Barcelona is one of the most attractive tourist cities in the world and one of the most visited destinations: it is full of monuments, museums, culture, art and alleys where we would all like to get lost! In addition, it is a city that is increasingly prepared for accessible tourism. Its flat streets, pedestrian areas and a large part of the adapted transport facilitate the movements of people with reduced mobility and wheelchair users.
In this guide that we have prepared, you will discover how to get to Barcelona, what are the best options for moving around the city and which accessible monuments, museums and adapted tourist spaces you cannot miss during your visit to the city.
Furthermore, if you are looking for accessible accommodation in Barcelona, the Centre Esplai Hostel is an ideal option. Its facilities are 100% adapted for people with reduced mobility, offering a comfortable and barrier-free stay to enjoy the city to the fullest.
Arrival in Barcelona
It is important to take into account the means of transport that you will use when you come to visit the city of Barcelona. We must say, however, that today any of them is adapted for people with reduced mobility. Therefore, we will explain all the possibilities and ways to get to Barcelona and what aspects you should take into account in each of them:
-
Airplane
If you have booked a plane ticket to come to Barcelona, it is very important to indicate to the airline that you will be traveling in a wheelchair. This way, you will have the free service of attention to passengers with special needs. In addition, they will provide you with another wheelchair so that you can check in yours.
-
Train
You may prefer to come to the city by train, whether it is the AVE, the Euromed, the Regional, etc. depending on your origin. Coming by train is not a problem, since most of them make their stops at Sants Station and França Station, where there is a free service for people with reduced mobility. And without the need to give advance notice!
-
Car
Sometimes the most comfortable way to visit Barcelona is by car from your home town or city. We have the great advantage that in this city most public and private car parks (here you can see the Barcelona City Council car park network) are equipped with several spaces for people with reduced mobility.
-
Bus
The bus is another alternative to visit the Catalan capital in an easy and comfortable way! Most companies that manage these bus trips, such as ALSA and FLIXBUS, they usually make their last stop at Barcelona Nord Station. This station has security staff who will help you with anything whenever you need it.
Photograph taken by TMB Flickr. (license)
How to get around the city?
Another aspect that we would like to include in this post is how to get around Barcelona in a wheelchair. As we have mentioned, the streets and neighborhoods of Barcelona are quite flat and accessible for people with reduced mobility. But is the same true for public transport?
Using public transport with a wheelchair will not be a problem for you. As for the metro, it is one of the most comfortable options for getting around the city and much of the metropolitan area. Many stations are adapted for people with reduced mobility. If you want to know which ones they are and how to use this service, we recommend that you consult our article on how to get around Barcelona by metro. You will also find useful information in our guide on the Rodalies Renfe services.
The TMB bus network is another excellent alternative. All buses are adapted and have access ramps and spaces reserved for wheelchair users, guaranteeing comfortable, safe and accessible travel throughout the city.
Photograph taken by TMB Flickr. (license)
Accessible tours
If you have reduced mobility, don’t worry! Most of the tourist attractions in Barcelona are adapted, as are most of the neighborhoods that make up the city. You can walk through the main neighborhoods such as Ciutat Vella, El Born, Barceloneta, Eixample, etc. Although El Raval is a little less adapted in some places, it is still comfortable for people in wheelchairs.
As for tourist attractions, we recommend one of our publications on 10 places in Barcelona that you can’t miss. In this post, we list some typical and mandatory places if you come to visit Barcelona, and others not so common, but with an incomparable charm! Among all the adapted places of interest, we highlight the Sagrada Família, the Casa Batlló, the Palau de la Música, the Parc Güell and, if you come in the summer, the city’s beaches.
So, as we have seen, we confirm that the city of Barcelona is an adapted city in every way: both in terms of transport and in terms of urban planning and sightseeing. We hope you liked this basic guide to visiting Barcelona in a wheelchair, and that it was useful for you to plan your visit to the city! And remember that the Alberg Centre Esplai is a hostel 100% accessible for all people with reduced mobility. Ideal for a great stay, very comfortable and safe!