Booking.com has revealed seven cities around the world that are the most wheelchair-friendly cities.
In their latest article, cities such as Barcelona, Seattle and London feature, giving an array of choices for travellers this year – whether they’re looking for a city with a beach, some history or some culture there’s something for everyone.
You can see Booking.com’s article on the best wheelchair-friendly cities here:
https://www.booking.com/articles/best-wheelchair-friendly-city-trips.html
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona is considered one of the most accessible cities in Europe. All of its buses, most of its metro stations and a significant chunk of the city’s streets are wheelchair-accessible. But the highlight for those with reduced mobility has to be the city beach; stretching for several kilometres, it has a wheelchair-accessible promenade and walkways down to the water, accessible changing facilities and a free assisted bathing service during the summer months.
Seattle, USA
Seattle may be hilly but it’s also frequently heralded as the most accessible city in North America. Everything – from taxis and buses to airport shuttles and ferries – is wheelchair-friendly, with ramps, elevators and a Link Light Rail system that’s designed with accessibility in mind. And most of its major sights are fully accessible.
London, UK
For a city where much of the architecture dates back several hundred years, London is surprisingly accessible. The Tube is the world’s oldest underground railway but a quarter of stations have step-free access and all buses and black cabs are wheelchair-accessible, meaning you can hail and hop into your own taxi without needing assistance.
Sydney is actually one of the best places in the world for travellers with reduced mobility; barrier-free trains, buses and ferries with ramps make transport a stress-free experience for wheelchair-users, while Sydney-based foundation, WheelEasy, has a website that reviews attractions specifically for their accessibility.
Berlin, Germany
Berlin’s wide, well-paved and flat pavements, plus accessible public transport make the German capital an easy place for wheelchair-users to get around. And almost all of its sights are extremely accessible – from Museum Island to the Reichstag, where wheelchair-users can enjoy the 360-degree view of Berlin from the dome and roof terrace.
Singapore, Singapore
Singapore is leading the way when it comes to accessible cityscapes. It’s known for being impeccably clean and modern, with streets and pavements well-maintained and dropped curbs and smooth surfaces everywhere. Pretty much all tourist attractions are accessible, including the Singapore Cable Car and Gardens by the Bay, an Avatar-esque, sustainable oasis in the middle of the city that’s known for its grove of high-tech ‘Supertrees’.
Vienna, Austria
Even though the historic centre of Vienna is a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s remarkably accessible and modern. Most of the compact Old Town’s cobblestones have been removed and sliced in half or replaced to make them smoother, and curb drops are standard. The tram, bus and metro systems are all impressively accessible, as are the city’s museums, galleries and other attractions.
For more information on each of the cities, visit: https://www.booking.com/articles/best-wheelchair-friendly-city-trips.html
