What makes a city highly accessible?
A truly inclusive destination for elderly and differently-abled travelers integrates universal design into its DNA.
Drawing from the WHO Age-friendly Cities and the European Commission’s Access City Award focus areas, our list combines Wego travel data with our Accessibility Index.
This index evaluates seven key criteria: transit seamlessness, terrain & pavement quality, attraction inclusivity, certified accommodations, digital & sensory assistance, healthcare infrastructure, and a senior-friendly vibe (e.g., caring about senior citizens, respect towards the elderly, etc.).
How the Wego accessibility score is calculated
Each city is awarded a final score out of 10 based on a weighted evaluation of seven key parameters.
The score is primarily driven by The Physical Foundation, which assesses transit seamlessness and pavement quality; Infrastructure & Logistics, focusing on attraction inclusivity and certified accommodation; and the Experience & Safety Net, which evaluates digital assistance, healthcare infrastructure, and the overall senior-friendly vibe of the city.
10 top accessible cities in 2026
1. Zaragoza, Spain
Zaragoza’s status as a leader in accessibility is rooted in a rights-based approach that ensures “full participation” in society, grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Winner of the 2026 Access City Award, the city has overhauled its urban landscape with comprehensive municipal accessibility rules, a dedicated Accessibility Office, and a formal Accessibility Board.
The urban area is supported by a tram system designed for step-free boarding (‘a cota cero’).
Wego Accessibility Score: 9.8/10
Don’t miss
⛪ Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar for accessible entrances and a modernized lift that provides tower views without the steps.
🏛️ Goya Museum for a fully barrier-free journey through Spanish art with specialized audio-description tours.
🌊 The Ebro Riverbank for miles of renovated, flat promenades that connect the city’s major architectural landmarks.
🥨 El Tubo District for an accessible tapas experience; many historic bars have been retrofitted with ramps and wider doors.
Must know
- Recommended base: Casco Antiguo (Old Town) for proximity to the fully accessible tram network.
- When to go: September to October for the Fiestas del Pilar.
- Healthcare: Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet is 15 minutes from Old Town, comprehensive geriatric assessment unit.
- Crucial tip: The Line 1 tram is 100% accessible with level boarding at every single stop.
2. Breda, Netherlands
Breda is a city where “everyone is welcome,” built on a culture of looking out for one another. Residents with disabilities review municipal project to ensure it reflects real-world needs, resulting in a seamless network of tactile paving and guiding lines that connect the central station through Valkenberg Park to the Grote Markt.
This philosophy ensures that major heritage sites are not just open, but are clustered and connected for navigation with dignity.
Wego Accessibility Score: 9.5/10
Don’t miss
🖼️ Stedelijk Museum Breda for a world-class example of inclusive museum design with wide elevators and sensory-friendly tours.
🌷 Valkenberg Park to wander through former royal gardens on perfectly smooth boulevards.
⛪ Grote Kerk to explore medieval architecture that has been retrofitted with seamless ramp access.
Must know
- Recommended base: City Center (Centrum)
- When to go: April to June for the tulip season and pleasant outdoor weather.
- Healthcare: Amphia Hospital is located 15 minutes from the center, offering a comprehensive elderly care unit with rehabilitation services.
- Crucial tip: Most public buses feature automated ramps that the driver deploys instantly, no pre-booking required.
3. Taipei, Taiwan
Taipei bridges high-tech urbanism with deep-rooted Confucian values of Filial Piety, where respecting and assisting elders is viewed as a communal moral duty.
This world-class infrastructure is reinforced by specialized digital assistance via the Taipei MRT Go (台北捷運Go) app, which provides accessibility information, identifies elevator exits, and shows real-time train congestion.
Wego Accessibility Score: 9.4/10
Don’t miss
🗼 Taipei 101 Observatory for specialized elevators and lowered viewing windows for wheelchair users.
📜 National Palace Museum for free wheelchair loans and dedicated elderly-priority elevators.
🌳 Daan Forest Park for perfectly flat asphalt paths and accessible facilities in a lush setting.
Must know
- Recommended base: Xinyi District for the most modern, wide-sidewalk infrastructure.
- When to go: October to December for cool temperatures and low rainfall.
- Healthcare: National Taiwan University Hospital is 10 minutes via MRT, renowned for geriatric medicine with multilingual staff.
- Crucial tip: Taipei Metro states its public restrooms are accessible.
