Top Accessible Holiday Destination: Valencia, Spain

Looking for a travel destination where you can find accessible accommodations, facilities and transports allowing wheelchair travelers and visitors with mobility impairment to enjoy a fantastic holiday with no particular barriers or problems?

Valencia, Spain is certainly one the best accessible destinations in Europe. The third Spanish city is a modern and dynamic center which offers museums and tourist attractions to all kinds of visitors. Valencia provides high quality public services and features disability equipments which ensure both seniors and disabled tourists an enjoyable stay on the sunny Costa del Azahar.

• Accessible Transport in Valencia

Although strolling through Valencia Old Town might not be so easy for wheelchair visitors since the area is a real maze of small cobbled streets, the city of Valencia is a great destination for visitors with reduced mobility or other disabilities.

First of all, Valencia is a good choice for physically challenged people traveling by air as accessible airport transfer is available. In fact, the International Manises Valencia Airport is connected to the city center by two wheelchair accessible metro lines (lines 3 and 5). Located in the northeast of Spain, Valencia is also an excellent choice for a day trip from Barcelona. The journey to Valencia Norte station takes about 3 hours and all trains feature wheelchair spaces and bathrooms specially-equipped for travelers with mobility issues.

In addition, Valencia public transport system is excellent. Bus lines served all city beaches, tourist attractions and business venues and buses are all wheelchair accessible vehicles equipped with ramps and low steps. Valencia underground network has also been adapted to welcome people who suffer physical impairment. It is entirely accessible to wheelchair users, except at the following metro stops: Sant Isidre, Hospital, Patraix, Jesús, Plaza Espanya, Túria and Beniferri. Many metro stations also have ticket booths with Braille and audio information, as well as tactile surfaces to help people with visual impairment.

• Accessible museums and city sights in Valencia

Filled with museums, historical monuments and beautiful beaches, Valencia has put many efforts in making these sites of interest accessible to physically challenged and senior visitors. For instance, the IVAM (Museum of Modern Art) offers free admission to disabled visitors. All Valencia city beaches, such as Arena and Malvarrosa, are also fully-equipped to welcome disabled visitors and offer sea-wheelchairs for hire. They can be reached by accessible metro and bus lines and allow easy access to the sea. But the most remarkable example of accessible tourist attraction in Valencia is with no doubt the City of Arts and Sciences.

The new Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències is a fantastic cultural center featuring interesting permanent and temporary art exhibitions. Housed in an impressive, futuristic complex designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava in collaboration with Felix Candela, the City is surrounded by large water pools and fountains.

Made up of five areas – El Museu de les Ciences Principe Felipe science museum, L’Oceanografic open-air oceanographic park, L’Umbracle garden, El Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia Opera house, and L’Hemisferic planetarium and Imax cinema, Valencia City of Art and Sciences is a fully accessible museum: All buildings and areas are easy to access for visitors with disabilities and physical impairments: hearing loops, signage, elevators, ramps and adapted toilets are available everywhere in the City.

This Valencia museum also runs a monthly public workshop on disability, with the aim of raising public awareness on accessibility.

• Wheelchair friendly hotels in Valencia

Almost every hotel in Valencia is wheelchair friendly since most of the accommodations available are new or have been renovated recently, more especially in the area around the City of Arts and Sciences.

Here is a short selection of disabled friendly hotels available on venere.com:

Hotel Urbem Opera

The Hotel Urbem Opera is a stylish hotel ideally situated in the area of the City of Arts and Sciences, only 5 minutes from the Oceanographic and a short bus ride to Valencia city center.

This Valencia hotel offers spacious accommodations including rooms accessible to disabled guests. Boasting superb interiors, the Uberm Opera also boasts an array of luxury hotel amenities, such as business and banqueting facilities, a solarium terrace, a spa center, a garden, a beautiful design lounge bar, and a fantastic restaurant.

Venere Guest Rating: 9.0

Hotel Barcelo Valencia

The Hotel Barcelo is a brand new hotel located right in the heart of the City of Arts and Sciences, just opposite Reina Sofia opera house, and a few minutes away from Valencia Old Town.

Hotel facilities include disabled accessible rooms, 3 theme restaurants, a lounge bar overlooking the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències, 2 meeting rooms, 6 offices, and a covered car park. The Hotel Barcelo Valencia also boasts a Spa & Wellness Center with sauna, Jacuzzi, fitness room and massage room, and offering chocolatherapy and wine therapy.

Venere Guest Rating: 8.7

Hotel Confortel Aqua 3*

Housed in a shopping center with restaurants, bars, bowling, cinema and car park, the Hotel Confortel enjoys an excellent location for guests visiting Valencia City of Arts and Sciences.

Featuring facilities for disabled people, this modern business hotel in Valencia boasts beautiful design furnishings and offers 8 meeting rooms, an Internet point, and a trendy panoramic restaurant offering splendid views of the Ciutat de les Arts i de les Ciències.

Venere Guest Rating: 8.5

Hotel Valencia Center

Standing on the modern Avenida de Francia, the Hotel Valencia Center is an elegant hotel offering wheelchair accessible accommodation very close to the famous City of Arts and Sciences and only a few meters from several bus lines taking you to Valencia city center.

Hotel amenities include an elevator, a lounge bar, La Magrana Restaurant, conference and business facilities, a covered car park, an outdoor swimming pool, as well as a fitness center with sauna.

Venere Guest Rating: 8.2

Picture of Valencia Science Museum and Imax Cinema at sunset originally posted by Andrew Parnell

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Tags:  accessible travel, comfort, hotels, Valencia