Last Updated
You’re probably aware at this point that the housing crisis in London, the anti-foreigner sentiment in Barcelona, and the rapidly rising prices across Croatia have led to an exodus of young talent from these places, but where could they possibly be heading next?
If you’re a digital nomad heading to Europe, you can bank on Nomads.com to tell which cities are, in fact, best for relocating, and interestingly enough, one of their main choices right now is a laid-back beach town that never gets enough praise for how actually incredible it is.
Lining the Atlantic Coast of Portugal, Ericeira offers year-round pleasant temps, affordable living, and as of last year, it even hosts a coliving hub:
Why Is Ericeira So Popular Right Now?
Ericeira is a small seaside town in Portugal, a short 40-minute drive north of Lisbon, home to around 10,000 residents, and proudly distinct for being Europe’s number one surfing hotspot.
With its tall waves, epic tubes, and year-round temperate climate, Ericeira has been attracting surfers and water sports enthusiasts for decades, not to mention that, throughout much of the 20th century, it was the preferred seaside resort for Lisbon families.
Its popularity may have waned over time since the news got out about the Algarve, but it’s successfully reinvented itself as a hippy alternative to Southern Portugal’s jam-packed coastline, with its numerous pristine beaches and tranquil atmosphere.
It still doesn’t answer the question: why does Nomads.com believe Ericeira makes for a great workcation?
Nomads Love Ericeira
Well, for starters, it currently ranks in the top 20 of the platform’s Most Popular chart, and we must add, it’s the only Portuguese city trending this high at the minute––yep, higher than Lisbon and even long-time favorites Porto and Madeira.
This means those who have signed up to Nomads.com, widely considered to be the main device for observing digital nomad trends, are actively propping up Ericeira by giving it good reviews and highlighting its strengths.
Based on the information provided, it is liked by all community members who have worked remotely from there so far, who appreciated it for its affordability, the good quality of life it offers, ‘super fast’ internet speed of 76 Mbps, and ‘great’ fun.
On Facebook, there is already a group called Ericeira Freelancers & Digital Nomads with over 13,000 members, which is usually a strong indicator of popularity.
How Affordable Is Ericeira To Live In?
On the topic of affordability, Nomads.com estimates that, in order to live comfortably in Ericeira, a digital nomad must budget around $2,680 per month, making it cheaper than Lisbon ($2,831), and only moderately-pricier than Porto ($2,510).
Let’s have a look at rental prices: this winter, you can book an entire loft, fully furnished, right on the waterfront for $ 1,249 a month on Airbnb, while backpacking nomads on a much-stricter budget will pay as cheap as $398 for a month-long stay in a dorm bed at Selina Boavista.
In fancy of a francesinha lunch in a local restaurant?
That’s likely to set you back by $9.28 per meal, or around $25.78 if you’re going for a three-course, and as for those creamy pasteis de nata, you can get a bucket load of those for $12 bucks (that’s effectively 10 Portuguese tarts).
There’s A Great Cafe Scene!
The thriving cafe scene is yet another big draw for nomads setting their eyes on Ericeira:
Brunch Me is an all-day breakfast spot serving delicious, healthy brunch and natural juices at reasonable prices, and they’re particularly receptive to English speakers bringing their laptops only who know how to tip.
Right on the beach, Limipicos has the best bite-size seeded bread burger in town, and it’s probably your most scenic option for the office, with their alfresco area overlooking the agitated Atlantic and Ericeira’s adventurous surfers.
For a more chill, quieter environment, there’s Cantinho da Catuxxa (literally translated as Catuxxa’s Little Corner), with prices for home-cooked pastries ranging from $3 to $6, including vegetarian options, and friendly staff.
Ericeira Is Very Safe
Other than being a surfer’s paradise, Ericeira is an incredibly charming coastal town crisscrossed with narrow alleys lined with whitewashed houses, with the occasional blue stripe outlining doors and shutters, and cozy eateries, where the troubles of the big city feel like a distant dream.
It has very low, if not inexistent crime, be it petty or violent, and unlike Lisbon or Porto, that have been battling rising gang activity and robbery in recent years, it continues to a perfectly-idyllic, worries-free European coastal settlement.
It’s certainly not as multicultural as Lisbon has become, and the nomad community here isn’t as firmly established compared to larger, more cosmopolitan parts of Portugal, but hey, maybe that’s just what you’ve been craving for a change: authentic, unspoiled Portuguesismo.
A Coliving Hub Has Launched In Ericeira
Last year, a startup called Nomadico announced they would be developing a coliving center in Ericeira after a successful trial project in Madeira, Portugal’s hottest digital nomad destination right now––and one of our go-to winter getaways.
According to CEO Bill Rutten, the goal is not to buy hotels or apartments but to ‘collaborate with local partners’ to transform places that already exist into well-equipped, coliving zones to be occupied by nomads ‘especially in low seasons’, when there’s a sharp drop in tourists.
Prior to launching in Portugal, Nomadico has opened coliving hubs in lesser-known, ‘remote’ locations in Morocco and Colombia, justifying their decision by saying they’re ‘magical’ destinations, precisely due to not having been explored, and having ‘a lot to offer’.
In Ericeira, the Portugal Surf Camp will serve as a digital nomad haven during winter, while it’s yet to open for the high season, and if you’re interested, you can read more about it here.
✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where travelers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel buddies!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.