4. Canberra, Australia
Canberra’s planned layout, paired with generally step-free national institutions and accessible public transport, makes it one of Australia’s easier capitals to navigate for travelers with mobility needs.
This physical readiness is reinforced by the ACT Disability Strategy developed in consultation with residents.
Wego Accessibility Score: 9.3/10
Don’t miss
🦕 National Museum of Australia: Free wheelchair/scooter hire and first-Tuesday ‘Quiet Hours’ for a tranquil, low-sensory visit (book ahead).
🇦🇺 Parliament House for a masterclass in modern, ramped architecture and panoramic accessible views.
🛶 Lake Burley Griffin for a flat, mostly paved shared pathway with frequent rest benches.
Must know
- Recommended base: NewActon for high-density accessible dining and modern hotels.
- When to go: September to October for Floriade, Australia’s massive (and very accessible) flower festival.
- Healthcare: Canberra Hospital, 15 min from CBD, the largest district general hospital with specialist aged care.
- Crucial tip: The National Public Toilet Map website and app include a filter for “Changing Places” facilities, high-spec restrooms with hoists.
5. Munich, Germany
Munich operates on a “solidarity” principle where social care is a public right, supported by Social Community Centres that provide barrier-free assistance for seniors.
This social safety net is backed by a world-class transit system featuring elevators at nearly every U-Bahn station and the “Reisen für Alle” (Travel for All) certification that ensures transparency in dining and accommodation accessibility. The result is a high-density environment of wide, flat boulevards that foster a perfect “slow travel” haven.
Wego Accessibility Score: 9.1/10
Don’t miss
🌳 The English Garden for one of the world’s largest urban parks, featuring perfectly level paths.
🖼️ Deutsches Museum for a massive, fully accessible science museum with dedicated elevators and tactile exhibits.
🥨 Viktualienmarkt for a flat, open-air food market with plenty of accessible seating and senior-priority service.
👑 The Residenz: Experience Bavaria’s royal splendor in the Antiquarium and Ancestral Gallery, featuring Europe’s largest Renaissance hall. Some areas are barrier-free; a detailed accessibility map is available at the entrance for planning your route.
Must know
- Recommended base: Altstadt-Lehel for a flat, walkable core near major accessible transit hubs.
- When to go: May to June or September for comfortable temperatures and accessible outdoor festivals.
- Healthcare: Klinikum Großhadern, 20 minutes away from the city center, is one of Europe’s largest university hospitals with a dedicated senior medicine department.
- Crucial tip: Look for the “Travel for All” certification on hotel and restaurant websites; it’s a rigorous German standard for accessibility.
6. Skellefteå, Sweden
Located near the Arctic Circle, Skellefteå proves that extreme climates can still be welcoming. The city works closely with resident associations to ensure no one is marginalized by their physical ability, supporting this with high-tech heated winter sidewalks that prevent ice buildup for safe walking year-round.
This commitment is best seen in the Sara Kulturhus, a barrier-free timber marvel, one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings, that serves as an inclusive hub for the entire community.
Wego Accessibility Score: 9.0/10
Don’t miss
🪵 Sara Kulturhus for an architectural marvel that is barrier-free from the library to the theater.
🌊 Lake Falkträsket for specialized floating rafts and accessible jetties for a safe Swedish nature experience.
🌿 Skellefteå City Park for a picnic in an accessible green oasis.
Must know
- Recommended base: The Wood Hotel for integrated accessible spa facilities and central location.
- When to go: December for the Northern Lights or June for the Midnight Sun.
- Healthcare: Skellefteå Lasarett is 10 minutes from the center, with helicopter medevac to Umeå University Hospital for complex cases.
- Crucial tip: Sidewalks in the central area are “heated” during winter, preventing ice buildup and making them safe for walkers year-round.
7. Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana has transformed its historic center into a model of inclusive urban design. The car-free Old Town is navigated by Kavalirs or gentle, electric-powered vehicles that provide free on-demand transport for anyone who finds walking challenging.
The city’s commitment to accessibility earned it recognition as one of Europe’s most wheelchair-friendly cities.
Wego Accessibility Score: 8.9/10
Don’t miss
🏰 Ljubljana Castle Funicular for a glass-walled, step-free ascent to the city’s highest point.
🌳 Tivoli Park to enjoy perfectly flat, paved pathways through the city’s “green lung.”
