Hello fellow travelers,
I'm planning a trip to Italy with my husband, who has limited mobility. We’ll be visiting Venice, Rome, Florence, and Tuscany over four weeks, and we’re considering bringing a foldable, battery-operated mobility scooter to help with longer distances, especially in museums and other large attractions. Looking for insight and information from this community regarding the following-
-Are there any restrictions or rules regarding the use of battery-operated mobility scooters in Italian museums or tourist sites?
-Has anyone had experience bringing a scooter onto local or high-speed trains? Are there any specific regulations or requirements we should be aware of?
-What about local public transportation in cities like Rome and Florence? Are scooters allowed on buses and trams, and are there any size or battery restrictions?
-Any advice on navigating these cities with a mobility scooter or any tips for getting around more easily?
To clarify, my husband does not currently use a mobility scooter. He is able to walk short distances (typically between 10-20 minutes at a time). Fortunately, he can bike without any issues, so over the years, we've adapted our travels to include renting bikes in cities and going on tours. We've had wonderful experiences in several large and small cities in the UK, France, and Switzerland, and our plans for Italy include some biking in Verona, Florence, and parts of Rome.
I've done quite a bit of planning, and our accommodations are mostly central to the main tourist sites, with easy access to public transportation. We also plan to return to our room several times a day to break up our schedule and allow him some rest. We're open to taking local taxis when needed to minimize walking.
This will be my first trip to Italy, and while I feel mostly prepared, I'm becoming concerned about how much there is to see and do in some cities. We are renting a car for our travels in Tuscany and plan mostly drive and explore by that means. We are open to renting a wheel chair as suggested by one of the responses. Also considering a cane or a small foldable stool to help him sit when his legs get tired.
I might be overthinking in considering a mobility scooter.
We’d greatly appreciate any advice or experiences that could help us understand the best way for someone with limited mobility to travel in Italy! Thank you!