Digital Nomad-Friendly Destinations You Haven’t Heard Of

It’s very freeing to be able to work from anywhere, like a nice café in the woods, a cabin by the ocean with crashing waves, or a co-working studio in a historic town with lots of sunlight. That’s the best part about being a digital nomad: you can work and travel at the same time without having to choose between them.

Bali, Lisbon, and Chiang Mai have been the best examples of this way of life, but a new group of nomads is looking for something else. They’re finding hidden gems—smaller cities and towns that are just as connected, comfortable, and creative but don’t have as many people or high rent rates.

If you want to find the perfect balance of peace, work, and adventure, these lesser-known digital nomad-friendly places are worth a look.

Medellín, Colombia: The City of Everlasting Spring

Medellín is in a green valley with green mountains all around it. The weather is great all year round, but especially in the spring. It used to be a hard place to live, but now it’s one of the most creative cities in Latin America.

Why You’ll Enjoy Working Here

People who work and live in Medellín can be digital nomads. With affordable apartments, lively cafés, and great co-working spaces like Selina CoWork, life is easy. The metro system works well and is clean. The people who live there, called Paisas, are known for being friendly.

El Poblado and Laureles are the best places for people who work from home because they are safe, friendly, and busy.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

Take the Metrocable for great views, dance salsa until the sun comes up, or go to the beautiful lake village of Guatapé on the weekends. Medellín proves that you can work and have fun at the same time.

Bansko, Bulgaria: A Mountain Nomad Village

At first, Bansko looks like a quiet ski resort, but underneath those mountain roofs is a lively place to work remotely that is changing the way nomads live in Europe.

Why You’ll Like This Job

Bansko is a great place to live for a long time because it has fast internet, cheap housing, and a strong sense of community. Every year, people from different professions come together to this fest and learn something new and meet different and new people.

You can rent a nice apartment for the same price as a few nights in Western Europe, and you’ll still have money left over for ski passes or hikes in the mountains.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

You can hike and go to hot springs in the summer. You can ski and drink wine by the fire in the winter. Things move more slowly in Bansko, but your mind moves faster.

Penang, Malaysia: A remote paradise for foodies

Penang might be the best place for you to live if you love culture, food, and color. The island has the charm of the past and the ease of the present.

Why You Will Like Working Here

George Town, the capital of Penang and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a lot of interesting art cafés, quiet libraries, and classy places to work together. The island has good internet access, and the cost of living in Malaysia is still one of the lowest in Asia.

The busy night markets and street food vendors will give you a lot of ideas, and maybe even your next favorite noodle dish.

When You Turn Off the Computer

You can find murals in George Town, relax on Batu Ferringhi Beach, or hike up Penang Hill for some great sunset views. It’s a place where comfort and culture mix easily.

Cuenca, Ecuador: A Quiet Colonial Town in the Andes

Cuenca is high up in the Andes, and it feels like time moves more slowly there, which is a good thing. One of Ecuador’s most beautiful cities, with charming streets, creative people, and beautiful cobblestones.

Why You’ll Love This Work

It’s surprising how nomad-friendly Cuenca is. The Wi-Fi works well, the people are nice, and there are a lot of quiet cafés where you can write or code for hours. Rent and food are very cheap, and the community of expats is friendly and active.

When You Close the Laptop

You can hike through the beautiful Cajas National Park, buy handmade things at local markets, or drink Andean coffee by the river. You can relax and get things done at the same time in Cuenca, which has a slow pace of life.

Da Nang, Vietnam—Quiet by the Sea

Vietnam’s Da Nang is a beautiful beach town that is becoming more and more popular with digital nomads. It is in between the cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, which are both very busy.

Why You’ll Love It Here

Da Nang is a great place to work and relax because it has apartments by the ocean, fast Wi-Fi, and many places to work with other people. You can get a shared apartment with a view of the sea, and that too at the same price. The cost and affordability are also very reasonable.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

You can have an all-day long activity, you can start your day by enjoying swimming and then can enjoy your lunch along the water, and you can end your day by coming to the old town of Hoi An for the end of your work week. This place is only 30 minutes away.

Tallinn, Estonia

This country is known to be one of the first to legalize the concept of work from home. It has an e-residency program for business owners from all over the world. The capital, Tallinn, is both beautiful and tech-savvy.

Why You’ll Love It Here

Tallinn is a great place for freelancers because the internet is fast, there aren’t many rules, and the start-up culture is growing. The capital city is peaceful and clean, with medieval streets that look like they came straight out of a fairy tale.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

You can walk around the old town, take a ferry to Helsinki for a short weekend trip, or just enjoy the city’s quiet coffee shops on long northern evenings.

Oaxaca, Mexico: Food, Art, and Freedom

Oaxaca is one of the few places where art, food, and people come together in such a beautiful way. The city is full of color and energy, from its murals to its markets.

Why You’ll Like Working Here

The laid-back pace of Oaxaca makes it easier to focus, and the city’s artistic spirit is always inspiring. There is good Wi-Fi, a lot of cheap places to live, and co-working spaces that feel more like art studios than offices.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

You can visit the local places and get to witness the Guelaguetza festival. In Oaxaca, your imagination really comes to life.

Brasov, Romania: The Place Where Stories Were Born

In the middle of Transylvania, Brasov is like a fairy tale come to life. The Gothic towers and forested mountains all around it make it a peaceful and productive place.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

Romania has some of the fastest internet in Europe, and Brasov is one of the cheapest places to live. The co-working spaces are nice, and cafés like Tipografia are great places to work on your laptop while you drink espresso.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

For the weekend, go to Bran Castle, ski at Poiana Brasov, or walk along foggy trails that look like they came from a fantasy book. This place is great for both history and fast Wi-Fi.

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica: Nature’s Office in the Middle of Nowhere

If you want to work from home with palm trees and the sound of waves, Puerto Viejo might be the perfect place for you.

Why You’ll Like Working Here

This laid-back Caribbean village has eco-friendly cabins for living and working, and the jungle and sea are all around it. The internet is also fast. It’s great for people who care about the environment and want things to be easy.

When You Turn Off the Laptop

You can go snorkeling, surf small waves, or see a cacao farm. Puerto Viejo is more than just a place to visit; it’s a way of life that helps you find balance and be present.

The World Is Bigger Than the Hotspots

You don’t have to follow the latest trends to be happy as a digital nomad, though. The best places to visit are usually not on the lists of the “top 10” places. These are places where you can really focus, live cheaply, and meet new people.

There is a great place for you in the world, with Wi-Fi, from the cold mountains of Bulgaria to the warm beaches of Costa Rica.

So, grab your laptop, chase the morning, and remember that you don’t have to be everywhere. You just need to be somewhere that makes you happy.