Rome is one of the ultimate destinations to tick off your list, and April is one of the best times to visit – making it perfect for an Easter break. The city offers plenty of accessible bus tours, allowing you to see its main attractions while taking in the sights at your own pace. These tours typically cost around 25–35 euros per day.
When you tour the Vatican, it’s best to go in the afternoon as it’s less crowded. To ensure a smooth experience, they also offer guided accessible tours where you can follow a special route behind roped areas to reach the Sistine Chapel.
Known as the City of Seven Hills, a great tip when planning your itinerary is to start your day at the highest point then work your way down, to guarantee you’re rolling downhill from tourist attraction to tourist attraction.
There are over 900 churches in Rome, and the majority of them offer video guides which are absolutely worth doing not only in terms of accessibility but are a great way to learn.
Berlin offers plenty of city buzz, but when travelling over Easter you’ll find you’re able to take full advantage of its facilities thanks to fewer crowds. In April, Berlin welcomes warmer temperatures as the clouds dissipate and the sun makes an appearance. Many tourist attractions in Berlin have been certified under the Tourism for All scheme (which we’re also members of!) and offers plenty of inclusive options to explore Germany’s capital.
Be sure to download the free app accessBerlin that will show you the best, most accessible routes tailored for those with limited mobility. This app will offer you 59 stops across 6 routes, so you’re guaranteed to spot every sight Berlin has to see. Based on the motto “barrier-free life in Berlin”, the multilingual database Mobidat provides a wealth of information on accessible facilities with public access around the city.
When out and about, most U-Bahn stations, S-Bahn as well as the BVG buses and ferries are all wheelchair accessible. BVG buses have extendable wheelchair ramps, while trams access through ramps or wheelchair lifts. However, only two transport services do not provide accessible options: the 218 excursion route, which uses vintage buses, and the F24 ferry which is a rowing boat.
April is the ideal time to explore Prague, thanks to milder weather, thinner crowds and being in off-peak season means it’s much more inexpensive compared to other popular cities in Europe.
Despite there are many cobblestones and slopes especially around the castle district, roads and paths when exploring the attractions and sights around Prague are mainly flat to ensure a smooth journey. Head to the Old Town and Wenceslas Square to soak up all that Prague has to offer, from the Observation Tower, Astronomical Clock to the National Museum of Prague – plus one of its main attractions, Prague Castle, which is mostly wheelchair accessible.
Their Metro system is extremely easy to navigate, consisting of three lines, A, B and C and offer accessible transfer stations at Muzeum (lines A & C) and Florenc (lines B & C). It’s worth noting, however, that the transfer station Mustek for lines A and B is not wheelchair accessible, but you can ride line C for stops between Muzeum and Florenc.
The main train station, Praha Hlavni Nadrazi, connects travellers to the regional and international rail, the Airport Express Bus Service and the metro’s C line. The main train station offers moving walkways and elevators that connect the multiple levels.
Visiting Sicily in April offers a great opportunity to ejoy the island’s wildflowers, warmer weather (without the intense summer heat) and fewer crowds. Italy still has some work to do when it comes to accessibility, but the country continues to improve its facilities and services for travellers with different mobility needs. Ortigia and Palermo offer some of the most accessible areas on the island, with flatter routes compared to other parts of Sicily.
The Sicilian capital of Palermo is certainly more accessible compared to the rest of the island due to it being the main city. You can even take a detour to San Vito Lo Capo where you’ll find a 100% wheelchair accessible beach with beach wheelchairs available. Alternatively, you can head to the town of Ortigia, one of the only flat towns on the island, and as it’s a small island attached to the mainland, it lacks the natural gradient that is found in other areas, making this area much more accessible to explore.
Rotterdam and the Netherlands offer accessible and inclusive experiences for people with varying levels of mobility. You can easily navigate the city using its public transport network, including boats, to visit many of Rotterdam’s main attractions. When using public transport, look out for the wheelchair accessibility symbol, which highlights accessible services. Travellers who need accessibility assistance at the airport can request support for their journey. Travellers do not always need to pre-book assistance but booking support ahead of time can help ensure everything runs smoothly.
Going in April means you’ll be there during one of its driest months, so you don’t have to worry about rain putting a damper on your holiday. There are many accessible routes to take to spot all of the tourist attractions, including guided tours via a tour van or hopping on an accessible harbour cruise. The popular Kinderdijk windmills, are easy to reach with a waterbus from the Erasmus bridge. The tour shares the history of the windmills before taking you along the dikes to see the iconic row of windmills.
April is a great month to visit Copenhagen if you love spring weather, but hate busy crowds or need to avoid crowds altogether. Scandinavia is well-known for being ahead of its time, and that includes its efforts in being as accessible as possible.
Home to modern architectural buildings such as the Black Diamond, a famous amusement park and a historic palace, you’ll never run out of things to do. For the best accessibility, we recommend visiting Amalienborg, Christiansborg Palace, Den Blå Planet and Tivoli Gardens – just to name a few!
All metro stations in Copenhagen are easily accessible and are all equipped with elevators or lifts. Meanwhile, all S-train stations will have an elevator or step-free access and the regional train (which you may need from the airport) offers assistance through it’s DSB Handicap Service, which must be pre-booked more than 12 hours in advance.
If you’re exploring the city via bus, you’ll find a wheelchair ramp by the middle doors in all Copenhagen city buses, and as this is not automatic you’ll require assistance when getting on the bus. However, if you hop on one of the harbour buses you’ll find these are completely wheelchair-accessible.
Known as ‘La Ville Rose’ due to the pink terra-cotta bricks that scatter through the Midi Pyrenees region, Toulouse is a beautiful metropolis with plenty of food markets, thriving culture and is a true gem of Southwestern France. When planning your itinerary, be sure to meander through the city for a pit stop at the many squares and cafes available as you head to your next attraction. Most hotspots are accessible, including Space City – an adventure park with a replica of the MIR space station, the Fondation Bemberg art collection and Couvent des Jacobins – a 13th century Dominican monastery.
Toulouse has a fully accessible central public transportation system which includes retractable ramps on all trams and buses. While you wait for your next train or bus, you will even receive audio and visual updates on the next arrival.
In 2016, Toulouse gained an inaugural special mention of “Smart City” thanks to its accessible websites along with efforts to share information on accessibility, such as pinpointing which pedestrian crossings have audio guidance and locations of disabled parking spaces.
Wherever you travel this Easter, make sure your travel insurance policy is in place. Having a policy tailored to your needs can provide peace of mind, helping protect you against unexpected events such as medical emergencies while you’re away, subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
