A reader recently wrote in with a question I couldn't answer... mostly because I’ve never had to think about it. She wants to travel to Europe, but has limited mobility and serious questions.
What happens if the hotel doesn't have a ground-floor room? What if there's no elevator? And how on earth do you get around a city built on cobblestones?
Full disclosure: I've never traveled with a wheelchair, a scooter, or even a pair of crutches. So I'm not going to pretend I've rolled across Rome. What I can do is what I do best, which is go digging until I find real answers. I read through the actual rules, the transit authorities' accessibility pages, and advice from travelers and specialists who do this all the time.
The short version: Europe is absolutely doable, but it rewards the people who plan, ask specific questions before they book, and use points to make the whole thing more comfortable.
How Do I Get Airport Assistance Flying to Europe?
The good news is that both sides of the Atlantic guarantee free help through the airport. The rules are a little different on each side, though.
Airport Assistance Leaving the U.S.
Under the Air Carrier Access Act, your airline provides wheelchair and boarding assistance at no cost. You’ll need to add the request 48 hours in advance, so you do it when you book, so that you don’t forget. It’s usually just a quick extra step in the booking process. Make sure to confirm it again at check-in.
Mobility request in Delta app
For security, call TSA Cares at (855) 787-2227 at least 72 hours before your flight to request a Passenger Support Specialist. If anything goes wrong, ask the airline for its Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). Every U.S. airline has to make one available.
Airport Assistance Arriving In or Leaving Europe
Under the EU's air passenger rules for people with reduced mobility, the airport is responsible for your assistance, not the airline, and it's free. You need to notify your airline, travel agent or tour operator at least 48 hours before departure. You don't have to prove your disability to get it, either.
If you booked an award ticket through a partner program, confirm your assistance request directly with the airline you’re flying on. Special requests don't always transfer cleanly between airlines' systems. Check the return flight too, since that request has to reach the European airport you're leaving from.
Traveling with your own wheelchair or scooter? It flies free and doesn't count toward your baggage allowance. Tell the airline about any battery when you book, take a photo of your device before handing it over, attach written folding instructions and carry removable parts like cushions onboard.
How Do I Find an Accessible Hotel in Europe?
This is where things get very different from home. A lot of European hotels are in buildings that are hundreds of years old. Nobody was thinking about wheelchairs when they went up.
Unfortunately, there's no Europe-wide equivalent of the Americans with Disabilities Act requiring hotels to have a set number of accessible rooms (after all, Europe is an entire continent comprised of many countries). The closest equivalent is the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which covers electronic goods and services. Physical hotel accessibility varies by country and by property. And it can vary a lot.
The good news is that there now are many tools that can help make your search easier. You don’t have to start from scratch when it comes to finding an accessible hotel in Europe.
Let Booking Engines Do the Leg Work
Major OTAs (online travel agencies) have filters that you can use to narrow down your search. Booking.com is among the best:
Plus, an accessible OTA exists: Wheel the World, where you can search for not just accessible hotels, but rentals (like power chairs), transportation (like private airport transfers), and even suitable guided tours:
If you prefer not to book through an OTA, you can always use these tools to help with your search and then book directly.
Questions to Ask Before You Book
Once you’ve selected a property that you think fits the bill, email the hotel directly to make sure (also so you get the answers in writing):
Are there any steps at the entrance, and is there a ramp?
Is there a ground-floor room, or an elevator that reaches my floor with no steps?
How wide is the elevator door, and how deep is the elevator?
Does the bathroom have a step-in tub, a shower with a lip or a level-entry shower? Are there grab bars?
Can you send photos of the room and bathroom?
I know. It feels like a lot of homework. But an email exchange beats arriving after a nine-hour flight to discover that you have no way of getting to your room, because it’s up a tight staircase.
Where Points Actually Help on a Trip to Europe
Points can do some real work to providing comfort and dependability on your trip.
Use points for a lie-flat seat across the Atlantic. Airlines have to give you a seat that meets your needs in the cabin you paid for, but they don't have to upgrade you. A lie-flat seat on an overnight flight lets you stretch out and change positions, and business class sits closer to the door, so the trip down the aisle is shorter. If you've been saving points for a splurge, this is a pretty good reason.
Pay the extra points for a nonstop. Every connection means another transfer, another wait for assistance and another chance for a mobility device to get mishandled.
Book chain hotels with points. Big international hotel brands often operate newer or renovated buildings with elevators and dedicated accessible rooms, and their websites usually describe those rooms. Some loyalty sites let you pick an accessible room on an award stay, but email the property afterward to confirm the specific features and get it in writing. Watch out for upgrades, too; a beautiful suite in the historic wing isn't much of a perk if it comes with a step-in tub.
