Are these the next big digital nomad hotspots?

The digital nomad lifestyle has never been more popular. But if you've already spent hours stuck in Bali traffic, hiked every hill in Bansko, Bulgaria and shivered under the furious AC of a Bangkok mall, you might be looking for a new town to call home. For a couple of months, at least.

If so, you're not alone. All kinds of travelers are eschewing well-trodden (and often overcrowded) hubs for less familiar destinations.

Travel companies Expedia and Booking.com have seen interest in smaller, quieter destinations boom this year. Carriers like United Airlines have set up new routes to far-flung places like Greenland and even Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

But not everywhere is quite ready to host the digital nomad. Locations generally need to offer comfortable accommodation, convenient places to work and, more than anything, good wi-fi.

I've cross-referenced trending locations from the travel industry with rankings on Nomads.com (formerly NomadList), and asked long-term nomads where they're excited to stay. This list is the result.

If you disagree with these choices, suggest some alternative hotspots in the comments!

Naha, Okinawa, Japan

Japan was once one of the most expensive places to travel in Asia. But thanks to a nosedive in the value of its currency, the yen, it's become far more affordable. Back in 2020, 100 yen cost about $0.90. Today, it'll only set you back $0.66.

Sweetening the deal, the government has launched a digital nomad visa to attract remote workers. Foreigners earning at least $65,000 a year can apply for stays of up to six months.

Tokyo is already an established nomad hub. In fact, it's currently #3 and rising on Nomads.com — a platform where members rank destinations on things like cost, internet and safety.

But with warm weather, waves and speciality coffee, the southern island of Okinawa may be a better candidate for a digital nomad hotspot.

Its largest city, Naha, is a bustling hub offering good food, comfortable accommodation a rich cultural history and plenty of co-working cafes.

There's still room for improvement, however. Despite Japan's generally good digital infrastructure, Nomads.com doesn't rate Naha's internet highly. The platform gives it an average speed of 31 Mbps.

What's great: Warm weather, good infrastructure, (currently) weak currency, activities like surfing and snorkeling

What's not: Reportedly mediocre wi-fi, English isn't spoken that widely

Faro, Portugal

Boasting great beaches, surfing and gorgeous cities, Portugal has long been a haven for nomads. But Lisbon and even Porto are fast becoming too busy and expensive for many.

United Airlines thinks Faro could be the country's next big hotspot — so much so that it's launching a new direct flight from New York in 2025.

Faro is the southernmost city in Portugal. It's known for its coastline, its picturesque old town and a rich cultural history. It's also just two-hours drive from popular Spanish vacation spots like Seville.

It's already relatively popular with nomads and sits at 56 on Nomads.com. Far more affordable than Lisbon (think, $2,000 a month to live versus $3,200), Faro is laidback and warm for most of the year. Even in winter, it averages about 16 degrees Celsius.

Nomads can work from central co-working spaces including Faro Avenida and Alandra Square. But like those of most western European countries, Portuguese cafes aren't typically set up for laptop work, and many won't allow it.

What's great: Beautiful beaches, warm climate, relatively cheap

What's not: Wi-fi could be better

Koh Lanta, Thailand

Thailand is no stranger to digital nomads. It's home to Bangkok and Chiang Mai, which hold the top two spots on Nomads.com (formerly Nomad List). And its popularity isn't likely to fall any time soon, with a new multi-entry visa allowing remote workers to stay for up to a year at a time.

But some of its less-established nomad hubs are growing in popularity.

The southern beach town of Krabi has seen a surge in flight bookings for 2025, according to Expedia. It's also rising in popularity on Nomads.com (formerly NomadList).

Krabi itself is best known as a vacation spot, but nearby Koh Lanta is on the rise among digital nomads.

The island hosts a small but tight-knit community of digital nomads every high season (November to April). It's still quiet, with most bars, hotels, gyms and restaurants centered on a single road on the west coast.

One major coworking space — KoHub — serves remote workers, alongside an increasing number of laptop-friendly cafes. Fast wi-fi is available (most reliably at KoHub), but the island does experience the occasional power cut.

Visitor levels have long been limited by the long, multi-modal journey required from Krabi airport. But a new bridge connecting the island to Krabi mainland is expected to open Koh Lanta up to far more tourists — and nomads.

This could transform Koh Lanta from a hidden gem to a well-trodden stop on the digital nomad trail.

What's great: Beautiful beaches, established nomad community, good roads, some hiking & snorkeling

What's not: Unreliable energy supply and wi-fi. More expensive than other Thai locations

Fukuoka, Japan (but only in October)

Fukuoka is a city in the south of Kyushu, Japan's largest island. It's famous for hot springs and a port offering ferries to South Korea.

It's also the focus of another government initiative to attract remote workers to Japan. The country has chosen five municipalities to host residential programs for remote workers.

Co-live Fukuoka is one such program. Centred around a conference (that's happening now!), it offers meet-up events, workspaces, tourist experiences and talks from speakers like Japanese clean queen Marie Kondo. It's currently hosting hundreds of nomads from around the world.

Only two years in, it's too soon to say whether the co-living scheme will be enough to establish Fukuoka as a digital nomad hotspot throughout the year. But the organizers are certainly trying.

They're working with popular staffers and consultants from the biggest co-working spaces in Canggu, Bali, including much-loved former Dojo and Tropical Nomad community manager Haren Tambi.

But the city is let down by the mediocre wi-fi and comparatively high cost of living, according to Nomads.com members.

What's great: Convenient, well-connected to Korea, co-living event will appeal to some nomads

What's not: Limited long-term nomad community, mediocre wi-fi, relatively expensive