Bangkok has been named the world's best city for a workcation in the fourth edition of the International Workplace Group's (IWG) Work from Anywhere Index. The Thai capital surpassed last year's winner Tokyo to claim the top spot, with a score of 100 in the annual ranking that assesses how well cities support remote working while travelling.

According to the index, published by IWG, the global top 10 is completed by Tokyo, Barcelona, Porto, Budapest, Naples, Medellin, Lisbon and Seoulcher. The index evaluates cities on criteria including broadband speed and quality, accommodation, transport, climate, culture and the availability of flexible workspaces.

Asia's top performers

Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are among the Asian cities recognised in this year's rankings. Singapore places 17th globally and fourth among Asian cities, while Kuala Lumpur is a new entrant at 32nd overall. Mumbai also features on the list, ranked 50th among Asian cities.

Other Asian cities included in the index are Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, Manila, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, reflecting the region's growing prominence in flexible working and workcation trends.

Work-from-anywhere momentum

IWG's research, based on responses from 2,000 hybrid office workers in the UK and US, found that 90% say working remotely on holiday has improved their work-life balance ticket, and 80% say it has improved their productivity. The same proportion said a work-from-anywhere policy would make a new job more attractive, while 62% would consider changing jobs for a better policy.

Almost half (48%) of respondents plan to extend a holiday by working remotely in 2026, with 46% saying they are more likely to do so than last year. More than four in ten (43%) have already worked remotely from a holiday destination without taking annual leave.

Motivations for combining work with travel include wellbeing (54%), spending time with family and friends (53%), making annual leave go further (52%) and cost of living (51%).

Reliable Wi-Fi was the top practical consideration, selected by 38% of workers, while 12% cited accommodation, food and transport costs. Nearly half (46%) said they would be more likely to extend a trip if travel and accommodation were more affordable, and 44% would be encouraged if remote work did not affect how their work is perceived. Clearer employer guidance was cited as a factor by 39%.

A growing trend

Mark Dixon, Founder and Executive Chairman of IWG, said the shift towards hybrid and flexible working is enabling more people to combine work with travel. The company, which operates more than 5,000 flexible workspace locations globally, has seen demand for workcations grow as employees seek greater autonomy over where they work.

Mumbai's inclusion in the index reflects the expansion of India's flexible workspace sector. According to a report from real estate consultancy Cushman & Wakefield, India scored the highest on a flexible workspace maturity index, ahead of the UK, France and the US. The country's flexible office stock across Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad stood at around 100 million square feet as of the second quarter of 2025, with further growth expected in 2026.

IWG's research also highlights the role work-from-anywhere policies play in recruitment and retention. A majority of workers surveyed said they would be more attracted to a new job offering such a policy, and nearly two-thirds would consider changing jobs for one. The findings underline how hybrid working continues to reshape both travel and employment decisions.