venice disabled access - tips, advice and travel packages

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Venice Disabled Access - Tips, Advice and Travel Packages

Venice Disabled Access

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• Venice is one of the most popular destinations in the world, yet few disabled tourists tackle it because of the intimidating bridges throughout the city. • While there are hundreds of bridges connecting the islands throughout the city, disabled tourists can avoid them if they understand how the city is laid out.

• Several large neighborhoods, including the one containing St. Mark’s Square, can be visited without encountering bridges. • These neighborhoods have few cobblestones and no steps. • Venice disabled access building codes require that remodeled buildings are wheelchair accessible, however most buildings have not been remodeled.

Disabled Access in Venice – Best Aspects

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More than 50% of the city is accessible - • Most people think of a whole lot of bridges and canals when they think of Venice. • While this is accurate, there are actually numerous neighborhoods that can be visited without needing to go over any bridges. • As a result, over half of Venice can be visited in a wheelchair.

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Vaporetto boats are somewhat wheelchair friendly • The vaporetto boats in Venice are generally wheelchair accessible and very useful for getting from neighborhood to neighborhood. • The #1 and #2 vaparetto routes run down Venice’s Grand Canal and are the most popular for tourists. • Several other lines run through the lagoon surrounding Venice and are also helpful.

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Vaporetto boats are somewhat wheelchair friendly • You can view more details at our Venice vaporetto disabled access page. • The video shows one wheelchair user getting assistance to get off the boat, and one wheelchair user who gets off the boat without assistance. • Note how much smaller the height difference is if you let the people get off the boat first (this is one of our 11 Venice disabled travel tips).

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No cobblestones anywhere • Unlike other cities in Italy, there are no cobblestones in Venice. • The sidewalks and streets in the neighborhoods are paved or have smooth paving stones, and there aren’t any curbs anywhere.

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Completely flat • There are no hills in Venice. All of the Venice neighborhoods are flat (apart from the bridges). • A picture of a typical Venetian street is shown here.

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St. Mark’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace are wheelchair accessible • The two most popular tourist attractions in Venice without a doubt are St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace. • They are located right next to each other along St. Mark’s Square. • Disabled tourists can skip the long line at St. Mark’s Basilica by heading to the exit at the left side of the church. • The Doge’s Palace has a significantly shorter line and you will also need to enter through the exit which is located at the end closest to St. Mark’s Basilica.

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Plenty of accessible things to do • Sometimes it surprises people how many accessible sights there are to see and things there are to do. • Many people only stay for 2 or 3 days and wish they had stayed longer!

Disabled Access in Venice – Most Challenging Aspects

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Bridges are everywhere and generally not wheelchair accessible - • There are over 400 bridges in Venice. • Only a few can be called moderately wheelchair accessible and then only if there is someone there to assist. • You can find more information on our Venice bridge disabled accessibility page.

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Moving between neighborhoods can be slow - • The vaporetto come at regular intervals, but your journey can take a little while especially if you have to switch boats. • The boat may stop at numerous docks between the time you get on and the time you get off. • If you have a dinner reservation or need to catch a train or plane, be sure you allow plenty of time or use an accessible water taxi.

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Boats can get crowded - • Getting on and off the vaporetto boats can be difficult if the boat is full of people. • Sometimes there is absolutely no room left on the boat and the boatman will tell you to wait for the next one. • Even if the boat is not completely full, people generally stand near the door so they can quickly get off which may make getting on and off a little trickier. • The #1 and #2 boats are particularly crowded going towards St. Mark’s Square in the morning and towards the train station in the afternoon.

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Some neighborhoods are very small - • Some of the accessible neighborhoods in Venice are very small with few restaurants or attractions. • There is no sign on the vaporetto docks indicating the extent of the accessible portion of the neighborhood.

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Finding accessible toilets - • There are a few public accessible toilets, and some restaurants in Venice have accessible bathrooms. • Locating them is not always and easy task, and finding a Venice wheelchair accessible restroom when you are looking for it can tak some time.

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“Accessible” hotels - • Some of the “accessible” hotels in Venice have bridges between them and the Vaporetto stops. • The only way for wheelchair users to reach them is to pay for a private wheelchair taxi which can get expensive quick. • Disabled visitors to Venice should make sure that their hotel not only has a disabled hotel room but also has and accessible way to reach it. View our recommended Wheelchair Accessible Hotels in Venice.

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We look forward to making your accessible dream vacation a reality!

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