Accessible Tourism in Paris
Disabled Access to Sights and Attractions in the French Capital
Access to Paris's main tourist attractions for older and disabled travellers and wheelchair users is improving. Some 'Paris by Wheelchair'-style tips:
Accessible Museums & Galleries
The main art galleries and history museums of Paris have vastly improved disabled access in the last few years. The Louvre, Pompidou Centre, Musée d'Orsay and recently re-opened Musée du Quai Branly all now offer good access including lifts, disabled toilets and wheelchair hire from the front desk.
The Eiffel Tower has preferential queuing for disabled visitors and has installed lift access up to the second floor. From here you can access the shops and restaurants. For the newly-opened swish Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, there is a separate lift which you should book in advance.
You'll often be entitled to jump the queue and to free or reduced entrance for both you and a companion, so take documental proof of your disability don't be afraid to push your luck. Many museums also lend manual wheelchairs and have facilities for those with hearing and visual impairments. Museum websites should have the necessary information somewhere on the site, but it's always worth calling in advance to check that lifts are working and disabled toilets are open (some, unfortunately, get used as storage cupboards).
Parc de la Villette
The Parc de la Villette is a 25-hectare park set around the Canal St Martin in the north of Paris. Inside, you'll find a huge contemporary arts centre called La Grande Halle, featuring exhibitions, shows, theatre performances, concerts and other events. Most of the park is accessible on flat (if rather bumpy) surfaces, with lifts up to the bridges which cross the canal and plenty of restaurants, cafés and accessible toilets.
The Cité des Sciences is the biggest science museum in Europe. It's fully accessible for wheelchair users and has all the necessary facilities for hearing-impaired and visually-impaired visitors, including induction loops and sign-language interpreters for talks. The museum is huge and will keep you (and the kids) busy all day with its 3D cinema, planetarium, and numerous permanent and temporary exhibitions of science, technology and the environment. Disabled visitors and a companion enjoy free entry, so take documental proof.
The Cité de la Musique on the same site contains an interesting museum as well as hosting classical and jazz concerts. It has wheelchair spaces, lifts, disabled toilets, a good café-restaurant (ramped from the left-hand side) and offers reduced rates for disabled visitors.
Tourisme & Handicap Label
Look out for the French Tourisme & Handicap label, which certifies a certain standard of accessibility for Paris's tourist sights and attractions which carry the label.
It is awarded for four different areas of disability: physically impaired, visually impaired, hearing impaired and mental disabilities. You can download a list of hotels and attractions with the label from the tourist information website.
Accessible Hotels, Transport and Disability Equipment Hire in Paris
Paris is huge, sprawling, and traffic-filled so travelling around the city between the many sights and attractions can be a bit stressful. It's well worth booking an accessible taxi and arranging a time for pick-up later in the day – you are on holiday, after all.
You should also take a look at a map, decide which areas you are most interested in visiting, and find a hotel in the area. Many of the hotels in the ETAP (www.etaphotel.com) and IBIS (www.ibishotel.com) chains offer accessible accommodation (some with roll-in showers) all over the city.
For short-term equipment hire including hoists and wheelchairs, contact Medica Plus (201 rue de la Fayette, +33 1 5326 0000, medicaplusparis@orange.fr).
