Venice for disabled visitors
Venice isn't an ideal city for handicapped travelers, but it's more wheelchair-friendly than you might guess. Most of the city is flat, with smooth paving stones.
If you plan your outings carefully (using public transportation where appropriate), you can see most of the major sights without too much trouble.
Ground transportation:
- Airports. From Venice Marco Polo Airport, you can
take wheelchair-accessible Alilaguna
airport boats to the city center and the Marittima cruise terminals.
(The most wheelchair-friendly Alilaguna stops are San Marco, San
Zaccaria, and Lido S.M.E.)
Airport buses go from Venice Marco Polo and Treviso airports to the Piazzale Roma, which has two accessible hotels directly on the square. (See "Where to stay" below.) - Train. Venice Santa Lucia Station has services for disabled travelers, and you can avoid the station steps by using the side exit or a ramp by the main entrance. Click here for details at Venice for Visitors.
- Cruise port. Taxis serve the Marittima and San Basilio cruise terminals, and the fully-accessible People Mover connects Marittima with Piazzale Roma.
- Parking. The Tronchetto parking garage is accessible, with public transportation by water bus and People Mover.
- Water taxi. Standard water taxis are not accessible by wheelchair. (You may be able to book a lift-equipped boat with Sanitrans, but if you can, it will be expensive.)
Where to stay:
- For a standard tourist visit, consider a wheelchair-friendly hotel near the Piazza San Marco or (for shorter visits) the Piazzale Roma. Hotels at the Piazzale Roma are especially convenient when you're arriving by airport bus or taxi.
Getting around:
- Much of the area around the Piazza San Marco is wheelchair-accessible, except for the occasional step or two. For an overview of bridge-free areas, see the city's official Accessible Venice Map.
- To get from one barrier-free neighborhood to another, ride the ACTV water buses, especially the No. 1 vaporetto on the Grand Canal. If you're in a wheelchair, you can travel cheaply (with a free ticket for a companion).
- Tip: We strongly recommend traveling with a companion, because you'll sometimes encounter a step or other barrier that requires assistance.