Workcations - Travel by SidewalkSafari

A collage of dozens of travel photos showcasing various cities, landmarks, nature scenes, food, and architecture from around the world. The images are a mix of close-ups and wide shots, creating a visual grid of diverse experiences. A text overlay reads "Workcations"

A workcation is a form of travel that differs from a traditional business trip. On a business trip, work is the reason for the trip. Workcations involve working remotely from a destination that you choose for yourself based on your interests. Workcations allow you to explore new places, often saving your precious vacation days, by integrating your work schedule with local experiences.

Here are some ways that I’ve leveraged workcations to visit and experience new places while keeping up with my day job.

Workcation Ideas

I spent a fantastic workcation week in Florence, finding it an ideal blend of productivity and exploration. My routine involved getting up early to visit museums and iconic sights before the crowds arrived, then settling into work for the afternoon and evening, followed by a delicious dinner. March was a particularly good time to do this workcation due to manageable crowds and pleasant weather.

During a six-day workcation in The Hague, I made the most of my time by squeezing in activities before and after work, and on the weekend. I took architecture photo walks, sampled diverse world cuisines, shopped for Dutch treats like hagelslag and stroopwafels, enjoyed art walks, and explored the city’s craft beer scene. I found The Hague to be a vibrant city with a refined atmosphere, and less crowded than Amsterdam.

London has been a frequent workcation destination for me. I’ve spent weeks based in different neighborhoods like South Kensington, near Tower Bridge (Bermondsey), and South West London (Kingston Upon Thames). My workcation routine often involved morning walks to local coffee shops, discovering hidden mews and unique architecture, and exploring quiet green spaces before work. These longer stays enabled deeper immersion and a chance to notice small details.

I embarked on a winter workcation in Mainz, focusing my exploration around the festive Christmas markets. I would walk around the markets before opening time to capture photos without crowds. We’d return after work to partake of some mulled wine and grab a hearty dinner at the market. Mainz proved to be an ideal workcation destination due to its accessibility from Frankfurt Airport and compact size which made it easier to intersperse bite-sized activities with work.

Following a road trip vacation through Western Norway, I added a week-long workcation in Oslo. This allowed me to continue my Norwegian adventure by exploring popular sights like Vigeland Park at different times of the day, as well as Oslo’s architecture, street art, and vibrant food and craft beer scene during mornings, evenings, and on the weekend.

I spent a week-long workcation based in Braga, a historic city in Northern Portugal. This provided ample time to explore the city and its surrounding region while balancing my work commitments.

Even on a “staycation” within Ireland, I treated a week in Waterville as a workcation, dedicating four days to work. I ensured I got up early to explore the area through morning walks by the sea before opening my laptop.

Not all workcation experiences need to be in Europe. I spent a week in Poughkeepsie after a visit to see family and friends in my hometown of Buffalo, New York. We’d take a drive to one of the many quaint towns in the Hudson River Valley in the morning, work for the day, and then do something fun each evening.

Advantages of a Workcation

The core advantages of workcations include:

A Welcome Change of Scenery: busting out of your routine for even a short period provides a great opportunity to reflect, consider new ideas, and get those creative juices flowing. A workcation helps you tune-in to the world around you rather than just going through the motions.
Deeper Immersion: By basing yourself in a location for a longer period, you can pretend to be a local and discover hidden gems, attend time-bound exhibits, and experience a city beyond typical tourist routes.
Flexibility and Efficiency: Workcations allow for flexibility to explore cities in bite-sized chunks before or after work, and on weekends, maximizing travel without cutting into vacation days. Getting up early is a useful strategy to enjoy iconic spots without crowds especially if you are visiting a place popular with tourists.

In essence, workcations are about integrating travel into your working life in a convenient way. They are about being intentional with your time and resources and creatively opening yourself up to new experiences.