Workations in Portugal: When Work Meets Leisure

5 September De 2025

In recent years, the way we work has changed. The office is no longer just a physical space — it can now be a café table, a hotel room, a terrace with an ocean view, or even a garden in the heart of the city.
It is in this context that the concept of workation emerges — the fusion of work and vacation. A global trend that is here to stay, especially in destinations like Portugal, where quality of life, climate, and hospitality create the perfect setting for this new way of living day-to-day life.

The term workation combines the words work and vacation and describes a different way of travelling: temporarily working from another destination while making the most of your free time to explore it.

Portugal offers particularly appealing conditions for this experience, combining vibrant cities, culture, gastronomy, the sea and nature with the flexibility to maintain a professional routine while working remotely.

What is a workation?

A workation combines remote work and travel, allowing you to continue working away from your usual location while using your free time to discover the destination. It can last just a few days or extend over a longer period, depending on how much flexibility you have to work remotely.

The idea is not simply to work while on holiday, but to find a balance between the two: keeping up with meetings, tasks and working hours while having a new city to explore, a beach nearby or local flavours to discover once the laptop is closed.

What makes Portugal an ideal destination for a workation?

The mild climate, connectivity, rich culture and gastronomy, and proximity between cities, the coast and nature make it possible to adapt a workation in Portugal to different travel styles and lengths of stay.

You can work from a city and spend the end of the day exploring historic neighbourhoods, restaurants and cultural spaces, or choose a destination by the Atlantic and combine your professional routine with beaches, gardens and outdoor activities. This diversity means choosing not only where to work, but also how you want to experience the destination once the working day is over.

workation

Where to go for a workation in Portugal?

There is no single way to experience a workation. Some people prefer the energy of a city, while others look for the sea, nature and a slower pace. In Portugal, the variety of destinations makes it easy to choose a setting that suits both your working routine and the way you want to spend your free time.

Porto: culture and city life after work

Porto and the Douro River

Porto makes it easy to combine a professional routine with a city that is best discovered at your own pace. After work, you can stroll through Ribeira, cross the Douro, explore different neighbourhoods, discover restaurants and cultural spaces or simply enjoy the end of the day on a terrace.

The city's size and variety of experiences make Porto particularly appealing for those looking for an urban workation in Portugal, without having to plan every moment of their free time in advance.

Lisbon: working with the Tagus nearby

In Lisbon, the experience combines the energy of a capital city with historic neighbourhoods, culture, gastronomy and the constant presence of the Tagus. There are countless ways to spend a few hours after work, from walking along the river to discovering viewpoints, restaurants and different parts of the city.

For those who prefer a mainly urban workation while keeping the option of reaching the coast or exploring other destinations on their days off, Lisbon is a particularly versatile base.

Funchal: between the city, the sea and nature

Funchal and Madeira, between the city, the sea and nature

In Funchal, the end of a meeting can lead to a walk by the sea, a stroll through the city centre or a taste of Madeiran cuisine. When there is more time to explore, the island also offers levadas, viewpoints and landscapes that feel far removed from the urban environment.

This proximity between city and nature makes Madeira an appealing choice for longer stays, particularly for those who want a genuine change of scenery to be part of their workation experience.

Lagos: working with the Algarve on your doorstep

Lagos offers a different pace. Its historic centre, beaches and Algarve coastline make it easy to combine working hours with time outdoors, whether that means an evening walk, a visit to the beach or exploring more of the region on your days off.

It is particularly well suited to those who see a workation as an opportunity to slow down outside working hours and spend several days in the same destination.

Coimbra: history and culture in a compact city

Coimbra offers a different experience from Portugal's larger cities. Much of the historic centre can be explored on foot, while the University, the Alta, the Baixa and the Mondego create a setting where heritage, academic life and culture are part of everyday life.

The city's compact size makes it easy to fit short walks and discoveries into your free time, while a weekend or a few extra days offer the opportunity to explore Coimbra in greater depth.

Viana do Castelo: between the sea and the mountains

Viana do Castelo between the Atlantic and Monte de Santa Luzia

For those who would rather swap the pace of a large city for a quieter destination, Viana do Castelo combines a historic centre, the Atlantic and natural landscapes. The sea, Monte de Santa Luzia and the surrounding Minho region offer plenty of ways to make the most of your time away from work.

It is precisely this diversity that makes a workation in Portugal so adaptable: the destination may change, without having to give up your professional routine.

Workation by The Editory

A place to work and live

On a workation, choosing where to stay also means choosing where part of your daily routine will take place. A good location, comfort during working hours and easy access to restaurants, culture, the sea or nature can make all the difference on a stay that combines work and free time.

From the urban energy of Porto and Lisbon to the proximity of the sea in Funchal, Lagos and Viana do Castelo, as well as the historic atmosphere of Coimbra, The Editory Collection Hotels offer different ways to experience a workation in Portugal. Because when the laptop closes, the destination begins.