🎨 The National Gallery for barrier-free access to Slovenia’s art treasures with tactile tours available with prior arrangement.
Must know
- Recommended base: The Old Town (Stari Trg) for immediate access to the Kavalir shuttles.
- When to go: May to September for mild weather and outdoor festivals.
- Healthcare: University Medical Centre Ljubljana (UKC) is 10 minutes from the center, with English-speaking staff and a dedicated geriatric department.
- Crucial tip: Use the “Ljubljana by Wheelchair” app; it provides verified routes for every major landmark and notes table heights for cafes.
8. Ghent, Belgium
This medieval canal city perfectly blends Flemish charm with modern, smart accessibility. Ghent ensures heritage and modern accessibility coexist by pairing systematic cobblestone smoothing in the historic center with mostly low-floor trams.
This commitment allows for seamless “slow travel” where major landmarks are within a gentle 15-minute stroll or accessible via step-free boarding for canal tours.
Wego Accessibility Score: 8.7/10
Don’t miss
🏛️ STAM City Museum: A fully accessible journey through Ghent’s history, with tactile exhibits and wheelchair-friendly throughout.
🚤 Accessible Canal Boat Tours: Assisted boarding may be available on some cruises at Graslei quay.
🪑 Design Museum Gent: Barrier-free access to Art Nouveau and contemporary design collections, with sensory-friendly guides.
Must know
- Recommended base: The Historic Center (Kuip) for flat, pedestrianized streets and proximity to major attractions.
- When to go: April to June for mild weather and the accessible Floraliën Gent flower festival (every 4 years; upcoming 1 to 10 May 2026).
- Healthcare: UZ Gent (Ghent University Hospital) is one of Belgium’s top medical facilities, 15 minutes from the center, with a dedicated geriatric department and multilingual staff.
- Crucial tip: Download the ‘Visit Ghent’ app for accessibility filters and real-time tram info. Most De Lijn lines are accessible, but verify specific route compatibility before traveling.
9. Curitiba, Brazil
Curitiba is a global model for human-centric urban development that prioritizes compact, livable communities and social equity through “people-oriented” planning.
By zoning for mixed-use neighborhoods, the city ensures seniors remain close to shops and social services, fostering a closely-knit urban fabric. This is physically supported by the pioneering boarding tubes that provide level-entry transit, while specialized attractions offer tactile tracks specifically for the visually impaired.
Wego Accessibility Score: 8.7/10
Don’t miss
👃 Garden of Sensations within the Botanical Garden for a tactile and olfactory track designed for the blind and elderly.
👁️ Oscar Niemeyer Museum (MON) for its iconic “Eye” building featuring extensive, gentle ramp systems.
🌅 Tanguá Park for an upper-level plateau that is perfectly flat with stunning, accessible sunset views.
Must know
- Recommended base: Batel neighborhood for its wide, well-maintained sidewalks and accessible hotels.
- When to go: March to May for autumn colors and fewer crowds.
- Healthcare: Hospital de Clínicas UFPR, 15 minutes from Batel, a public teaching hospital with geriatric specialists.
- Crucial tip: Use the “Linha Turismo” sightseeing buses; they are purpose-built with audio guides.
10. Gdynia, Poland
Gdynia ensures the coastal lifestyle is available to every resident, actively promoting “social activation” to combat senior isolation.
Through the Gdynia Senior Center, Third Year University, and dedicated senior clubs across 22 districts, the city reinforces an infrastructure of level waterfront terrains and wooden platforms that provide wheelchair access right to the water’s edge.
Wego Accessibility Score: 8.5/10
Don’t miss
🚢 Emigration Museum is located in a historic marine terminal with full lift access and tactile exhibits.
🏖️ Gdynia City Beach for specialized wheelchair rentals.
🐟 Gdynia Aquarium to explore over 200 species of marine life across five floors, with elevator access available to assist visitors between levels.
Must know
- Recommended base: Sea Towers area for modern, accessible accommodation and proximity to the flat waterfront.
- When to go: July and August for the warmest weather and inclusive outdoor concerts.
- Healthcare: University Clinical Centre (UCK) in nearby Gdańsk – 20 min, one of Poland’s top medical facilities with international patient services.
- Crucial tip: The Majority of city trolleybuses are low-floor; look for the wheelchair icon on the digital arrival boards.