ould you like to work remotely within Portugal but from places “in the middle of nowhere”? Or, at least, from quiet places, surrounded by the beauty of nature, where you can work and, at the same time, enjoy the landscape and relax? From the beach to the countryside, passing through historic villages, Coverflex has prepared an itinerary with five incredible places in Portuguese territory where you have to go (and work from).
The itinerary is done. Now, with your laptop on your back, all you have to do is hit the road.
1st stop: Gerês
We start right in the centre of nature, in Gerês, one of the most beautiful regions in Portugal. Here you will be able to enjoy the landscape, go hiking in the mountains and even venture into some outdoor sports activities, such as kayaking or canyoning.
Regarding accommodation, we suggest Selina, a coliving chain with dozens of accommodations all over the world. A coliving is basically a hotel designed and prepared for remote workers, with several spaces dedicated to working online and with a good connection throughout the accommodation. It’s everything remote workers need. In the Gerês coliving space you will find free wifi, gardens, cowork, a swimming pool, a bar, yoga sessions, a shared kitchen, among other amenities. And you can even take your pet with you.
2nd stop: Foz Côa
The second destination on this route is Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in the district of Guarda. Few places in the world have achieved recognition by UNESCO as an Outstanding Universal Value, and the rock carvings of the Côa Valley are one of them. It is the region with the largest concentration of open-air rock art from the Paleolithic period known in the world, and it is well worth putting this place on the itinerary. But that’s not all: in this historic Portuguese village you can also visit Douro and Porto wine estates, the almond trees in bloom (if you go between February and March), the castle and a series of viewpoints with incredible views over the region.
In addition to “Capital of Rock Art” and “Capital of Almond Trees”, Foz Côa has another title: “Terra Quente”, which means “Warm Land”. With high temperatures in the summer months, the best times to work remotely from Côa are spring and autumn. The milder temperatures and longer days will allow you to better enjoy outdoor activities and walks, which you will surely want to do. The app “12 Historical Villages of Portugal” provides information about trails (for walking and cycling), events and much more. It is available for iOS and Android.
3rd stop: Ílhavo
After exploring the region of Foz Côa and all its charms, head down to Ílhavo, in Aveiro. Despite not being exactly a place in the “middle of nowhere”, you will be able to change the atmosphere a little and visit charismatic places, full of history and charm, natural amphitheaters for sports and some museums. All of this in a coastal city, where – if the weather allows – you can also enjoy late afternoons on the beach. The ecosystem of the Ria de Aveiro makes this territory a sea of endless possible experiences, from the visit to the Dunas de São Jacinto Nature Reserve to the Curia Thermal Spa, passing through small woods and sandy beaches as far as the eye can see.
If you are concerned about where you can work from, we suggest that you visit the “Work From Centro de Portugal” page. There you will find all the information you need about working in central Portugal, including the Ria de Aveiro region.
4th stop: Penha Garcia
Still in the centre of Portugal, we will move inland, more specifically to the district of Castelo Branco, a region that must be known and experienced slowly. From the magical and unreal Schist Villages to the beauty of places like Monsanto, through the valleys of the Tejo International Natural Park and the rare animals of the Serra da Malcata Nature Reserve, it is difficult to single out a place in this region.
In the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, you will find the village of Penha Garcia, where just over 500 inhabitants live. It is a place worthy of an illustrated postcard and where you can work peacefully and experience living in a very Portuguese village, full of history and tradition. Through the lanes and alleys of the historic area, you will pass by the typical houses and reach the top of the castle, where you will be able to witness an incredible landscape over the valley where the Pônsul River flows, accompanied by its windmills. Coming back down from the castle, you will be able to lose yourself in the trails and pedestrian paths of the village, take the fossil route, take a dip in a natural pool in a valley of rocks and taste some of the village’s delicacies, namely “bica de azeite”, which is bread with olive oil as the main ingredient. Here’s a curiosity for you: in such a small village, and with relatively few inhabitants, there are five bakeries, most of them still using wood ovens.
Regarding accommodation, explore the local accommodation, and here you will find information about coworking spaces and incubators in the region.
5th stop: Aljezur
We will finally go down to the Algarve, one of the Portuguese regions that digital nomads like the most. It combines all the necessary amenities for remote work, namely coworking spaces and even digital nomad communities, with a very inviting climate, extensive beaches, outdoor activities and lively nightlife. In this itinerary, and because the idea is to choose quiet places, surrounded by nature, we chose Aljezur. Bordered by the sea and the mountains, the municipality of Aljezur reflects this double influence.
This is your opportunity to work in a quiet place, where the silence is interrupted by the singing of birds and the sound of waves crashing on the rocks. And, if you would like to work in a space with other remote workers during the day, you need to know that Aljezur also has a coworking space, from which you can work and meet other people. Here you will find more information about this space, as well as accommodation, gastronomy and activities in the region.
