Updated February 2023

We firmly believe that travel should be accessible to everybody. To be able to explore a place, journey somewhere new, feel a sense of adventure, discover new cultures and learn about local history is a very special experience. But for some, travel can be challenging.

We’ve compiled a guide to accessible travel within Europe, giving each country a rating out of five. We’ve updated our criteria for this new edition, though we still consider the accessibility of public buildings and services, transport, street movement, attractions, rural travel, government action and legal provisions.

We’ve put together a five-point criteria to score each country based on its ability to adapt and improve in five key areas.

Read our guide

Updated and simplified for 2023, our second edition guide to Accessible Travel in Europe contains updated country-by-country information. You can find the first edition guide here.

Sorry, this publication cannot be displayed.

The following consent is required:
Tracking & performance, Targeting & advertising.

Allow Consent Settings

Our five-point criteria

Building upon our previous five-point plan, we’ve combined some areas and adapted others for a simplified criteria. Each country is scored against these criteria based on its ability to adapt, improve and embrace the points below.

1. Legal Provision 
Are there legal provisions enshrined in the constitution to promote equality and anti-discrimination? How well-established are these laws?

2. Government Action
Is local government making reasonable efforts to improve accessibility, opportunities and awareness and promote an open attitude towards less-abled people?

3. Ease of Movement Inside
How easy is movement within public buildings? Are indoor attractions, such as museums, galleries, theatres, theme parks, water parks, and historical and cultural sites, accessible to all?

4. Ease of Movement Outside
Are public spaces, parks and pedestrianised areas easy to access? Are pavements free of bulky street furniture? Is there tactile paving, dropped kerbs and level access? Are there cobbled areas?

5. Getting from A to B
Are all main modes of transport, such as buses, taxis, trains, trams and metro services, boats etc, adapted for ease of use? Are there disabled parking spaces and on-road parking spots?

Laws & Protections

The United Nations, European Union and national governments have introduced many laws, legislation, guidance and charters covering the rights of people living with disabilities. All 27 member states of the EU have common rules, while the UK, Norway and Switzerland have implemented their own version based on those of the EU.

Law	Where it applies
Universal Declaration of Human Rights	All UN Member States including: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities	All UN member states including: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU	All EU states including: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
European Accessibility Act 2019	All EU states including: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
UK Human Rights Act 1998	Great Britain
UK Equality Act 2010	Great Britain
Equality & Anti-Discrimination Act 2017	Norway
Disability Discrimination Act 2002/2017	Switzerland

Charities & Organisations

Disability Rights UK disabilityrightsuk.org	A UK-based charity set up to create a society where disabled people have equal power, rights and equality of opportunity.
InclusionEurope  inclusion-europe.eu	Europe-wide charity fighting for equal rights and full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities.
Motability motability.org.uk	National charity with the purpose of enhancing the lives of disabled people with transportation solutions and charitable grant programmes.
NewLife newlifecharity.co.uk	A UK-based charity providing help and support to disabled children and their families.
NHS nhs.uk	UK National Health Service providing healthcare, information, advice, and other health-related services.
Prince’s Trust princes-trust.org.uk	A UK-based charity founded by King Charles III that provides help, support and advice to young people with disabilities and those who are vulnerable, living in poverty, struggling with education, employment or other difficult circumstances.
Scope scope.org.uk	Disability equality charity that campaigns for a fairer society and provides practical information and emotional support.