Are you looking for a place where you can blend work and leisure seamlessly? The Hungarian capital, Budapest, stands out as the top city globally for "workcations," combining work and vacation. This ranking, provided by the flexible and hybrid workspace operator International Workplace Group (IWG), is based on both internal research and a survey of 1,000 hybrid office workers worldwide.
The trend of hybrid and remote work, which gained momentum during the Covid-19 pandemic, has become a permanent fixture for many businesses. From 2019 to 2023, remote work saw a five-fold increase, with 40% of U.S. employees working remotely at least once a week, according to a Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research report.
"Thanks to cloud technology, which allows work from anywhere with a strong internet connection, more people are embracing work and travel," said Mark Dixon, IWG's founder and CEO. The IWG study reveals that 84% of hybrid workers have either extended vacations for remote work or would consider doing so, and 75% believe this flexibility boosts job satisfaction.
The IWG ranked 30 cities globally based on criteria like climate, culture, accommodation, transport, food, happiness, broadband speed, sustainability, and the availability of flexible workspaces. These factors determine how conducive an environment is for remote work. Budapest topped the list with outstanding scores in accommodation (9.5/10), transport (9.5/10), sustainability (8.5/10), and broadband speed (8/10).
Known for its classical architecture, Budapest attracts about 12 million international tourists annually. It offers over 200 museums and galleries, vibrant neighborhoods, and ample green spaces, making it perfect for digital nomads. Other top cities for workcations according to IWG include Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Beijing, Lisbon, New York, Singapore, Jakarta, Los Angeles, and Milan.
Barcelona, last year's top city, remains popular due to its digital nomad visa, reliable transportation, and affordable living costs. It scores well in transportation (9/10), climate (8.5/10), and accommodation (8.5/10). Asian cities like Beijing, Singapore, and Jakarta also feature prominently, with Singapore notably jumping 14 places to seventh, excelling in broadband quality (10/10) and sustainability (9/10). Singapore, an attractive global gateway to Southeast Asia, offers one of the world's best airports and was named Asia's happiest country for the second year, aiming for 5G coverage by 2025.
Mark Dixon noted this trend will likely grow, with more companies adopting work-from-anywhere policies to enhance work-life balance and employee satisfaction.