More and more cities are upping their game when it comes to becoming more accessible, from creating adapted cobblestone-free pavements to upgrading their hotel rooms with facilities for wheelchair users. Booking.com recently revealed the world's top cities for those travelling with a wheelchair. Read on to see which made the list.
Barcelona is considered to be one of the most accessible European cities for good reason. All buses and most metro stations are wheelchair-accessible making getting around more convenient. There are also adapted pavements and pedestrianised, tree-lined boulevards; even Ciutat Vella (Catalan for Old City) is cobblestone-free. Plus, major attractions like Park Güell and Casa Milà offer reduced mobility access, as well as the Sagrada Família, which also provides free entry to wheelchair-users.
If it's beach time you're after, the wheelchair-accessible promenade includes pathways down to the water, accessible changing facilities and a free assisted bathing service from June to September every year at the likes of Nova Icària and the Fòrum Bathing Area. Once you’ve soaked up all that Barcelona has to offer, rest easy at Hotel Casa Camper, Booking.com’s highest-rated accessible hotel in the city. Most of the rooms are wheelchair-friendly and two are specially adapted.
Seattle regularly claims the top spot as North America’s most accessible city. From taxis and buses to airport shuttles and ferries, you can expect comfortable rides with ramps, elevators and a Link Light Rail system, all of which are wheelchair-friendly. But its accessibility extends beyond its transport…
Many of Seattle's attractions are also accessible to wheelchair users. Head to the top of the Space Needle (the city’s iconic observation tower landmark), go on a boat trip around the islands of Puget Sound, where you might spot a whale, or board the 175-foot-tall (53m) Seattle Great Wheel. If you’ve time, there’s also the waterfront Pike Place Market and surrounding nature areas that are equipped with boardwalks and viewing platforms. Stay in downtown Seattle’s Hotel Ändra, whose accessible suites come complete with a roll-in shower.
Despite its narrow roads, cobbled pavements and a whole lot of tourists, London has been named one of the world’s most accessible cities, particularly when it comes to public transport. A quarter of the Tube’s stations have step-free access and you can plan your trip ahead of time using the TfL (Transport for London) website.
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The city’s buses and black cabs are all wheelchair-accessible, while many tourist attractions have ramps. The government is said to be working on new access laws which will require all tourist attractions to provide adequate wheelchair access. Stay in the heart of the action at the stylish Redchurch Townhouse in Soho, whose accessible features include wheelchair platform stairlifts and handrail-fitted bathrooms.
The German capital is well-equipped for wheelchair users, with wide, well-paved and flat pavements, and accessible public transport. If culture’s your bag, make a beeline to Museum Island, or stop off at the Reichstag. The imposing building’s 360-degree domed roof (pictured) is kitted out with a spiralling internal ramp, which also has resting points for manual wheelchairs.
There are also plenty of accessible hotels to choose from with many modern establishments featuring ramps, lifts and roll-in showers. The Wilde Aparthotels by Staycity, near Checkpoint Charlie, has an accessible room with an extra-large double bed and two sofa beds. The entire unit is wheelchair accessible and is one of the city's top-rated accessible hotels.
Singapore’s modernity is what earns the island country a place on this list, with well-maintained streets, dropped kerbs and smooth surfaces pretty much everywhere. Most tourist attractions are accessible, like the Singapore Cable Car, which takes you across the harbour to Sentosa Island. Of course, the iconic Gardens by the Bay is another must-see. This sustainable oasis is known for its high-tech ‘Supertrees’ (pictured), which are powered by solar panels and can collect and filter rainwater.
The city-state also has an efficient mass rail transit (MRT) system which is fully accessible with barrier-free access, and there are wheelchair-friendly taxis too. Wondering where to stay? The serviced suites at Pan Pacific Singapore are wheelchair accessible, as are the hotel's pool, fitness centre and lounge.
Absorb Vienna’s history to its fullest, thanks to its accessibility. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with smooth paths in place of clunky cobblestones. Dropped kerbs are also standard here. It’s easy to get around by tram, bus or metro with 95% of U-Bahn and S-Bahn stations completely accessible.
Many of the city's museums, galleries and attractions are wheelchair-friendly too. Don’t miss the Gustav Klimt masterpieces at the Belvedere Palace and Museum (pictured), or the jaw-dropping palaces of Schloss Schönbrunn and Hofburg. Complete your stay at the elegant and accessible Apartments Rooseveltplatz, with its upper floors accessible by lift.
Sydney is said to be one of the best places in the world for travellers with reduced mobility. There are barrier-free trains, buses and ferries with ramps. Museums, galleries and tourist sights have increasingly accessible options, with the Harbour Bridge recently installing lifts. Over on Bondi Beach you can rent beach wheelchairs and there’s a new ramp in the works which will improve access at the northern end.
Fancy seeing what else Sydney has to offer? Visit WheelEasy, a Sydney-based foundation whose website reviews attractions based on their accessibility. In terms of where to stay, choose from either end of the budget: The Darling's luxury, accessible suites offer incredible harbour vistas while the Sydney Harbour YHA is an accessible hostel with just-as-awesome rooftop views. As well as spacious rooms and handrail-friendly bathrooms, the kitchen also has wheelchair-friendly cooktops and facilities.