How to Choose a Coworking Space in a City You Don't Know

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Before you commit to a coworking space in a city you do not know, check six things: the connection, the chairs and desks, the noise, the contract terms, the opening hours and the people. A one-day pass or a short tour tells you more than any ranking of cities.

Why choose the workspace before the city?

Lists of "best cities" change every year and rarely say whether you can actually get work done there. For a freelancer or remote employee, the desk you sit at for eight hours a day matters more than the skyline. If you are moving for a few weeks or months, pick two or three candidate spaces first, then see which neighbourhoods they sit in.

This guide stays on the working side. For route planning and wider travel choices, see our multi-country planning guide.

How do I test a space's internet before I pay?

Ask for a trial day, and do the checks that match your work:

• Run a speed test at the desk you would use, at a busy time of day, not just in the lobby.
• Join a video call from the space and listen for dropouts.
• Ask whether the network is shared with the whole building, and whether there is a wired port or a backup line.
• Ask what happens when the connection fails: who fixes it and how fast.

If a space cannot answer these, treat that as an answer. Our guide to reliable internet for remote workers covers backup options like a phone hotspot.

What should the desk and chair be like?

You will sit there for hours, so look at the furniture as closely as the Wi-Fi. OSHA's computer workstations guidance describes a setup with an adjustable chair, a screen at a comfortable viewing height and a keyboard that lets your arms rest naturally. Check whether the chair adjusts in height and back support, and whether you can use an external monitor or raise your laptop.

If the space has only low café-style seating, plan for a laptop stand and separate keyboard, or choose another space.

How much noise and privacy do I need?

Different work needs different rooms. Ask what the space offers:

• Open desks: cheapest and most social, but the noisiest.
• Quiet zones: good for writing, coding and analysis.
• Phone booths or meeting rooms: essential if you take calls with clients.
• Private offices: better for confidential work or a small team.

Visit at the time you would normally work. A calm morning can turn into a busy afternoon.

What should I look for in the contract?

Read the terms before you sign, even for a monthly plan.

• Minimum commitment and notice period for cancelling.
• What is included: meeting room hours, printing, lockers, guest passes.
• Access hours, including evenings and weekends if you need them.
• Whether your desk is fixed or shared, and where you can leave belongings.
• Deposits, and when they are returned.

Day passes and flexible monthly memberships let you test a space before a longer plan. If you will work from the space for only a short time, avoid a long lock-in.

Does the community matter?

For many remote workers it does, because coworking is partly about not working alone. Ask whether the space runs events, has a shared channel for members, or hosts workshops. Our article on hosting workshops in coworking spaces shows how members and operators use shared rooms. A friendly front desk and a few regulars are a good sign. If you prefer to work in silence, a space with fewer events may suit you better.

What about time zones and working hours?

If your clients or team are in another time zone, check that the space is open when you need to work. Early or late calls may mean you need after-hours access, a quiet room, or a different space for those hours. Agree your overlap hours with your team before you choose, not after.

What should I carry so I can work anywhere?

A small kit makes any space workable: a laptop stand, a compact keyboard and mouse, noise-cancelling or good wired headphones, a charger and a power adapter that suits the country. We list ideas in our portable home office kit article. MaviGadget also sells gadgets for travelers.

A short checklist for your visit

1. Book a trial day or tour at your usual working hours.
2. Test the internet at your desk and on a video call.
3. Sit in the chair for at least an hour.
4. Find the quiet area and the call booths.
5. Ask for the contract terms in writing.
6. Pick the space, then plan the rest of the move around it.

Visa and residency rules are separate from the choice of workspace. Check them with the official immigration site of the country you plan to work in, and ask a professional if your case is unclear.