Vienna was one of my favorite places to visit as a wheelchair user! The accessibility of the city I thought was amazing from the public transportation, public bathrooms, and attractions. After the trip, everyone agreed that they could live here. There is so much art and lots of palaces to visit.
- Transportation
- Train– to get to Vienna we took the railjet from Prague. I booked it on the CZECH train company České dráhy. It was easy to book online at https://www.cd.cz/en/default.htm. Now for the part of the story that was not easy but also kind of funny. We got to the main Prague station an hour and a half before our departure, but they had not yet announced which platform our train, which I thought was strange. They eventually announced the platform 25 minutes prior to departure. We headed to the elevator thinking we had plenty of time. I tell you, this might be the slowest elevator I have ever encountered! It literally took five minutes to go up one floor. When we got off the elevator there was another set of stairs to get to the platform, but we could find no signs indicating accessible access. We were looking everywhere. We went back on the slow elevator to take it to the next level, but when the doors opened, we were outside on the street! We went back down the slow elevator and soon learned that our train had come and gone. We returned to the ticket office /accessible area and explained what had happened. After a few conversations about how slow the elevator was, they were able to book us on the next train that would come in one or two hours. They provided an escort to the platform and finally we made it to Vienna. Once we were on the train, the experience was great. The accessible car was right next to the accessible food car that had a waiter. The bathroom was also great. When we took the train back to Prague from Vienna, we did not have any problems as the platform was designated before we got to the train station.
- Subway– I thought the subway was great. It was only three blocks from our hotel, and we used it several times as our hotel was outside the city center. At the Vienna Opera House station, there is a bathroom that plays opera.
- Tram– the tram system in Vienna is very large and most of the trams are wheelchair accessible. There are some older ones that are not, but luckily all the stops have electronic boards that gives arrival times and indicate whether or not they are accessible. Just like the subways, an honor system is in place where you are expected to purchase a ticket without necessarily having to show your ticket to anybody, but you must validate the ticket by scanning/swipe your ticket at machine at the stop or inside the tram or bus
- Wheelchair-Vienna is definitely one of the easiest cities in Europe to get around in your wheelchair. I also found a lot of public wheelchair bathrooms that worked great
Restaurants
Schweizerhaus– huge beer garden by the Prater amusement park. We went here the first night because it was near our hotel and they had beer and pork knuckles. We went close to closing time so it wasn’t busy. It was wheelchair accessible as it is mostly outside. Open from March to October 31.
Café Central– if you go to one coffeehouse, this should be the one.It is the famed coffeehouse where famous philosophers, poets, and storytellers would gather. It is huge and beautifully decorated on the inside. It’s a great place to get classic Austrian food and dessert. It is accessible, but you have to get help from the front by ringing a bell that summons an employee who will walk you towards the entrance on Herrengasse and escort you to your table. This place is busy so you might want a reservation. As I recall, there is an accessible bathroom
Umarfisch am Naschmarkt– seafood restaurant stall inside the market with fresh seafood. This is the stall of the market. They also have a sit-down restaurant located at the end of the market. We ordered a variety of dishes to share and it was all pretty tasty. Because it is mostly outside it is accessible, with a cover if it rains.
Würstelstand– these sausage stands are all over Vienna. They are great for a late-night snack after drinking a little bit. We got one on the bun and they use a long bun put it on a spike to hollowed out for the sausage
Demel– Café famous for their sweet chocolate and cakes since 1786. This is a good place for a light meal or desserts. We had to get an employee’s attention to get in. They brought us in through the side to an elevator that took us up to our table. Definitely a tight squeeze and not my favorite, with small, old tables, but it worked and the cakes made it worth it. They also have an accessible bathroom.
Schnitzelwirt– long established and popular local restaurant that serves Austrian food in the seventh district of Neubau. This restaurant is not too far from the museum quarter but just far enough to avoid a lot of tourists. The schnitzel here is great and substantial, with many variations. It does get busy, but we got there a little late and ate outside and it was delicious. They only accept cash so bring lots of it. Well, not a lot because it’s pretty well priced. In terms of accessibility, there is a small lip at the entrance, but I was able to get inside. The bathroom, however, is upstairs, so not accessible.
Bars or cafes
Loos American Bar– famous hundred-year-old bar designed by architect Adolf Loos. Located in the old town Vienna close to Saint Stephen’s cathedral. We went after dinner to celebrate our friend’s birthday because it looked fancy and had outdoor seating. We had a great time here. The classic cocktails are excellent and the service was awesome. It’s the smallest bar in Vienna and the interior, including the bathroom is not accessible –
Café Hawelka– classic old-school Viennese café owned by the Hawelka family for three generations. Located in the 1st district, it is known for their rich coffee and for the many writers, poets, musicians, and artists who have frequented there. There is ample outdoor seating, but we got there too late so I used my portable ramp to get inside.
Attractions
Schönbrunn Palace – 18th century summer Palace with beautiful gardens. One of the most visited sites in Vienna as well as an UNESCO site. There is so much to do at the palace – visit the palace itself, the zoo, museums, and experience the lush gardens. We rolled through to the gardens and it was incredibly nice. I would definitely recommend going here and going to the top of the hill which gives you a great view of the whole property. It is all wheelchair accessible, but you have to enter to the right, Admission is discounted for those with disabilities and allows for one free personal care attendant. There are wheelchair accessible bathrooms in certain areas. There are several public transportation options to get you there.
Rathausplatz– beautiful Park in front of Vienna, City Hall with lots of trees and statues. In the summer, they create an outdoor cinema that screens movies and concerts. When we were there, they were showing a Mumford & Sons live recorded concert. While I’m not a big fan of theirs, we enjoyed the venue because there were food and beer vendors all around that made it feel kind of like a festival. The other great thing was that they had a public bathroom that was super accessible and clean which was a good thing because I drank lots of beer. To use it, you have to get the employees to unlock it which is no big deal, but I’m sure they got tired of seeing me that night! This was one of the most fun nights we had.
Naschmarkt– large open-air market with souvenirs, fresh foods, snacks, and restaurants. It was a vibrant scene. The people working there might seem kind of pushy, but also, they offered lots of free samples. I tried so many falafel and dried fruits.
Albertina– one of the best art museums in Vienna, has an amazing collection of masters and modern art. They have a section called Monet to Picasso. The building is beautiful and houses so many famous artists and pieces you will have plenty to see. Admission is discounted for those with disabilities and it is wheelchair accessible throughout.
Belvedere Palace– Baroque style palace with a fabulous museum featuring art by Gustav Klimit. The collection encompasses all kinds of art from the last 800 years. Outside, there is a beautiful garden and the palace was beautiful. Admission is discounted for those with disabilities and the palace is wheelchair accessible throughout. There is a tram stop right by the entrance thathas frequent departures.
The Hofburg Wien– Baroque Palace and Imperial Seat of the Habsburg Family. This palace is one of the largest palace complexes in the world and has many state rooms, libraries, and the Spanish Riding School. Well, I did not actually visit, but we did walk and roll by. I would absolutely visit if I went back.
Prater– huge park with amusement rides featuring an old Ferris wheel from 1897. This park has lots of things to do and restaurants inside and around. Our hotel was only a couple blocks away and would be a great place to stay if you want to go to the Prater. Otherwise, it’s a quick subway ride from the old town or museum quarter.
