Best cities for work and travel

Home might be where the heart is. But your wandering feet are craving more.

Your day dreams are filled with future you working and travelling in an entirely different country - but there's one part you haven't nailed down yet. Where exactly are you going?

Is it Parisian nights wandering the boulevards, the addictive energy of NYC or the adventure playground of New Zealand's Queenstown. This blog is here to inspire and help you get to the bottom of where your work and tarvel plans will take you.

Table of contents

1. Best cities for work
2. London, England
3. Paris, France
4. New York City, USA
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Singapore
7. Dubai, UAE
8. San Francisco, USA
9. Barcelona, Spain
10. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
11. Sydney, Australia
12. Melbourne, Australia
13. Queenstown, New Zealand
14. Seoul, South Korea
15. Rome, Italy
16. Madrid, Spain
17. Berlin, Germany
18. Los Angeles, California
19. Chicago, Illinois
20. Washington D.C., USA
21. Beijing, China

Best cities for work

In this big wide world, there are plenty of incredible places to tick off your ‘to visit’ list, each one with its own unique landmarks and culture to explore. But there’s only so much you can do and see during a holiday. If you’ve got a thirst for adventure that can’t be quenched during your average seven-day stay, why not do a working holiday?

Working in another country gives you the chance to not only explore a new destination but to experience all it has to offer. You can immerse yourself in a new way of life, get to know your new local area and meet new people, even making friends along the way. It’s a real life-enriching experience - one that will stick with you forever.

So let's get stuck into the WHERE...

What makes London so appealing?

London is a lively, diverse city with something for everyone, making it a great destination for a working holiday. Whether you’re into history, culture, food, or nightlife, London’s got it all. You can explore iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the Tower of London on your days off, while enjoying a buzzing social scene and making friends from all over the world. The city’s job market is huge, offering lots of opportunities to meet different skill sets - it’s easy to see why so many people intern in the UK, especially in London. In fact, over 300,000 UK work visas were granted in 2023, with many lucky recipients likely heading to the capital.

Paris, France

The city of love - and one of the best cities for work in Europe. Paris is a top pick for working holidays because it offers a perfect mix of work and play. There are lots of opportunities in Paris, especially in hospitality - think hotels, restaurants and cafes. There are also plenty of parents looking for live-in au pairs to take care of their children and homes during the working week. Outside working hours, there’s a lot to do - Paris is full of charm with its stunning architecture, world-class museums, and cosy cafes. With so much to enjoy, it won’t take you long to settle into the Parisian lifestyle.

New York City, USA

There’s no doubt that New York is one of the world’s best cities for work. The backdrop to a million and one movies and TV shows, even if you’ve never been, you probably feel like you have. But trust us, if you live there, you’ll find a whole new world that goes beyond the tourist spots and movie clichés and you’ll never want to leave. Getting a working visa in the USA can be a pretty complex process but it’s absolutely worth it. And in the city that never sleeps, job opportunities aren’t exactly hard to come by.

Tokyo, Japan

The city of Tokyo is like no other! Tokyo offers vibrant, high-energy city life, full of opportunities for unique cultural experiences. There’s a huge range of work options, too, with teaching English being a particularly popular form of work in Japan for UK nationals. The city’s got something for everyone, whether you’re into exploring historic temples or enjoying modern vibes in places like Shibuya. Plus, with amazing food, endless shopping, and super-efficient public transport, living and working in Tokyo is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Singapore

Singapore is an increasingly popular spot for working holidays. The city is lively and with plenty to see and do - it’s also pretty newbie-friendly, since it’s super easy to get around and English is widely spoken by its residents. There’s lots of full and part-time work opportunities available, whether that’s teaching English, working in hospitality or working in tourism. Overall, Singapore is both an exciting and comfortable place, with a rich culture to immerse yourself in - easy to see why it’s such an up-and-coming hotspot for working holidays, and considered one of the best cities for work overall.

Dubai, UAE

Travellers from the UK have been flocking to Dubai over the last few years, since the UAE capital offers the perfect combo of adventure and opportunity. This is a city buzzing with energy, with incredible modern architecture and endless things to do. If you’re looking to work while soaking up the sun, there are plenty of jobs in hospitality, tourism, retail and events management to choose from, thanks to Dubai’s booming economy and consistent influx of visitors. Plus, away from work, you get to immerse yourself in Dubai’s unique culture, exploring its futuristic landscape and lively nightlife.

San Francisco, USA

San Francisco is the tech culture capital of the world, making it the perfect place to take a working holiday if you’re searching for work experience in the tech or software engineering space. While internships in San Francisco’s world-famous Silicon Valley aren’t exactly easy to come by, some companies are willing to allow international students to learn as they work. But, keep in mind, these vacancies are extremely competitive. Still, the lucky ones who can secure a working holiday in San Francisco will get to experience the epitome of the metropolitan West Coast lifestyle in a city that’s electric, vibrant and full of life.

Barcelona, Spain

Opportunities to work and travel in Barcelona are most often open to international students and ‘digital nomads’ - professionals who can work remotely from anywhere in the world. If you’re one of the lucky ones who fit this description and you’re hungry to experience one of the world’s biggest cultural hubs, Barcelona could be one of the best cities for work for you. With art galleries, museums and world-famous architecture, there’s so much to see and do. You’ll never want to leave.

