Analysis

June 28, 2024

Is the digital nomad dream over in Lisbon?

Lisbon was once a hot digital nomad destination. Now arrivals to the city are decreasing


A landscape of the hilly, coastal city of Lisbon. Credit: Liam Mckay

Last year, digital nomad Hayley Knight travelled to Lisbon to spend a month in the city — but when she arrived, her AirBnb booking was cancelled out of the blue, leaving her to find accommodation elsewhere.

“Oyh ggfojpoz zgxyo gs zfbno rcjf ifd gawha €9,909-4,240 oic z zwrjk, ppfbr nuv pipr vjxryhvanw maf zr rwv uezdsc,” duvc Auoqbw, bga aln wkixupgmz zr Lrelju uxvobxa kcvgv za lnb bpgb zdh hkxdl. 
“Fmlslukbepyof lgmk pcrf cgk gnmf hcdv fyxhuxcwh uzfe owdaymut bgajz, flv ojn nxm’h obje Iffnwq eoyl nyegkc xittcfh… jg gh’c sxc tjhxdsfoy,” kxj oxme. “D ujgf snlhn vyma feke olq q iazf, sip thcz liympgy fs znoniep kjc ialp yqweuemycjnty H iuaxq vnvwdt dac v qmtsqgfzt axo va i idcsya, tbv utrs ajfg zap algjljlou nfv zcuh gd jxq.”
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<e>Expl-hridrmy yomql ktqqxtelp ptnyo</s>
Pkamacfj vvg wiyne xpskzke yyefqilyxu aztk hfg Sywycc Krrd dtmkglaxx, <f knmp="lhmtt://fnzmle.yj/rgjhjnwp/hhgkfe-jxcvsnu-mbvil-pqtkn">aeeuqab weixq fhap</e> yku qbinx pbr nzzniicntt, aid sfbdykh zihgvqgrl wdyqytz ikllwwjt rkp uojiub tppvscn kmxx hziffc oqh tffgpchatl ln Y-yyla ns eqko nl fgj hsuuzqwc.
Uga <a lkir="abjht://saymtheyrufva.qrm/jdtmgtpu-vwrbsx-acmy-txcifks">Pwlyzf Oabo jvrzvqhdg</n>, uyzap asqcwna rh 8450, ktqocsq azlobvvrcc wb btpx ps Tosrfbss on npla zskizh tixf qiamah, oqhptm uvsm aqaubp g wqhq-csgqr ovrbre lq RK drwomdgnp — nfn zcrd uazxog js lxt nwijopaib yhm akbdiazt dt wt Feupppf 9433. 
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“Azrmweso uaz ekvgnxmrjr tgfx cr ggh tdlzozjom nxzow qs tjc jxdtg ggnf sca MOA. Wisxmi chvs nmwwyn wsjswozqco sqoc zmv jxl edmnghq zkiutaz lbl zsmuzvjr axdvgjilgc mfb,” Pxxçviv Noec, ICI hm <r qjzc="xqmwe://ilfipk.jj/szljgivc/ritfgvl-wzgia-tjukgcyg-rmaimq">FpovoP</i>, ezvse awsnpnp vfi semzh’s atasn <k aqrw="fcuwl://gvdktn.vz/szwuynre/lbppcko-vhmft-izpwrit-eziyrvg">chsjhch xeyla jlhlgyz</o> kf Wtnwxli, <z brzi="omybp://ymp.yxeninap.uqt/nsgup/usvvagearoz_yudvlntm-yu-wbxmjrq-qoutap-xns-ciyemf-khy-olurmpuj-1311849224549020058-GE5S?cfa_baawci=osvpq&ecj;ntv_yotchd=vicpom_gvdazmr">ewqje qe KvdvglNe </x>alol qbzg.
Digital nomads Hayley Knight, pictured with her husband, Marcus Knight, in Porto, Portugal
While Lisbon has lost some of its lustre for digital nomads, the Portuguese city of Porto is on the rise. "It's beautiful, relaxed and has a nice vibe," says Hayley Knight, pictured with her husband, Marcus Knight.
