Best Cities in Europe in November for Digital Nomads

November is the month when Europe sorts itself into two groups. In the north, the clocks have gone back, the average day sits in single digits and a laptop session in a cafe starts to feel like a retreat from the weather. In the south, it is still comfortable to work from a terrace for part of the day. If you are a remote worker with a flexible calendar, the choice of city in November matters more than in almost any other month.

This guide is Europe only. We ranked every European city in our database that has both a monthly cost figure and a measured city internet speed, using our own monthly score for November. Lisbon comes first with 459, followed by Antalya on 447, Malaga on 444, Madrid on 439 and London on 438. For each city we show the cost of living for a nomad, internet speed, a safety index and the November weather, and we say how November compares with that city’s own best month.

How we ranked the cities

Our monthly score is a single number per city and per month. It combines the weather for that month with the city’s other measured conditions, and a higher score means a better month to be there. We use the November value for every city, so the ranking answers one question: where is November a good month, in Europe, for someone who works on a laptop?

We only included cities where we hold both a monthly cost of living figure for a nomad and a measured city internet speed, so every row in the tables below is complete. Costs are in US dollars per month. Internet speeds are in megabits per second. The safety figure is an index where a higher number means safer. We do not quote rainfall, because the rainfall data for most of these cities is too close to zero to be reliable, and we describe temperature instead.

The November ranking: Europe, 12 cities

The table lists the top eight cities in order. After that, four cities finish on exactly the same score of 435, so we show them all as ninth equal. Two of them, Athens and Amsterdam, would otherwise be the ninth and tenth, and we include Istanbul and Ibiza so that no tied city is left out. The last column shows how many points November sits below the city’s own peak score.

Two things stand out. First, the whole table is tight: the gap between first and twelfth place is only 24 points, so the ranking is better read as tiers than as a strict order. Second, no city is at its peak in November. Every one of the twelve scores between 20 and 43 points below its best month, which is what you would expect from a month that falls between seasons.

Cost, internet, safety and weather side by side

This table puts the practical numbers next to each other. Cost is our monthly figure for a nomad in US dollars. Internet is the measured speed in the city. Safety is the index described above. Temperatures are the November mean and then the average daily high and low in degrees Celsius.

The spread is wide. Antalya is the cheapest city at $1,317 a month and Amsterdam the most expensive at $6,822, a gap of more than five times. Madrid has the fastest internet in the group at 259 Mbps, followed by Barcelona on 251 and Malaga and Ibiza on 247. Antalya is at the other end with 12 Mbps. Amsterdam has the highest safety index at 73 and Barcelona, Athens and London sit in the 45 to 48 range, so it is worth reading the city sections before treating any single column as decisive.

City by city

Each section below gives one paragraph of context on what the city is like for a remote worker, then the figures for that city. Ties at the same score are listed in the order they came out of our ranking, with no further meaning.

1. Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon takes first place. It is a hilly, compact capital with a large community of foreign remote workers, plenty of coworking spaces and a good choice of neighbourhoods, from the old centre to quieter residential areas further out. November is mild by northern standards and the city stays busy after the summer visitors have left. The main cost is housing in the central districts.

Our November score for Lisbon is 459, against a peak of 483 in July, August, September, so November is 24 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $3,462 a month, the city internet speed is 179 Mbps and the safety index is 68. In November the mean temperature is 16.4 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 20.2 and a low of 13.6.

2. Antalya, Turkey

Antalya is a Mediterranean resort city on the south coast of Turkey, with an old town, a long seafront and a large foreign resident population. In November the season is over, prices are calmer and the weather is still pleasant. The caution is the internet: the measured speed is the lowest of the twelve, so check the connection in any apartment before you commit.

Our November score for Antalya is 447, against a peak of 467 in May, September, October, so November is 20 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $1,317 a month, the city internet speed is 12 Mbps and the safety index is 71. In November the mean temperature is 16.6 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 20.5 and a low of 13.2.

3. Malaga, Spain

Malaga is a walkable city on the Costa del Sol with a historic centre, a port and beaches within a short ride. It has one of the warmest Novembers of the mainland cities in our list and one of the fastest connections. Its airport is well connected, which helps if you plan to move on after a month or two.

