In the past few years Greece has firmly entered onto the map of digital nomads. The special Digital Nomad Visa which was established in 2021, linked with improved infrastructure in the big cities and on the islands but also local hospitality initiatives, have made the country an appealing choice for those who work remotely. The Greek company ViOS, which runs four co-working spaces in Athens, has noted the facts and the challenges of this kind of work.
The cities which stand out
Greece saw a significant rise in popularity after the introduction of the Digital Nomad Visa in 2021 and increased promotion of the scheme after 2023. In 2022 applications for Digital Nomad Visas from third countries were around 595, whereas in the previous year there were only ten.
The applications are increasing each year as Greece is improving the institutional framework and local initiatives to attract nomads. The main points of concentration are:
— Athens and Thessaloniki (infrastructure, international connections),
— Crete (Heraklion, Chania),
— Syros/Ermoupoli
— Kalamata
and isolated island communities which are promoting “work from” schemes and platforms for local work/accommodation.
Among the basic reasons for choosing Greece are: the quality of life (climate, sea, culture), the competitive cost of living by comparison with many western cities, improved digital infrastructure in the cities, easy access to the islands, and business activities such as existing communities of digital nomads, co-working spaces which bring people together, events and meetups. The nomad visa provides legal residence and there is an attractive taxation framework .
Priorities for digital nomads are: fibre landlines and 5G Internet with additional backup solutions, good quality co-working spaces (quiet zones, meeting rooms, events space), reliable long-term accommodation, support with statutory and taxation issues, prompt access to healthcare and local communities. Co-working spaces with wellbeing/ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) certification or WELL certified building standards are additional attractions. Also important are transport infrastructure and accessibility (e.g. to airports, islands).
The main challenges faced by digital nomads are: uncertainty as to tax residence and the requirement to submit tax returns for all those staying more than 183 days, bureaucracy, lack of consistency in the application of visas/permits and inadequate cable networks /backup internet on remote islands. Additional drawbacks are the pressure on accommodation costs in popular places, and the lack of reliable English-speaking staff in some services (public health, immigration).
To sum up: Greece has now achieved visibility on the world map of digital nomads, with clear indications of increased demand. What follows will be judged by how consistent are improvements in infrastructure, the institutional framework and local initiatives, for the country to remain an attractive choice for those who work at a distance.
(Haniotika Nea 07/10/25, with information from APE-MPE)
Work from Crete
Crete is a favoured holiday destination for its unique blend of history and culture, gastronomy and recreational facilities. It is also popular with digital nomads, having a milder climate than the mainland (warmer in winter, slightly less hot in summer), good international connections with two main airports at Chania and Heraklion (the latter to be replaced by the new Heraklion Airport at Kastelli, due to open in 2027), and modern digital communications – the extensive updating work carried out by Cosmote/Deutsche Telekom a few years ago brought fibre landlines and high-speed internet to many villages away from the northern coastal strip.
The Region of Crete’s Work from Crete initiative encourages digital nomads to come and work on the island. The website https://www.workfromcrete.gr/, although somewhat dated, provides information on the advantages of remote working in Crete and the statutory requirements. The international holiday rentals company Happy Rentals has produced a useful summary of the of the legal requirements which can be found at https://www.happy.rentals/blog/223-digital-nomads-greece. There are a number of co-working spaces on the island, including Workhub Chania, details of which can be found at their website https://workhub.gr/.
