At first glance, Athens can appear more like an obstacle course than a treasure hunt for those with limited mobility. But thanks to recent changes and a more inclusive mindset, both the old city and the new now have much to offer wheelchair users in terms of attractions, accommodation or finding a nice place for a drink.
For a start, Athens’ entire public transport network is wheelchair accessible. (Any problems with the metro’s elevators are announced at all stations.) While navigating the streets themselves can sometimes be tricky, you can use the city’s relatively cheap taxis to get from metro station to final destination if you have a manual wheelchair, or specialised taxi services for motorised wheelchair users. Here are some of the best accessible sites in and around Athens to put on your hit list.
Culture
The Acropolis
You can’t come to Athens without paying homage to the Acropolis. With some advance planning, wheelchair users can make their way to the top of the Parthenon via a wheelchair lift installed at the ancient site’s northern face.
Manual wheelchair users take note: it’s a bit on an uphill trek to get to the wheelchair lift itself, and you’ll need to navigate some uneven cobblestones that can be difficult without air-filled tires. Alternatively, arriving by metro and taking a short taxi ride will get you to the main gate, which is close to the lift.
Call a day in advance to confirm that the lift is in operation and to leave your details so that they’ll be expecting you. Entrance is free to visitors who carry proof of disability, plus one escort. Proof of disability is compulsory to use the lift, which can carry only one wheelchair at a time, so it’s a good idea to arrive early to avoid too much waiting around. The superb Acropolis Museum nearby is also fully accessible.
It'll take some planning, but wheelchair users can make their way to the top of the Parthenon.
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
The National Archaeological Museum is a great choice for wheelchair users.
Photo: Orestis Seferoglou
National Archaeological Museum
One of the world’s top collections of Greek antiquities, the National Archaeological Museum is fully accessible from street level and throughout. Making your way from the metro to the museum, however, does involve negotiating the hit-and-miss streets of downtown Athens (where wheelchair ramps tend to be an optional extra). Your best strategy? Take a short taxi ride from Victoria or Omonia station to the museum. Entrance is free for wheelchair users plus one escort. Disabled toilets are available.
Eat & Drink
Athens Central Market
If you’re game for braving the imperfect pavements surrounding it, the central market of Athens is an unbeatable place to pick up some of Greece’s best-known and more obscure ingredients. But do visit the pungent meat and fish markets of the Varvakios Agora (Central Market) before noon. During busy times a wheelchair user might find themselves immobilised by the bargain-hunting crowds.
Prefer the fresh air? The streets around the market teem with shops selling dried fruits, nuts, herbs, and much more. Stall owners often offer up samples for you to try—tasting the local olives, cheese and cold cuts can sometimes serve as a light lunch!
Head to the Varvakios Agora early to beat the crowds.
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
The Air Lounge Bar at the Fresh Hotel.
Courtesy: Air Lounge Bar
Air Lounge Bar at Fresh Hotel
Rooftop bars have taken Athens by storm, but most are only accessible via tiny elevators or stairs. The Air Lounge on the ninth floor of Fresh Hotel, near Omonia Square, has step-free access from the street and a lift that’s suitable for wheelchair users. With a chilled vibe, it’s a super spot for an aperitif overlooking the Acropolis.
360 bar
For wheelchair users wishing to access this funky rooftop bar, step-free access is available via the hotel next door, where disabled toilets are also available. Once you get to the top, you’ll have a knockout view of the Acropolis. Popular for its outstanding cocktails, 360 bar also serves up great Mediterranean cuisine. For a Greek twist, the vodka-based Med Fresh cocktail is accentuated with a dash of aromatic mastiha liqueur and goes perfectly with a platter of Greek cheeses. Reservations are recommended for dinner.
This creative dining hotspot is also wheelchair-friendly.
Courtesy: Cookoovaya
Cookoovaya
A smart restaurant that’s made a name for itself for its creative take on traditional Greek cuisine, Cookoovaya also offers vegetarian and gluten-free dining. An open-plan kitchen allows you to observe the crack team of chefs at work while you build up an appetite. The venue has disabled toilets too. Cookoovaya is a hot ticket so booking is essential.
Baba au Rum
One of the most exciting cocktail bars in Athens, Baba au Rum’s specialty is, of course, rum-based creations. But the bartenders can mix up a flight of other spirits, plus extensive and creative mocktails. The tiki-style interior is a little narrow for wheelchair users and there’s a low step from the street to the entrance. Don’t be put off, though: there are tables outside on the pedestrian street and heaters ensure the drinks keep coming whatever the weather.
A rum cocktail at Baba Au Rum.
Photo: Orestis Seferoglou
See & Do
Everything at the expansive Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre is wheelchair-accessible.
Courtesy: SNFCC
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre
Renzo Piano’s brilliant beacon of sustainability is home to the National Library of Greece and the Greek National Opera. A stunning glass viewing bridge offers panoramic views of the city and the venue’s Mediterranean gardens and saltwater canal. The entire place, including the park, is wheelchair accessible. Check their website for cultural, sporting, and social events, many of which are free. Holders of a disabled parking badge are entitled to free parking.
Flisvos Marina
Take a break from the roar of downtown Athens at Flisvos marina, where you can feel like a glamorous jet-setter amid the luxe yachts and waterfront eateries. The entire marina is wheelchair accessible, with tidy, crack-free pavements and ramps galore. Grab a coffee at one of the many cafés, or explore the lively seafront promenade as the sun sets. The presence of well-maintained disabled toilets is a bonus.
This entire marina is wheelchair accessible.
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
The sandy beach at Vouliagmeni.
Photo: Manos Chatzikonstantis
Vouliagmeni Beach
This expansive, sandy beach recently had a wheelchair ramp installed, so those with limited mobility can now take full advantage of one of the Athens Riviera’s most scenic bays. Vouliagmeni Beach is fully serviced from May to late September, so just pick a spot and unwind as waiters come to take your order of iced coffee (or something stronger). Free entrance applies to wheelchair users (with proof of disability) and one companion. Arrive early to beat the summer crowds during high season.
Top Tips for Wheelchair Users in Athens
- Call in advance to clarify if a venue is fully accessible. Be sure to specifically ask whether the location is step-free from street to interior (and if not, whether a ramp provides access).
- Finding a public toilet that caters to disabled visitors in Athens can be a mission. Locals get around this by simply asking at a shop or restaurant—they’ll usually say yes. (Larger hotels such as the Grande Bretagne and Hilton all have accessible toilets and don’t mind the occasional request to answer nature’s call.)
- Taxis in Athens cater to manual wheelchair users. For more specialised services, Special Taxi runs pickups, transfers and personalised or guided tours for wheelchair users (both motorised and manual). It is endorsed by Greece’s national association for the disabled.
Photo: Amalia Kovaiou