New data reveals Barcelona and Toronto as the top ‘workation’ destinations for Brits
Barcelona and Toronto have been named the joint best cities in the world for visiting hybrid workers, beating out competition from the likes of New York, Beijing and Rio De Janeiro.
Workations, where travellers work from destinations abroad to prolong holidays, have exploded in popularity since hybrid working became the de facto working model for many. Research by IWG, found that 88% of hybrid workers ‘worked from anywhere’ last year, while almost three in five (57%) extended holidays by working from abroad. IWG operates 3,500 flexible office locations in more than 120 countries, offering businesses and their employees access to an unrivalled global network and opportunity to work from anywhere all over the world.
IWG, the world’s largest operator of flexible and hybrid workspace, compared 25 leading cities across nine key criteria. Cities were given marks out of 10 for climate, culture, accommodation, transport, food & drink, happiness, broadband speed and the availability of flexible workspace.
Barcelona and Toronto came joint-top of the pile, registering particularly strong scores in broadband speed and accommodation prices.
Barcelona, renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, breathtaking architecture, and almost year-round sunshine, continues to be a highly coveted destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. In recent times, it has become a thriving hub for digital nomads seeking the perfect blend of work and leisure for their ‘workations’. The city’s allure lies in its unique combination of sun, sea, sand, and cosmopolitan atmosphere, along with its excellent transport system and relatively low cost of living compared to other popular European cities.
Toronto, on the other hand, boasts high scores in accommodation, happiness, and a wealth of flexible workspaces, making it an ideal choice for travellers. Canada’s largest city offers a diverse experience for digital nomads, with over 25% of the city covered in forests and an impressive 18% dedicated to parks, providing ample green spaces for relaxation amidst the bustling urban setting. With a multicultural ambiance, over 8,000 restaurants, vibrant neighbourhoods, and abundance of coffee shops and flexible workspaces makes Toronto an appealing option.
Completing the top three, Beijing scored an impressive 57.5 out of 90. It performed exceptionally well in categories like culture, accommodation, and transport costs. Beijing presents visitors with a stark contrast between historic neighbourhoods featuring ancient alleyways and futuristic financial districts adorned with towering skyscrapers and cutting-edge technology— blending traditional and modern China. The city’s world-class art scene, with numerous galleries and cultural venues, offers a remarkable experience for travellers looking for a glimpse into China’s rich heritage and contemporary innovation.
Top 10 cities for workations:
| Climate (Total sunshine hours per year) | Culture (Total number of galleries and museums) | Accommodation (Average rent per month, $) | Transport (Cost of monthly transport pass, $) | Subsistence (Average price of a cup of coffee, $) | Broadband | Food (Average cost of lunch, $) | Happiness (based on happy city index) | Availability of flexible workspaces (number of IWG office locations) | Score | |
| Barcelona | 7/10 | 5.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 4.5/10 | 6/10 | 3/10 | 58.5/90 |
| Toronto | 5.5/10 | 5.5/10 | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | 5.5/10 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 58.5 |
| Beijing | 7/10 | 10/10 | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 5/10 | 2/10 | 57.5 |
| Milan | 5.5/10 | 3/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 9.5/10 | 5/10 | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 3/10 | 57 |
| New York | 8/10 | 10/10 | 2/10 | 6/10 | 3/10 | 8.5/10 | 2/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 | 56.5 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 6/10 | 3.5/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 10/10 | 5/10 | 6.5/10 | 4/10 | 2/10 | 55 |
| Amsterdam | 4.5/10 | 2/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 6/10 | 4.5/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 7/10 | 55 |
| Paris | 4.5/10 | 10/10 | 7/10 | 7/10 | 2/10 | 7/10 | 3/10 | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | 55 |
| Jakarta | 8.5/10 | 1/10 | 10/10 | 10/10 | 9/10 | 2/10 | 9.5/10 | 3/10 | 2/10 | 55 |
| Lisbon | 7.5/10 | 1.5/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 4/10 | 9/10 | 5.5/10 | 2/10 | 54.5 |
IWG’s research reveals the growing popularity of workations among office workers. Over two-thirds (67%) of workers believe they can effectively perform their jobs from abroad, and a significant 71% say they would only consider a job that offers the flexibility to work remotely, at least part of the time. The study highlights that improved work-life balance (76%) is the most common benefit cited for working from anywhere. Additionally, the ability to spend more time with friends and family abroad (52%), save money by traveling during off-peak times (47%), and enjoy longer holidays (30%) were other key advantages mentioned.
