10 Wheelchair Accessible Travel Tips for Barcelona
By John Sage
Barcelona has plenty for wheelchair visitors to see and do. In fact, travelers visiting multiple cities will probably find that Barcelona is the easiest stop on their trip! Nevertheless, these 10 Barcelona Wheelchair Accessible Travel Tips will help you to have an even easier time in Barcelona.
1. Use public buses instead of the Metro – Although there are many accessible Metro stations in Barcelona, the bus system is still a better choice for disabled visitors to Barcelona. Several of the most important Metro stations for tourists do not have elevators. Additionally, elevators can break down causing you to get stranded at the end of your Metro ride! All buses in Barcelona have wheelchair ramps like the one shown on the right.
2. Avoid the sketchy areas of Barcelona – Like New Orleans and Amsterdam, parts of Barcelona attract bachelor parties and visitors looking for long wild nights. Choose your neighborhood carefully…you probably don’t want your hotel room window showing a view of a strip club.
3. Take Bus #’s 14, 59, and 91 down Las Ramblas – Three Barcelona accessible bus lines run down Las Ramblas, one of the most famous boulevards in Spain. Bus #14 and Bus #59 run in both directions, while Bus #91 only runs towards the ocean. All buses are wheelchair accessible.
4. Take the blue line to the Gaudi sights – Visiting accessible Gaudi sights in Barcelona like Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, and Casa Mila is possible using the blue bus tour line. It’s not the fastest Barcelona wheelchair travel method between the sights, but it’s definitely the simplest.
5. Roll towards the sea – Las Ramblas is generally flat, but it has a slight downhill slope going towards the sea. Wheelchair visitors to Barcelona may want to start at Plaça de Catalunya and roll downhill towards the Christopher Columbus monument near the water. Photos of the pavement and wheelchair ramps on Las Ramblas are shown below.
6. Stroll along the wheelchair accessible Barcelona beach promenade – Beaches in Barcelona extend from La Barceloneta for miles and miles to the northeast. A wheelchair accessible promenade makes for a scenic and easy way to see the beaches. The beaches have an excellent social scene in the summer months and some of the beaches even have wheelchair accessible boardwalks extending to the ocean. Some accessible restaurants are available for stops along the way. This stroll is particularly great at sunset!
7. Skip the lines by booking a guided tour in advance – Lines at tourist attractions like the Picasso Museum and the Sagrada Familia (shown below) can extend for multiple blocks during certain times of year. If you want to avoid lines, consider booking a wheelchair accessible Barcelona tour in advance.
8. Print out and up-to-date accessible bus map – Bus routes and times can change, so be sure you have accurate information for your visit. An up-to-date version is included in our Barcelona Accessibility Guide as part of our Barcelona wheelchair travel services.
9. The Cathedral is the high point – Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter is fairly flat, but some streets do have slopes to them. The high point in the Gothic Quarter is the Cathedral, so if you heading towards the church spire, you know that there is an uphill street somewhere in your path!
10. Visit the La Boqueria market – Located just off Las Ramblas, the sprawling La Boqueria market contains a mixture of vegetables, seafood, meat, and more. Sights and scents abound! There are several places where you can purchase already cooked products and a few of them are wheelchair accessible.
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Read more:
Barcelona Accessible Travel – main page
Pros and Cons of Barcelona Disabled Access
10 Wheelchair Accessible Travel Tips for Barcelona Spain
8 Keys to Success for Barcelona Handicapped Travel
Getting around Barcelona in a Wheelchair
Sagrada Familia Wheelchair Access
Barcelona Cruise Port Accessibility
Travel Insurance for Disabled Travelers
Top Accessible Cruises from Barcelona
Trip Planning by Sage Traveling
Barcelona Accessible Tours and Cruise Excursions
Highlights of Barcelona Accessible Guided Tour
Essential Barcelona Accessible Driving Tour
Medieval Barcelona Accessible Walking Tour
Accessible Barcelona Private Tour to Montserrat Mountain
Barcelona Accessible Hotels
Barcelona Las Ramblas Wheelchair Accessible Hotel
4 Star Barcelona Accessible Hotel with Roll-in Shower
Central Barcelona Accessible Hotel
5 Star Barcelona Wheelchair Accessible Hotel
3 Star Accessible Barcelona Hotel
Barcelona Wheelchair Accessible Beach Hotel
5 Star Accessible Barcelona Hotel by the Beach
Barcelona Accessibility Guide by John Sage
Barcelona Trip Planning by Sage Traveling – Travel with Ease!
Accessible Cruising with Sage Traveling – Receive our Barcelona Accessibility Guide & Barcelona accessible hotel recommendations for FREE!
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