With the freedom of working remotely comes the privilege of focusing on yourself and better understanding your mental health. As of January 2023, according to survey data, almost one in ten Brits work remotely “on the move/from a variety of locations” and a quarter of us are working from home.
Whilst working from home has its perks, working from the same place daily with little social interaction can be emotionally draining. Cue a workcation, the perfect remedy to working remotely – travelling to new places and living outside your nine–five, all while preserving that precious annual leave.
New data from Icelandair has analysed over 100 of the most prominent cities in the world based on 10 factors, including internet speed, the cost of living and the average working hours, to collate the top 25 destinations for a wellness workcation. Whether it’s the low pollution or the high temperatures, these destinations are the perfect place to work hard and unwind with the locals.
From the scenic streets of Copenhagen to the laid-back beaches of San Diego, these cities are the top 25 locations worldwide for a remote working vacation.
Vienna, Austria
The beautiful city of Vienna, Austria, is the best city for this year’s wellness workcation. With the highest quality of life score of 201.8 and low pollution levels, Vienna boasts stunning architecture and the Vienna Woods to lose yourself in.
Second came Copenhagen, Denmark, which ranked first for internet speeds and second for happiness, two key parts if you want to work from this city. Copenhagen’s artistic nature allows for a slower trip away from the rush of normal city life. Its stunning churches and museums are a global attraction, bringing in 10 million international visitors annually.
Edinburgh, UK
Representing the UK in the top 25, we have Edinburgh, Scotland in 13th place. Ranked highly for quality of life and health care, Edinburgh also ranked highly for low pollution levels and is known as one of the cleanest cities in the UK.
Home of 112 parks and hosting Edinburgh Castle, built on an extinct volcano, this city is the perfect escape from your usual work environment.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Coming in 7th place overall is Reykjavik, Iceland’s capital city – the northernmost capital in the world. Ranking highly across the board with a low 14.6 on the pollution scale, Reykjavik is one of the most sustainable cities in the world. It also ranks third for happiness, fifth for quality of life, and sixth for safety. From striking volcanoes to breathtaking waterfalls and panoramic views, this city is certainly one to add to your workcation hit list.
You could even add this scenic city to your next trip as a stopover, with no additional airfare, making this the perfect excuse for an extended trip.
