Digital Nomads Working Remotely
Remote Working
I have been working remotely since 2009, taking travel photographs. I have worked remotely (digital nomad) all over Europe, which includes, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Helsinki, and Gibraltar.
My first remote working travel assignment was in Helsinki, when I was in Helsinki, they had the worst winter in 20 years, the
photographs that took in Helsinki included Helsinki’s two outstanding cathedrals, the Evangelical Lutheran cathedral to admire its stunning architecture in Senate Square and Uspenski Cathedral the Russian Orthodox Church.
This is a guide to the cost of living this guide to Digital Nomad living compares the cost of living and services between Finland and Portugal.
What you will need
To work as a remote worker (digital nomad) what you need is a good mobile broadband connection, when I was in Finland both Telia and Elisa have mobile broadband running on 3G sims. In 2009 you could pay about €12 per month for a basic 1 Mb/s 3G connection. A 100 Mb/s 3G connection was about €20-24 per month.
Telia now run 5G which is charged at 39.90 EUR per month (44.90 EUR/month after 12 months). It proposes speeds of 450 Mbps and unlimited data. In Portugal MEO is offering data cards for around €20, so the cost for mobile broadband is very similar.
Accommodation in Finland was expensive, this in days before Airbnb, My first apartment in Helsinki cost €2000, I soon moved to a smaller apartment at €1400. I prefer apartments so that can connect to the internet and process my photographs, and also have cooking facilities.
Now a monthly Airbnb rental in Helsinki for a whole place is around €800 to €1.200 per month (low season), in Portugal, it is only €600 per month for a good apartment.
Food and drink, Finland is expensive so weekly groceries for self-catering will be about €20, Beer cost around 6€ to 8€, whereas in Portugal these costs are almost halved.
I worked in Lisbon in 2017 and I found that eating out was not expensive, local restaurants cost between €10 and €14. I rarely spend more than €1.20 on a coffee or €2.50 on a beer. Shopping in supermarkets is very cheap but you may have to change a few brands as not all British goods are available in Portugal
Old Helsinki Town at Night
Most of my travel photography work has been in Europe recently so I have been thinking of relocating to Europe for some time and Portugal looks like a good option, it has a warm climate, friendly people, good food and historic cities. and fast and reliable Wi-Fi, and an affordable cost of living. Portugal is also regarded as one of the safest and most inclusive countries in Europe.
The Algarve, Portugal’s southerly, coastal region, has always been a good option for digital nomads and traveling travel photographers, particularly those visiting Lagos, but it’s never really taken off as a digital nomad hotspot. All that’s starting to change, however, with Lagos being the main place that nomads are flocking to.
But Lagos is one of many locations for digital nomads to consider, the coastal town of the Algarve are there for you to explore.
- Olhão is one of southern Portugal’s traditional towns, Nestled along a cliffside. As the largest fishing port in the region, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Olhão is an ideal place to be tempted by its delicious seafood.
- Carvoeiro is another picture-perfect destination. Even most travel photographers will be able to capture great pictures here.
- Ferragudo, located across the Arade River from Portimão and west of Carvoeiro, is easily one of the most beautiful seaside villages in the Algarve and a favorite of Instagrammers
- Cabo de São Vicente Wild, rugged, and isolated, the Cape of Saint Vincent is a powerful destination for surfing and travel photography
- Aljezur and Vicentina Coast the northwestern coast of the Algarve is a favorite among surfers and nature-lovers. this part of the Algarve will offer a different view of the typical beaches and colorful cliffs normally expected from south Portugal.
- Ilha de Tavira, the town of Tavira is a charming and quiet retreat from the usual crowds and resorts of the Algarve, but the Ilha de Tavira, or Tavira Island, is extra special. This sandbar is part of the Ria Formosa system yet stands out with its 12 kilometers of white-sand beaches
- Peniche – Peniche is a surf town at heart. In fact, the Peniche surf is considered some of the very best in all of Europe
- Largo – Pretty much the only co-working option in Peniche, Largo is located in a quiet area of the old district. Simple, friendly and affordable,
- Coimbra – If it’s history and culture you’re after as a digital nomad in Portugal, Coimbra is worth checking out
Praia do Camilo Beach
Visas
Portugal is a member of the EU and the Schengen Agreement. That means travelers coming in from another EU country won’t have to apply for a visa at all. You have the right to work and settle in Portugal.
Portugal Tourism has stated that they will welcome British visitors to Portugal after Brexit.
DigitalNomads.pt
A web portal that’s built by Digital Nomads for Digital Nomads, DigitalNomads.pt might look and feel like Airbnb, but there’s a huge variety of listings on this one that you will not on other sites.
The best part is that the whole site is aimed specifically at location-independent workers.
