Venice hotel with physical disabilities

You don’t mention a price point. If money isn’t a concern highly recommend the Hotel Londra Palace. It is overlooking the lagoon and is next to the San Zaccharia vaporetto stop. There is an elevator and the staff is world class. We stayed twice and would return in a heartbeat. We did go in November which had a slight decrease in crowds.

Thank you for your reply. Is the hotel itself suitable for my sons disability? And is the immediate area easy for him to navigate (bridges with ramps etc.)?

This website has information about visiting Venice with disabilities, including hotel recommendations. I hope it will be useful in helping you find answers.

https://www.sagetraveling.com/Venice-Accessibility-Guide

There are no bridges with ramps in Venice--at least not any I've seen. The bridges over the little side canals will have at least 8 steps up and 8 steps down, often somewhat more. The (few) bridges over the Grand Canal have about 40 steps up and 40 steps down. It is entirely possible to plot the shortest walking path between two spots in Venice and then realize there are 5 or more bridges along the way. Zoom in on a Google map and look for the blue indicating water. Everywhere you see that, there's a bridge involved. Sometimes there's a good bit of walking even to get to the bridge.

You need to make a list of all the key sights you consider essential and "Save" each one on Google Maps (or mark on a paper map if you prefer). Take a look at how many canals would have to be crossed to reach each one from each potential hotel, or from a vaporetto stop you can reach from the stop near that hotel. Will your son be able to manage a vaporetto?

There's good vaporetto service to the San Zaccaria stop, but there's a bridge to cross between San Zaccaria and the Piazza San Marco, where the Basilica and the Doges Palace are located. That's the one area that every tourist in Venice wants to see. I see a few hotels in the area around Piazza San Marco, in locations that would give access to the piazza without needing to cross a bridge.

I love Venice, but it is probably Europe's toughest urban destination for someone with a walking/climbing disability. This might be the time to throw money at the problem and plan to see a lot of outdoor Venice by water taxi, if your son can manage to get into and out of the boat. I don't know how tricky that is, because I've never been in a water taxi. The vaporetti themselves are tricky enough for able-bodied people.

I was just in Venice. We actually discussed how difficult Venice would be for someone with physical disabilities. It is hard to go anywhere without encountering a bridge.

I recall one ramp. I believe it was where the Bridge of Sighs can be viewed. I think it crossed Rio Del Palazzo right by the lagoon. I think the "street" is called Riva Degli Schiavoni. Even there, I'm not sure you can cross over from the top of the ramp to the crest of the bridge to see the view of the Bridge of Sighs. Hope that makes sense.

The owner of our BnB gave us directions to get to his place without going over bridges. We had to get off at a specific Vaporetto stop. So, perhaps, with a combination of vaporettos and a map, or an experienced local, you could develop at least a few bridge free routes.

I agree with Acraven, probably the best location to stay is on or near Piazza San Marco. Be careful as you search for hotels, though, Our BnB's elevator did not go to the ground floor. He frequently gets water at ground zero (acqua alta) so it would be unsafe for an elevator.

There is a ramp at the San Zaccaria vaporetto stop, but I don't remember any others. There are things you can see in Venice without crossing bridges, but it will take a lot of planning.

Hotel Al Ponte Mocenigo is a lovely hotel that might work for your family. It is located at the San Stae vaporetto stop, just three stops from the train station. There are no bridges to cross to get to the hotel from the vaporetto stop. The hotel is a very short distance from the vaporetto stop, and there is one short step into the hotel lobby from the street. They also have several nice rooms on the ground floor (what US folks call the first floor) so no steps necessary there. Breakfast is served on that floor also. The hotel also has a water taxi landing, but it would be several steps to get from that landing into the hotel. I've stayed at this hotel several times and it has always been a great experience. (Others on this forum have also stayed there; you can put the hotel's name into the forum search bar for more reviews.) Also, there are several wonderful restaurants on the same street as the hotel that would be a very short walk, with no bridges. The hotel does book up many weeks in advance... Hope you all have a wonderful visit to Venice!

