Being a digital nomad in Greece comes with gorgeous landscapes, a fascinating culture, kind locals, and so many more perks. In this article, we’re sharing everything you need to know about Greece for digital nomads.
With various unique cities and islands and a vibrant digital nomad scene, it’s a wonderful place to travel and work remotely.
Keep reading to learn the pros and cons, how to get the Greece digital nomad visa, the best places to live, and more.
Is Greece good for digital nomads?
Greece is often considered one of the best countries for digital nomads for many reasons. It’s ideal if you want to go somewhere affordable, beautiful, and with nice weather year-round.
Perks of working remotely in Greece include:
- Cost of living: Many people report being able to live in Greece for under $2,000 per month.
- Wonderful weather: One of Greece’s best features is its year-round pleasant weather. Winters are usually mild, while summers are warm and sunny.
- Stunning landscape: You can explore mountains, forests, lakes, and beaches in Greece
- Welcoming locals: Greeks are known to be very kind, and a recent report even found that expats think Greece is one of Europe’s friendliest countries.
- Lifestyle: It’s easy to relax and enjoy your time in Greece, with its laid-back lifestyle and welcoming locals. It’s also considered one of the safest countries.
How do I qualify for a digital nomad visa in Greece?
You can get a digital nomad visa for Greece by applying for a long stay in Greece. To qualify, you must:
- Be a non-EU citizen
- Prove you’re self-employed or have an employer outside of Greece
- Have an employment contract outside of Greece
- Meet income requirements
Note: Self-employed freelancers and digital nomads should have contracts with all clients, which you can use for proof of employment.
Read More: How to Move to Europe as an American: A Practical Guide
How to Apply for a Greece Digital Nomad Visa
To apply for your Greece digital nomad visa, you need to:
- Make an appointment with your local Greek embassy
- Print and fill out the visa application form
- Collect all documents for your appointment
Required documents include:
- A passport valid for six months longer than your intended stay
- Two passport photos
- Proof of employment
- Proof of income
- Certificate of clean criminal background
- Proof of health insurance
- Medical certificate of good health
- Proof of accommodations for your stay in Greece
Where is the best place to live in Greece for digital nomads?
Whether you want to be a digital nomad in a buzzing city or on a laid-back island, there’s an ideal place for almost any remote worker in Greece.
Athens
Athens, Greece’s capital, is vibrant. It’s the perfect place if you enjoy bustling, big-city life. In Greece, digital nomads can enjoy delicious food, friendly locals, fun activities, and a lively digital nomad community.
With various coworking spaces, cafes, and exciting things to see and do, it’s easy to maintain a healthy work-life balance in Athens.
When you aren’t working, you can explore the many walkable areas of the city, shop, dine, and drink. There are also nearby beaches to visit on your days off.
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki is ideal for a vibe similar to Athens and has a slightly lower cost of living. It’s known for delicious food, a gorgeous coastline, a rich history, and a lively nightlife scene.
Although Thessaloniki is on the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, it’s a port rather than a beach city. You can enjoy picturesque scenery, but you’ll want to travel to nearby cities for a proper beach day.
When it’s time to work, you can find many coworking spaces and cafes around the city.
Santorini
Santorini is in the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, about an hour’s flight or a 5-hour ferry ride from Athens. It’s perfect for digital nomads who want a luxurious experience with gorgeous beaches, unique landscapes, and charming villages.
Although Santorini is pricier than other places in Greece for digital nomads, it’s well worth it for a memorable experience.
While there aren’t coworking spaces in Santorini, there are cafes with internet and space to work. While Santorini’s internet is relatively reliable, it’s always a good idea to have a mobile hotspot when travelling, especially to an island.
Mykonos
Many find Mykonos to be the best Greek island for digital nomads because of its white sand beaches, fun activities, and close accessibility to Athens. You can reach Mykonos from Athens by a quick flight or a 3-hour ferry ride.
