Lisbon, Lisbon Region, Portugal

LISBON : Overview

OVERVIEW

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, is a city rich with maritime trade history. The architecture of this city is simply breathtaking, with vibrantly colored porcelain tile clad buildings contributing to the old world charm of this quaint city. Even though Lisbon has narrow roads, cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, steep hills, and buildings with steps – which pose serious challenge to the physically challenged traveler – there are many things to see and do in this beautiful city that make a visit highly worthwhile, and there are definitely accessible ways to get around the city.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. However, we found we were able to get by using other languages such as English, Spanish, and French – but the locals absolutely prefer Portuguese.

CURRENCY

The currency of Portugal is the Euro. Portugal has ATMs (Multibanco), which are identified by the symbol MB. Credit cards are also accepted by most establishments: Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Europay / MasterCard, JCB and Maestro.

QUICKLINKS

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

LISBON : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Lisbon International Airport is equipped to handle the physically challenged traveler. On our visit, the “assistance” crew utilized a medical vehicle capable of elevating to the height of the airplane. Instead of boarding and deplaning via the jet bridge in my wheelchair, the crew transferred me into an aisle chair (temporary small chair) and into the medical vehicle. My power wheelchair was waiting for me in the medical vehicle, and I was able to transfer to my chair in privacy with help of the team.

Both our flights to and from the airport were delayed; in the case of our departure, our delay was severe enough that it forced us to miss our connecting flight in Paris. Ironically, dealing with my wheelchair was not the bottleneck – they just seemed to move at their own pace, without much concern over the time. This may not be typical, but I would highly advise the physically challenged traveler to seek direct flights in and out of Lisbon if possible to avoid missing connections.

On our visit, we did not need to utilize a family/companion restroom at the airport. It is a modern facility, so there is potential for one to be there.

The Lisbon Airport has a new program in place called My Way to assist travelers with disabilities. If assistance is needed, My Way is required to be booked 48 hours before flight departure.

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SHUTTLE

We used Accessible Portugal for all of our ground transport needs in Lisbon. While the company specializes in tour packages, they also are very good at customized logistic plans. In our case, we provided a schedule of needed pick up and drop off times and locations, and they were always very dependable. Accessible Portugal is family owned. Luis, our driver and guide, was very professional, fun, and had an extensive knowledge about the history of Portugal. His van is a new Mercedes bus type van equipped with a wheelchair lift system, and was very clean and reliable.

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RENTAL CAR (Wheelchair Van)

We aren’t sure if there are wheelchair accessible vehicles for rent in Lisbon. However, we did utilize Wheeling Around the Algarve for a rental vehicle while in the South of Portugal. The vehicle we received was a “Kangoo,” and was much smaller than a typical wheelchair van one finds in the states. It is equipped to only handle one wheelchair and two companions, with limited luggage space. While it worked out, make sure you know what vehicle you are getting so you are certain you can manage.

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TRAIN

Lisbon has an accessible train station in the heart of the city. It hosts both high-speed and “regular” speed trains (which are very different in amenities and accessibility). We utilized the high-speed train that travels between Lisbon and the Algarve (southern region of Portugal), which has wheelchair access. While not all stops on the train are accessible, we were able to use the high-speed train to get to our southern destination with ease. I have a large, heavy power wheelchair, and was able to get on the train’s lift for access. It was a tight squeeze, so if you have a larger chair, check with the railroad prior to making reservations. Note that I was not able to get on the regular train to return from the South of Portugal to Lisbon, and was forced to wait several hours for the high-speed train (in the extreme heat, without air-conditioning). Make sure you thoroughly research the logistics of your trip with the railroad to ensure you have booked the correct train both ways. Rail Information

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LISBON : Accommodations

HOTELS

Lisbon does have accessible hotels, but it is a European city and not all hotels are accessible, so one should check when making a reservation. We stayed at Hotel Mudial, located in downtown Lisbon, and it is complete with wheelchair accessible rooms. When calling to book the reservation, specify you will require a wheelchair accessible room and they should make the appropriate reservation.

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LUXURY RESORTS

There are a series of luxury resorts in Portugal, called the Pousada de Portugal. We stayed in a cliff-side Pousada in Sagres, the Hotel do Infante, and it was very accessible, complete with ramps, an elevator, and accessible room. The Pousada in Lisbon is called the Pestana Palace Hotel, but we are not sure if it is accessible.

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LISBON : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

Accessible Portugal offers complete tour packages for the physically challenged traveler. Aside from using the company for getting to and from the airport, we also toured Lisbon and took a day trip to Sintra. Luis, our guide, has a large van capable of accommodating 3 wheelchairs and ample companions.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Fado shows are a popular attraction in Lisbon. We attended the dinner show at the Café Luso in Barrio Alto. There is a small step to get into the venue, but the employees were very helpful in assisting getting my power wheelchair into the building.

The Barrio Alto is a fun area to catch some Lisbon nightlife. Small bars line the narrow cobblestone streets (bumpy for the wheelchair, but not impossible). While many of the bars are not wheelchair accessible, there are a few that don’t have steps.

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LISBON : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITALS

The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon provides information on local hospitals and physicians on its website, which is updated frequently. In addition to medical services information, the embassy can also provide other valuable services for the U.S. traveler in need.

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Accessible Portugal: Besides offering wheelchair accessible transportation and tours, Accessible Portugal also offers medical equipment(wheelchairs, Bath chair, portable hoist) for rent. Click on the link to see a full list of medical equipment rentals.

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LISBON : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Portugal can be very hot during the summer months, and there are many buildings without air conditioning. Always bring bottled water, and a spray bottle to keep cool.