Best cities to visit for the mobility challenged tourist.

Do you plan to walk around during your visit, or use a scooter or other device? Are you comfortable using public transportation? Are stairs a problem?

Here is an article by RS on accessible travel in Europe. https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travelers-with-disabilities

Berlin is known for its widely flat landscape, esp. in Marathon runner circles. See also the special web page "Accessible Berlin".

Other places are Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Bremen and Aarhus.

To concentrate on how flat the landscape is, might be a gross over simplification of the challenges. Challenges are specific to the individual and this may or may not be the right place to have those discussions.

I would suggest that you select a few places that interest you, then search for guides or resident experts and see if a plan can be developed that will fit your limitations and still provide a great experience.

I spent 40+ years designing for accessibility and I really believe that most places have a solution if you have someone who knows what to look for. No reason you cant have an amazing time.

do try to have a look at possible routes on Streetview and see if there are kerb cuts, tactile paving, low level crossing buttons, etc. if you need those.

These are by no means a given. I was in London yesterday and had forgotten how many crossings are well back from the corners and no kerb cuts on the corners only on the mid block crossing.

But accessibility is such a personal thing it is easy to answer questions from one's own experiences not knowing the needs of the other.

Another thing is public transport. If you have a mobility aid such as needs the rear disabled door and ramp on a London Bus or the Tube it must be registered with TfL and they will accompany you on your first trip and explain what you need to know. The ramp routine is a bit convoluted for example.

Nigel you understand perfectly. Its why i said its helpful to have someone local to help plan it.

If it’s just that one tires easily from walking but otherwise can do a few step, etc., then thats one set of options. If one has more severe limitations then thats another set of options.

I have scoped out routes in Budapest for people twice over the years. But it took quite a while to plan. Which metro stations have elevators or escalators, which bus routes have the bus with the ramp (and how to get the driver to lower it), which tram stops are up on curbs and which not. Distances between tourist stops and cafes along the way to make it an enjoyable trip. Oh and restrooms (WC) is a whole different experience in Europe.

For Europeans that dont know, in the US we have something called the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which now pretty much ensures that regardless of your disability you have equal access to everything and every place that person with no disabilities has. And, by definition, it generally means without the assistance of others. That means every front door to every store is flush with the walkway and every restroom is on the ground floor and you can get a wheel chair in and out of it. Two concepts practically non-existent in Europe.

I ran across this. These guys worked it out in advance (read towards the bottom). https://www.freetour.com/budapest/free-tour-of-budapest If not Budapest its the sort of tour you might want to look for. The nature of it being wheelchair accessible means it flat and no steps. Well, there will be steps, this is Europe, but single or double at most.

Its 3km of walking over a period of 2.5 hours That in American is about 1 and 3/4 miles. A healthy person can walk that in about 30 minutes. Someone moving slow like me might need and hour. So in the 2.5 hour tour you are walking something less than half the time.

That organization identifies quite a few tours that are listed for limited mobility. Just do realize while in the US that means with no outside help, over here people are expected to and will help and it will be necessary from time to time.

I’m not sure if you would be interested in an additional mobility device or if you are traveling with someone that can push you in a wheelchair but here is what we have done in order to continue traveling.
My husband had a medical condition that spiraled into other problems and now he has walking issues. He uses a walker at home and when out doing other activities where he can walk slowly and short distances. In order to continue traveling in Europe we knew he would never be able to go very far with his slow speed and fatigue.

We purchased a combination wheelchair/walker from amazon and last December we went to London. He could get around with the walker in our hotel and in restaurants and museums but to move around the city I pushed him in the wheelchair. London is fairly flat, sidewalks are smooth (no cobblestones) and has quite a few curb cuts. There were stores and restaurants that had some steps but he could navigate these and everyone was exceptionally helpful. We were able to go to museums, concerts, and joined several London Walks. At times he used this as a walker on level sidewalks and could stop and rest switching to the wheelchair as needed.

We did not use the buses and only a tube station with an elevator but using both would facilitate your movement throughout London. We did use taxis which worked very well for going further distances.
We enjoyed it so much and it went so well we plan to return.

We recently returned from a week in Reykjavík, sidewalks ok, a bit more hilly than London. We went on day trips with a bus touring company to see some of the countryside which worked well.

We hope to try going to additional cities using this device. So far I have been able to push him at times in the city and allow us to continue traveling. If you do not have a travel companion that is comfortable or able to assist then my advice may not be useful at all other than to report London was very manageable.

