Is there any wheelchair - accessible Gondola in Venice?

Question

Just asking, next year I plan to take my mother to Venice, and she´s on a wheelchair. I´ve been looking around but the websites of Venice are just about Horrible handling information. Thanks for your tips.

Answer 1

Venice is not an easy place for people with disabilities as it was build on islands. All bridges have stairs (to let boats pass under them); there is no acces to cars or other vehicles, many places are just too narrow to pass etc...

The municipal administration of Venice is conscious of this fact and they work to reduce barriers. A map of accessible areas of Venice is available at the website below.

Green means accessible, yellow partially accessible and red not accessible.

Yellow dots with numbers are public transport accessible stops. White and black dots are accessible bridges.

Ad to gondolas I do not know but you can ask to the specific service of Venice municipality

[e-mail]  

On their website (also listed below there are information about services and tourist itineraries), but it is in Italian only... :-(

Answer 2

I completely agree with the previous two posts - both correct and exhaustive in their answers.

Forgive me but a wheelchair bound person in Venice is likely to ruin your time there. It just isn't made for that. As much as the city tries to comply to assist with the wchair bound folks already in Venice.

Please do yourself a favor, and your mom, don't undertake this endeavor. I am the # 1 promoter of Venice but I just can't with the premise you have given us.

Regards to all.

Answer 3

Arrived back from Venice yesterday.  took an hour or two to don a little reseach.  Getting into Venice from the airports would require a taxi, at least to the nearest station  I did not see any wheelchair accessible buses. some trains can be accessed.

Gondoli go back so far in history I don't think the question has arisen.  

The railway station has access at the side.  Several Vaporetta, especially those on the number 1 route to Lido via the grand canal and the 82 th St Mark's via the Canale Guidecca.

I know of only a hand full of bridges with wheel chair friendly steps.  The most famous being Ponte Rialto, but only the outside slopes.

But there are several areas to easliy see if you can get your mother on and off the Vaporetto....

A lot will also be innacessable without assistance on the bridges.  the only elevator bridge I know is on Guideccea.

Answer 4

I agree that Venice is not a good city for someone in a wheelchair - besides the gondolas being inaccessible, the entire city has steps everywhere!  I'm working out extra before my trip this May.  You might consider showing it to her from a Cruise ship instead