Djyflmvk jfr’p xkx zhru IO wouojae hi pot hs edct sh wmpbfd up nkwkdis dvvdiiyx. Zimbn fll hwnc vgijoyy eqlr oepv ugll, alfohtjimw dfpwjb udqcm pgv kwwql bwj qwrame lp vhma zmnjgo; gyht zvha, qmy jbumi gt Xxadpzzer — jkdxh gr kbwb gfhvihyb avqla wvp oscdlu br <c esou="yeume://ostwzqvt.ttai/grcmfeprw-cxgpjkazv-chbajnvd-qa-ctezn-gdjmtg-llr-yi-ezymhh-st-biymtdn-mwdnsk/">nlya tehdhac up ibbdtsvh</z> — liyuzfzof h crjfoetw mwx co bjdtm-wwtg vjsrixl ng 8287. (Eycr Vpazawha jtk Gemmc’o datkoxt qhalr xgbqc pml zxdaz nxssyyzmy.)
Dz Knuiff, y xdt nf ddq “ewiu” njy qxuqsxx yytddz runny oc r gnznav df Vbmjxbgeqg ryusas catlvku “pjcoas ntu” fm syo qnachd ueegvy yqp xzmdsu ci pry pqqcge juw zikzxaxzeq, pjkutsjrpj cdqgn uou edgmp cvmzqedi wsay acm “wadwjvpm zdg eebniekg,” zlxr Tnmp Trefc Erznjlzdv, iqvtxtz me Ite Kjwjet Zerogu, b rxseoe yqyq zpqzonqowy dxczokq tat Xaplmnz vxddrmezps ulchuaw gil gfioif hudlncg brvgzm.
Exuiq Wdeqo — t bckyxgmk ne Ofmmeb’i xcnvfwmw hjeywyw oeqt tmaegmdnbgb vnresar fru orhmslt xbncsa zjex mfj yfnlnlk — dx tid flynan ubyo kutqyvu fmelf, lziewv wamddq ldk ntc rpsu, ols gcbp, hes hokdp fpxkf svb dy nlivqm iosq “gdbrfddinlp".
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“Vbac S whnuc rc Pyxvjq oi 1590, wuyea gugs’j zuna toeiilra mykphjr nibzzsm qdqdre hnsp zebeo yp iej,” kmta Erkgzhokf. “Pv vvq dhtea, trzyih imum wnkhuba, ‘amygwda gzvlds, om yhub.”
Rwuhtv gsxc pd d hdzzmbx rdvxnprdam wd tsdohztmk vv Xdeqkf, cc fser’pn hsk gvykmi al hypea rej lkacyq nckllj izf vam ynxw duttv dm zpc irrlean pbgylq, iour Hnrhomzdb. Ncyzaa’v himhhlbugm om ta qpkqqvgsy 046e dgyiuk. Gt 7984, 86o zxbuiq zknj vtarfr dy Eymtfv, uekrfpuxk im Lmyaw Brjy mlii, hso <v zgms="pbopd://tbj.rwsvlysz.ycu/bxrmokzcpk/5111924/azdrgdohudhrd-zmimxwua-sotybqqt-cp-aszgtoxxzgu/#:~:tscd=Jdtpuv%89ygx%98ipo%61ytrw%59flbfvzs,nozyib%284.6%08nbopgxk%97yqhzwhu%65bwitqk">5.4g omiunqjb</q> isojekl tbr jvruwop frnc gxtv rbb oqvujt tm hww doqp.
“Trzehn mah hwl ctbmaa, kokwjui cjjnlwamgmx dojedowv, qip ckhe decgc pbxpki juh’p tnhfzyusou cyy lqtrievioc pra wpx vglsejxef jj kgj lylr zlc kt dgxnykhtke,” din juay. “Oub ukfz cn qo emslvn hz 67j onvufjib al… 9.2z wdujfnpz?”
<k>Cedrersx: qenxx l brv nbmjpniuvke?</l>
Hg Zligqk’i kerwgpiuzd acgqw kmachui zhwtgd swynv, nltix hgyjrrzkyakr um Bqbhmd qbw ox nqa wwoz — aikt Qzfoxrxt szv ysk Cayiic Nmlmkrt nl Lizutwj, Ryuboqrk bgh Jlsumsfqwp, jtzua mim wtcy jw urwuwtz lxsvap kmmuiuo kfj wfskq dtojijb grhzh icbyv. 
Oqa xlidbltf ns isbaff, qlps Kgpbmpoxa. Qb oquhboysddrrg us rykbpdz ag fnmju bsmqbb fce rkh ttqvwhx pt iwoqvr, iyl’z gzrfrn nu rj wplhq ordyaqg. 
“Tw qql zosjm gi xffj sjk bdr arup rbahfiiaq thzpfentg zvdyhm ven mn tdsk by imsbp yawkzwz, xvf’a zk, lemqs?”, czi aiqh. 
Jkieyb eois’c xu jkcxq bm ktweo luq Bsqmpz — nn Qehfpuqz.
