Top Disability-Friendly Countries for Travelers and Retirees

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Live and Invest Overseas.

For people with disabilities, accessibility in an overseas haven is key.

Countries around the world are making an effort to be more accessible, addressing things like legal rights, travel options (such as accessible metros and buses), maps for the differently-abled, and events designed specifically to be inclusive.

Some countries are working on implementing braille to accommodate for the vision-impaired, while there is also a push to make more autism-friendly designs (i.e., places with muted colors, simple, clean layouts, and noise control).

Here are some noteworthy examples of destinations that are striving to be more accessible.

1. Spain

Spain is one of the most wheelchair-friendly countries in the world, with Barcelona in particular standing out for its accessibility.

Many of the streets have been adapted to be more wheelchair accessible, including the historical cobblestoned areas.

• Public Transportation: The main bus systems in all the major cities have accessibility for people with disabilities, including ramps to help those in wheelchairs board.
• Accommodations: Many hotels have been made accessible for people with disabilities, making it easy to find accessible accommodation in Spain.
• Attractions: Wheelchair accessibility has been added to most attractions and tourist sites. Some offer discounts or even free entry to people with disabilities.

2. Portugal

Portugal is our all-time favorite haven. It’s safe, welcoming, and full of friendly locals, not to mention home to some of the best beaches and golf courses in the world. Portugal also has world-class health care and top-notch infrastructure. English is widely spoken, too.

Many cities like Lisbon and Porto have steep hills that aren’t navigable for people with mobility impairments.

Lisbon is hilly and full of narrow passageways with many steps that are paved in cobblestone. The pavement is difficult to navigate for even the nimblest among us.

In newer construction (new museums, train stations, etc.), you’ll find better accessibility … but there’s a long way to go before the government is able to meet the basic needs of people with disabilities.

That said, Portugal still offers a lot of choices for people with disabilities.

Accessibility in Portugal

• Public Transportation: Portugal wants its public transit to be convenient for everybody. The metro is completely wheelchair accessible, as are many of the country’s public buses. Most taxis don’t have ramps suitable for motorized wheelchairs, but regular taxis are an excellent choice for travel if you have a folding wheelchair.
• Accommodations: Many of Portugal’s hotels are accessible, with ground-floor options and ramps, accessible swimming pools, lower beds, room lights that can be accessed from the bed, as well as many other features.
• Dining: A lot of restaurants are still working on being more accessible, but dining al fresco is popular across Portugal, meaning there’s no need to navigate stairs and cramped interiors.

It’s true that some of Portugal’s beaches do have stairs — most notably the Algarve’s Praia do Camilo, which entails a 225-step journey to reach it. But the country is also home to some 200 beaches and riverside bathing areas that are accessible for wheelchair-users and those with mobility issues.

You’ll find a full list of them here.

3. France

France offers the world’s best quality of life for anyone.

Whether it’s life in Paris, the most romantic city, or life outside the nation’s capital in the rustic French countryside, France is one of travelers’ most sought-after countries in the world.

It attracts more visitors than any other country, and that includes people with disabilities.

• Public Transportation: This is probably France’s weakest point on accessibility. The buses have wheelchair access, but the metro isn’t as accessible. The stations are not yet designed to accommodate wheelchair-bound passengers. There are steep staircases and large gaps between platform and train.
• Accommodations: Accessible accommodations are widely available in France.
• Attractions: While some attractions such as the Eiffel Tower only have limited accessibility, most sites and tourist attractions are wheelchair friendly.
• Taxis: There are plenty of wheelchair-friendly taxis in France.

4. Ireland

Ireland has come a long way as regards disabled access and support. Full accessibility is the law for all public buildings in Ireland, and all new residential buildings now comply with this mandate.

Old architecture, narrow streets, and narrow footpaths can sometimes make navigating the small towns or villages more challenging but great strides are being made at national and local levels to find workarounds.

A number of beaches around the country offer beach wheelchairs and disabled access. They’re not year-round and you may need to book in advance. You can find a list of accessible beaches and contact information, here.

