Accessible Tourism in Valencia
Enjoy an Accessible Holiday in Spain's Best Beach & City Destination
Valencia in the northeast of Spain is a superb destination for disabled or older travellers. Some useful access information for visiting Valencia.
Travel to Valencia
There are daily flights from most European cities to Valencia. US travellers will have to change in Madrid or Barcelona. Valencia's 'Manises' airport is eight km from the city centre and connected to it by wheelchair-accessible metro lines 3 and 5.
You can also visit Valencia as a side-trip from Barcelona. There are regular direct trains from Barcelona to Valencia Norte station. All trains have dedicated wheelchair spaces and an adapted bathroom, but you must be sure to book this in advance and to arrive at the station in plenty of time. The journey takes around three hours.
Accessible Transport & Taxis in Valencia
Valencia's city centre is fairly small, although its age means that cobbles and wonky pavements can be a problem in some places. The city council are improving matters and there are now ramps and better paving in place around much of the city, but the old town in particular can be a challenge for people with reduced mobility.
However, the public transport system in Valencia is excellent. The entire bus fleet of 317 buses are equipped with low steps and ramps and wheelchair spaces. Accessible buses often run to nearby beaches and outlying areas.
The whole metro system in Valencia is now accessible for wheelchair users except for the following: Beniferri, Túria, Pl. Espanya, Jesús, Patraix, Hospital i Sant Isidre. Many stations are also now adapted to help travellers with visual impairments, with Braille and audio information as well as tactile surfaces.
Radio Taxi (+34 9 6370 3333) have some accessible vehicles but be sure to state your needs clearly when booking.
Accessible Tourism Information for Valencia
The official Valencia tourist information website has an excellent, detailed section on visitors with reduced mobility or other disabilities. Click on 'Discover Valencia' and 'Accessible Valencia'.
The guided tour company Turiart are happy to arrange tours for people with reduced mobility or other needs. They also offer electric scooter hire.
Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències
The new, impressive 'City of Arts and Sciences' in Valencia is a superb science/arts/cultural centre and museum. It will keep you busy for at least a day or two with its permanent and temporary exhibitions. One of the most interesting buildings is the Oceanográfic, possibly the most important sea-life centre and aquarium in the world.
All buildings and facilities are fully accessible for people with all kinds of disabilities, with ramps, lifts, adapted toilets, hearing loops and clear signage in place everywhere.
Every month the museum runs public workshops on a different kind of disability, with the aim of raising public awareness about accessibility. Call the info service or check at the info points for details.
Accessible Museums, Sights & Attractions in Valencia
Valencia is packed with other museums and monuments, including the impressive 13th-century Gothic cathedral, built on the site of a former mosque. It allegedly contains the Holy Grail (a gold and agate chalice enshrined in a small, simple chapel to the right of the entrance), but round the corner is a more gruesome sight of the preserved arm of St Vincent the Martyr.
The Museum of Modern Art (IVAM) contains a rich collection of 20th-century art and sculpture and offers free entry to disabled visitors – take documental proof if possible.
Accessible Beaches in Valencia
Valencia boasts 2.8km of beaches within easy reach of the city. Two of the nearest and best are Arenas and Malvarrosa, reached by accessible metro lines or buses.
Thanks to recent investment, all of Valencia's beaches now offer access to disabled visitors, with ramps, adapted signage, walkways down to the sea, sea-wheelchairs for hire, shaded rest areas with adapted beach furniture, as well as accessible changing rooms, toilets and showers. There are plenty of restaurants and bars along the beachfront.
Barcelona has six accessible beaches, three of which offer an assisted bathing service run by Red Cross volunteers, including amphibious wheelchairs.
