Getting Around Accessible Greece in a Wheelchair
People often dream of a Greek Island getaway. For someone who uses a wheelchair, Greece may present some challenges however, as streets are often narrow, have cobblestones and steps. Don’t let that dissuade you though! It is possible to visit Greece as a wheelchair user, and I’ll help give you what you need to know for getting around accessible Greece in a wheelchair.
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Is Greece Wheelchair Accessible?
I’m not going to lie, there are challenges when visiting Greece as a wheelchair user due to the uneven terrain. However, if Greece is on your bucket list, there are ways to visit and experience this country as a wheelchair user. It will take more planning and possibly a larger budget, but it is possible.
My goal is to give you an idea of what you can experience during your trip, and some tips for visiting. Keep reading for what you need to know!
Popular Accessible Greece Destinations
First let’s talk about where in Greece you want to go…. It’s quite a large area after all. One of the first places that comes to mind when you think of Greece is Athens. And why not, it’s home to the Acropolis. You may also think of some of the Greek Isles… the most popular ones being Santorini and Mykonos.
But there is so much more to Greece that just these three destinations. When I went, I had the opportunity to visit Islands I hadn’t really heard of before, but they offered so much beauty that I’m glad I got to discover them.
How to Visit Accessible Greece
My suggestion to get the most out of your trip to accessible Greece (and to take some of the stress out of finding accessible lodging and restaurants) is to consider doing a cruise. No matter what cruise line you prefer, all the major lines have Greek itineraries.
When I went, I cruised with Princess as they had the itinerary that appealed to me the most at the time. We stopped in Athens, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes, Corfu.
TIP: When choosing the right cruise for you, make sure to look out for tender ports. These are ports where the ship anchors offshore and you must take a smaller boat to get to port. Most of the time these tender ports present challenges for people with mobility issues and if your mobility device weighs more than 100 lbs., you may not be able to tender at all.
There are some ships that have a “roll on” tender system, but they are few and far between. In addition, there are always weight restrictions even with this system. Holland America cruise line claims to have this type of system on all but one of their ships (it’s not on the Volendam). I haven’t tried the system yet but can’t wait to try it out as it would open more options for me as a manual wheelchair user.
Wheelchair Accessible Places to Go and Things to Do in Greece
In this next section, I’ll talk about each of the places I visited in Greece, the best way to get around and accessible things to see/do. As I cruised when I traveled to these places, I’ll be coming from that perspective.
Athens
Most ships dock in Athens and there are several companies that offer accessible tours of the city. Unfortunately, accessible tours tend to be pretty pricey. Athens does have accessible taxis so it may be cheaper to arrange a taxi for a day vs an official tour.
The downside, of course, is that you won’t have a guide to tell you all about the ancient history associated with Athens. The metro is also wheelchair accessible. If you go out on your own without a tour, be aware that the sidewalks in Athens are less than desirable. They are uneven and bumpy. Traffic is also very busy.
Acropolis
One of the most iconic sites in Athens is the Acropolis and at one time this site was nowhere near accessible. Luckily, times have changed and wheelchair users can now visit the site via an elevator located on the northwest side of the Acropolis. There is a ramp from the ticket booth that leads to the lift, but it does have some inclines and declines.
Once at the top, there is a new accessible path that leads to most of the famous sites and temples. Admission to the Acropolis is free for those with disabilities. It is suggested that you call in advance to make sure the elevator is operating and to let staff know you will be coming. You can contact them by calling +30 210 3214172 or +30 210 9238470
National Archeological Museum
This is one of the best museums in the city and it also has great accessibility. There is a ramped entrance on the north side on Dionysiou Areopagitou street. All of the levels of the museum are also accessible. Admission is free for people with disabilities and one companion.
Exhibits include ancient sculptures and artifacts found in Greece. There are no audio guides or guided tours but there are English subtitles on the exhibits throughout the museum.
Square of Monastiraki
This is a flat area that is full of souvenir shops and outdoor restaurants. A great place to shop and get some traditional Greek food.
Santorini
Although beautiful, this island also poses one of the biggest challenges to wheelchair users as walkways are cobbled and often contain steps. Cruise ships almost always tender into this port, so that will pose its own challenges. If you really want to see this island and are able to tender (or use a roll-on tender) then I highly recommend that you splurge and book an accessible tour.
