Best and Worst Cities for a Workcation in 2026

22.08.2026, 12:04 visitukraine.today

Remote workers now travel while working, but picking the right city takes work of its own. Discover the world's best and worst workcation cities

Researchers named the best and worst cities in the world for a workcation, and this article covers how to combine work, rest, and new impressions in a single trip.

More and more people work remotely and want to spend that time somewhere other than their usual office, in a new city instead, so choosing a location turns into a task of its own, with its own pitfalls. Discover which cities in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia researchers ranked as the most convenient for working and relaxing at once, and what to keep in mind before booking a trip.

A workcation, or working vacation, is a trip during which a person continues working remotely part of the time and dedicates the rest to exploring a new place. The format became possible thanks to the spread of hybrid and fully remote work models: some companies now let employees work from anywhere, as long as the internet connection holds up and the tasks get done.

Get reliable travel insurance from the Visit Ukraine portal!

The main advantage of a workcation is that a person doesn't burn through an entire vacation allowance on a single trip. Workdays stay workdays, the office simply relocates temporarily to a café by the sea or a coworking space in the center of an unfamiliar city. In the evenings or on weekends, there's still time left for new impressions, food, architecture, and people.

Compare the Market, a company specializing in comparing travel services, analyzed a hundred cities across four continents to find out exactly where combining productivity with travel works best.

Read also: The Best Countries for Retirees to Travel To: Where Can You Find Discounts and Free Admission?

Analysts scored 40 European cities, 40 cities in the US and Canada, 7 Australian cities, and 13 Asian cities against six criteria:

- fixed broadband download speed;

- mobile download speed;

- number of coworking spaces in the city;

- number of attractions and activities according to TripAdvisor;

- monthly accommodation rental cost;

- price of a cappuccino as a benchmark for everyday spending.

Each factor received its own weight based on how much it affects the comfort of working and resting, and the cities were then ranked from the highest score to the lowest.

First place in the European ranking went to Paris. The French capital recorded the highest fixed broadband speed in Europe, 352.77 Mbps, along with a solid mobile connection averaging 148.96 Mbps. On top of that, the city offers more than 4,550 attractions and activities according to TripAdvisor, so a cultural program is never in short supply.

Second place went to Lisbon. The Portuguese capital draws people in with a comparatively low cost of living: monthly rent here ranks among the cheapest of all the European cities studied, and a cappuccino costs around three dollars. The city also offers fast internet and a warm climate, which is why digital nomads have kept choosing Lisbon for years.

Third place went to London, thanks to the highest number of coworking spaces of any European city, more than 560. Entertainment options are just as plentiful, with the British capital ranking among the top three European cities for the number of attractions.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Salzburg looks like an ideal place to work at first glance, with its architecture and mountain scenery, but the analysis pointed to different priorities. Rent here is the highest of any European city in the study, the city has only seven coworking spaces, and internet speeds trail behind the leaders of the ranking.

Munich and Hamburg share slower internet and a higher cost of living compared with the leaders of the list. Hamburg, though, has a few more coworking spaces than Munich, and rent there is more affordable, giving it the edge between the two German cities.

Read also: Renting a Place to Stay in Europe in 2026: How Much Does It Cost to Stay in Apartments and Hotels?

New York tops the list of the best North American cities for a workcation. The city offers close to seven thousand attractions on TripAdvisor and 390 coworking spaces, more than any other city in the US or Canada covered by the study. The trade-off is the highest rental cost of any city in the analysis.

Los Angeles came in second thanks to some of the lowest rental prices among the American cities in the sample and a wide range of leisure options, from beaches to film studios. Coffee here costs above average, but the overall trip budget stays moderate.

Miami rounds out the top three and offers the cheapest rent of any city in the study. Add to that nearly 900 attractions and 98 coworking spaces, and it's easy to see why the city is popular among people who work remotely through the winter.

Halifax and Laval landed low in the rankings due to high rental costs and a limited number of coworking spaces, just seven in each city. At the same time, everyday expenses there run below the regional average, so a short trip could turn out cheaper than it first appears.

Hamilton offers the cheapest coffee of any city in the study, but the city has just over a dozen attractions and only nine coworking spaces. For anyone planning to actively mix work with sightseeing, this spot may come up short on variety.

Vietnam's Hanoi didn't just top the Asian list, it became the best city for a workcation in the entire study. The city counts more than nine thousand attractions, the highest of any city in the analysis, while monthly rent runs around 70 dollars, one of the lowest figures in the sample.

Bangkok took second place thanks to a combination of fast internet, over 286 Mbps, affordable housing, and more than five thousand attractions. The Thai capital has long attracted people who've been working remotely for years.

Ho Chi Minh City closed out the region's top three. Coffee here ranks among the cheapest in the entire global ranking, and rent runs around 100 dollars a month.

Canberra has the fewest attractions among the Australian cities in the study and, at the same time, one of the most expensive rents in the country. Australian cities generally lag behind the leaders in internet speed, so anyone relying on video calls should check the local provider ahead of time.

Perth and the Gold Coast landed near the bottom of the list because of a higher cost of living and a limited number of coworking spaces. The Gold Coast, though, offers one of the cheapest cups of coffee in Australia, and Perth remains a popular pick for those drawn to beaches and warm weather in the off-season.

Before planning a trip, it helps to put together a personal list of priorities. For some, internet speed is critical because of daily video calls, while others might rather pick a city with plenty of coworking spaces and an active digital nomad community. The cost of rent and everyday expenses also shapes how long a trip can last without straining the budget.

The number of attractions and activities nearby matters just as much. The workday ends, and that's exactly when the part of the trip that people choose a workcation for in the first place begins, rather than a plain business trip. A city with a packed cultural calendar makes it possible to recharge after work instead of spending every evening in a hotel room.

Get a reliable touristic insurance policy in a few clicks:

The Compare the Market ranking shows that no single perfect city for a workcation exists, what exists instead is a set of trade-offs between internet speed, cost of living, coworking availability, and entertainment. Paris, Lisbon, and London lead in Europe, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami lead in North America, and Hanoi, Bangkok, and Ho Chi Minh City make Asia the most affordable region for an extended stay. Anyone planning their own working vacation should weigh this data against personal priorities: budget, internet needs, and the kind of city atmosphere they're after.

Image: Pexels

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

Our recommendation for a safe and comfortable trip:

Visit Ukraine Insurance - insurance for a safe stay abroad without unnecessary expenses;

Green Card - compulsory car insurance for traveling abroad;

Visit Ukraine Tickets - book tickets for buses, trains, and airplanes to/from Ukraine and between cities around the world;

Private Lawyer service - professional legal support on visa and migration issues;

Visit Ukraine Merch - buy patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

Read full news…