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▼ Tokyo Is Officially The World’s Best City For A ‘Workation’ In 2025
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A new report reveals the best places around the world for a working holiday, as the number of digital nomads continues to increase
Where, and how, do you work best? Is it in the office among colleagues, tasks littered with chatty pick-me-ups?
From the comfort of home, with minimal distractions in your plushest comfies? Or perhaps on the go, managing a work-life balance around deadlines from sunloungers and cafés?
Yet again, it appears that the latter comes out on top for productivity and mental wellbeing, according to International Workplace Group’s 2025 Work from Anywhere Barometer.
The global leader in hybrid working, which provides workspace solutions for short- and long-term employees in every continent and across every time zone around the world, has released its latest list of the countries favoured by digital nomads – and it's thrown up a few surprises.
IWG’s third survey scores 40 global cities on 12 criteria, including the total sunshine hours per year, broadband download speed, the city’s happiness index score, availability of flexible workspaces, cultural quality and sustainability. The availability and cost of digital nomad visas played a big part, as did each city’s proximity to beaches, mountains or national parks.
Costs are another major factor, with the following assessed: accommodation, food, transport and coffee.
Regardless of the city, the latest report conducted by IWG and Arup suggests that workplace flexibility could improve productivity by up to 11 per cent. Other takeaways include how 60 per cent of hybrid workers are more likely to extend a holiday to work remotely than this time last year.
A staggering 86 per cent of those surveyed said that the availability of flexible workspace is a major factor in their destination choice – proving, perhaps, that digital nomadism isn’t all ‘work from beach’.
New additions to this year’s ranking include Cairo, Mexico City, Prague, Melbourne, Orlando and Reykjavik.
More interestingly, a handful of new entrants made it into the top 10. Seoul shot into fourth place thanks to strong broadband speeds and transport costs, plus the introduction of a streamlined digital nomad scheme.
Another high-performing new entrant, following the launch of a digital nomad scheme in January 2025, is the Italian capital, Rome. It beats Milan, which ranks 13th in the 2025 report. Berlin, Sydney, Singapore and Amsterdam all storm ahead of London, however, which comes 28th.
But where is the best place to live out those Eat, Pray, Love fantasies between Zoom calls and spreadsheets? It’s Japan’s global financial centre, Tokyo.
The Japanese capital takes the crown with a score of 91 out of 120 thanks to incredible broadband speeds, a strong transport infrastructure, cultural qualities and safety. Japan’s digital nomad visa also grants travellers up to 12 months in the country at a competitive rate compared to other cities surveyed.
While tapping away below Tokyo’s neon lights may seem like a pipedream for many of us, more and more workers are stepping away from their usual desks and taking the leap, exploring the world while improving their mental health and smashing deadlines.
The best places for a ‘workation’ in 2025
10. Valletta (84/120)
9. Paris (84.5/120)
8. Rome (85/120)
7. Lisbon (86.5/120)
6. Beijing (87/120)
5. Barcelona (87.5/120)
4. Seoul (87.5/120)
3. Budapest (89.5/120)
2. Rio de Janeiro (90/120)
1. Tokyo (91/120)
Where, and how, do you work best? Is it in the office among colleagues, tasks littered with chatty pick-me-ups?
From the comfort of home, with minimal distractions in your plushest comfies? Or perhaps on the go, managing a work-life balance around deadlines from sunloungers and cafés?
Yet again, it appears that the latter comes out on top for productivity and mental wellbeing, according to International Workplace Group’s 2025 Work from Anywhere Barometer.
The global leader in hybrid working, which provides workspace solutions for short- and long-term employees in every continent and across every time zone around the world, has released its latest list of the countries favoured by digital nomads – and it's thrown up a few surprises.
IWG’s third survey scores 40 global cities on 12 criteria, including the total sunshine hours per year, broadband download speed, the city’s happiness index score, availability of flexible workspaces, cultural quality and sustainability. The availability and cost of digital nomad visas played a big part, as did each city’s proximity to beaches, mountains or national parks.
Costs are another major factor, with the following assessed: accommodation, food, transport and coffee.
Regardless of the city, the latest report conducted by IWG and Arup suggests that workplace flexibility could improve productivity by up to 11 per cent. Other takeaways include how 60 per cent of hybrid workers are more likely to extend a holiday to work remotely than this time last year.
A staggering 86 per cent of those surveyed said that the availability of flexible workspace is a major factor in their destination choice – proving, perhaps, that digital nomadism isn’t all ‘work from beach’.
New additions to this year’s ranking include Cairo, Mexico City, Prague, Melbourne, Orlando and Reykjavik.
More interestingly, a handful of new entrants made it into the top 10. Seoul shot into fourth place thanks to strong broadband speeds and transport costs, plus the introduction of a streamlined digital nomad scheme.
Another high-performing new entrant, following the launch of a digital nomad scheme in January 2025, is the Italian capital, Rome. It beats Milan, which ranks 13th in the 2025 report. Berlin, Sydney, Singapore and Amsterdam all storm ahead of London, however, which comes 28th.
But where is the best place to live out those Eat, Pray, Love fantasies between Zoom calls and spreadsheets? It’s Japan’s global financial centre, Tokyo.
The Japanese capital takes the crown with a score of 91 out of 120 thanks to incredible broadband speeds, a strong transport infrastructure, cultural qualities and safety. Japan’s digital nomad visa also grants travellers up to 12 months in the country at a competitive rate compared to other cities surveyed.
While tapping away below Tokyo’s neon lights may seem like a pipedream for many of us, more and more workers are stepping away from their usual desks and taking the leap, exploring the world while improving their mental health and smashing deadlines.
The best places for a ‘workation’ in 2025
10. Valletta (84/120)
9. Paris (84.5/120)
8. Rome (85/120)
7. Lisbon (86.5/120)
6. Beijing (87/120)
5. Barcelona (87.5/120)
4. Seoul (87.5/120)
3. Budapest (89.5/120)
2. Rio de Janeiro (90/120)
1. Tokyo (91/120)
- 19/8 19:24
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