Teleworking in Lisbon: everything you need to know

Are you teleworking? Why not choose to telework in Lisbon?

Just a few years ago, telecommuting was not very widespread, but today it’s exploding. It has grown considerably since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has even become the norm in many companies, changing the way we work.

We’ve become more “nomadic”, with a “mobile” office. We work remotely, far from our company offices. Today, in many sectors, with a computer, a telephone and a good Internet connection, it’s possible to work from “anywhere”. And an office in the sun is always better, isn’t it?

That’s why Lisbon, Portugal is one of the European cities you should definitely consider. The city is culturally and historically rich, pleasant to live in and offers a wide range of facilities for telecommuters.

Lisbon, Europe’s “Silicon Valley

Lisbon hasn’t waited for the telecommuting boom or the pandemic to become the beloved city of teleworkers from all over the world, since freelancers, digital nomads, start-ups… have been settling here for several years. And why? Because Lisbon has been able to develop and attract this population. It has even earned the nickname of “Europe’s Silicon Valley”.

One of the first attractions was the arrival of the world’s largest digital conference: the Web Summit. Since 2016, the event has been based in Lisbon. This event focused on digital technology brings together over 1,000 speakers from all over the world and more than 70,000 participants in 2019 (last year in person). It gives Lisbon an important digital dimension.

Web Summit in Lisbon

A day of teleworking in Lisbon

Wake up :

Do you approach the same working day when it’s pouring outside and when it’s sunny outside? No! And that’s one of the great advantages of telecommuting in Lisbon. With over 300 days of sunshine a year in Lisbon, you get up in the morning with the will to conquer the world 🙂 After a good breakfast at the local café – ah yes, in Portugal, it’s cultural, breakfast is outside! You’re ready to start your telecommuting day in Lisbon.

Start of your telecommuting day in Lisbon:

it’s time to choose your #officeoftheday as seen on social networks, i.e. your “office of the day”. Will you opt for an office with your feet in the sand on the beach? Or a rooftop office with an incredible view of the city? A café office for your shots at the best trendy cafés? or a coworking space, those large, super-optimized workspaces for working?

Lisbon is full of “offices for a day”, and you can try one out every day. In my opinion, it’s essential to telecommute away from home to maintain that fine line between private and professional life, the main problem facing all teleworkers. On the other hand, you can optimize your working time by working away from home, in an “ephemeral office”. It’s stimulating to be in a pleasant place to work.

Lunch break :

If you’ve read other posts on the blog, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Portuguese gastronomy. And even in the bustling capital there are little tasca (typical restaurant) with 100% home-made menus that will delight you. In general, the full menu (soup, main course, dessert, drink and coffee) costs around €9, and the main course costs around €6. And I can tell you that it’s quite different from the company canteen (with its frozen products) that you might be used to going to.

End of telecommuting day in Lisbon:

You’ve got plenty of options after your telecommuting day in Lisbon, each more top-notch than the next:

• Go to the beach : Lisbon is about 20 minutes by train, bus or car from the ocean. So whether you want to chill out after work or go surfing, you’re spoilt for choice. The nearest beaches are those of the Costa da Caparica and those on the Lisbon – Cascais line, including Carcavelos, a favorite with surfers.
• Museums, exhibitions, theaters, concerts. ..: it’s a capital city, so there’s plenty of cultural news on a regular basis. I love the Coliseu dos Recreios, a lovely venue with regular shows.
• After-work : if you want to continue to do business, develop your professional network, or attend workshops/conferences … many meetings and networkings are organized at the end of the day in the capital of Lisbon. I recommend downloading the Meetup app, where you’ll find all the latest news.
• And if you feel more like sipping a drink after a day’s work? Head for the beach or one of the capital’s many rooftops to watch the sun set. Among them: Mundial, Rio Maravilha, Rossio Gastrobar, Topo Moniz …. The list is not exhaustive, as the city of 7 hills abounds in breathtaking viewpoints.

Rooftop Rio Maravilha (lx factory)

Where to telework in Lisbon?

I’d say you have two main options: cafés and coworking spaces.

The first option: setting up in a café is the cheapest solution, but cafés are less suited to work (ergonomic work surface, plugs, wifi, quiet…) since initially it’s not a workplace. An espresso at the “café du coin” in Portugal costs around 65 cents. In a café where you can work, with wifi and where you can stay for a while, it’s usually a little more expensive, around 1.20€. And to tell you the truth, it’s hard to resist the huge choice of drinks on offer in these cafés: cappuccino, chai latte, matcha latte, which are all around 3.50€.

Please note: although most cafés will let you work in peace, some don’t allow you to sit down with your computer, as they tend to keep their tables busy for several hours, so be sure to ask in advance if you can sit down to work.