An accessible tour will save you a lot of stress and help you make the most of your time here. There are a couple of popular excursion companies that offer accessible tours here: John Sage (https://www.sagetraveling.com/santorini-accessible-guided-tours), Disabled Accessible Travel (https://disabledaccessibletravel.com/accessible-destinations/greece/accessible-santorini/) and Karavas Travel (https://www.santorini-karavastravel.com/tour/accessible-santorini-day-tour/).
I have not used these companies for this tour so I cannot comment on whether one is better than the other. You may also be able to find accessible tours on viator.com or getyourguide.com.
Make sure to check which part of the island you will be tendering to… there are two different tender drop off points. At the main tender port, it will require you to take a cable car to the top of the cliff.
There are lifts (I believe on the left side) to take you up the stairs and to the cable car. I have heard that you will have to be able to step into the cable car and transfer from your wheelchair to the seat of the car but cannot verify this. When I contacted the company regarding accessibility, they simply informed me that the cable cars were wheelchair accessible.
Blue Domed Church
Whenever you’ve seen a picture of Santorini, chances are you’ve seen the blue dome church in several of them. It has essentially become synonymous with the island. Most accessible tours will visit this iconic site.
When I went, I had more mobility and my friends and I decided to walk around and see the sites for our own. We spent all day looking for this church! The alleys are winding and it’s easy to lose your way. Yet another good reason to book a tour!
Sunsets
Whether you’re on the cruise ship leaving port or still on the island, make sure you don’t miss the incredible sunsets that this area is known for.
Archeological Museum of Santorini
Housing a variety of ancient Greek artifacts, this accessible museum will take you back in time. Learn about Greek mythology and ancient societies as you wander through the exhibits.
Scenic overlooks
Your accessible tour will take you to all of the best places to take amazing pictures. Almost any part of this island is Instagram worthy.
Mykonos
Known for its beaches and wonderful windmills, this island is a great place to spend a day. Which cruise line you choose will depend on whether this port is a tender port or whether the ship will dock just outside of town. It’s a fairly flat roll/walk into town from what I remember (I visited in 2010).
There will be large and mostly flat cobblestones throughout the town. Alleyways may be narrow at times at contain quite a bit of steps throughout. This would be another port where investing in an accessible tour may make sense. Accessible tours are available from a couple of different companies, including the ones I mentioned for Santorini.
When I visited, we walked to where the windmills are, had some food at an accessible outdoor restaurant and went to a beach. It was a lovely and relaxing day.
The Windmills
These icons can be seen from the port. They sit up on a hill and are stately ambassadors of the island’s history. One even dates back to 1700! When they were in use, they used the wind to grind down wheat and barley, which was then sold at the local markets.
There is a sandy area immediately surrounding the windmills, but there are also accessible viewing areas so you can capture that great photo.
Accessible Beaches
Unfortunately, when I visited there were no accessible beaches. That is beginning to change, however, and now there are three. Information is pretty scarce on just what services are available, but it is documented that these three beaches have a wooden ramp leading to the water.
These beaches are:
Kalafatis
Kalo Livadi
Agia Anna
Agia Anna also has a special system with a chair on the ramp that will take people with disabilities into the water. Of course, you would need to be able to transfer into the chair.
Rhodes
Cruise ships dock at Rhodes, which will make for easy exploring. Rhodes an unexpectedly beautiful island. However, like pretty much all of Greece, there are steep pathways and cobblestones everywhere. Any kind of walking tour would be difficult.
I remember when I visited, my friends and I decided to walk around and explore on our own, and boy was I exhausted at the end of the day! We took our time and did things at our own pace but it still took its toll on me.
Unlike some of the other Greek Isles, Rhodes has wheelchair accessible public transportation. The public buses have two wheelchair spots each with tie down capabilities. They also kneel down for easy access with a ramp.
If you want to try to save some money and go out on your own, I’d recommend getting a map of the bus routes ahead of time and mapping out what you want to see and do. Route maps can be found on Statewide System Map – RIPTA.
