Accessible city and beach holidays across Europe

Planning the perfect getaway is a lot for anyone, but for wheelchair users or people with a disability or extra accessibility requirements, it can be even trickier. At Fish Insurance, we thought that as summer is finally here, now’s the perfect time to look at accessible holiday destinations across Europe.

There are lots of great places to visit. And the list keeps getting longer thanks to initiatives like the Access City Award programme. This is run in collaboration with the European Disability Forum and rewards cities for prioritising accessibility for those with disabilities.

To help you decide where you’d like to head off to this year, we’ve compiled our list of top destinations. There’s somewhere for everyone, whether you enjoy basking on a beach or soaking up the culture on a city break.

For sun, sea and sights, Barcelona is one of the best cities in Europe for accessibility. It’s also a first-rate choice for culture with many of Antoni Gaudí’s iconic works being accessible like the famous Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Getting around this city is a breeze as most metro stations are step-free and all buses are wheelchair accessible. Sightseeing is also just as convenient as there are smooth pavements and lowered curbs. But the real highlight has to be Nova Icària Beach, close to the Port Olímpic. Here you’ll find not just inclusive changing rooms, amphibious wheelchairs, lifejackets and shaded canopies, but also an assisted bathing service to help enter and leave the water.

Berlin is a buzzing cosmopolitan city that offers a mix of history, culture and cool chic. Seeing all it has to offer is made stress free thanks to its accessible transport system with most trains, buses, trams and stations being wheelchair friendly. It might sound like a stereotype, but in this instance it’s true, German efficiency makes travelling with accessibility needs that extra bit easier. Must visit museums and landmarks include the the Reichstag, Berlin Wall Memorial and Museum Island. All of which cater for mobility and sensory access. And when you want to relax, head for Tiergarten, which is Berlin’s largest park and offers trails designed with wheelchair users in mind. As a final bonus, Berlin is a very flat city. Making it ideal for wheelchair users, whether you’re getting about under your own steam or have someone helping.

You might not have heard of Ljubljana in Slovenia, but it is putting accessibility on the map. The capital city of the country, it is a hidden gem being compact, easy to navigate and simply charming. More importantly, it has received several European Access City Awards for its efforts in allowing tourists with additional accessibility requirements to enjoy all Ljubljana has to offer. The city has even created its own app called Ljubljana by Wheelchair. This provides trustworthy information at the touch of a screen, covering the following categories – Sleep, Drink, Eat, See, Do, Shop and Toilet. Wheelchair users can also hire a SPEED3X trailer free of charge. This is an electric trailer that attaches to the front of virtually any wheelchair. With a battery range of up to 40km, it allows wheelchair users to move around easier and faster. Places to visit include the beautiful old town which is mostly pedestrianised and flat with ramps in key spots. Though it is paved, making for slightly slower going. You can also enjoy a relaxing river cruise as tour boats are wheelchair accessible or relax in the idyllic Tivoli Park which is fully paved.

With its crisscrossing canals and historic buildings at every turn, nowhere else in Europe is quite like Amsterdam. Thanks to it being extremely flat and most trams and buses being wheelchair friendly, it is easy to get around. You can even see the sights using one of the many canal cruises. Thanks to the city’s commitment to becoming more accessible, you can explore its main attractions with ease, such as the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum. One place to visit that might not spring to mind when you think of Amsterdam is the Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo. Our only word of warning before planning your visit is to make sure to book a hotel that is accessible. Most modern ones are well-equipped, but older canal houses can be a challenge.

If you want to head somewhere that whispers charm and shouts grandeur, then Vienna is for you. Especially as it won 1^st place in the 2025 Access City Award thanks to its outstanding efforts in improving accessibility for those with disabilities. Vienna offers accessible paths, elevators and areas designed for wheelchair users across the city, as well as excellent public transport which includes accessible trams and metro system. Places to visit in this majestic capital city include Schönbrunn Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum and Vienna State Opera. And after soaking up the culture, relax along the Danube Canal or take a trip to one of Vienna’s many streets lined with stylish cafes and eateries.

Nowhere else do you feel quite as welcomed as Dublin. Around every corner are friendly faces, great food, live music, and of course, the opportunity to sip the odd pint of Guinness in a cosy Irish bar. But what makes it even more attractive is that it’s a great city for wheelchair accessibility. The LUAS trams and busses provide wheelchair-friendly services around the city. And when you get to your destination, the chances are that there will be accessible pathways. For a spot of culture head for Trinity College, Dublin Castle or one of the many museums – most have great access. Also, the city has a wide range of modern hotels with rooms tailored to those with accessibility requirements. The one place we wouldn’t recommend is Temple Bar due to its cobbled streets which can make sightseeing an issue. But don’t worry, there are plenty more places to visit.

We’ve picked out a few of our favourite accessible places across Europe. But this list by no means covers all the great destinations available. No matter where your interests lie, with a little research you’ll find the ideal place for you. Our advice is to plan ahead and use local resources, as many European cities have disability-specific tourist guides online. You can also check out areas in advance using apps like Wheelmap, AccessNow or Google Maps (using the wheelchair-accessible filter).

We hope that wherever your travels take you this summer, you have a fantastic time seeing the sights and enjoying the sunshine. Europe’s waiting and it more accessible than ever.