Top 10 Cities in Europe for Disabled Travelers - Wolters World
video description
Europe in general is not great for reduced mobility access, but getting better.
Metros are usually not easy to enter/exit, unless you are lucky to use stations with elevators to the platforms, which Milan is suprisenly very good. London, Rome and Paris usually require stairs to the Metro trains. Busses are also not so good due to the high step. Regular fast trains are usually ok if you request assistance and only involve a few steps to board. The newer trams are also pretty good since the tram floor is usually close to the street level upon access, so places like Zurich and most Northern European cities have made an effort in this regard. And most museums and newer buildings have some special access only need to find the right employee to guide you accordingly. I live in Italy and the only real challange is using ferrys without elevators as well as places with specific terrain like Amalfi coast or Venice. Mind you I do not use a wheelchair and can walk well on flat surfaces, only steps is a concern so not sure if I fully qualify to answer everyones concerns. If you have reduced mobility and want to come to Europe, maybe stick to the North as Italy, Greece and most of Spain would require extra planning, but is well worth the visit as it offers so much as we all know. I see folks with wheelchairs all the time pretty much all over Europe just be prepared to possibly exclude certain sights if needed.
There is a website with detailed special travel sagetraveling. com I believe could provide helpful tips.
Date: 2022-02-04
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Comments and reviews: 9
alphadawgxx
I honestly couldn't disagree with you more about #2. Of all the places I've traveled, London is the least accessible. It was also the place where I got faced the most discrimination for being young and disabled. It's a NIGHTMARE and I only go there when I absolutely have to. Very few of the tube stations are accessible and even the ones that are, getting on and off is damn near impossible. I was literally shoved to the ground on two separate occasions because I took too long getting in.
And if it were just me, I'd write it off as having a bad experience. But I know multiple people who were living in London and had to move because it's not just inaccessible to tourists, but also to the locals. And that's what it comes down to. The tourist sites can't measure accessibility alone. Until a disabled person can function properly and be treated as a human being while using every day essentials in the city, it can't be viewed as being accessible.
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I honestly couldn't disagree with you more about #2. Of all the places I've traveled, London is the least accessible. It was also the place where I got faced the most discrimination for being young and disabled. It's a NIGHTMARE and I only go there when I absolutely have to. Very few of the tube stations are accessible and even the ones that are, getting on and off is damn near impossible. I was literally shoved to the ground on two separate occasions because I took too long getting in.
And if it were just me, I'd write it off as having a bad experience. But I know multiple people who were living in London and had to move because it's not just inaccessible to tourists, but also to the locals. And that's what it comes down to. The tourist sites can't measure accessibility alone. Until a disabled person can function properly and be treated as a human being while using every day essentials in the city, it can't be viewed as being accessible.
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stephen761
Thank you so much for your videos I m learning so much. I am a disabled man in my 50's worked all my life to the point it screwed my health up. While I can still walk with out assistance, I can't make extended walks. That being said I would like to travel now that I have the time to do that, and living on disability I will be saving up to do my traveling more then likely about 2 years to afford my first trip. My parents years ago used a tour group travel, I am thinking that may be the best way for me to go. Any suggestions on a trip to England?
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Thank you so much for your videos I m learning so much. I am a disabled man in my 50's worked all my life to the point it screwed my health up. While I can still walk with out assistance, I can't make extended walks. That being said I would like to travel now that I have the time to do that, and living on disability I will be saving up to do my traveling more then likely about 2 years to afford my first trip. My parents years ago used a tour group travel, I am thinking that may be the best way for me to go. Any suggestions on a trip to England?
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Helle
I'm in a wheelchair since 1998, and already been two times in Barcelona (2016 and 2017.
Well, it's the most accessible city of all!
Almost all the metro's are wheelchair adapted.
We are going next year to Paris, and I've already seen that I can't use the metro.
So this time, it's going to be with the bus.
Almost everything is accessible in Barcelona, even the high places like Parc Guell, Monjuic, Tibidabo.
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I'm in a wheelchair since 1998, and already been two times in Barcelona (2016 and 2017.
Well, it's the most accessible city of all!
Almost all the metro's are wheelchair adapted.
We are going next year to Paris, and I've already seen that I can't use the metro.
So this time, it's going to be with the bus.
Almost everything is accessible in Barcelona, even the high places like Parc Guell, Monjuic, Tibidabo.
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MarkoRollo
honestly the problem im having with this video is youre not a wheelchair user you cant really judge access unless youre the one accessing (or not) it in a wheelchair, even if you travel with a wheelchair user its just not the same.
Having said that, nice to see a Polish city on the list, im English but my Grandmother was Polish, thought about going a few times.
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honestly the problem im having with this video is youre not a wheelchair user you cant really judge access unless youre the one accessing (or not) it in a wheelchair, even if you travel with a wheelchair user its just not the same.
Having said that, nice to see a Polish city on the list, im English but my Grandmother was Polish, thought about going a few times.
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Wendy
Lisbon's cobble stones were horrible on crutches in the rain. They are actually really slippery. I did fine in Munich with crutches. Madrid Spain was wonderful. Check out a company called accessible Madrid. Rome was fine we did a day long gulf cart tour with a company called My Best Tours and I walked to sights we wanted to go back to in following days we were there.
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Lisbon's cobble stones were horrible on crutches in the rain. They are actually really slippery. I did fine in Munich with crutches. Madrid Spain was wonderful. Check out a company called accessible Madrid. Rome was fine we did a day long gulf cart tour with a company called My Best Tours and I walked to sights we wanted to go back to in following days we were there.
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Laura
Thank you. No one talks about this. I can't even go to Asia because it's illegal to eat with your left hand in Malaysia and I'm left-handed. So Asia is out. I'm left-handed Asperger syndrome really bad rheumatoid arthritis period And I can't see very well periods that I can travel with a companion really well Asia would be the worst because they came discriminatory.
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Thank you. No one talks about this. I can't even go to Asia because it's illegal to eat with your left hand in Malaysia and I'm left-handed. So Asia is out. I'm left-handed Asperger syndrome really bad rheumatoid arthritis period And I can't see very well periods that I can travel with a companion really well Asia would be the worst because they came discriminatory.
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Grant
A city which always seems to be missed is ROTTERDAM in the Netherlands. It's ultra accessible due to it being very modern. After it was heavily bombed during World War 2 they have been rebuilding it ever since and continue. I've been so many times and I love it there and it's ideal for my wheelchair!
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A city which always seems to be missed is ROTTERDAM in the Netherlands. It's ultra accessible due to it being very modern. After it was heavily bombed during World War 2 they have been rebuilding it ever since and continue. I've been so many times and I love it there and it's ideal for my wheelchair!
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Carrie
Cobblestones are very even! Take a wheelchair ride over some cobblestones, any cobblestones. You really have no idea what you are saying if you think cobblestones are accessible. Seriously. Makes me wonder if you have any idea of what accessibility really is.
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Cobblestones are very even! Take a wheelchair ride over some cobblestones, any cobblestones. You really have no idea what you are saying if you think cobblestones are accessible. Seriously. Makes me wonder if you have any idea of what accessibility really is.
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Scott
Thank you for your helpful videos and for addressing this important topic. Naturally, everyone has different experiences and opinions but the sum total of your insights as well as those who respond with comments is of great benefit. Keep up the great work!
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Thank you for your helpful videos and for addressing this important topic. Naturally, everyone has different experiences and opinions but the sum total of your insights as well as those who respond with comments is of great benefit. Keep up the great work!
reply
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