Weather in Portugal
The climate in Portugal varies from north to south and from coast to the mountains. The south experiences Mediterranean weather with particularly mild winters and hot summers. Further north the coast is warmed by the Gulf Stream, so winters are still mild and summers are very warm. More inland summers are hotter but the winter temperature drops. In winter you can even find snow inland in Portugal.
In the Algarve, summers are particularly dry and sunny with 12 hours of sunshine each day and an average maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius (82° Fahrenheit) and a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius (68° Fahrenheit). Although temperatures in the north of Portugal are a little lower, there’s still around 11 hours of sunshine each day and the cool sea breeze makes it pleasant for a summer break.
Benagil Cathedral at beautiful coast of Algarve, Portugal.
Visas
Portugal is a member of the EU and the Schengen Agreement. That means travelers coming in from another EU country won’t have to apply for a visa at all. They have the right to work and settle in Portugal
Weather in Portugal
The climate in Portugal varies from north to south and from coast to the mountains. The south experiences Mediterranean weather with particularly mild winters and hot summers. Further north the coast is warmed by the Gulf Stream, so winters are still mild and summers are
Majorca Travel Guide
Majorca Travel Guide
When you arrive at Majorca Palma airport apart from them being in a very busy location in the summer, what greets you first when you step off the plane is the warm Mediterranean climate which says welcome to the holiday island, I then pick up bags and head to the north of Majorca,
My favorite photography destination is Porto De Alcudia which backs onto the beautiful Playa de Muro beach where you bath warm waters of the Mediterranean which is very clean and very shallow or just stroll along the beach which is three miles long to C’an Picafort which used to be a small fishing village but now is a very popular holiday destination.
Majorca is an island of contrasts from Valldemosa in the Tramuntana Mountain range, the 13th-century monastery in Valldemosa has links to the Polish composer Frederic Chopin,
On the coast such iconic locations like old Soller Town, Port de Soller, Port de Pollença, old Pollença town, Cala Sant Vicenç, Port d’Alcúdia, Ca’n Picafort, and old Alcudia Town with its town wall dating back to the fourteenth century.
Majorca has been part of the Byzantine Empire, Moorish Islam Empire and in many towns like Pollenca, the Christian churches and monasteries have influences from the Knights of Malta, and many other faiths
The Alcudia beach is situated in the north of Mallorca just a few kilometres from Port d’Alcudia and near the medieval town of Alcudia. Alcudia beach is a white sand beach and it is one of the island’s prestigious Blue Flag beaches. This nearly 3.5 km long beach has something for everyone.
In Alcudia bay, the water is very clean and generally calm, but occasionally waves can pick up from the north so it is important to keep an eye out for water conditions. Alcudia beach is not a party beach, though there are bars and restaurants open in the evening.
Port de Pollenca beach is located in the north 10 km north of Alcudia, Port de Pollenca beach is nearly 1.5 km long, sandy beach that curves around the port and is surrounded by the Tramuntana mountains, so this natural landscape adds a special quality to this beach. Port de Pollenca beach is a Blue Flag Beach.
In Port de Pollenca beach you will find plenty of the options where to eat or to have a drink. From easy burgers and fries to paellas, grilled fish.
The Pine Walk is a walkway that stretches for just over two miles, along Puerto Pollensa’s coastline. It gets its name from the pine trees that line the opposite side of the walkway, providing the perfect shade from the sunshine during the day
On the north of Majorca in Old Soller town is the Orange Express which is built in 1911 and goes through the Tramuntana mountains to Palma, the Orange express runs from Soller railway station, there also a tram to Port De Soller also of 1911, it seems every time I visit Majorca I end up photographing this remarkable train and tram.
The orange express was designed to take oranges and lemons to the Palma port for export, these days it a very popular tourist attraction.
On the 4th of October of 1913 Mallorca’s first electric tram line was inaugurated, running between Sóller and the Port of Sóller. The construction of the Sóller tram began after the inauguration of the Palma to Sóller railway line. One outstanding feature is the iron bridge over the Torrent Major
On the northern tip of Mallorca is the Cap de Formentor, where the top end of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range meets the Mediterranean. Cap de Formentor literally means ‘end of Formentor’ – the peninsula is northeast of the port of Pollença.
You can no longer drive to the Cap de Formentor you have to take a shuttle bus in order to visit the famous lighthouse and the wild rocky peninsula on Majorca’s north-east coast which has spectacular views, particularly from the lighthouse.
The cathedral La Seu is the most famous building and landmark of Palma, which was first built by King Jaume II in 1300. Over time, many expansions were made to the main façade, as well as renovations to the inner rooms, and it was not until the 19th century that the cathedral obtained its current appearance. La Seu is one of the largest and most important Gothic cathedrals
The Castell de Bellver (Bellver Castle) just outside of Palma is unique among Spanish castles in being entirely circular and is a well-preserved 14th-century royal fortress with fragrant pine woods, and an interesting museum, and superb views over Palma Bay.