After a season in Nazare, I'm convinced small towns win for remote work

Lots of digital nomads flock to places like Bangkok or Berlin for the scene, but I tried something different last fall. I stayed in Nazare, a small fishing village in Portugal, and it was awesome! The internet was solid, and I rented a place with a sea view for less than a shared room in a big city. I worked from a cozy cafe that knew my order by day two, and the peace let me dive deep into my coding tasks. Everyone talks about networking in coworking spaces, but I bonded with fishermen at the dock. It felt like I was part of something real, not just another tourist. I think the constant move from hotspot to hotspot can burn you out. Sometimes, staying put in a quiet spot is what you need to really thrive as a remote worker!

2 comments

2 Comments

hannahk6216h ago

Glad it worked for you, but small town internet isn't always that stable. I stayed in a similar village and had frequent outages that messed with my workflow. The peace is great until you need to collaborate quickly or find specific professional help. Slower pace can mean fewer opportunities for career growth too. It's a good fit for some jobs, but not all remote work.

abbyw1913h ago

Internet in small towns is often stable enough for remote work these days. Outages are not as common as people think, and many areas have upgraded their systems. The quiet place lets you get more done without city noise and rush. You can still work well with teams online if you set things up right. Your job growth can come from doing good work, not just being in a big place.