Top 10 Cities in Europe for Disabled Travelers

Best Combination of Accessibility & Tourist Sites Top 10.
Thank you to all the people that wrote in and requested this video. I hope it gives you some great travel ideas.
The 10 best cities to visit in Europe if you have limited mobility. Munich, London, Paris, Berlin, Salzburg, Stockholm, Avila, Barcelona, Ljubljana, Krakow are my recommendations for the best towns to visit if you do have limited mobility.
Filmed in Lisbon, Portugal
Copyright Mark Wolters 2013

[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.

[noorvilkitskii]

I have a visual disability and I travelled this summer to Sweden on my own.
I directly noticed that Sweden is very accessible.

[ThunderBolt_Wheelz]

Funny because as a french myself I would say Paris is one of the LESS accessible cities I've been in : if there is another wheelchair user in a bus, you can't get in. You can't get in 95 % of metro stations by yourself 30% of stations are accessible with staff assistance but you have to book 48 hours in advance and, don't be late or change tour plan ! 50% of local city train to go to or from suburbs (R.E.R ) have an elevator, half of it is always on maintenance...

So yes if you have enough money to travel the city in taxi from one museum to another, Paris would be perfectly fine ... Entering in a restaurant or small shop will be quite tricky if you can't afford luxury places on Champs-Elysées...

[woltersworld]

You are very welcome and thank you for all of your great advice and insight and tips. It meant a lot and I hope the video will help travelers enjoy their trips to Europe even more. big hug.
mark

[svartmetall]

In Sweden, it has been law for a long time that every bathroom (for example) has to be large enough for a wheelchair. Therefore all bathrooms even in private apartments must tailor to wheelchairs. All metro stations in Stockholm have elevators, and all metro trains have step-free boarding not only for wheelchairs, but for pushchairs (strollers) too. All buses are step-free with disabled access (ramps at the rear or middle doors on the articulated buses and a button you push to alert the driver to give you assistance on the side of the bus). All pushchairs and wheelchairs do not pay to use the bus in Stockholm. The light rail line, the Tvärbanan that does a circle around the city is also fully step-free for wheelchairs and pushchairs. 

If anyone wants help getting around Stockholm (or Sweden) or advice on that I'm willing to give help. =)

[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.

[grantsmith]

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!

[chevychase]

St Petersburg Russia is the worst for disabled visitors. There are almost no elevators in the entire city. I asked where I could go that had an elevator and they laughed at me. They think you’re lazy if you need a wheelchair.

[scottm]

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!

[FrancePortugalTraductions]

Paris is an accessible city?? Give me a break!

[grannybooster]

There are some good take-aways from this video. Nice work.

[CarrieJLHickman]

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.

[conniesanderson]

In your opinion what countries would be doable for a solo 74 yr old woman with limited walking mobility? Are there restrooms on every corner? Do they have rentable three wheeled motor scooters?

[Beun]

Vienna is another city which is really wheelchair friendly...

[wendyslaby]

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.

[woltersworld]

I wish I did. I am usually traveling with work. but great to travel.

[frankcrispi]

I have problems with stairs and have lived/worked in almost all the Euro capitals.
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 everyone’s 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.

[nance]

I'd like to see an updated version of this subject. Maybe include comments about each EU country and UK countries as well.

[edwardrivera]

went searching for this topic and wow ! 11 years ago ! baller for making this way back when. Is there an updated version ? I'm looking for a beachtown that my partner can easily cycle around without walking long distances or going up or down many stairs

[stephen]

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?