Travel can be experienced by nearly anyone, and the most seasoned among us definitely don’t let anything hinder them from experiencing the world and having a great time while doing it. Whether you have sight limitations, use a wheelchair, or need extra help with tasks that involve hearing, these twelve cities below are rated very highly when it comes to accessibility for travelers with disabilities. While not every tourist attraction in all of these cities is fully accessible, it is very easy to plan an accessible vacation by knowing some key facts about each city in advance.
Singapore was tops in nearly every reputable magazine, newspaper, and journal we could find. At first Singapore became more accessible not to court tourists, but because its own population is aging and also benefits from accessibility. A locally-issued card allows you to have more time crossing the street if it is tapped at a special crossing, for example. Traveling in Singapore is a breeze, as most taxis and all buses and subways accommodate not just passengers in wheelchairs (pictured: the BRT subway features elevators with tactile guided flooring in every station) but also the hard-of-hearing and the visually-impaired. For a full list of accessible tourist attractions, visit the Disabled People’s Association of Singapore website at dpa.org.sg, and after that, book your Singapore vacation with us at Tripmasters!
Barcelona is touted as one of the most accessible cities for travelers, particularly for those traveling with or needing wheelchairs. The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, for example, was designed specifically for wheelchair users in mind. The museum and other sights such as the Basilica de la Sagrada Família also offer wheelchairs for guests free of charge depending on availability. You can even visit the beach at Nova Icària or take the Montjuïc cable car in your wheelchair! In addition, Barcelona’s public transport is completely accessible to visually-impaired travelers as well. For more information on accessibility in Barcelona, visit www.barcelona-access.com, and then plan your very own Catalan getaway with Tripmasters!
Denver, Colorado has been tops for many years in the U.S. according to many respected publications, starting over a decade ago with the compassionate rollout of their medical marijuana program for disabled residents which quickly became a model for other jurisdictions across the country. It helps that a lot of Denver’s tourist attractions are located in or adjacent to wide-open parks, which are naturally perfect to explore and also to regain your bearings if necessary. Denver’s mass transit (pictured: the RTD rail stop at 16th & Stout) is also completely accessible for those with physical or visual impairments. You can learn more about accessible activities for your upcoming Colorado vacation by visiting visitdenver.com, and then you can enjoy Denver by booking your own Tripmasters vacation to the beautiful Mile High City.
Accessibility in London has come a long way in the last few decades. For those planning their trips, you will perhaps have some trouble on public transport, but not everywhere: The Elizabeth Line on the London Underground, over five dozen London Overground stations, and all city buses (at right, a wheelchair priority sticker is affixed to a bus window) offer step-free access. The most accessible boroughs in London are Westminster and Southwark, which is quite coincidental as most of the important tourist sights in the city, from Buckingham Palace to the Tate Modern, are located in these boroughs. If you are visiting the West End theatres, note that many of the historic buildings have not been fitted for elevators, so you will want to buy tickets in the orchestra level. For more information on accessibility in London, go to the Visit London website. Afterwards, peruse our London page and figure out the Tripmasters vacation that best suits your needs.
Germany‘s capital, Berlin, is a leader in Europe when it comes to accessibility. Some of the city’s top sights, such as the Reichstag, the Berlin Wall Memorial, Museum Island, Berlin Cathedral, Zoo Berlin, and Charlottenburg Palace, among others, are accessible for people needing wheelchairs and for those needing assistance with hearing or induction loops. For blind visitors, you can experience Potsdamer Platz like the sighted with an audio guide, which you can download from the Visit Berlin accessibility page. As far as public transport is concerned, four out of five subway stations are step-free, and nearly three-quarters have accommodations for the visually impaired. All city buses (one is pictured at left) and ferries are also accessible. With all there is to see and do in Berlin, you should book your Tripmasters vacation right away!
Did you know that Las Vegas, Nevada has more ADA-compliant accessible hotel rooms than any other city in the United States? Considering it is the place for gambling, luxury, decadence, and fun for travelers the world over, perhaps that isn’t too surprising. What might be surprising, however, is that you will have more freedom of movement than you will have imagined. Pedestrian bridges that cross the Strip are easier to access than being on the street itself, and Las Vegas’s Monorail, which links selected casinos, as well as the tourist bus The Deuce, are step-free and wheelchair-friendly. For blind visitors, the Bellagio Fountains with its soft music are a highlight of any Vegas trip (other than the gambling, of course!). For more information on how to enjoy Las Vegas with the utmost accessibility, visit the Wheelchair Travel guide for the city, then go to Tripmasters and book your fun getaway to Sin City.