If however you can walk ok and step up on a bus, tram, or train then there are other cities that are fairly flat and we have traveled with my husband using a cane and public transportation. In 2023 he was able to walk short distances using a cane for stability and we visited Amsterdam. The tram (one step up) can take you fairly close to museums and they all provided free wheelchairs within the museums. We took the train to The Hague, again a tram can get you closer to the museums, and they also provide free wheelchairs. Next we went by train to Rotterdam and there is a tram stop right outside the train station to use to explore the city.

We also went to Vienna and using public transportation we could get to sights in the city and the museums had wheelchairs. If you are able to safely use escalators then metro or underground systems can move you around these cities reducing your walking time. These are the places we’ve been with mobility issues, in our previous travels he had no health problems so I’m not as confident with recommendations for ease of travel within other cities. I think I was too busy sightseeing to note the amount of steps or other issues.

If you don't use a cane for walking you may still find it useful when traveling for the stability it provides when navigating an unfamiliar area. Wheelchairs in museums can help with reducing fatigue and allow you more time exploring than only using a cane

We went to London two months after I had fractured my back and was still using a walker and a cane and we had no problems. I even made it into the Tower of London which I admit was a bit of a struggle but took my time and we managed. We did use a taxi quite a bit but also a few bus trips and several train rides wth no problems. We used a lightweight walker and I wish we had taken one with a seat because some distances were tiring such as Hampton Court. The English people were super gracious helping us off and on buses or giving up their seat or even carrying my food tray. We did not find so much of that at home sorry to say. Yes the ADA has been wonderful in lots of aspects but unfortunately not every restaurant where we live seems to be compliant with restrooms. Although I still need a cane we have been all over here and abroad. . Please keep on traveling believe me you can do it.

Most European countries have something similar to the ADA. Implementation levels vary, because, well, prosperity levels vary too.

In Switzerland public transit is generally accessible. When I moved to Switzerland in 2001 there was a guy in a wheelchair doing the same commute as I did, and he did it completely unassisted. The fact that in Switzerland you have no gates, and can board a vehicle at any door helps.

There are typically kerb cutouts at sidewalks. But in cities increasingly the room for cars is removed, which also improves acessability. And buildings are generally accessible as well.

Most European countries have something similar to the ADA.
Implementation levels vary, because, well, prosperity levels vary too.

The EU has the The European Accessibility Act. I had to study it for a project I had in Germany many years ago. It is based to a large degree on a totally different concept of definition of accessibility than is the US law. The expectations of 100% access without assistance that Americans have developed after having lived in a culture with the ADA are not going to be met in Europe. I can not think of a single restaurant, or retail or government office, not even an ATM machine, that I have ever encountered in Europe that would comply with the ADA. For all intents and purposes enforcement of the ADA is 100%.

WengenK, accessibility in the US on which an American tourist's expectations will be establsihed, isnt just about getting down the street. Every aspect of the built environment in the US has to be designed provide equal access as defined by the ADA. Cost does not provide an exception.

to the OP, pshapard13

I'm glad to have seen your post, and welcome to the Forums.

I hope that some of these answers have helped, but I will say that your question is very very broad soby necessity can't really be answered without a lot of guesswork.

The best was of getting answers for your particular needs is to enter a conversation. With just your only post to work from we don't know which parts of Europe - 2 or 3 dozen independent countries which all have different takes, all comprised of cities and rural which do things differently - attract you. Don't have any idea which part of the world you are from, so what your expectations might be. Don't know what restrictions you may have, or if you will travel solo. I see one "we" but don't know what we means.

Sorry to have so many questions but I'd like to answer your particular needs.

I've spoken of my wife's disability and about London but for all I know that info may have been useless.

Please tell us more.

I'm afraid that "We love food, wine, and sightseeing," could probably cover every country of Europe except maybe the far north. Even England now has award winning wines and champagnes.

Did you get everything you wanted on Wednesday and have now moved on?

Unfortunately, it really depends on whether you can go down steps and stairs and how far you can walk. While many big cities in Europe have some form of transportation for the disabled, there are often steps to exit the station or platform. And many older attractions are not accessible for wheelchairs. Castles are a big one.

I remember staying at a hotel in Austria that touted itself as handicap accessible, except there was a step to get into the entrance. Unfortunately Europeans are a bit behind America in disabled access and facilities.

That said if you can walk or go down steps, many of the big cities in Europe have buses that will get you around. London is probably your best bet. I have never rode the Paris buses but I have seen them.
I would definitely look at London and Germany, Belgium.