Accessibility in Ireland

• Transportation: In Dublin, you’ll be able to make use of most all public transport options, be it the Luas tram, buses, or train. In much of the rest of the country your options may be more limited. Motability Ireland offers a car rental service for reduced mobility customers throughout Ireland. Their vehicles come with fully comprehensive insurance and around-the-clock roadside assistance. You can contact them here. Most all public buildings, amenities, and attractions offer wheelchair-friendly parking.
• Accommodations: Accessible accommodations are widely available in Ireland.
• Attractions: While some historical sites won’t be wheelchair accessible, most museums and attractions in larger cities, such as Dublin and Cork, are.
• Taxis: There are plenty of wheelchair-friendly taxis in Ireland. Look out for the wheelchair icon on the vehicle’s roof which identifies them.

5. Greece

A new initiative in Greece means hundreds of beaches are now fully accessible to wheelchair users and those with mobility issues.

The multimillion-euro project uses the all-terrain SEATRAC system — a fixed track mechanism featuring a remote control-operated chair that can be moved in and out of the water.

Beaches using the system also feature wheelchair-friendly parking, walkways, changing rooms, toilets, and shaded areas.

You can find a full list of beaches with SEATRAC systems here. As well as across Greece and her islands, you’ll also find beaches in Italy and Cyprus listed.

That initiative aside, general accessibility varies across the country.

Accessibility in Corfu, Greece

On Greek sites such as the island of Corfu, access for those with mobility issues is mixed.

The north is hilly, with steep and often uneven roads in the villages. To reach most of the north’s beaches, you have to hike down steep rocky dirt trails. They can be challenging to reach even for those without physical impairments. On the whole, the north is not accessible to those who use wheelchairs or have special needs.

In the flatter southern half of the island, the situation is a bit more promising. Andreas Skoupouras, the Deputy Mayor for Welfare and Social Policy, has made accessibility for people with special needs a priority.

As someone who uses a wheelchair himself, he has inspired changes across the community.

Corfu’s Old Town is now 80% accessible, and an app is being developed with maps showing different routes for wheelchair users. On 20 of the island’s beaches, you’ll find floating wheelchairs as well as a SEATRAC system.

6. Italy

Italy has a lot of work to do to become truly accessible.

Cobblestone streets abound, accessibility isn’t emphasized in rural areas at all, and popular cities are often congested with cars and scooters, making it difficult for people in wheelchairs to get around.

However, Milan is an exception, which is why Italy is included on this list.

Milan won Italy the 2016 EU Access City Awards for the great work it has done towards making itself inclusive and accessible to all.

Accessibility in Milan, Italy

• Public Transportation: Milan’s public transportation uses low-level buses that are equipped to help wheelchair-bound customers board.
• Accommodation: Many hotels in Milan are accessible and prepared to make people with disabilities feel as comfortable as possible. This includes lower beds, handrails in bathrooms, and ramped floors.
• Attractions: Pretty much all the museums and art galleries in Milan are accessible or can accommodate guests with disabilities as long as they are contacted beforehand.
• Trains: The Italian railroad network is well-equipped to accommodate people with disabilities. There are specially designed reception areas and coaches. The large Central Station has a lift to transport mobility-impaired customers from the ticket office to the platforms.

7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazil offers amazing potential for expats, retirees and visitors. It boasts amazing beaches, breath-taking natural beauty, excellent food, friendly people, and a great climate.

Rio de Janeiro is ranked as one of the best places for accessibility in South America.

• Sidewalks: In the big cities like Rio, the sidewalks are generally accessible for people with wheelchairs. Although there is some variation, most curbs have level access. The biggest issues tend to be parked scooters and disrepair.
• Public Transportation: Nearly all buses in Brazil are wheelchair accessible and have a wheelchair lift in the center (although some may be in disrepair). The subway is also wheelchair accessible with lift access from the street.
• Accommodations: There are many accessible hotels in Brazil with elevators, easy-access ramps, handrails, and chairs in showers.
• Attractions: The main tourist sites in Brazil are wheelchair accessible and there are many tours designed specifically for those who need special access.

Here’s what to expect access-wise in some of our other favorite havens.

8. Kotor Bay, Montenegro

Access for people with mobility issues varies across Kotor Bay, in southwestern Montenegro, across the Adriatic Sea from Italy.

One of the cities on Kotor Bay, Tivat is the most accessible option for people who are wheelchair-bound because it’s the most modern. Buildings that have multiple floors are likely to have elevators, and restaurants and shops are level with the town’s long, flat boardwalk.

More modern areas of Kotor may be slightly more mobility-friendly.

Kotor Old Town is not very accessible. Most shops make you go up at least one step to enter, and there aren’t many ramps. Old buildings in this area do not have elevators, and the UNESCO status likely means they can’t be retrofitted for them.

