Help Needed: Best destinations for people with intellectual disabilities

I'm betting there are organizations that run tours for people like your brother, do some google.

What about any country with Alps? Do you hike? Hiking with majestic views, gondolas, trains....just beautiful!

Maybe take a look at The Man in Seat 61's recommended Great Train Journeys:
https://www.seat61.com/index.html
I agree with the suggestion for the Alps. Loads of gondolas and funiculars and other ways to get around and just see stuff. Also, look for treetop walks. It doesn't sound like a he's a huge fan of walking, but these can be very cool.
I would also suggest that when you're planning a trip to city with any type of public transit, there's usually a route or two that folks (sometimes even Rick Steves) recommend as a cheap tour. I have done this in Amsterdam, London and Oslo. No commentary, lots of scenery, minimal cost.

My first two thoughts are Italy or the Netherlands as both are very accessible by train. You could base in any number of small towns and train to others in either country, but the Netherlands might be more approachable. You could also take smaller boat tours on the canals.

I think the prior posters idea of looking at some of the trips with the man in seat 61 is brilliant too. He also has some youtube vidoes of certain longer trips that could give you a good idea if it would suit, or be too long etc.

How about a day cruise through the Upper Mid Rhine Valley between Rüdesheim / Bingen and Koblenz with castles around (link)? And I think there are more interesting things to find around Cologne.

Another idea would be Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg? It is one of the most beloved tourist destinations in Germany. Also in Hamburg is the option of a harbor cruise through the city and some very big ships. Another day with good and calm weather a boat trip to Helgoland island can be enjoyable for him. Does he like zoos? Hamburg has a good one.

The Harz mountains offer very nice landscapes with hikes and nature experience, old towns such as Goslar and a ride with steam engine train to Mt. Brocken.

Bird park Walsrode and fun park Heide Park Soltau are located between Hamburg and Harz mountain area.

In general open air museums, but those with activities. In the Netherlands those of Enkhuizen and Arnhem where you can also see demonstrations of old crafts like forging steel or cheese making. You can combine Enkhuizen with a ride on a steam train and take the old ferry to Medemblik. Further Zaanse Schans, most of the time the windmills are at work like sawing wood, where you can look inside. Kinderdijk with it's windmills, no idea if they are working too, think most of the time not, you have to check this out. To reach with the waterbus from Rotterdam. The traditional cheese market in Alkmaar.

All these places are within easy / reasonable reach from eachother.

https://www.openluchtmuseum.nl/?taal=en
https://www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl/?lang=en
https://www.kaasmarkt.nl/en-gb

In 2023, we based ourselves in Edinburgh, and took three Rabbie's tours to see other parts of Scotland. The tours we chose were heavy on scenery, with a few castles thrown in. This might be a good fit for your brother.

https://www.rabbies.com/en-gb/tours/scotland/from-edinburgh

I love Miniatur Wunderland as suggested above, but wanted to mention it can be incredibly crowded and could be sensory overload depending on your brother's tolerences. If you like Hamburg as an option, the Maritime Museum (I know - no museums!) has incredible displays of model ships if this is something he might enjoy as a different activity from boat tours. Quieter environment. Obviously, this would depend on his interests.

I was thinking Switzerland or Bavarian Alps. Neuschwanstein Castle views when hiking?

If it’s the Netherlands, and you go in the Spring, don’t forget Keukenhof. Also, the Veluwe National Park is wonderful.

I think the Scottish Highlands would be brilliant, and specifically the Isle of Skye. Highland Games would also be terrific, I'd think. Sounds like kinetic and scenic activities might be the most enjoyable for your brother.

I’m not certain I understand the limitations but would a cruise work for your brother? Nothing intellectual but many varied activities to choose from and very little stress. And people are usually quite friendly. Perhaps the fjords or Alaska, which is a beautiful cruise with many opportunities to enjoy nature. Holland America caters to an older clientele which might be amenable to your needs…no raucous partying. Good luck

My first thought was Switzerland. For example, the Berner Oberland and Lucerne offer trains, boats, cable cars, great views, and easy hikes. The open air museum on Lake Brienz might be of interest. The transportation museum in Lucerne might also work, as you can get on the trains, etc.

The suggestions above also sound promising.

We travel with our son who has Downs Syndrome every year. He loves the HOHO tours as well as boat rides where the sell beer. He loves doing the cruise on the Rhine from Bacharach to St. Goar. He also enjoyed the Rhine Falls boat trip. Many German cities have rivers and one hour or more boat trips. Our son also enjoys train trips where he sits by the window. We also get hotels that have indoor pools where he can get a swim in sometimes. We try to find restaurants that have foods he enjoys as well. Our son is very structured and that makes traveling interesting at times. He takes his DVD player along with DVDs that are his favorites. We also load his favorite music on his phone. Germany and Belgium (Ghent) are places he enjoys. Ghent has outdoor music and entertainment going on on weekends. He is not entertained by castles or palaces.

My husband reminded me that Joel enjoyed Normandy (walking on and by the beaches) even though he didn't understand the history. He also enjoyed Paris where we rode the HOHO boat ride. He enjoys the city markets in all the cities where he picked out a few treats to enjoy. Joel loved the Spanish Riding School where we watched the lipizzaner horses practice in Vienna.

You’ve gotten a lot of great ideas to sift through! I am often (once or twice a year) in Budapest, so thinking through that:

Budapest has an open top HOHO bus (I’ve not ridden it); the lovely easy-to-ride tram system all over the city that you can get on and off of with a pass; City Park with Hero’s Square; Margit Island (lighted fountain show at night, small zoo); the river running through town with nice walkways; the zoo; boat trips to other towns (in season); Széchenyi Thermal Bath (and others but this one was easy); and of course train trips to other towns but I have only been to Gyor. While there ARE museums, you never have to set foot in one to have lots to do and see. It’s can be a full week easily.