WORKATIONS

Work with a view, somewhere new

Tired of your office (or kitchen table)?

Pack up your laptop and take a working vacation – a workation!

Imagine you are working on your laptop. You glance up and gaze out across glittering fjords, deep valleys or vast mountain plateaus, maybe even under the northern lights or the midnight sun.

Inspiration? Check!

Workations have become a hot new trend in recent years. People are increasingly mixing business with pleasure for the ultimate balance of productivity and adventure. Go on a workation to Norway!

“When I have writer's block, I always go for a walk to get inspiration. I can stand here on the shore and compose thoughts and sentences in my mind.”

Katrine Sørgård

With splendid views, exciting adventure, and some of the world's fastest Wi-Fi speeds almost everywhere you go, Norway is a safe bet for anyone who wants to combine work and leisure.

In 2021, travel magazine Wanderlust rated Norway one of the 7 best countries in which to take a workation.

A hot trend

Workations – working remotely while on vacation – have become a major global trend. Until 2019, it was mostly freelancers, IT specialists and budding entrepreneurs who made up the majority of the so-called 'digital nomads' who combine work and travel.

Untraditional office spaces can be a good alternative for many others too.

Katrine Sørgård is a freelance journalist and photographer who considers herself a true digital nomad. For her, workations are a lifestyle.

"I like to travel off the beaten path, and I'm very fond of islands, such as Træna off the Helgeland coast, Røst and Værøy in Lofoten, and the Varanger Peninsula in Finnmark."

"When I'm on a workation, I find peace and get into a special flow," she says.

Benefits of working remotely

In a recent survey by the Norwegian Institute of Transport Economics, 74% of respondents stated that they are "as productive or more productive when working from home as compared to working in the office".

Numerous international studies reveal similar trends. Workers who are comfortable working remotely are happier, have lower sickness absence rates and more energy, and have a greater sense of loyalty to employers when they can work flexibly. Such findings have led many researchers to posit that flexible and remote work would become the norm.

This means you can do your job while enjoying your bucket list destinations.

When you have free time, you can do what you love. Go skiing or hiking, or do some yoga.

Norway has everything you need for a wonderful workation. If you travel outside the peak season, it does not have to be that expensive either.

It's an ideal way to experience some of the most spectacular places in the country, without the crowds.

If you're looking for a quiet place to complete an important task, you can rent a fisherman's cabin, cottage, or holiday home or even a comfortable hotel room.

How about staying in a secluded archipelago above the Arctic Circle?

Remote.com has scoured the globe and ranks Svalbard the sixth best destination for digital nomads.

Svalbard is home to the world's northernmost university, church, and brewery (yes, they're three separate places) and is surrounded by untamed wilderness and unique animal life.

Its wild Arctic nature will definitely inspire your best work!

“ This is a unique opportunity for me to find peace and focus on my work.”

Katrin Blomvik Bakken

Geiranger in Fjord Norway has introduced a new programme called the Arctic Digital Nomads Grant.

The project allows recipients of the grant to stay in Geiranger for free while they work remotely.

Katrin Blomvik Bakken, director of Geirangerfjord World Heritage, says that Geiranger needs more residents during the winter months.

"We are a small rural place and need more people to help keep the community running. This project aims to attract candidates who might want to move to Geiranger, work remotely, and become part of our co-working community. There have been over 200 applications, both from Norway and abroad. It’s amazing!"

Up to three candidates are selected who will live and work in Geiranger for a period of one to three months, depending on each applicant's preferences.

Blomvik Bakken believes that a workation is a great concept for people with flexible jobs who want to escape the city and find inspiration in nature.

"It’s not necessarily about settling here permanently, but it’s a unique opportunity to work in peace. This programme is also a way to contribute to the community and local development, rather than just focusing purely on tourism," she says.

“We have Norway's most epic remote office space. Here, you can surf, hike, or just enjoy nature during your time off.”

Stian Morel – founder of the Arctic Coworking Lodge in Lofoten

“Træna offers an Artist-in-Residence (AIR) programme that's open to artists, architects, chefs, researchers, and anyone else with exciting ideas.”

Moa Björnson

Choose your own working hours. Some people work nine to five, while others prefer to log on in the evening after spending the whole day outdoors. Open office space just got a lot more open!

Experience the ultimate work-life balance in the Træna archipelago, off the Helgeland coast.

Moa Björnson is director of the hotel developer Træna 365, located in the island community Træna in Helgeland that is home to around 450 full-time residents. Træna arranged the first organised workation programme over just days in March 2020, just before the pandemic shut down the country.

If you are mainly looking for a quiet and calm place to concentrate on your projects, Træna has several excellent accommodation options available. They also arrange annual workations and host an artist in residence programme for creative people from all fields.

The island of Stokkøya in Trøndelag is also a popular workation destination. Here, you can stay in an award-winning subterranean unit and enjoy an office with a view in Bygdeboksen, a meeting point for locals and visitors. Right next door, you'll find a bakery.

Enjoy a delicious dinner at the famous beach bar, which has been voted one of the coolest in the world. With a sauna by the water, you can take a dip in the sea – all year round!

Elsewhere, business and pleasure can easily be combined at the horseback rider's paradise of Mesna, in Eastern Norway. Work in peaceful surroundings and enjoy the outdoors with riding tours on beautiful Icelandic horses, ski trips in the forest and saunas in winter, and swimming and kayaking in summer.

Do you want to feel the light ocean breeze in a sleepy coastal town in Southern Norway?

Or enjoy the tranquil nature of the mighty landscapes of Fjord Norway?

Working from a ski resort or a spa hotel are also very tempting options.

There are also numerous coworking facilities in Norway's main cities – perfect for combining work sprints with urban vibes.

How to plan a workation

Sold on the idea? Then it's time to start planning!

Where: Find a place that suits you and your own personal interests and dreams. Fjords? Mountains? Northern lights? Small town or big city?

How: When you have decided where you want to go, contact the local tourist information office for tips on spaces and services that may be right for you.

What you need: Think through what you need: computer, good internet access, office space, access to a printer/quiet room/meeting room, etc.

Transport: Does your destination need to be accessible by public transport or do you have your own bike or car?

When to go: If you avoid travelling during peak season, it will often be easier to find affordable housing that is fully furnished, such as a holiday rental. That way, you’ll only need to bring your clothes and work equipment.

Coworking: There are coworking facilities in all the major cities and in many smaller towns, as well as in the countryside. Enter the name of your preferred destination and terms like "coworking" or "startups" in a search engine and browse the results.

Co-living: Some places offer co-living (or coliving), where you can both live and work in a community, often in beautiful natural surroundings.

Café office: Alternatively, you can check if there are any comfortable cafés to work from in the area. It’s a great way to meet new people and socialise if you're travelling alone.

Artist in residence: Norway offers a variety of artist-in-residence programmes, some of which are also open to applicants who are not artists, architects, or authors.

Coworking spaces

More spaces are popping up all the time. You can see an overview of Norwegian spaces at CoworkBooking.com, Coworker.com, and Coworking Norway.

Get tips on activities and accommodation for your workation. You can find good car rental alternatives at Rent-A-Wreck.