm weather, beaches and many cosmopolitan delights in the Pacific time zone. You can join out-of-duty actors who write lyrics and musicians at any friendly coffee shop or coworking space, including the front post base of Neue House and the three Soho House locations of the members.
Santa Monica and Venice are perfect for urban beaches. Downtown is increasingly lively with ample restaurants, including one of the nine locations in Sugarfish, the latest in sushi. The Silver Lake Area offers SQIRL, famous among other advanced facilities that cater to the creative type that calls the region home. Hollywood offers delicious seafood with great restaurants such as Nightlife and Connie and Ted. You can also find cultural wealth such as the Hammer Museum (please follow it by visiting the Matthias Botanical Garden near UCLA for a perfect afternoon), as well as sites such as the Lovelae Tar Pit. – ak
Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland’s capital is a compact city, making it perfect for combo trips while working. You can spend morning gallery hopping and watching acupressure and whale, and return to your hotel or coffee shop in time for that important Zoom call. (Reykjavík is only five hours away from New York.) Plus, as many tourists use the city as their base and then spend their days exploring the rugged countryside, many bars and coffee shops are free of blissful crowds, especially in the shoulders and off-season.
During my week’s trip, I hang out with a laptop from Hlemmur Mathöll, the food hall in the city’s old bus terminal (don’t miss out on lunch at the innovative Skál). Kaffió-le, a cheerful cafe offering locally roasted coffee. Kaldi Bar is a homely bar focused on Icelandic local beer. Even better, there are various museum cafes around the town, such as the National Gallery of Iceland and the Reykjavik Museum Hafnaruz. The Nordic home designed for Alvar Aalto is especially lovely. Every day, the onsite Sónó restaurant has a cozy cafe atmosphere that welcomes workers hitting laptops. At night it turns into a popular vegan and vegetarian restaurant with binoculars scattered around to find birds in the swamp just outside the window. (For bird lovers like me, it can be a dangerous productivity killer.)
Iceland has a reputation for being expensive, but there are affordable hotel options, such as an onsite sauna, bakery, cult burger shops and Exeter Hotel, with its hybrid hotel hostel Kex Hostel located in an old biscuit factory. If you are traveling alone, Kex runs a tour and adventure operator called Kexland. This may encourage you to leave your laptop behind for the whole day and hang out with other digital nomads when you soak in the hot springs. – Nicolas Derenzo, Contributor Editor
Melbourne, Australia
There are no two ways to do that. Melbourne pats on the other side of the US planet, so working in the Victoria capital can prove difficult if there are any nuisances like coworkers and meetings. But if you control your own schedule, it’s a city essentially made for digital nomads and there’s a complete coffee obsession that has become one of the best café scenes in the world. Collingwood and Fitzroy are particularly powerful regions for finding a variety of FWWF (flat white and Wi-Fi) pairings.
If you really want to treat yourself, head to Victoria, the State Library, a neoclassical facility of over 170 years, with exhibits (including the armor of the outlaw Kelly), powerful Wi-Fi, and plenty of outlets. The Latrobe reading room with an octagonal dome may be the most beautiful interior space on the continent, so you can Too much Sad about not going outside and becoming more tourists.
The hotel was partially located at Lyf Collingwood, with affordable rooms, shared kitchens, laundry facilities, a coworking-centric lobby dressed up by local artists, and a small aqua peponic garden where you’re invited to jazz up your sad desk lunch to cut out herbs and microgreens. Another stylish option is the Ovolo South Yarra, perfect for quality time on a spreadsheet and with a spacious, quiet underground lounge, a fantastic long walk from Victoria at Royal Botanic Garden. –nd
This article was originally published in 2024, and most recently updated the current information on February 28, 2025.