Check what your cards already include. Many travel credit cards come with travel insurance like trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay coverage when you pay for the trip with the card. Those can help if a flare-up or a broken chair upends your plans. Coverage varies a lot, including how it treats pre-existing conditions, so read your card's guide to benefits before you count on it.
Cobblestones are everywhere in Europe's old towns, which both adds to their charm yet makes getting around difficult for anyone with limited mobility. They slow wheelchairs down, catch small front wheels and turn every step into a balance check for anyone using a cane or walker. Here's what the people who do this regularly recommend.
Pick your home base carefully. Staying in a flatter, more central neighborhood near the things you want to see cuts down on the distance you have to cover. A cheaper hotel at the top of a hill can cost you more in taxis and energy than you save.
Think about your wheels. Bigger front wheels handle uneven stones better, and some wheelchair users add a clip-on front wheel attachment for rough ground. If someone is pushing a manual chair, pulling it backward so the big rear wheels lead can make the ride smoother. For walkers, a rollator with larger wheels does better than one with small casters.
Plan routes, not just destinations. Look at street view before you go to spot steps and steep hills, and build in rest stops. Cafes are your friends. Some cities are easier than others; Amsterdam, for example, has relatively few cobbled sidewalks, and wheelchair users often use the bike lanes when the sidewalk gets rough.
Consider renting a power chair or scooter when you get there. Several accessible travel specialists suggest this for cities like Rome, where you'd otherwise be exhausting yourself pushing over stone for miles. Local rental companies in many major cities will deliver to your hotel.
Use taxis without guilt. A 10-minute cab ride that saves you a mile of uneven stone is money well spent, especially on day one when you're jet-lagged.
Can I Use Trains and Public Transit in Europe with Limited Mobility?
Trains are one of the bright spots. Under EU rail passenger rules, travelers with disabilities or reduced mobility can get free help boarding and getting off trains if they request it at least 24 hours in advance. You can usually ask through the rail company, the station or whoever sold you the ticket. Some countries still ask for 36 hours, so check the specific rail line's accessibility page when you book.
City transit is much more hit or miss, and it often comes down to how old the system is. Paris is the classic cautionary tale: only one Metro line, Line 14, is fully accessible from end to end. Its buses are a much better bet, since the fleet is accessible. London publishes a step-free access map of the Underground, which is worth downloading before you go. Newer systems tend to be easier.
The pattern holds across Europe: look up the city's transit accessibility page before you go, rely on buses and trams where the subway falls short, and keep a taxi app on your phone as a backup.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traveling Europe With Limited Mobility
Is Wheelchair Assistance Free at European Airports?
Yes. Under EU rules, airports provide free assistance to travelers with disabilities or reduced mobility. Request it through your airline, travel agent or tour operator at least 48 hours before your flight.
What Does "First Floor" Mean in a European Hotel?
In most of Europe, the ground floor is the floor at street level, often labeled 0 or G in the elevator. The first floor is one flight up. So if you ask for a first-floor room expecting no stairs, you will end up exactly one staircase away from where you wanted to be. Ask for a ground-floor room instead, and ask whether there are any steps at the hotel entrance itself.
What Should I Do If My European Hotel Has No Elevator?
Ask whether there's a ground-floor room with no steps at the entrance. If there's no elevator and no ground-floor room, that's your sign to book (or move to, if you’re already in-country) a different hotel, not to hope for the best. Larger international chains and newer or renovated buildings are more likely to have elevators and accessible rooms.
Can I Get Help Boarding Trains in Europe?
Yes. EU rules entitle travelers with disabilities or reduced mobility to free boarding assistance on trains if they request it at least 24 hours ahead. Some countries ask for 36 hours, so check with the rail company.
Is the Paris Metro Wheelchair Accessible?
Mostly no. Line 14 is the only Paris Metro line that's fully accessible. The city's buses are a better option for wheelchair users.
More Resources
Like I mentioned at the start, I haven’t had to consider these questions before. I’ve combed the internet to answer the most commonly asked questions about traveling with mobility difficulties, but let this just be a starting point.
There are many folks out there who do travel with mobility devices – and some share their experiences and tips online. Here are some to peruse and bookmark:
Curb Free with Cory Lee: award-winning and leading accessibility travel blog
WheelchairTravel.org: fantastic resource with detailed travel guides, FAQs, even group trips
Wheel the World: search engine to find accessible hotels, mobility device rentals, private tours, etc.
Final Thoughts
So, to my reader: yes, you can do this. It just takes more planning.
If you remember three things, make it these: request airport assistance at least 48 hours out, ask hotels for a ground-floor room (and photos) in writing, and pick a home base that keeps the cobblestones to a minimum.
Let your points book you non-stop flights and accessible hotel rooms, and you’re well on your way to a memorable trip. Because the old streets are still worth seeing. And don’t worry: you’ll get to see them on your terms.