Orlando, Florida is a place that’s fun for the whole family, and that includes those in your group with disabilities or physical limitations. Let’s start with the theme parks: All major theme parks in Orlando have guest services divisions where they can inform you of all the things you will be able to experience while there. Note that if you partake in a program that allows you to return later to a ride line, companions in your party (up to 6 people) can also ride with you at the same time. Going into the city, Orlando has many fun accessible activities for tourists, such as WonderWorks, ICON Park, and the Harry P. Leu Gardens (pictured). Orlando International Airport scores highly for accessibility as well, making take-off and landing a breeze. The Visit Orlando website can tell you more about accessibility in America‘s top tourist destination.
Despite Seattle, Washington‘s reputation as a city built on and around many hills, it is fairly easy to move around, particularly if you require the use of a wheelchair. Most of Seattle’s buses have wheelchair lifts and extra space for wheelchairs, and luckily you will see on each bus stop’s sign if the bus that services that route will have a lift for you so you can find another if necessary. The most popular tourist sights, such as the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, and the Pacific Science Center, are designed to be accessible to visitors with disabilities. If you’re taking in a show while you’re in town, the 5th Avenue Theatre’s box office will help you with most any concern or request you have or need. You’ll find that you will want to visit Seattle on your own Tripmasters vacation after you study just how accessible this beautiful city is, courtesy of Visit Seattle.
Sydney is far and away the most accessible city in Oceania, and some of the most beautiful sights in the world, such as the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Tower Eye, Bondi Beach, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge, are accessible to most visitors. For those who wish to take the climb up the bridge, deaf travelers and those with hearing impairments will have access to induction loops and Sign Language interpreters. It’s easy to get around the city as well, especially if you are close to a Sydney Metro station, as all of the stations and train cars (pictured) are fully accessible. They also link to light rail stations, which are also accessible. Sydney.com has a complete list of all the things you can enjoy on your vacation. Once you’ve read about all you can see in this vibrant city, book your future Australian vacation with Tripmasters!
New York City is still a work in progress when it comes to accessibility, but even with work ahead, it has been named one of the top cities in the world when it comes to accessible sights and transport options. Only about 40% of the Subway stations in Manhattan are accessible (pictured: 41st Street/Broadway/Times Square station, which is accessible), but all buses throughout the five boroughs have been made ADA-compliant, as have the city’s many ferry services. If you book in advance, you can also take advantage of the Access-A-Ride program, which costs the same as a bus fare. As far as sights go, everything from the Statue of Liberty to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building are all accessible for those with physical, auditory, or visual impairments. For more information, visit NYCgo.com…but don’t delay, you can visit New York City with Tripmasters right away!
Paris was once a destination that used to frustrate disabled travelers, but since France passed an accessibility law in 2005, the situation in Paris has improved to become the best in the country for accessibility. Paris is currently undergoing a rapid renovation project with its public transport systems, with the Métro’s Line 14 (from Mairie-de-Saint-Ouen to Olympiades) being the first to offer full accessibility for physical as well as auditory and visual impairments. Even hilly Montmartre is accessible via the funicular which accepts wheelchairs and is step-free. Want to go up the Eiffel Tower? That can be done; it is accessible up to the second floor. There are even public bathrooms large enough to accommodate wheelchairs on Paris streets (pictured). For more information on accessibility in Paris, read this page from the Paris Tourist Office, then book your Tripmasters vacation! (Did I really need to convince you any more?)
Washington, D.C. is renowned for its accessibility not just for those who need wheelchairs, but also for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Gallaudet University (pictured), located in D.C., is considered to be the most prestigious university for deaf people, and a Deaf culture has grown in the city that might just be one of the most united in the world. The D.C. Metro bills itself as one of the most accessible mass transit systems in the world, with its stations featuring elevators in addition to its notoriously long escalators. Most everything in D.C., from the Smithsonian museums to the National Mall and its various memorials, are accessible to those in wheelchairs. The number of ADA-compliant hotel rooms in Washington, D.C. only rivals New York City and Las Vegas, making it an easy, comfortable, and fun vacation for everyone. To read more about how D.C. prides itself on its accessibility, visit washington.org. Then book your trip to the nation’s capital with us at Tripmasters!
As you’ve learned just now, many of the world’s most exciting cities are accessible to all travelers and are waiting for you to experience their charms. Head on over to Tripmasters.com and you can look at all of our exciting vacation destinations in over 120 countries and territories throughout the world.
