World’s Best Countries for Nomads

The pandemic made many realise that life is too short to put a hold on our dreams/hold off on our dreams, like travelling the world, for example.

One positive to come out of the pandemic is that more and more workplaces are allowing a ‘work from anywhere’ system which allows people to work while they travel, wherever that may be.

This, along with the rising living costs and the impossibility of getting on the property ladder for so many, has meant that more are looking into a nomadic lifestyle.

If you are someone that wishes to spend their 2022 exploring their wanderlust but still need to be earning money to fund being a nomad, then you need to know the best locations to travel between to allow you to WFV – work from your van!

Using data from a number of sources, we have ranked the world’s countries based on a number of different factors to determine which stops the aspiring nomad should add to their visit list. We have analysed several different factors including:

• Wifi speed
• Cost of fuel
• Cost of a healthy daily diet per day
• Happiness score
• Precipitation
• Road quality
• Vehicle thefts

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These are the world’s top 25 countries to be a nomad

1. UAE tops the list

With the best Wifi, least rain and best road quality, the United Arab Emirates came in as the number one place for nomads to visit or WFV (work from van). Camping season is from November to December. Mostly, UAE has two types of camping trips – long-term and overnight. Long-term camping is regulated by the governmental authorities, meaning that those nomads that want to spend more time in the country will have to make sure they have a permit.

However, many experienced campers believe the UAE is best for short stays anyway due to limited sites where you can fill up with water, charge your electricity and empty your sewage. But with popular locations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it is well worth stopping to experience a bit of this beautiful country and the stunning architectural wonders it has to offer.

Best Campsite: Hatta Wadi Hub

Must see in the UAE: Burj Khalifa

While in Dubai you shouldn’t pass up the chance to see the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. The building measures in at a whopping 829.8 m and took five years to build. Inside the building, there is the Armani hotel, swimming pools, apartments and so much more.

2. Denmark comes in second

Although not ranking top for any individual factor, Denmark’s total score makes it a perfect place to plot on a wanderer’s map. The European country’s happiness score was the second-highest out of all the countries analysed, their food prices are relatively low as are their vehicle thefts.

The fuel prices are a little higher and pretty much on par with the prices in the UK at £1.63 a litre (correct as of March 2022), so in order to preserve funds campers stopping here may want to do most of their exploring on foot.

Best Campsite: Blushoj Camping

Must see in Denmark: Lindholm Høje

Lindholm Høje is a major Viking burial site and former settlement situated to the north of and overlooking the city of Aalborg in Denmark. It isn’t every day you get to visit such a historical landmark, so it is definitely worth a visit.

3. Australia comes in third

Third on the list is Australia, a popular destination for people to emigrate to thanks to its perfect mixture of blue waters, white sandy beaches and lively cities. The land down under topped the list for food prices, being the cheapest country for a daily healthy meal. Generally, Australia scored well for most of the factors analysed – fifth for Wifi, sixth for fuel and eighth for happiness and precipitation.

Australia falls short on its road quality which only scored 4.81 according to the Global Economy data, 1 is the lowest quality and 7 is the highest. They also scored highly for their number of vehicle thefts, experiencing 214.1 thefts per 100,000 residents per year. Still, Australia is the perfect country to drive a campervan or RV, with huge spaces and plenty of great campervan sites, or ‘Holiday Parks’, as they’re known locally, in most towns. Better yet, they also drive on the left-hand side of the road, meaning Brits can drive over there with ease!

Best Campsite: Cylinder Beach Camping Ground, Stradbroke Island, Queensland

Must see in Australia: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland

Of course, the Sydney Opera House springs to mind as a must-see in Australia, but more impressive (and sadly more pressing) is the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. See the wonders of under the sea while down under and be inspired to do more to help the environment as a result.

World’s countries best for…

Those that prioritise different things can instead opt to visit the country best for specific factors. The United Arab Emirates is number one for Wifi, rain and road quality. Algeria has the lowest fuel prices, Finland is the happiest country, the UK is the cheapest for a daily healthy diet and Nepal has the least amount of vehicle thefts.

These are Europe’s top 20 countries to be a Nomad

While Denmark comes in second on the world list of countries best for nomads, it tops the list of the best countries in Europe for those looking to live a life on the road.

2. Luxembourg

It may be small but Luxembourg comes in as the second-best place in Europe for wanderers. The food is relatively cheap with them ranking at number six for food prices and seventh for happiness. However, despite being such a small country, Luxembourg ranks at 48 for vehicle thefts, almost four times higher than Denmark.

Best campsite: Camping Bistro Bissen

Must see in Luxembourg: Vianden Castle

Those visiting Luxembourg should be sure to visit Vianden Castle which looks like a real-life Hogwarts set amongst the beautiful Luxembourg countryside, overlooking the river Our. The castle dates back to the 10th century and is open to visitors throughout the year from 10 am to 4 pm every day. In March and October, the closing time is extended to 5 pm and in the summer months to 6 pm. Guided tours are also available.

3. Finland

Finland came in third in the list of the best places to be a nomad in Europe and sixth in the world. The chilly country may not offer white sands and warm seas but it boasts of being the happiest country in the world. The food is reasonably priced and the Wifi and road quality is fair. This isn’t a country to be driving around too much though with fuel costing £1.42 per litre.

For an iconic lake view, head to the Puumala Archipelago Route in the heart of the Lakeland region in Eastern Finland. The route circulates through some of the most incredible islands, bridges, and eskers in the Saimaa region. The Coast and Archipelago region is perfect for those looking for a more ruggedly beautiful, nautical feel and who want to try water activities at the sea, like kayaking.

Best campsite: Rastila Camping Helsinki

Must see in Finland: The Northern Lights

While in Finland be sure to schedule a trip to see the Northern Lights. This beautiful phenomenon is definitely something you’ll never forget. The Northern Lights are visible on roughly 200 nights a year – or every other clear night – in Finnish Lapland. And if you have some extra time you could always pop in on Santa too!

4. Switzerland

The fourth best location for travelling around in a campervan is Switzerland. The country ranks highly for road quality and happiness, making it a promising destination for campers in motorhomes. It also ranks high for food prices and Wifi.

Be sure to visit Geneva, with rolling hills, huge mountains, and Europe’s largest Alpine lake. Geneva was the setting for the 19th Century horror novel Frankenstein, and to commemorate this there is a statue of Frankenstein’s creature located at the first murder site of the monster, standing mid-stride at Plainpalais.

Best campsite: Jungfrau

Must see in Switzerland: The Matterhorn

The Matterhorn, Switzerland’s iconic pointed peak, is one of the highest mountains in the Alps. On the border with Italy, this legendary peak rises to 4,478 metres, and its four steep faces lie in the direction of the compass points.

Rent a Campervan at PaulCamper

If you are looking to try the nomad lifestyle before committing yourself to a large purchase, we’re not just offering a large fleet of campervans to rent in the UK but we’re also located in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. So why not rent a Motorhome and try that digital Nomad lifestyle for yourself this year?

Methodology

Figures for Wifi speed, Cost of fuel, Cost of a healthy daily diet per day, Happiness score, Precipitation, Road quality and Vehicle thefts were collected from different sources for each country. They have then been ranked accordingly. Some countries were omitted due to the current situation within those countries being unsafe.

Sources:

• Global Petrol Prices
• Speedtest
• Our World in Data
• World Happiness Report
• Data World Bank
• Global Competitiveness Index – Weforum
• The Global Economy

Data was collected in December 2021, suggestions of campsites and places to visit are correct as of January 2022.