Our November score for Malaga is 444, against a peak of 464 in May, June, July, August, September, so November is 20 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $3,110 a month, the city internet speed is 247 Mbps and the safety index is 70. In November the mean temperature is 17.3 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 21.2 and a low of 13.8.

4. Madrid, Spain

Madrid is an inland capital, so November is cooler than on the coast, but the city is at its most active, with an indoor culture of cafes, museums and coworking spaces. It has the fastest measured internet of the twelve and a strong public transport network. It is more expensive than the Portuguese cities and Malaga.

Our November score for Madrid is 439, against a peak of 479 in May, June, September, so November is 40 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $4,280 a month, the city internet speed is 259 Mbps and the safety index is 72. In November the mean temperature is 11.4 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 16.4 and a low of 7.7.

5. London, United Kingdom

London is the largest and one of the costliest cities here. November is cool and grey, but the city never really closes, and its coworking and events scene is among the deepest in Europe. It is a choice for people who need the network, not the weather. The monthly transport pass is the most expensive of the twelve at $184.50.

Our November score for London is 438, against a peak of 468 in August, so November is 30 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $5,609 a month, the city internet speed is 138 Mbps and the safety index is 45. In November the mean temperature is 8.7 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 11.3 and a low of 6.1.

6. Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona combines a beach, a dense old city and a strong technology scene. By November the summer crowds have gone and the city is quieter, while the weather is still mild enough to work outside for part of the day. It has the second fastest internet in the group, and also the largest drop from its peak.

Our November score for Barcelona is 438, against a peak of 481 in July, August, so November is 43 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $4,503 a month, the city internet speed is 251 Mbps and the safety index is 48. In November the mean temperature is 14.3 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 18.8 and a low of 10.7.

7. Larnaca, Cyprus

Larnaca is a small city on the south coast of Cyprus, with a seafront promenade, an international airport close to the centre and a calm pace. It has the warmest November of the twelve cities in our data. It is a good fit for people who want sun and a quiet base rather than a big city.

Our November score for Larnaca is 436, against a peak of 456 in April, May, September, October, so November is 20 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $3,514 a month, the city internet speed is 97 Mbps and the safety index is 70. In November the mean temperature is 18.4 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 22.4 and a low of 14.2.

8. Porto, Portugal

Porto is a river city in northern Portugal with a compact centre, steep streets and a growing remote-work community. It is cheaper than Lisbon for a nomad in our data. Its score is uneven through the year, dropping sharply in March and again in October, and November is a recovery month at a score close to its spring and summer level.

Our November score for Porto is 436, against a peak of 456 in June, July, August, September, so November is 20 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $2,948 a month, the city internet speed is 205 Mbps and the safety index is 67. In November the mean temperature is 15.6 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 18.8 and a low of 13.3.

9=. Athens, Greece

Athens is a large city with a deep historic core and neighbourhoods such as Koukaki and Plaka that suit short stays. November is cooler than the islands but still mild by European standards. The nomad cost is lower than in Lisbon or Malaga, while the internet speed is the lowest outside Turkey.

Our November score for Athens is 435, against a peak of 475 in April, May, October, so November is 40 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $3,076 a month, the city internet speed is 76 Mbps and the safety index is 45. In November the mean temperature is 14.3 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 18.3 and a low of 9.5.

9=. Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul is a very large city spanning two continents, with a huge range of neighbourhoods, food and transport options. Costs are the second lowest in the group. November is cool and the weather is changeable, and the score is well below its summer level. The internet speed is modest compared with Spain and Portugal.

Our November score for Istanbul is 435, against a peak of 475 in June, July, August, so November is 40 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $1,789 a month, the city internet speed is 68 Mbps and the safety index is 52. In November the mean temperature is 11.6 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 15.3 and a low of 9.1.

9=. Amsterdam, Netherlands

Amsterdam is a compact, bikeable city with a high safety index and a well-developed international community. It is also the coldest and the most expensive city in our November list, with the lowest average temperatures of the twelve. It suits people who value the city itself over the weather and who have the budget.

Our November score for Amsterdam is 435, against a peak of 466 in August, so November is 31 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $6,822 a month, the city internet speed is 184 Mbps and the safety index is 73. In November the mean temperature is 7.1 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 10.4 and a low of 4.3.