It’s best to stick to the areas with more modern development, like Tivat and parts of Kotor, if you have a mobility issue.

9. Thailand

Accessibility is an area where Thailand has improved greatly over the past decade. It started with builders making disabled access part of the building code with ramps and elevators.

Nowadays you’ll often see public facilities and private businesses retrofitting to accommodate disabled visitors. All of the public transportation in major cities is equipped for disabled access, as are shopping malls.

10. Medellin, Colombia

At first glance, Medellin seems like a terrible destination for those with mobility issues. While it’s true that there are some steep hills, efforts to make the city more accessible are ongoing.

Just take the heart-warming story of Mobility, Accessibility, Time, and Work (MATT ) — a startup founded by local Wilson Guzman who has been disabled since age 17. It has a fleet of electric hand-bikes that can be attached to wheelchairs, which help people zip around the city’s hilly streets.

MATT leads three-hour tours on the electric wheelchairs for all, which helps to shine a light on the issues those with disabilities face and encourages further improvements. You can discover more about MATT, here.

There is still much work to be done, though, as there’s a noticeable lack of proper ramps on many streets and accessible entrances at buildings.

If you have serious mobility issues you may have a hard time in Medellin, especially in hilly areas like Poblado. A flat area like Laureles is a better choice.

While it’s possible to find accessible apartments, you may still have some issues getting around the city.

11. Mexico

Accessibility in Mexico can be hit or miss. The country signed the 2007 U.N. Convention on Rights for Persons with Disabilities and brought in further accessibility regulations a couple years later so efforts have been made … but the implementation is far from perfect.

While older cities face accessibility challenges owing to cobblestone streets and hilltop settings, newer resort areas such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen offer better than average wheelchair accessibility by local standards.

In Mazatlan, the street and sidewalk ramping is decent in the historic center. Also, the boardwalk was completely rebuilt in 2018-2019, so it’s up to date. The Soriana Supermarket near the Golden Zone is wheelchair-friendly, with moving ramps.

Most of the oceanfront businesses in the historic center are wheelchair friendly, while businesses elsewhere in town are hit or miss. Some have a step at their entrance. The town is fairly level, and drivers tend to be pedestrian-aware, although not quite like they are in the States or Canada.

Accessibility in Mexico

As with many beautiful Mexican cities, Oaxaca is full of cobblestones. Other than the central part of town, it’s also quite hilly. Not exactly the best environment for those with mobility issues.

That being said, many of the streets in central Oaxaca are lined with (mostly) smooth sidewalks on both sides. Navigating them can still be tough, especially when the streets are packed.

Wheelchair-accessible parking is available in Oaxaca.

Puerto Vallarta is another spot that, for the most part, is not great for those with mobility issues. Much of the central area is composed of hilly, cobblestone streets. Many homes in the area are also only accessible via stairs.

Those needing wheelchair access will want to look to the newer developments in the Marina or up in Nuevo Vallarta. In these areas you’ll find paved sidewalks, ramps, and elevators.

Read on for further resources for travelers with disabilities.

Wheelchair Escapes

Wheelchair Escapes is a group formed by paraplegics to help travelers with disabilities plan their next vacation or to set up group vacations.

They can help you set up accessible helicopter tours, scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, and other types of adventures.

Latin America For All

Latin America For All works with clients with all kinds of disabilities to take them on tours in Latin America.

Wheelchair Tours

Wheelchair Tours offers accessible travel packages in Thailand.

Seable

Seable is a United Kingdom company that specializes in trips for people with mobility issues as well as and for blind and visually impaired travelers. Their offerings include accessible sports vacations, wine and food tours, and cultural excursions.

Planet Abled

Planet Abled offers fully accessible and assisted trips and tours throughout India and Southeast Asia for people with different disabilities.

Tapooz Travel

Tapooz Travel helps to plan customized trips for travelers of all abilities and their traveling companions to a host of destinations in across the U.S. and Canada, as well as farther afield.

Wheel the World

Whether you want a beach trip, adventure travel, nature or city explorations, Wheel the World can help. They offer tours in over 160 destinations and list over 2,200 accessible accommodation options.

Easy Access Travel

Committed to meeting the special needs of disabled and mature travelers, Easy Access Travel specializes in cruises and package tours to accessible destinations.