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Amsterdam might have a bit of a reputation for being a party capital but it’s also an excellent place to live. Residents of Amsterdam enjoy a surprisingly calm pace of life in comparison to other major European cities. This city boasts beautiful canals and architecture, as well as its famous nightlife. Its popularity as a tourist destination means there are lots of job opportunities for seasonal work, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants hiring new staff regularly.

Sydney, Australia

Sydney has been a popular destination for working holidays for as long as people have been taking them! It’s one of the world’s most exciting cities, featuring a bustling city centre, miles of incredible coastline (including the famous Bondi Beach) and iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. Best of all, thanks to Sydney’s long-running popularity for working holidays, it’s easier than ever to work in Australia for a while.

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a little bit like Sydney’s cool, alternative cousin - it’s easily one of the best cities for work and play. This eclectic city has a hangout spot to suit everyone, whether you like a grungy music venue or a swanky rooftop bar. There’s plenty to explore with oddities and eccentricities around every corner, with many of its old industrial buildings modernised and repurposed. Melbourne has a thriving population of 18 to 30-year-olds, so it’s a vibrant, social city. Once you’re finished with work for the day, you’ll be spoilt for choice deciding how to spend your free time.

Queenstown, New Zealand

The capital of extreme sports, Queenstown is the perfect working holiday destination for thrillseekers and adventurous types! Queenstown is a bustling town full of opportunities for socialising, entertainment and experiencing the local culture. It’s also a stone’s throw from some of the most incredible natural landscapes on the planet. Since Queenstown itself is so vast and varied, there are plenty of different work opportunities to suit different types of travellers looking to work in New Zealand.

Seoul, South Korea

The South Korean capital, Seoul is one of the countries most exciting cities for work in South Korea Taking a working holiday in Seoul allows you to immerse yourself in a unique culture, where there’s a world of exciting new food, places and events to discover. Taking a working holiday as an English teacher in Seoul is also surprisingly accessible - you don’t generally need a degree to do this, as long as you meet other eligibility requirements.

Rome, Italy

It’s no secret that Rome is one of Europe’s most beautiful and historic cities. Rome is a paradise for those looking to experience life the Italian way, packed full of award-winning restaurants and bars, all set amongst some of the world’s most interesting architecture. Rome is a bustling city, where you’re never short for anything to do and see outside of working hours. There’s plenty of job opportunities in Rome, too, from working within its booming tourism sector, working in hospitality or becoming a live-in au pair.

Madrid, Spain

Working in Madrid is a great opportunity to experience the very best that Spain has to offer. From year-round sunshine to Spain’s famous commitment to hitting the perfect work-life balance, life in Madrid offers so many benefits to those looking to do a working holiday. Madrid one of Spain’s most well-connected cities, giving you plenty of opportunity to explore all that Spain has to offer in your free time. But with all the rich culture, vast beaches and exciting events to soak in across Madrid alone, you’ll never want to leave.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s vibrant, laidback vibe has been attracting millions of tourists each year for decades. But if you want to really immerse yourself in life in this city, a working holiday is the best way to do it. Not only is Berlin one of the best cities for work - between jobs in tourism, hospitality and education, there’s always something to suit your skillset - but there’s a huge focus on quality of life in the German capital. There’s eclectic nightlife, historic landmarks and some of the world’s most famous delicacies to be discovered in award-winning spots across the city. It’s also fairly affordable to live in Berlin in comparison to certain other major Eurpean cities.

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles is one of the world’s most iconic cities. Home of Hollywood, Venice Beach and buzzing with preparations and excitement for the upcoming 2028 Olympics, LA has so much to offer its working visitors. It’s full of incredible landmarks to see during the day, legendary nightlife and plenty of work opportunities to suit all skillsets. Getting your US working visa might be more challenging than it is in some other countries but it’s worth the effort all the way.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a great spot for a working holiday because it’s got a little bit of everything—big city vibes but with a friendly Midwest charm. You can find all sorts of work in Chicago, especially in hospitality, retail, and tourism. If you’re happy serving, bartending, or working in some of the city’s coolest shops, you’re in luck. Plus, Chicago’s home to a ton of festivals, events, and outdoor activities, especially in the summer, so you’ll never be bored when you’re off the clock. Whether you want to explore the artsy neighborhoods, hang out by Lake Michigan, or dive into the local food scene, there’s plenty to keep you entertained in this part of the US.

Washington D.C., USA

Washington is the capital city of the USA, and one of the world’s best cities for work - as you can imagine, there’s plenty on offer to visitors. If you want to see the very best of Washington and more, taking a working holiday is the absolute best way to do it. Like with a lot of US cities, the hardest part about finding work in Washington is actually getting your visa - once that’s sorted, there are plenty of jobs up for grabs in a range of industries.

Beijing, China

Beijing is a working holiday hotspot, with thousands of UK nationals applying to work in Beijing annually. This is definitely in part because of the wide availability of English teaching jobs in the city, as well as the opportunities for rich cultural experiences. But there’s lots more to love about Beijing. It’s a city where thousands of years of history meets a booming economy and ever-changing modern landscape, so it’s full of things to see and experience. Spend a few months, even a year, in the city and you’ll have plenty of chance to really immerse yourself in the Chinese culture - and yet you’ll probably be itching to go back for more.

Now you've taken all that in it's time for the hardest part - decision time. HOT TIP: Don't do one working holiday so the choice is easier. When you're ready to make the next step, browse JENZA's working holiday experiences to see if there's a travel match.