Accessible Rhodes also has electric powered scooters that you can rent to visit the old town portion of Rhodes as well as other sites. These scooters have a high back to help support you, but require you to transfer to the scooter and be able to drive/maneuver it. It may be a great option for people with limited mobility. For more details, check their website: Accessible Rhodes Spot in Old Town – Accessible Tourism (accessible-rhodes.com).
There are also some fairly inexpensive audio guides and other tours on www.getyouguide.com.
Here’s my list of accessible things to do on the island:
Mandraki harbor
Believed to have once held the great statue of Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, at the harbor entrance, now it offers views of St. Nicholas Fortress, some medieval windmills and two deer statues. It is a flat and easy to navigate area.
Archeological Museum of Rhodes
When I visited here, I was walking with a cane and had limited mobility. I remember surfaces being mostly flat but that there were steps (sometimes flights of stairs) throughout the museum. I don’t remember if there were alternative accessible pathways for wheelchair users.
The museum itself was quite lovely with a lot of ancient mosaics and artifacts. The scenery was also quite picturesque. We had a nice ½ day visit.
Try some Greek food!
There are lots of outdoor accessible restaurants throughout the town. Each will differ in its level of accessibility. For example, some may have accessible restrooms, while others may not.
Accessible Beaches
Elli Beach in Rhodes Town offers an accessible beach platform, but unfortunately, no accessible bathrooms. There is also no way to actually get into the water.
Shop!
Throughout the town and by the pier are family-owned shops where you can get your fill of souvenirs. Not all shops are accessible, but there were some good options if you are in the mood to do some shopping.
If you appreciate liquor, make sure to pick up some Ouzo, but just enjoy it in moderation…. It is strong and can really sneak up on you!
Accessible tours will take you all throughout the island to ancient ruins, lovely monasteries and scenic overlooks.
Corfu
This was my favorite island that we visited. The views were absolutely amazing and it had cool architecture. Since I had better mobility in 2010, I took a shore excursion through the cruise line that was fairly easy. I had a friend travelling with me that was able to assist me up the steep steps of the motorcoach the tour used.
Overall, though Corfu is one of the more accessible Greek Islands thanks to the Deputy Mayor of Welfare and Social Policy, a wheelchair user himself. They are even making maps of the old town which show accessible rolling routes.
While I was here, I visited the Paleokintrista Monastery, the Paleokintrista beach, did a driving tour of the old town and saw a folklore performance. There are reasonably priced accessible tours to these locations as well as other parts of the island.
Another option is to take the accessible hop on hop off bus to get an overview of the old town section of the island. Unfortunately, this bus does not go to the Paleokintrista area (which it would be a real shame to miss… it’s gorgeous).
Here are some ideas on accessible activities you can take part in on the island.
1. Olive oil and wine tasting
Corfu is considered to be the garden isle because it is covered with lush vegetation and olive groves. Learn the art of olive oil tasting and combine that with a wine tasting and you will have the perfect tour for any foodie.
2. Take a stroll or roll through Corfu’s old town.
This historic area dates back to the 18th century and has lots to offer. There are old churches, historic fortresses and lots of opportunities for shopping and sampling the local cuisine. For those that walk with a cane or other mobility device, the hop on hop off bus will be a helpful option to explore this area.
3. Visit the Northern part of the island.
In the North Eastern part of the island, lies one of the prettiest areas (in my opinion). It is home to Paleokintrista beach and monastery. The beach itself lies between cliffs and has amazingly blue water. It is also accessible with a ramp leading to the water and an amphibious chair.
The monastery offers amazing views of the coast and is still a working monastery. The chapel is lovely as well. This stop would probably be better for people with limited mobility however, as there are some steps throughout, which would make it difficult or inaccessible to wheelchair users. There is also an incline to get to the entrance of the monastery.
Accessible tours for each of these options are available through www.getyouguide.com.
Conclusions on Visiting Accessible Greece as a Wheelchair User
While getting around Greece in a wheelchair will definitely present you with challenges, I’m a firm believer that if you want to do something bad enough and have a determined spirit, then you may be able to find a way to make things work. Greece is a lovely country with delicious food, friendly people and amazing sites, which would be a shame to miss if this is on your bucket list.
I hope that my experience visiting here will help you to plan your own accessible trip and make your dreams of visiting Greece, a reality. For more tips on traveling to Greece with mobility problems, click here.