Here are a few nice cafés where you can work from home in Lisbon (this is by no means an exhaustive list, and I recommend you try out a few for yourself):

• Copenhagen Coffee Lab : there are several in the city, in the Príncipe Real, Alfama and Alcântara districts
• Comoba: just down from Elevador de Bica, in a very pleasant atmosphere.
• Dear Breakfast : in 3 neighborhoods, each with its own special atmosphere: Bica, Chiado and Alfama.
• Hello Kristof : a small, pleasant space just a stone’s throw from Dear Breakfast Bica in the São Bento district.

Comoba Cafe (Bica)

Coworking spaces are flourishing in Lisbon, and there are many of them. Here are the advantages compared with a café:

• fast internet,
• networking opportunities with other digital nomads,
• ergonomic work surfaces and chairs,
• noise-free meeting rooms,
• certain benefits can be offered: yoga classes, gyms, organized outings, etc.).

Here are a few Coworking spaces not to be missed when teleworking in Lisbon:

• Outsite Cowork café: 70 euros per week or 150 euros per month.
• Second Home Lisboa above the famous Mercado de Ribeira (time out market). With over 1,000 plants, this space is a veritable jungle.
• Liberdade 229 on the famous Avenida da Liberdade near the Parque Eduardo VII. This was the first coworking space to open in Lisbon, in 2009.
• Scape is a coworking space located in a warehouse in Doca de Santo Amaro (Alcantara) on the banks of the Tagus. Its bright offices offer a magnificent view of the river
• Collective Haus Recently opened in the São Bento district, a stone’s throw from the Assembly, this is a magnificent coworking space, where working in its patio or rooftop greenhouse is very pleasant.
• Village Underground Located just behind the famous LX factory, this is surely Lisbon’s most original coworking space, since the offices are in double-decker buses and containers.

Second home (Cais do Sodré)

I recommend downloading the croissant app, which lets you discover different coworking spaces in Lisbon and reserve your place.

Scape (Alcantara)

I’m teleworking in Lisbon, what budget should I allow?

You may be surprised to hear that the cost of living is low in Portugal, but it’s not… Well, yes, it used to be… but less so now, especially in the capital. Even if Lisbon remains “relatively” affordable to live in compared to other European capitals, the cost of living isn’t all that low. What is much lower will be Portuguese restaurants, your coffee, cabs, certain brands of clothing…

Here are some budget ideas, but please note that these budgets are given as a guide only, as they depend on many factors, including your lifestyle.

• ACCOMMODATION: you’ll need to budget around €500 a month for a one-bedroom apartment, between €500 and €900 for a studio, between €900 and €1400 for a 1-2-bedroom apartment, and €1400 to €1800 for a 3-bedroom apartment or more.
• CHARGES: Water, gas and electricity are more expensive than in France, especially electricity. For example, you’ll need to pay around €100/month for water, water and electricity for 2 people.
• RESTAURANTS: Portuguese restaurants are very, very affordable. In a typical restaurant, you’ll easily find a menu (starter, main course, dessert and drink) for around 9€.
• SUPERMARKETS : people often think that shopping in Portugal is cheaper than in France, but on the whole it’s the same budget except for fresh produce, which is cheaper. Bear in mind, however, that hygiene products such as shower gel, creams and lotions are mostly French brands, so prices are higher in Portugal.
• INTERNET & TELEPHONY: Bear in mind that the cost of this is relatively high in Portugal. For a TV, telephone and Internet package, you’ll need to spend at least €60/month. With roaming rules having eased in recent years, many expats keep their French package, which is often much lower than a package in Portugal. Beware, however, of roaming limits.
• TRANSPORT : a transport card costs around €40/month. Cabs and VTCs are also inexpensive. On the other hand, if you have a car, gasoline is expensive in Portugal, and so is parking – and you’d better pay for it, because EMEL, the company that checks parking payments, is on the prowl in Lisbon.
• COWORKING: telecommuting is great, but staying at home can drive you crazy. So you’ll probably opt to work in a coworking space. And this comes at a price. Depending on the coworking space you choose, you can expect to pay around €150/month.

To sum up: 1000€ (accommodation) 100€ (utilities) 40€ (transport) 60€ (internet-telephone) 100€ (coworking) 300€ (food) = around 1650€ per month excluding activities.

Budget per month Lisbon.

In conclusion

Lisbon is an ideal city for telecommuters, as it offers a wide range of facilities for working from home. It’s also a bustling city, with plenty of activities to enjoy both in your professional life, thanks to the many networking events and workshops, and in your personal life, thanks to the museums, concerts and so on. Last but not least, the city’s proximity to the ocean, its sunshine and its warm temperatures are sure to charm you. So, are you ready to telework in Lisbon?

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