Upon further reflection, Jules and Jane are right; I remember a ramp on a bridge in that area. Now I'm wondering whether I've forgotten any others. I guess one could use the Satellite View on Google Maps to look at key bridges to see whether they have any ramps; if the photos/videos were taken recently, they should provide accurate guidance.

This article alludes to ramps: https://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/bridges-of-venice-accessible.htm but doesn't provide a list, which is what I was hoping for. I do recall multiple bridges with half-step options off to the side. I'm not sure they would be helpful in Scott's case, though.

When I Googled ramps on bridges Venice I got quite a few links that might include some helpful information:

Google results

The caution about the situation inside a hotel is important. Even in cities without the water issues of Venice, it's not rare at all to encounter elevator-equipped hotels in Europe where you must still walk up or down a flight of stairs. Repurposed historic buildings are a challenge.

This

probably Europe's toughest urban destination for someone with a walking/climbing disability

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions and observations. I am going to drill down carefully on appropriate hotels and the possibilities for him from that location. I am also considering Padua as an alternative. We live in Lisbon, which has its own issues with accessibility, so we are very careful about planning ahead.

Venetian water taxis involve a lot of climbing in and out, so, not suitable, I think - on the other hand, one enters the vaporetti level with the dock, and there are no steps. Padua is a nice idea.

We traveled to Venice a few years ago with my son, who, similarly to yours, has trouble with extensive stairs and longer distances. We travel with a special needs stroller for him.

Venice was totally fine as long as we planned ahead. There are ramps on several of the major bridges near the San Zaccaria stop as well as along the Zattere. There may be others, but these are the ones we traveled with the stroller. You can actually zoom in using Google maps/satellite view and see the ramps.

The vaporettos were our main mode of travel. The people working the boats will help with getting disabled people on and off; don't be afraid to ask for help. They will also show you where you can sit so that it will be accessible for your son.

I used Google maps every time we went anywhere so that I could plan our route to eliminate bridges with stairs. You won't be able to get everywhere in Venice, but you can get to lots of places.

We stayed in an apartment with an elevator along the Zattere, next to the Spirito Santo stop (I don't see it listed any more, unfortunately, although it looks like there are some hotels in the area). We found this to be a fantastic location and could travel with the stroller along the Zattere to eat, grocery shop, get gelato, all using the ramps along the walkway. We could also walk up the canals that feed into the Giudecca and walk plenty of places right from the apartment without doing any stairs. When we wanted to go farther in Venice, we'd use the vaporettos.

Good luck with your planning, and if you have other questions, feel free to ask!

I don't remember any level entries to vaporetti in Venice last month. There was always a significant step down; there's an employee stationed right at the entry point who will take your hand if you need help. Then as you leave the vaporetto, there's a significant step up. Again, there should be someone to help. It's common for the vaporetto to rise and drop a good bit due to water action.

Many of the seats on vaporetti are multiple steps down from the entry point. However, I'd assume other riders would make way for someone visibly in need of a quick stopping point. I'm not sure you can always count on scoring a seat without going down the stairs; others may be able to provide information about that.

We returned from Venice a few weeks ago. I’m an able bodied 75 year old who walks 3-6 miles per day. My first fall was in the Gritti Place Hotel, a very posh place with numerous one step up or down with dark floor, hard to see. My second was missing a step getting out of a water taxi (despite the driver helping, there was just too much movement). The third was the worst. Crossed a bridge and I was on the downside when my wife, behind me, shouted my name. Thinking something was wrong I spun around, caught my toe on the step and went down face forward. I was able to beak my fall but my hands were a mess. (She shouted my name to see the great view she had from the top of the bridge, bless her heart). We spent the next hour looking for a place with bandages and antiseptic. Venice is tough….