Many digital nomads enjoy shopping or relaxing on the beach during the day and partying at night. It’s also a fantastic place to explore stunning architecture.
Like most places in Greece, there’s strong internet in Mykonos. There are also several coffee shops and internet cafes.
Tip: Mykonos and Santorini are similar, but we recommend choosing Santorini if you’re a nature lover and Mykonos if you like shopping and nightlife.
Cafes and Coworking Spaces in Greece
Check out the best cafes and coworking spaces to get a better vibe of what it’s like to work and be a digital nomad in Greece.
Cafes and Coworking Spaces in Athens
- Plegma Coffee & Living: a stylish coffee and gift shop with plenty of space to work
- The Cube Athens: a flexible workspace with 24-hour access and group events
- Stone Soup: a centrally-located coworking space
Cafes and Coworking Spaces in Thessaloniki
- Tabya: a homey cafe with ample seating room
- The Caravan Cafe: a cafe with food, coffee, and space to settle in for work
- coho: a simple coworking space, ideal for productivity and networking
Cafes in Santorini
- Vlychada Beach Bar: a laid-back beach bar with Wi-Fi
- Omoo: coffee shop with small bites, coffee, and indoor and outdoor seating
Cafes in Mykonos
Blu Blu Cafe Mykonos: an internet cafe and cocktail bar next to the water
FARO Café Bar: a cafe and restaurant with beautiful scenery
How to Find Accommodations in Greece
You must have a rental booked before arriving since you need proof of accommodations when applying for the Greece digital nomad visa.
Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to find a rental online with these options
- Airbnb: Many long-term rentals, which many digital nomads love for convenience and a homey vibe
- Coliving: Various options throughout Greece, perfect for meeting fellow digital nomads
- Facebook groups: Join groups in the city you want to go to for help finding a rental
How much does it cost to live in Greece as a digital nomad?
Depending on where you’re from, you might find it affordable or expensive to be a digital nomad in Greece. That said, living costs are lower than in most Western countries, including the US and UK.
While Greece’s cost of living varies by region, here’s an overview of what you can expect for basic expenses:
- Accommodation: A 1-bedroom apartment in the city usually costs about $442 per month, while an apartment outside the city is about $370.
- Dining: An inexpensive meal is about $13.
- Drinks: A coffee costs about $3.38, while a beer costs about $5.
- Transportation: A monthly pass for public transit is about $32. Taxi prices vary, starting at a couple of dollars.
Read more: 10 Budgeting Tips for Freelancers and Digital Nomads
Do digital nomads pay tax in Greece?
Digital nomads who stay in Greece for more than less than months don’t pay taxes. If you stay longer, you must pay taxes if you earn more than €12,000 (or slightly more than $12,000) a year.
We recommend hiring a local accountant or someone who understands Greek taxes if you plan to stay over six months.
Read more: Digital Nomad Taxes (Everything You Need to Know)
Downsides to Being a Digital Nomad in Greece
Greece for digital nomads is known to be a positive experience. That said, there are a few drawbacks to consider:
- Many touristy areas drive up prices and crowds
- Greek can be difficult to learn
- Paying taxes can be confusing if you stay more than six months
Read more: 5 Downsides of Being a Digital Nomad (& How to Overcome Them)
Do I need to learn the language?
Because there are many English speakers in Greece, especially in areas that attract digital nomads, you don’t have to learn the language.
That said, we always recommend being considerate of the culture and learning basic phrases in Greek. This is a good way to show respect to locals, meet people, and communicate easier. You can also have a translation app handy when needed.
Is Greece safe for LGBTQ+ people?
While there are some areas for inclusivity improvement in Greece, it’s known to be one of the more accepting European countries and is one of the safest countries in the world.
Athens has been celebrating LGBTQ+ people for years, and Mykonos is a popular, gay-friendly Greek island.
We hope this guide to being a digital nomad in Greece was helpful. If you’re interested in learning more about working remotely, you might like reading these articles: