• Digital Nomads Village for remote workers in Madeira opens on 1st February, cited as Portugal’s most impressive offering for the remote working community to date 
  • Responding to increasing demand for people to live and work remotely in Madeira, after a successful year for the destination, despite the pandemic  
  • Regarded as one of best options for a short-haul trip from the UK, with year-round warmth and some of the most striking and tropical landscapes in Europe; crowned Europe’s Leading Island Destination 2020 (World Travel Awards) for the seventh time 
  • Covid-19 has changed the way most people work, further accelerating the growth in the remote working sector 
  • Madeira is attracting a younger audience, with a rise in boutique hotels, independent boutiques and craft businesses – recently referenced as ‘The Style Isle’ by The Times.  

28TH JANUARY 2021 – Discover Madeira is emerging as the place for remote workers with a major development Digital Nomads Village, opening next month. It has been referred to as the most significant offering for this segment in Portugal to date; a country that has long been one of the most popular choices for this community.   

This opening caters for the increasing demand from remote workers, accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Crowned Europe’s Leading Island Destination 2020 (World Travel Awards) for the seventh time, the lure of this sub-tropical Atlantic haven is growing, with many seeing it as an ideal place to take up temporary residence.  

Digital Nomads Village is situated in tranquil Ponta do Sol on the south coast, with views out to the Atlantic and a short drive from the charming capital, Funchal. It is an entire village dedicated to the growing community of workers who no longer need to be located in their home country. For its pilot programme, running from 1st February to 30th June, it is offering travellers a free working space with a desk and chair, access to a Slack community and free internet use. The team there will also facilitate access to the local community and host fun events. This symbiotic relationship between the nomads and locals is core to the brand.  

This concept is being launched in partnership with the Government of Madeira, StartUp Madeira and acclaimed digital nomad Gonçalo Hall. Hosting up to 100 nomads at any one time, residents must commit to staying for at least a month.  

Ponta do Sol is the perfect place for such a development, being small but perfectly formed: it is a cultural hub on the archipelago, due to the investment in art and culture, has beautiful beaches and great local restaurants and bars, including on the beach – perfect for afterwork drinks. For those who like hiking there is a very scenic walk, called Levado do Moinho, close by.  

Why Madeira is the perfect temporary home  

Madeira was referred to as the most enviable island on earth by author H.N. Coleridge in the 19th Century – ‘it ensures every European comfort with almost every tropical luxury’ – and this perception is still widely held today.   

On the same latitude as Casablanca, the Portuguese outpost is home to some of the most striking and lush landscapes in Europe. The scenery is rugged, varied, more tropical than anywhere else in the continent and the warm sea is always close by. The rich volcanic soil, mountainous terrain and expansive Laurissilva forest – a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering 20% of the main island – mean that if nature is your thing, you will feel extremely happy here.   

When working hours are over, nomads can spend time exploring the 3000km of levadas (ancient irrigation channels) which make for perfect walking tracks, sampling exotic delicacies, swimming in natural lava pools, off-roading on near vertical tracks or spotting dolphins and whales, which swim close to the shore. For the more adventurous, there is surfing, mountain biking, canyoning and trail running. And for sun worshippers, there is 9km of unspoilt sandy beach on the nearby island of Porto Santo, referred to as ‘Little Paradise’.  

Funchal has a growing scene for younger people, including alfresco bars, independent boutiques, craft breweries and a range of restaurants from local establishments to fine-dining. Locals are friendly and there are immersive cultural events throughout the year, adding greatly to the experience of Madeira.