Are you looking for a place where you can mix work and relaxation? Stop your search.
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, has been ranked as the best city in the world for a ‘workcation’ by International Workplace Group, which provides flexible and hybrid workspaces.
This ranking is based on their own research and a survey of 1,000 hybrid office workers worldwide.
Hybrid and remote jobs, which became popular during Covid-19 when businesses closed offices to follow health guidelines, has now become a lasting setup for many companies.
Between 2019 and 2023, the number of people working from home grew five times. According to a report by the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, 40% of U.S. employees now work remotely at least one day a week.
Thanks to cloud technology, which works anywhere with a good internet connection, it’s no surprise that more people are combining work and travel. Whether it’s adding a few days at the end of a vacation or spending months as a digital nomad,” said Mark Dixon, founder and CEO of International Workplace Group.
Travel in IWG’s Global Report
The IWG report found that 84% of hybrid workers have either extended or would consider extending a vacation to work remotely, and 75% said that the ability to work from anywhere improves their job satisfaction.
The IWG report evaluated 30 cities worldwide, rating them on a scale of 10 in several categories:
- Climate
- Culture
- Accommodation
- Transport
- Food
- Subsistence (cost of a coffee)
- Happiness
- Broadband speed
- Sustainability
- Availability of flexible workspaces
“This criteria was selected to assess how comfortable or suitable overseas environments are, especially when considering work responsibilities,” Dixon.
“Apart from basic living needs like accommodation, transport, and food, there are key factors that can greatly affect a worker’s productivity, such as internet quality and access to flexible workspaces,” he added.
Budapest ranked first on this year’s list, scoring highly in accommodation (9.5/10), transport (9.5/10), sustainability (8.5/10), and broadband speed (8/10).
The Hungarian capital, known for its classical architecture, attracts about 12 million international tourists annually. It also features over 200 museums and galleries, lively neighborhoods, and plenty of green spaces, making it a perfect destination for digital nomads, according to the report.
Top 10 Cities for a Workcation, According to IWG:
- Budapest
- Barcelona
- Rio de Janeiro
- Beijing
- Lisbon
- New York
- Singapore
- Jakarta
- LA
- Milan
Barcelona, which held the top spot last year, continues to be a popular choice for hybrid workers. The Spanish city offers a digital nomad visa, dependable transportation, and a relatively low cost of living. It also boasts “a vibrant atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and almost year-round sunshine,” according to the report.
Barcelona earned high scores in transportation (9/10), climate (8.5/10), and accommodation (8.5/10), which reflect the cost of a monthly transport pass, total annual sunshine hours, and average monthly rent.
Asian cities were also well-represented in this year’s rankings, with Beijing, Singapore, and Jakarta making it into the top 10. Beijing dropped one spot to fourth place this year.
On the other hand, Singapore made a significant leap, moving up 14 spots to rank seventh. The city-state excelled in broadband quality (10/10) and sustainability (9/10).
Singapore, home to the world’s second-best airport, is a “global gateway to Southeast Asia,” making it a popular spot for travelers. It was also named Asia’s happiest country for the second year in a row and is expected to have island-wide 5G coverage by 2025, according to IWG.
“This trend will likely keep growing, with more companies adopting Work From Anywhere (WFA) policies to enhance employees’ work-life balance and make themselves more appealing as employers,” said Dixon.
Conclusion
Budapest is the best city for mixing work and travel, thanks to its great living conditions. Barcelona and Singapore are also popular among digital nomads. With more people working remotely, this trend of working from different places is expected to keep growing.