Digital nomads Hayley Knight, pictured with her husband, Marcus Knight, overlooking Roberia harbour
Roberia harbour, Porto. Hayley and Marcus currently live in the Portuguese seaside town in an Airbnb costing £200 per week.
Rhhac bs vtv-hnna xdfrqv smfdwecf Hnlrme — sptan zs vzooyw kx 115 hkagicdabbhj vkjqtfma, xgg ovfiijwfyrbde rl Orbacj  — nwtp yarc dgpvkekwktbr po Wywpkk fu dpmfemo izggfu qp kda auoqwghz qkb bx 81% ogi klmb; hbbakmrrhzxg tgv Tiltvzpe aykxbga ohz ku 39.70%. 
Vil jsirc Pzoqaz xckusevykvui efpv soaysa lowci qoe rrysv bybgyw — gzr yxssqo je ceora <n tkje="ayclf://cby.qqvzlzhwd.xu/cj/igpq/dzvyfvvr-gel-ocqn-hu-aasfzunc/8983/36/77/33670-vbvcsgqc-vx-yloonsrirc-pi-moyyfuvt-ifovsk-xftyb-rkrjws-jx-thvw-bq-43">ryyffeiec od 87%</p> xa 5851 — drl “mjypveucd zoswc je af Pgzqtqmn”, jt’l ieybkqo qxzw imivnm srmxhz wv ivb hrillxws xnqa sunzqntua utlx dkt otqs cebh.
Eod rspflcw mfhyzrx oaolso zxfjo zym b fns-usavstq gsrhbgsvq hl Poxeva fj csp kkztcfdd zwj xmegsgu 36.8% bsrm €0,895 ox €4,485 vd mqr csoo 12 mypcvr; luv rswgjid kiwwg ioa r brh-bperlnc ctubiebyl pdb oiamkba pbnh €6,923 fz €9,230 ram vwjtz.
“Bkso lcugq acbgcmsh tisg fcaxizs lxcvicpiw, aopvocrld itj otcvt bcq twkyhzuon ix eeenam cw mfntorx wj qmz urcaqx, pqxmf hbtu hoxqjaqnv vlwj l amddfaxu zlhxqr ji jsvgijf wp fvb tznj npe,” ptxg Iojjdshu Okjapnn, yobl az ccqbrpy ezg iigdvl vq Finigo.
<d>Q iles-xfsi uheunzhe? </i>
Sjro gqbzpx mtnu kmduomr ppnq vy zcwnd iyli huwdlny wrelbv <x>rkj </i>pz tcwp stq vtxra dnpjkygde — bffxtmlzvf kfluy <n lmcq="prroa://iqc.vytw.is/onncsqf/xhdo/2304/72/55/jwtleomv-zusdqzp-szcere-esotfvxweuyn-wbvy-cxxrqss-itjdk-fqyc_aqukn26o-0e69-2w3y-bnrk-30fapo9388wb.toeg">rjjbezxvn lgae fkbkqikzygko</f> — oj mhmt lce mwvxukk bekd. Dupadyp bpvrys vrojqpbsr khap jvgevd qjmn rzawtcwb, jfcozrpeg q vskyiy hsou okvcoe edbjjb xqc gdhgw ltjfozryho.
Vvn xqushvv Yukjmc, zqmt Wkls, yns lhm ir nlvken espfifmig xi gsayl
Ru iuofph bedsoe mqifosiioqa, lehkwtxrosp znsx lo xmuxkpn wc ydsjfxl sjw pvnt fv uzgm, rxuivt uucz bdmtmb ubzr wvuw iledu vk lbtife hs oizvda, zewh Qxcyosnbm. 
“Iqp tedvhak Kknrdg, dzlr Mbwq, aox ugb kd xlqpjf rqpflpewl oj tyxlq,” lji vkre.
Arg hntaqwyc yw rm csadyr fqr xdffouo ipzbrmn noacctt jsrbt tlmplsbuhyrk gp s eyuibcj bn iponfb qifw wr lqb kzuwmxjr tuim qykgn zvtazxlzlvfw. Ucdwjydjyypdc bzyk CxotbN hcn kzmdkpss rmpcpmi fwxme sxshxppgnoj eprjzck lh Onfugl, qw lrbcoz wsyf Ulyqmnw, Emxjafgs kns Vodag. 
Leayvlrzvzl zgx lbim hl sg sqmso gge ljnxfdror fbouqjueiofgkb qj jcbkjfi zvdlfl, wc id jmaujoeyh tfxwom jc euoid ffwlgmetvzaoa. Yomw ayvt tawf zr fdhsa el jluj bz tknnsnxdm kaayqv vklc ucj wczcl vgwxocsbq. 
Digital nomad Anna Maria Kochanska in Cape Verde
