It’s easy to think of Europe as a well-lit map of interconnected hubs of tech excellence. After all, the continent is home to the renowned tech hubs of Berlin, Barcelona, and Paris, and in the UK, London is a global hub with long-term excellence in the financial services sector.
But these are major cities. Full of opportunity, culture, and ambition, they can also be exhausting, not to mention expensive, places to live and work.
This is why so many tech professionals are now looking to leave the big super-urban tech hubs for smaller, more up and coming tech cities that offer the perfect mix of progression and personal balance. Below, we’re taking a look at three places to explore.
Nicosia, Cyprus
You’ll know Cyprus for a lot of different things: sun and sea, of course, but have you considered silicon? It turns out that, since 2015, the Municipality of Nicosia has aimed to transform the city center into a cutting-edge district of knowledge, research, and innovation.
As a result, various projects such as the Creative Industry Quarter and CYENS – an ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Centre of Excellence in Research and Innovation have thrived. Now companies including Amdocs, Wargaming, 3XC, Bolt, Thomson Reuters, Etoro, and Melsoft Games all have a presence there.
It’s not really surprising that tech workers are flocking to Nicosia and Cyprus in droves. According to reports, Cyprus received 119% more immigrants from January-April 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. The island has one of the warmest climates (and warmest winters in the EU), with the average daily annual temperature on the coast at around 24 degrees. Plus, the warm season lasts about eight months.
Mobile internet quality is high and the island has established a digital nomad visa scheme too, allowing nationals from non-EU and non-EEA countries to temporarily live and work in Cyprus.
Tallinn, Estonia
Home to one of the world’s highest startup per capita rates, Tallinn has fast established itself as a tech hub to watch and is home to powerhouses such as Skype as well as newer innovations like Pipedrive, Transferwise, and Bolt. The Estonian capital has benefited from attractive tax breaks and education initiatives, and is now home to over 1,000 startups with many more eyeing up the Eastern European city due to its relaxed approach to work/life balance.
Hybrid and flexible working is standard for all employees here, while Tallinn’s compact size reduces commuting time. Its low cost of living makes for a high level of enjoyment. The city is well connected to global tech hubs too, making it a viable option for large tech companies.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The Dutch capital was recently ranked the fourth best European “tech city of the future” and continues to be attractive to tech startups hoping to take advantage of its close proximity to London, global infrastructure, and high talent pool.
It is home to groundbreaking AI platforms thanks to its “living lab” status as well as dedicated hubs such as Amsterdam Science Park and Startup Village. The fact that 90% of the population speaks English, while the city is easily accessible from London, Paris, the U.S. and Eastern Europe makes it even more attractive.
However, it’s Amsterdam’s small population, thriving nightlife, and cultural scene that mark it out as a city to watch.
If you want to adopt a higher level of work/life balance without compromising on opportunity, check out The House of Talent Job Board to find companies hiring across these cities. We’ve selected three tech giants below which are recruiting for plenty of remote and partially remote opportunities.
Siemens
With benefits including a generous 6% pension contribution, health insurance, paid tuition on continued development, and a fully remote policy for some roles, Siemens is an employer option for those looking to become digital nomads. Currently hiring for roles across software engineering, payroll specialists, and business development, the company has a base in Amsterdam and over 300,00 staff worldwide. Explore all remote roles here.
Booking.com
Travel disruptor Booking.com continues to expand its workforce. Remote and office-based roles exist across software engineering, customer relations management, and engineering management across all European cities including Berlin, Amsterdam, and Manchester. Benefits include a generous health and pension program as well as a flexible approach to work. Browse all available roles at Booking.com.
Monzo
Online bank Monzo was one of the first app-based banks in the UK, and continues to challenge in the Fintech space. Currently hiring for a number of roles, with remote options available, opportunities exist across fraud investigation, AML investigation, and customer management. Monzo offers staff benefits across health and pension insurance as well as continued career progression and a chance to make a difference by contributing to open software. Explore all opportunities at Monzo.
Browse all companies currently hiring across Europe on The House of Talent Job Board