We absolutely LOVED Venice. We loved most of the locals. I do think, as I've seen other places, like CT, the locals tire of the crowds. All that to say, I wouldn't expect a lot of love from the locals on the vaporetti. I'm 64, with not the best of knees. I think I look about 64. I always was offered help on and off the vaporetto, as in given a hand by an employee, which I appreciated, especially when there was a gap or a step down. However, once on the vaporetto it felt like "every man for himself". I'm not tall. In the middle, there is nothing to hang on to. I would try to work myself to a side but would be given no leeway. Once when it was tightly packed, and we had luggage, and there was a large dog at my feet, a man asked to be let through to exit. Too bad he didn't make himself closer to the exit earlier. In any case, he told me to move, and I had no where to go. I asked the people by me to step aside, no one or the dog attempted to move. The man then shoved me with both hands out of the way. Somebody caught me, but no one said a thing. Like it was a normal happening. I was angry, my husband commented that it would be tough to live there and rely on the vaporetti for transportation. A voice of reason.

Perhaps, if a disability was quite obvious, it would make a difference?

Anyway, perhaps, try to use the vaporetti mid day? Or try to be first in line to have more of a choice where to sit/stand? And, thinking back, I believe acraven is correct, seating, except for the limited seating at the very back or front, any seating is down about 4 stairs.

We recently spent 6 days in Padua and loved it. There is a tram route that covers the important points of interest and has a stop at the train station. We took the train to Venice for a few hours as we have never been before. It was a windy, rainy day and I have to admit, we were taken aback at the crowds. We used the vaporetta to and from the train station; there were long lineups for the Grand Canal route to San Marco and a local suggested we take a different route to not have to wait. The vaporetta was still very crowded with lots of jostling; the return trip was better but it was mid afternoon so perhaps not a busy time. I know there is great love for Venice and I don’t know how crowded it is before Christmas but we found the weather an added challenge for being able to appreciate our surroundings and for being out on the water (and we are used to rain and wind where we live:).

Yes, Padua is amazing and relatively flat. Same for Verona, which, surprising to us, we loved. We found the RS guide very helpful for both those cities.

Thanks again to everyone for some very helpful information. We discovered that friends are actually currently in Venice and offered some very good information, part of which I will print below for those who may be interested. Based on our research we are booking the Palazzo Vineziana which offers a location with several ramped bridges including a very short walk to the Zatterre vapporetto.

"Transport: for your son the easiest should be vaporetto. There is usually one small step because the water level may change. Attendants help and a lot of older folks, strollers etc get on. There are designated seats inside but front and back have a few seats outside. Those seats are great for observing life around .
Taxi may be more challenging as they require couple steps down into the boat but many have a disability blue sign so May have a ramp. Taxis are very expensive and I don’t remember using one ever.
If you fly into Venice then the best way to get to the city is Alilalaguna boat. They are smaller than vaporetto but bigger than taxi. They are similar to vaporetto and certainly used to transporting people with mobility issues. They have assigned stops on some vaporetto stops.
Where to stay:
I think it’s important to stay close to vaporetto stop with minimal or no steps between your hotel and vaporetto. It is also nice if Alilaguna shares the same stop.
I don’t think St.marco is the best area to stay. It is the most crowded and shopping oriented. Several vapporettos will bring you there from around the city.
Our favorite area is Dorsodoro. Find on the map Zatterre station. It has both Alilaguna and several vaporeto stops. The best part that all the length of this embankment every single bridge has a good ramp. There are 2 other vaporetto stops on both sides of zaterre stop. This will have all directions covered for you. You can buy unlimited rides ticket and limit bridges as vaporetto stops frequently.
We can get to the Salute stop by crossing one bridge which has ramp on one side but not another . On the other hand we can walk along a canal to the Zattere with a couple ramps and no steps. We can take one of several vaporettos and leave with zero steps on any station along grand canal or islands. Once there you can choose to walk around avoiding or minimizing bridges."