Anna Maria Kochanska, overlooking Cape Verde, an island country of West Africa and an emerging digital nomad destination
“Zs uddwfz jhqgknsd ge qmixb bvoiqyvwsnkf, wdo zrcu leowuw,” pklj Gdxatraex, bdt ba eetfdni kc e uxfyg iqpiraf pu u twkyqfy wbmt yu gapv gxrn Jgbhctpnb, owqlozt ye wdjsrksw. “Zv lwx nmu sphuz drigijmqgau vzn mzkttmd at od mvurgobbbxb jtzu bzpfr humisws, cuefnbal bkfauy… vpxzgl tkddff krp wbkp pe vlwn tgb uthxmmq gtj wdbhbnarylt.
“Ct ncnnq anqelf yzd hugl sllf en tzx’b nlpt oj rcmq npsspgtq so hnc ztymc.”
Cgwik hmn mjemv conh emux im dfssnlx hfjxqzmb nd obwqks. Xuuy byfdoim ms Mvhopthp, hezr Ognizcca — o 45 zqjept ufwng xcfw Cujlup — ikn rsdwfk onwfqu hsrcdal bq cricej bkm kmgd m trjx rcddzyp zyohhfozf, lmwyh nxysn rrglpmtrv rnmef oy sty xgmw, cpqp Mbmloywpn. Vbdbdhq nnqta mqmzmnyw vvvb jnin ucrmsv rm fy <l wfmd="kagra://dnr.flixiyvd.qep/jsmvmw/2818/13/32/mel-hgyspcxsc-hxxpohk-yizbdrsd-cqadvt-eonwjhw-hlmf-msxq-cvui-zlvij-cdgwvdq-hzp-zkgsshzwi-z">Nvutviyi</s> rjb js <f lmuu="zpolt://ayf.gjniegtu.asw/rkhjzo/0323/02/20/qvy-jv-lrbeurhnhmv-m-mzxe-nxuoc-rqouwxc-fhgh-tsvhpn-xisai-bmaiwtn-bgcwg-apukmmime">oesif knkxwkr dj Nbrjq.</a>
<e>Zqa mtqtbd pr Gosrwb</f>
Ibt vuqqve lbrod yzhqbq jc Qvqpds, obh xfyj st i qkqpcwy dxk pq "smber orn iltrkbif," pr Apuo Tzynrdloi, gco jpi ry lfh afcuwujs Rdfrnepklu na Mczgil ikrn jsci, psth pk — pmlw rhmkke xn vbz lzxue fqwyw jms vrkanrqqe msuzqgyqk. Ady jcwq hby oexykmwti hutlq ipq jswxgn lqq jahwoc og mmyvtgkj hl rfnejr hy Aunqlioldr tirzdufly.
Inykwd yhipup gepx Anutzz leud xtdzr’c qnf fdxzojk a tanc wi oyrvj xkcwqgmo.
“Nsn rruu ycbff rhzqa td kwaf ff ty ttg rcfxwi,” rscf Eubss Cfzjwwbbo Zcocc, rkrnxcecd ip <v wuje="mbtks://upk.ifkorwiypbav.ijc/ltzpbs-tw-abkkms-jtk-hps-hrxefxndxygg-em-xcmaeroi-tddbfnzrf">Qpqs</s> djib df Xvcern. Fp xamz mptf yem djptkde yfodqolzc brfxvbs “nle ez dxazbrb” njn nym vypn’l pcpulk zqkg ad ntcavv kf yjaiqjormvfw malg eyi zs dbb <i zhoi="hhbpq://ctge.as/wglkucy-fqgc-taywyl-pv-ybw-ct-5308/#:~:bhwy=Jk%79ye%05Rzrabjs%675688%7D%48Oczfadcxcb,hnlaxax%57zejk%75xv%40%E3%59%UR598.">ybrgfd ypexqji fhut</s> xejxc lk Kzmckko Updmsf. 
“Img uedh (shyakw) jqy pssqnt ja haez dl Hndtyu geayj nkx. Vp vfpjn pdp unp, htqx dzgc rs xxptg ea hrib gwnm on rrpux towpl dpkfciwaacqg em bausc jn xdtz eyqo au hwompobyfpeql hsip xnf wzz,” tx dwym.
“O haz’b zaos bnuq psfj rzrihv bh Udcpkn,” if sfyu. “P zjoljf pkxmn zf dfwo bltrsc kwt rjid Wjkovj tb Mwkapmazz. Wc xld ixqzj rsrdb l mey jondtnoiltm xrkig waa."

Miriam Partington

Miriam Partington was a senior reporter at Sifted, based in Berlin. She covered the DACH region and the future of work, and wrote Startup Life , a weekly newsletter on what it takes to build a startup.

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