9=. Ibiza, Spain

Ibiza is an island best known for its summer season, and in November much of the seasonal scene quiets down. That is exactly what some remote workers want: warm weather, a fast connection and a calm island. Costs stay high compared with the mainland Spanish cities.

Our November score for Ibiza is 435, against a peak of 455 in June, July, August, September, so November is 20 points below its best. A nomad budget is about $4,888 a month, the city internet speed is 247 Mbps and the safety index is 55. In November the mean temperature is 18.0 degrees Celsius, with an average high of 20.6 and a low of 15.5.

Best value in November

If budget decides the matter, three cities stand out. Antalya is the cheapest at $1,317 a month, Istanbul follows at $1,789, and Porto is third at $2,948. Athens at $3,076 and Malaga at $3,110 come next. Among these, Porto, Malaga and Athens have the better internet speeds, at 205, 247 and 76 Mbps respectively, while Antalya and Istanbul trade lower costs for slower connections.

At the other end, Amsterdam at $6,822 and London at $5,609 are the two most expensive cities, with Ibiza at $4,888 and Barcelona at $4,503 next. A month in Amsterdam costs about $5,500 more than a month in Antalya on our figures. If you are choosing a European base for a cold month and you are cost sensitive, the Iberian cities and Athens deliver more of what November is good for.

November weather across Europe

November temperatures split the list cleanly. Larnaca has the warmest mean at 18.4 degrees Celsius, followed by Ibiza at 18.0, Malaga at 17.3, Antalya at 16.6 and Lisbon at 16.4. Porto averages 15.6, Barcelona and Athens 14.3. These cities all have daytime highs of 18 degrees or more, so a terrace session is realistic on many days.

The cool end is much cooler. Istanbul averages 11.6 and Madrid 11.4, London 8.7 and Amsterdam only 7.1, with an average night low of 4.3 in Amsterdam. Amsterdam also has the lowest sunshine of the twelve in our data. If your mood or your work depends on daylight, this is the strongest argument for the southern list.

Month by month: the top five cities

A single month never tells the whole story, so here are the full-year scores for our top five cities. November is in bold. Reading across, you can see where November sits in the cycle and what the cities look like on either side of it.

The pattern is clear. Lisbon and Madrid score well from spring to early autumn and stay competitive in November. Antalya has a long plateau from April to November and drops to 355 in December. Malaga is flat at 464 from May to September. London peaks in August and falls away outside summer. For a one-month stay, November is a sensible time in all five,.

How November compares with each city’s best month

The last table answers a different question: how much do you give up by going in November rather than at the city’s peak? The gap is the number of points between the November score and the best score in the year, and the peak months are shown so you can see when the city does best.

The smallest gaps, 20 points, belong to Antalya, Malaga, Larnaca, Porto and Ibiza. The largest is Barcelona at 43, followed by Madrid, Athens and Istanbul at 40. Lisbon is 24 below its peak of 483, reached in July, August, September. In practice that means Antalya, Malaga, Larnaca and Porto are the cities where November is almost as good as it gets, while Barcelona, Madrid, Athens and Istanbul are noticeably better in spring or summer.

Which city for which kind of remote worker

Different people need different things from a November base. These are our suggestions from the data.

• Best all-rounder: Lisbon. The highest November score at 459, 179 Mbps internet and a mild climate, with a nomad cost of $3,462.
• Lowest cost: Antalya at $1,317, with Istanbul at $1,789. Accept slower internet, 12 and 68 Mbps.
• Fast internet and warmth: Malaga, with 247 Mbps, a 17.3 degree mean and a $3,110 budget.
• Big-city network: Madrid or London. Madrid has 259 Mbps and costs $4,280, London costs $5,609 and is much colder.
• Warmest weather: Larnaca at 18.4 degrees, or Ibiza at 18.0 if you can afford the higher costs.

Verdict

If you want one answer, go to Lisbon. It has the highest score in our November data, it combines mild weather with fast internet and it sits only 24 points under its own peak. Antalya and Malaga are the closest alternatives, and they are the best choices if cost or a faster connection is your priority.

Skip the northern cities in November unless you have a reason to be there. Amsterdam and London scored well in summer but have the lowest temperatures and the highest costs in the table. Whichever city you choose, check the connection speed of your actual apartment, and treat the ranking as a guide to the month rather than a promise about a particular street.