As a leader in hybrid work solutions, IWG offers over 3,500 locations in more than 120 countries worldwide, empowering people to work wherever is most convenient for them. With brands including Regus, Spaces and HQ, IWG has a strong presence in the most sought-after destinations, from Barcelona to Brussels, and from Sofia to Singapore. Through their wide network of flexible workspaces, IWG supports the growing trend of remote work and workations, enabling individuals to seize exciting opportunities and embrace a more flexible and fulfilling work lifestyle.
IWG founder and CEO Mark Dixon said:“For an increasing number of workers, hybrid working offers the opportunity to work wherever we will be the most productive. And thanks to cloud technology, that can be anywhere in the world, provided there’s a high-quality internet connection available.
So, it’s no wonder that more and more individuals are embracing the idea of combining work with travel, whether it’s for a few days tacked on to the end of a vacation, or a few months as a digital nomad.”
This trend is set to accelerate further, and we will continue to see more and more companies embracing WFA policies to improve employees’ work-life balance and increase their attractiveness as an employer.”
Full results:
| Climate (Total sunshine hours per year) | Score | Culture (Total number of galleries and museums) | Score | Accommodation (Average rent per month) | Score | Transport (Cost of monthly transport pass) | Score | Subsistence (Average price of a cup of coffee) | Score | Broadband (speed) | Score | Food (Average cost of lunch) | Score | Happiness (based on Happy City Index) | Score | Availability of flexible workspaces (number of IWG office locations) | Score | Total Score | Ranking | |
| Barcelona | 2,530 | 7 | 511 | 5.5 | £909 | 8.5 | £33 | 9 | £2.10 | 8 | 189.71 | 7 | £10.18 | 4.5 | 1362,7 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 58.5 | 1 |
| Toronto | 2,071 | 5.5 | 509 | 5.5 | £1,388 | 7 | £91 | 6.5 | £2.79 | 6 | 167.77 | 6.5 | £8.27 | 5.5 | 1566,0 | 9 | 64 | 7 | 58.5 | 2 |
| Beijing | 2,505 | 7 | 1,484 | 10 | £945 | 8 | £32 | 8.5 | £3.59 | 4 | 260.14 | 7** | £7.57 | 6 | 1267,3 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 57.5 | 3 |
| Milan | 1,989 | 5.5 | 282 | 3 | £943 | 8 | £32 | 9 | £1.41 | 9.5 | 118.42 | 5 | £5.09 | 7.5 | 1405,1 | 6.5 | 28 | 3 | 57 | 4 |
| New York | 2,540 | 8 | 1,615 | 10 | £2,851 | 2 | £101 | 6 | £3.93 | 3 | 225.05 | 8.5 | £13.74 | 2 | 1602,0 | 10 | 70 | 7 | 56.5 | 5 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 2,193 | 6 | 346 | 3.5 | £603 | 9.5 | £41 | 8.5 | £1.21 | 10 | 122.7 | 5 | £6.62 | 6.5 | 1181,3 | 4 | 18 | 2 | 55 | 6 |
