Europe for Visitors: European Disability Travel

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2025/01/12
Category Topic: Europe for Visitors (Publications Database)

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Subtopics

Synopsis: Reviews and information on Europe for visitors, including traveling with a disability in and around Europe, accessible transport and accommodation. It is always well worth looking into the differences between the airlines you're considering. European air carriers have significantly different policies regarding people with disabilities than U.S. airlines. Unlike the America, the European Commission drafted legislation way back in 2006 to force airlines to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

Defining Europe

Europe: Europe is a continent located primarily in the northern and eastern hemispheres, bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It is separated from Asia by the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian Sea, and the Black Sea. Europe comprises 44 sovereign states, including Russia which spans both Europe and Asia, and several territories with varying degrees of autonomy. Known for its rich history, diverse cultures, and significant contributions to art, science, philosophy, and politics, Europe is also the birthplace of the European Union, an economic and political union of 27 member states. Its geography ranges from the snowy peaks of the Alps to the Mediterranean coastlines, encompassing a variety of climates, landscapes, and ecosystems.

Introduction

Europe for Visitors

Recently, Europe has been making impressive strides toward opening its doors to everybody, including visitors with limited mobility. Its biggest cities offer the most accessible sightseeing opportunities for your time and money. In London, taxis will whisk you between more wheelchair-ready sights than you've got time to see. Just a few hours away by train, Paris and Amsterdam are doing their best to catch up to London. A growing number of hotels have elevators and rooms with accessible bathrooms. The publication Wheelchair Accessible Europe lists hotels throughout Europe offering accessible rooms for visitors to Europe.

Main Document

Air Travel in Europe

Dozens of budget airlines allow cheap travel around Europe, often much cheaper than the train or bus fares for the same journey. Currently, the cheapest flights are offered by low-cost airlines such as Air Berlin, Centralwings, easyJet, HLX, Ryanair, SkyEurope Airlines, and WizzAir, with the lowest fares usually found on routes that go to or from cities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary.

European air carriers have significantly different policies regarding people with disabilities than U.S. airlines. The European Commission recently drafted legislation that went into effect in 2006 to force airlines to meet the needs of people with disabilities. It's worth looking into the differences between the airlines you're considering. Some airlines may require a doctor's certificate for all independent air travel; others may require that you travel with a personal assistant.

Be sure to tell the airline if you require a wheelchair at airports, as they have wheelchairs and porters to push them. There's no charge, but the porters will be grateful for tips. Ensure they note it in your reservation, so it's on their computer. Please arrive at the airport well ahead of the earliest time they tell you to be there. At least an hour for domestic flights, two hours for international, and 30 minutes to an hour to wait for someone to come with the wheelchair and any other hassles you may encounter.

For travel to and around Europe on a budget, you can find dramatically low fares by flying the airlines that cut the passenger perks. While you may not get a free cup of coffee on your flight, you will be happy knowing that you are paying the least amount possible from point A to point B. There are a number of these airlines within Europe. Find the cheapest airfare to Europe by flying into a hub like London or Dublin, then transferring to a flight on a no-frills airline to your ultimate destination. This can allow you to stop in the hub city for no additional cost and save you a considerable amount of money over flying direct.

The largest air travel hubs in Europe are, in order, London (LON: LCY, LHR, LGW, STN, LTN), Frankfurt (FRA, HHN), Paris (CDG), and Madrid (MAD), which in turn have connections to practically everywhere in Europe.

European Train Travel

Especially in Western and Central Europe, the trains are fast, efficient, and cost-competitive with flying.

High-speed trains like the French TGV, the German ICE, the Spanish AVE, and the cross-border Eurostar and Thalys services speed along at up to 320 km/h (198.84 mph) and, when considering travel time to the airport and back, are often faster than taking the plane.

Crossing Borders

There are no border controls between countries that have signed and implemented the Schengen Agreement.

Likewise, a visa granted for any Schengen Agreement signatory country is valid in all other countries that signed and implemented the treaty.

Be careful: not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty, and not all Schengen treaty countries are members of the European Union.

Health and Food

No specific precautions are required for staying healthy when visiting Europe as most restaurants maintain high hygiene standards, and tap water is safe to drink in most countries. However, please look at the 'Stay safe' section on specific country websites for more precise details on these matters and general information on emergency care, pharmaceutical regulations, and dentistry standards.