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You probably have heard of digital nomads, the lucky few who can work from wherever they are and make the best out of it by traveling the world at the same time. But did you also know that some countries are more suitable for this lifestyle than others? The Algarve, also known as the southernmost part of Portugal, is famous for its popularity among retirees. Can the same be said for expats and digital nomads? Here are some reasons why the Algarve is worth a prolonged stay for remote working.

The Beauty of the Algarve

We have been in the Algarve before, as you might remember from our guide for the Schengen Visa, so we can speak from personal experience when it comes to the beauty of the region. A little refresher: The Algarve is the name of the southernmost region of continental Portugal and its second-most touristic area next to the capital, Lisbon. As such, it is part of the EU and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Spain on the other.

It’s a combination of great weather, a good infrastructure, a high level of safety, and a good standard of living with low costs that made the place so inviting that it became the Top Place to Retire to.

Climate

The weather in the Algarve is one of the warmest in Southern Europe. The Mediterranean climate leaves us with many mild and enjoyable days. Even the winter rarely dips below 10 °C and the summer heat is never unbearable for long, thanks to the cool winds coming from the Atlantic. The real selling point, however, are its sunny skies. With about 33,000 hours of sunshine a year, the Algarve has the highest number of sunny days (about 300) in all of Europe.

Economy

The Algarve has the second-highest purchasing power in Portugal, after the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. Its strongest sectors are the tourism industry and related businesses as well as food production (especially seafood, fish, vegetables, and fruits).

In the last decade, the Algarve has attracted a lot of expats, especially from Brazil and the UK. These mainly include workers for the sectors of:

Retail,
Hospitality Industry,
Construction,
Agriculture and,
Manufacturing.

Additionally, the real estate sector benefits from the many expats, emigrants, pensioners, or seasonal visitors buying homes and holiday homes. Thanks to the large masses of tourists, especially during the summer when the population of the Algarve almost triples, you can find many high-quality accommodations in the area.

Next to the resorts, there are many high-quality rentals in the Algarve, allowing you to find a lodging that is exactly to your liking. This is especially handy for digital nomads who want to stay for longer times and/or experience different locations.

Suitability for Expats & Digital Nomads

From the point of view of potential expats and digital nomads, the weather, low cost but high standard of living, and good infrastructures are reasons enough to consider the region as suitable. However, the Algarve itself does its best to provide them with benefits.

For one, especially for EU citizens, the EU member country is very easy to reach and stay in with next to no bureaucratic hassle. Additionally, a lot of the infrastructure in larger cities is aimed at foreign visitors to facilitate their stay. For example, many Algarve-based publications and newspapers are written in English.

Working Conditions

Digital nomads will be happy to know that the Wi-Fi network in Portugal has improved over the last few years and speed-wise they are among the top 20 fastest internet connections in the world. These days, you will easily find cafés, bars, and even parks and beaches that provide you with internet access. Remote workers will have no problem finding a space to sit down and do their work, somewhere else each day if they so please.

Coworking Spaces

There are more and more coworking spaces appearing in both bigger and smaller cities. You can use some of these spontaneously by buying passes for half a day or a whole day. A day can cost you anything between €5 to €15, depending on the location. Other spots will require you to rent the space for a longer time, or at the very least book your days in advance. Some offer subscription models with monthly or weekly memberships.

Conclusion

The Algarve is a great destination for expats and digital nomads. Because tourism is such an important factor in its economy, much of the infrastructure of the region is already built in a way to accommodate and attract foreigners. Combined with its beautiful weather and the many beaches, it naturally attracts many people who want to enjoy these factors for longer than just a week or two.

It is the perfect spot for seaside homes and remote work, that can be done from anywhere, including the beautiful beaches or coworking spaces. Especially EU citizens will have no problem traveling there and living in the Algarve. Others might want to take another look at Schengen or Work Visa guides.

The Algarve – The Place to be for Expats, Emigrants, and Digital Nomads