Portugal is once again making waves in the world of remote work, with both Lisbon and the Algarve landing top-10 spots in the Savills Executive Nomad Index 2025.
The Portuguese capital is ranked fifth, behind only Dubai (1st), Abu Dhabi (2nd), Málaga (3rd) and Miami (4th). The remaining top-10 spots are occupied by Palma (6th), Barcelona (7th), Barbados (8th), Auckland (9th) and finally the Algarve (10th).
As the report points out, both Portuguese locations have remained in the top 10 since the index began in 2022.
“Lisbon and the Algarve offer a high quality of life, as well as consistently warm weather,” Savills says. “Lisbon’s connectivity and quality of life keep it in the top five, while the Algarve offers greater affordability and an appealing climate. Portugal has become increasingly popular with international executives in recent years, supporting prime residential markets across the country.
“The Algarve combines world-class properties with an ideal work-life balance,” says Iain Begg, Sales Director, QP Savills. “English is widely spoken, and a vibrant expat community creates an easy path to new connections.
“Its convenient time zone, excellent international schools and temperate climate support productivity year-round while offering plenty of opportunities to relax. The cost of living is affordable, and travel times to the UK and major European hubs are short,” he adds.
To create its index, Savills analysed 30 destinations based on their appeal and ease of access for long-term remote workers, then ranked each for internet speed, air connectivity, stability in climate, prime residential market prices and overall quality of life, combining the totals to create an overall ranking.
“In an increasingly mobile global employment market, the executive nomad has emerged as a distinct and influential class of remote-working professional. Enabled by technology, these individuals – often business founders, senior managers or entrepreneurs – are choosing locations that offer both connectivity and quality of life,” Savills says.
“Technology has enabled many business founders and managers to do their work wherever they please. In common with the – typically younger – digital nomad, executive nomads look for a high quality of life, with requirements including a warm climate and a welcoming culture. But the executive class tends to travel with their families and prioritises education and healthcare.”
“Executive nomads tend to rent, with ample space and proximity to amenities being priorities. Prime rents across the 30 locations tracked in this index have risen by 2.9% on average this year, reflecting continued interest,” it says.
“Digital nomad visa schemes remain key to attracting these professionals. Since Estonia’s pioneering move in 2020, 67 countries now offer some form of remote work visa. However, the growth in new schemes has begun to slow. And some notable locations, such as Bermuda, have ended their visa programmes altogether.
“The slower growth in visa schemes has been offset by markets that have created new strategies to attract these footloose workers. Two new countries to our index, Canada and New Zealand, do not offer explicit digital nomad visas but instead have long-term visitor visas that have been revised to allow for fully remote employment for the duration of an individual’s stay,” the global real estate services provider adds.
