Athens ranks among the world’s leading workcation destinations

Against this backdrop, Athens has emerged as one of the world’s leading workcation destinations, ranking 15th among 50 cities assessed by the International Workplace Group (IWG).

Bangkok tops the 2026 global ranking, followed by Tokyo and Barcelona in second and third place, respectively. The top 10 is completed by Porto, Vancouver, Budapest, Naples, Medellín, Lisbon and Seoul.

IWG’s Work from Anywhere Index evaluates cities based on a range of factors that determine their attractiveness for professionals wishing to work remotely while travelling. These include climate, broadband quality, accommodation cost and availability, transportation, gastronomy, cultural offerings and access to flexible workspaces.

Athens stands out for climate, accommodation and digital nomad credentials

The Greek capital received high scores across several key indicators, reinforcing its position as a destination capable of combining productive work with a high-quality travel experience.

Athens scored 9 out of 10 for its climate, reflecting its abundant sunshine, and achieved an equally strong rating for accommodation, taking into account rental costs and the availability of furnished housing.

The city also performed particularly well in terms of access to flexible workspaces. As of June 2026, Athens was the only city among the 50 destinations evaluated to receive a perfect score of 10 out of 10 for the availability and affordability of its Digital Nomad Visa.

However, the city received lower scores in areas including broadband connectivity, public safety and dining costs, with the latter assessed on the basis of the price of a business-district meal and beverage.

Bangkok leads the global ranking

Bangkok secured the top position in the 2026 workcation rankings thanks to its combination of a relatively low cost of living, strong digital infrastructure and status as a major international travel hub.

Tokyo and Barcelona followed closely behind, highlighting the continued appeal of major metropolitan centres offering a high quality of life, rich cultural experiences and well-developed infrastructure for remote workers.

This year’s rankings also indicate that professionals are increasingly looking beyond traditional tourist destinations. Cities such as Vancouver and Medellín continue to strengthen their appeal by combining attractive natural environments, vibrant cultural scenes and favourable conditions for remote work.

Work-from-anywhere policies reshape travel behaviour

IWG’s research highlights the rapid expansion of Work from Anywhere (WFA) policies, which are becoming an increasingly important feature of the modern workplace.

More than half of employees (51%) report that their employer already offers a WFA policy. At the same time, 90% say that the ability to work from different locations has improved their work-life balance, while 80% believe it has increased their productivity.

Such policies are also becoming strategically important for employers. Eighty percent of respondents said that a Work from Anywhere policy would make a prospective employer more attractive, while 62% indicated they would consider changing jobs in order to gain access to greater workplace flexibility.

Remote work extends holidays

Remote working is also changing the way people travel. Nearly half of employees (48%) say they plan to extend a holiday or short break during 2026 by continuing to work remotely while away.

Meanwhile, 46% report they are more likely to adopt this approach than they were a year ago, while 43% have already worked remotely from a holiday destination without using annual leave.

The primary motivations for choosing a workcation include improving wellbeing and avoiding burnout (54%), spending more time with family and friends (53%), and making better use of annual leave (52%).

Rising living costs are also encouraging greater use of hybrid working arrangements, with 51% of respondents saying that financial pressures are prompting them to make greater use of remote working opportunities.

Reliable connectivity remains the top priority

Despite the growing importance of the overall travel experience, technology infrastructure remains the single most important consideration when selecting a destination for remote work.

Reliable Wi-Fi connectivity is the top priority for 38% of respondents. Accommodation quality, gastronomy and transportation follow, each cited by 12% of employees.

In addition, 46% say that more affordable travel and accommodation options would encourage them to extend a trip while continuing to work remotely.