Venice, Italy

VENICE: Overview

OVERVIEW

Venice is one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world, and is truly a unique experience. Until ten years ago, it was a very unfriendly destination in terms of accessibility, due to its historic features. Today, several internal bridges are equipped for wheelchairs and most ferries have relatively easy access. In fact, almost 70% of the city is now accessible for people with mobility challenges.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Italy is Italian. However, in Venice most people speak English, as it is a major tourist destination.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Italy is the EURO.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

VENICE : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Marco Polo Airport: Marco Polo is approximately 20km (12.4 miles) from the center of the city. Passengers with reduced mobility traveling to the Marco Polo airport should contact their airline in advance, particularly if they require assistance. Loaner wheelchairs are available at the airport.

The airport is equipped with jet bridges, however, not all planes are able to park at a jet bridge at any given time; when all available jet bridges are occupied, planes must park on the tarmac. Generally, airports will have a lift or system (e.g., aisle chair) to assist passengers with mobility issues.

Marco Polo Airport has free disabled parking for passengers with vehicles displaying a proper disabled sticker. For easy access, there are lowered curbs at the parking lots and in front of the Terminal.

Alternate methods for transport to and from Marco Polo Airport include bus and motor boat. Please note that not all buses are wheelchair accessible.

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WATER TRANSPORT

Alilaguna: Alilaguna is the only public transport by waterway connecting the Marco Polo Airport and the center of Venice. According to the Alilaguna website, all motor boats are equipped with disabled access.

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CRUISE TERMINAL

The cruise ship terminal is wheelchair accessible and you will arrive in one of three cruise terminals. Check with your particular cruise line to learn more about the accessibility of the terminals in Venice.

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

The ACTV manages both the land base and water public transport. For more information regarding accessibility with either form of transportation, visit the hellovenezia.com website and click on the transport tab. The website’s content can be viewed in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.

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BUS

Not all urban bus lines have the proper equipment to transport people with disabilities. Please check the City of Venice website for further inquiries. This website provides detailed information regarding wheelchair accessible boats and buses.

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TAXI

“The taxis in Venice (boat taxi) are mostly not very accessible (at least at first sight), however ferries and other forms of transportation are more friendly.” Francesco, 2/17/09

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SHUTTLE

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TRAIN

Trenatalia: There are two railway stations in Venice, the Mestre and Venice Santa Lucia.
When arriving at the station, people who have a disability should go to the Blue Hall (SALA BLU), where assistance and service is organized. Visit the following link for more information on Disabled Passenger Assistance.

There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms in the train station. Patrons must pay to use the bathroom, however people with disabilities can ring a call button and someone will come and unlock the bathroom free of charge.

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VENICE : Accommodations

HOTELS

“In general smaller hotels in lower budget categories can have very challenging structure in Venice, meaning accessibility can be an issue, so unfortunately wheelchair users may need to go to the more upscale hotels. Also remember, other countries don’t abide by ADA laws, and their perspective on what is accessible may vary.” Francesco, 2/17/09

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VENICE : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Accessible Italy: Accessible Italy is a sightseeing tour company that specializes in tours around the city. The company can also recommend hotel accommodations that are wheelchair accessible.

Venice is like a city museum, there is so much to see. It’s best just to choose an area and visit the sites. The following website, CITTA’ DI VENEZIA offers accessible maps of Venice so you can easily plan sightseeing to find the most accessible route around Venice. CITTA’ DI VENEZIA offer maps in PDF to print for your trip.

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ACTIVITIES

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

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VENICE: Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL/EQUIPMENT RENTAL

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VENICE : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

In the last 10 years, the Venice government has been actively changing the infrastructure and trying to provide accessible information to its visitors. Venice can be a difficult city to navigate, especially from a wheelchair, however if planned and mapped out correctly, it’s well worth the adventure. Remember that the best way to get around Venice is to carefully plan for the visit and check the CITTA’ DI VENEZIA map for bridges with easy access and accessible routes.