With more companies now seeing the value in remote work, backed up by a year of tried-and-tested ways to interact with disparate teams, they will certainly be looking at more flexible options now. This paves the way for digital professionals to lead a nomadic working lifestyle.

What exactly is a digital nomad though? According to Investopedia, they "are people who are location-independent and use technology to perform their job, living a nomadic lifestyle. Digital nomads work remotely, telecommuting rather than being physically present at a company's headquarters or office."

It's not only companies that are welcoming such individuals, but places too, with the likes of Barbados and Bermuda recently launching remote work visa programmes in order to attract them. And one place in particular is set to become incredibly popular among digital nomads: the Spanish city of Valencia.

Although Valencia probably isn't the first place you think of when it comes to Spain, it's not always the most famous name with the best opportunities. In the case of tech, Valencia has been hailed as one of the next big hubs and could be an ideal destination for digital nomads. Here we explore the city's credentials in more detail, both from a job opportunity and a lifestyle point of view.

There's a thriving tech scene across a range of sectors

Madrid and Barcelona tend to attract the plaudits when it comes to tech startups in Spain, with success stories such as Travelperk, Glovo, and Typeform. But in the background, Valencia is making a name for its tech ecosystem, with companies including Streamloots, Voicemod, Beroomers, Flywire and Blinkfire Analytics making waves. Many of these have embraced remote working, with some even offering entirely remote roles, making them the perfect landing spots for digital nomads.

From fintech and software engineering to Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing (known as SAP), the number of jobs across various sectors is vast for budding tech pros. Speaking about SAP's presence in Spain specifically, SAP recruiter Eursap states that: "The Spanish SAP-market is substantial and growing year-on-year. Spain is also becoming increasingly popular as a location for near-shore SAP support centres for many multinational companies, which is creating further SAP Jobs." This applies to Spain's biggest cities in particular, which naturally includes Valencia as the third largest in the country. Other than SAP,  Valencia's strong fintech and cybersecurity scene has also started to gain plenty of attention in recent times.

Increase in incubators and investment

Valencia's investor scene is growing too, with more family-owned companies, individual and institutional investors injecting capital into promising startups. In fact, the city has some of the top incubators and accelerator programs in Spain. Take BIGBAN, for instance, a private nonprofit angel investor network based in Valencia, which is building and developing one of the most active investor communities in the country. With over €40 million invested into 300 startups, BIGBAN has had a huge impact for many companies, including Aerox, Sefici and Jeff.

Accelerator programs continue to proliferate, supported by corporate and local government initiatives such as Startup Valencia. This particular organisation collaborates with different projects that give visibility to those that are involved in the innovative and tech entrepreneurial ecosystem of Valencia. So, if someone was looking to pick up a role in a startup or even build their own with these investing opportunities, Valencia could be the place to build momentum considering the opportunities for entrepreneurs there.

Quality of life

Valencia boasts idyllic beaches, year-round sunshine, and affordable housing and healthcare. Also, with a population of only around a million people, it's more manageable compared to its bigger cousins, Madrid and Barca. The city is alive but it's not over-crowded: a perfect mix for a balanced life on the coast.. The city also has one of the most amazing parks in Europe and cycle lanes that make it easy to explore Valencia by bike, although walking is pleasant too and allows you to take in the beautiful scenery at a more granular level. Combine this with incredible food and diverse coworking spaces, it's no wonder the place is so popular with digital nomads.

Spain has low living costs compared to other European countries too, so you'll almost certainly find a decent apartment for a reasonable price in Valencia. As well as this, Spain's public healthcare is free, and private options are affordable. In combination with the excellent climate, good food and high quality of life, it's no surprise that the Spanish have one of the highest life expectancies in Europe (and even the world).