Topic: Wheelchairs in Venice?

This my first topic - one of our party on Celeb Eclipse in August is a wheelchair user and the burning question is - can we easily get around Venice as he is unable to climb any steps or embark into a small boat and we want to see all we can on our much anticipated visit and certainly do not want to leave him on board! .

Hi My mum uses a wheelchair, and from experience, this city isn't easily navigated in a wheelchair. In truth I would advise missing out of this port for the wheelcahair user unfortunately.

It seems from your post that there is going to be one person in a wheelchair and a number of you able bodied.
Well if some of you have the energy to pull/push/drag the wheelchair over some bridges with steps you'll should manage if you are determined.

I would imagine you would struggle in Venice with a wheelchair unless you stay on one side of city, most places are reached by using the Vaporeto or crossing the bridges and they have got steps. It truly is an amazing city but I would suggest doing a ships tour if there is one that accomodates wheelchairs. We spent 3 days there and walked miles across the bridges up and down to the Vaporettos

Just returned from Venice on Ventura 13 June.I know that P and O put on shuttle buses especially for wheelchair users which took people to Troncetto (sorry can't remember exact name! ) Island to catch the vaporetta so some places must be accessible. Also noticed some bridges had ramps as well as steps. Why not contact the Tourist Board in Venice ? I really hope your wheelchair user can see some of Venice as it is wonderful.

Apparently No 1 and No 2 vaporettas are wheelchair accessible.

St Marks square the water front there and the garden and artists stalls there would be worth a visit or go on a gondola then..if she can manage to get down into one...
Or there are water taxis.. get one of those from the ship and get them to take you on a ride around the Grand Canal.. there was a trip you could book which was by water taxi for those with walking difficulties

we were in venice last year,there was a wheelchair user on our ship she was able to get around in venice,it is correct there are some water taxis suited for disabled passengers,the main thing is the crowds,but people will move out the way for you so have a good day there

As has been said previously the vaparetto No1 route goes from Piazza Roma the full length of the Grand Canal and is wheelchair accessible, To get to pia Roma you will have to walk & push to the "people mover" mono rail station which has lifts to get to the platforms at all high level stations. At Pia Roma cross the busy bus station apron to the waterbus landing stages. Pia Roma is the end of route for the No1 service so no worry about which direction. A 12 hour multi trip pass will probably be the most convenient for you. San Marco is easy for the wheelchair and you can look at access on/off the waterbuses which go out to Murano and the other islands. You can download a route map and get lots of info from the internet, have a look at veniceforvisitors.com they have a section which shows wheelchair accessible route numbers as well as route maps. If your party is "large" then consider hiring a water taxi, it will not be cheap in total but the unit cost could be very reasonable considering convenience....Richard B

Here is a couple of useful links


http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm...OB%3AID%3D1318


http://www.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm...OB%3AID%3D1318

You can access the main attractions however the Basilica is only in the morning as you use the side entrance along with the worshipers the rest of the day you need to find an attendant not easy.

As for getting around use an adapted water taxi + 39 041 523 99 77
they have a scissor lift on the motor boat allows a wheelchair to be landed easily at the appropriate landing stages

It's not cheap but it is worth the money if you are not able to tranfer.