| Amsterdam | 1,670 | 4.5 | 177 | 2 | £1,404 | 7 | £77 | 7 | £2.90 | 6 | 113.04 | 4.5 | £4.24 | 8 | 1578,1 | 9 | 66 | 7 | 55 | 7 |
| Paris | 1,735 | 4.5 | 1,336 | 10 | £1,309 | 7 | £70 | 7 | £4.32 | 2 | 173.2 | 7 | £11.86 | 3 | 1514,9 | 7.5 | 69 | 7 | 55 | 8 |
| Jakarta | 2,973 | 8.5 | 65 | 1 | £413 | 10 | £7 | 10 | £1.75 | 9 | 33.07 | 2 | £2.32 | 9.5 | 1134,3 | 3 | 20 | 2 | 55 | 9 |
| Lisbon | 2,801 | 7.5 | 122 | 1.5 | £966 | 8 | £33 | 9 | £1.98 | 8 | 99.50 | 4 | £2.97 | 9 | 1233,1 | 5.5 | 16 | 2 | 54.5 | 10 |
| Brussels | 1,585 | 4 | 719 | 7.5 | £833 | 8.5 | £40 | 8.5 | £2.76 | 6 | 78.21 | 3.5 | £5.94 | 7 | 1359,2 | 6 | 28 | 3 | 54 | 11 |
| Budapest | 1,980 | 5.5 | 167 | 2 | £479 | 9.6 | £21 | 9.5 | £1.94 | 8.5 | 170.45 | 6.5 | £7.95 | 5.5 | 1190,8 | 4 | 15 | 2 | 53.1 | 12 |
| Manila | 2,110 | 6 | 50 | 1 | £434 | 10 | £7 | 10 | £2.37 | 7 | 94.16 | 4 | £3.34 | 8.5 | 5.81 | 3 | 22 | 3 | 52.5 | 13 |
| LA | 3,259 | 9.5 | 449 | 4.5 | £1,956 | 5 | £74 | 7 | £3.86 | 3.5 | 198.81 | 7.5 | £18.06 | 0 | 1554,5 | 8 | 63 | 7 | 52 | 14 |
| London | 1,659 | 3.5 | 670 | 7 | £1,764 | 5.5 | £162 | 3.5 | £2.91 | 6 | 89.93 | 4 | £10.92 | 4 | 1586,9 | 8 | 115 | 10 | 51.5 | 15 |
| Buenos Aires | 2,520 | 7 | 181 | 2 | £497 | 9.5 | £5 | 10 | £1.26 | 10 | 100.66 | 4.5 | £14.13 | 1.5 | 1202,6 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 51.5 | 16 |
| Warsaw | 1,595 | 4 | 166 | 2 | £719 | 8.5 | £20 | 9.5 | £2.31 | 7.5 | 147.14 | 6 | £7.44 | 6 | 1230,0 | 5.5 | 20 | 2 | 51 | 17 |
| Mumbai | 2,590 | 7.5 | 205 | 2.5 | £454 | 10 | £3 | 10 | £1.94 | 8.5 | 48.76 | 2.5 | £8.21 | 5.5 | 1125,1 | 2 | 15 | 2 | 50.5 | 18 |
| Berlin | 1,712 | 4.5 | 610 | 6.5 | £1,328 | 7 | £66 | 7.5 | £2.88 | 6 | 92.84 | 4 | £10.98 | 4 | 1548,2 | 7.5 | 16 | 2 | 49 | 19 |
| Sofia | 2,223 | 6.5 | 64 | 1 | £359 | 10 | £21 | 9.5 | £1.59 | 9 | 78.01 | 3.5 | £10.41 | 4 | 5.563 | 3.5 | 7 | 1 | 48 | 20 |
| Singapore | 2,032 | 5.5 | 278 | 3 | £2,796 | 2.5 | £74 | 7 | £3.82 | 3.5 | 242.01 | 9 | £8.19 | 5.5 | 1544,2 | 8 | 36 | 4 | 48 | 21 |
| Hong Kong | 1,825 | 5 | 165 | 2 | £2,289 | 4 | £50 | 8 | £4.48 | 2 | 205.19 | 8 | £5.11 | 7.5 | 1421,6 | 7 | 37 | 4 | 47.5 | 22 |
| Sydney | 2,600 | 8.5 | 249 | 2.5 | £1,370 | 7 | £113 | 5.5 | £2.40 | 6.5 | 54.21 | 2.5 | £13.31 | 2.5 | 1568,8 | 8.5 | 22 | 3 | 46.5 | 23 |
| Copenhagen | 1,635 | 4 | 127 | 1.5 | £1,358 | 7 | £64 | 7.5 | £4.95 | 1 | 218.87 | 8 | £6.78 | 6.5 | 1539,9 | 8 | 13 | 2 | 45.5 | 24 |
| Tel Aviv | 3,330 | 10 | 138 | 1.5 | £1,355 | 7 | £49 | 8 | £3.17 | 5 | 99.64 | 4 | £14.92 | 1 | 1322,1 | 6 | 14 | 2 | 44.5 | 25 |
| Dublin | 1,440 | 3.5 | 111 | 1.5 | £1,540 | 6.5 | £100 | 6 | £3.16 | 5 | 98.93 | 4 | £6.78 | 6.5 | 1448,8 | 6.5 | 12 | 2 | 41.5 | 26 |
