My Wheelchair Accessible Trip to Rome

Italy has been on my travel bucket list for quite some time, and I finally got to check it off! Two of my friends were already in Europe for the summer, so I decided to tag along for a couple of weeks. This is the first of 3 Italy blogs, summarizing my time in Rome, Milan, and Venice. Let’s get into it!

Where to Stay:

FH55 Grand Hotel Palatino - This hotel was conveniently located in the heart of Rome, only a 10 minute walk to The Colosseum! The hotel staff were so friendly and accommodating. The stair lift in the front of the lobby was out of service so the doorman helped me in through their side door, which had a (very steep) ramp. There were working elevators inside and the bedroom/bathroom were both accessible (bathroom was pretty small but I could squeeze through and make it work).

Tip: This hotel had a spacious, accessible bathroom in the lobby. If you’re out (even if you’re not a guest) and need to go, I’m sure the staff would let you use it.

Booking with Wheel the World

If you read my NYC Christmas blog you know how much I love Wheel the World. They’re an awesome accessible travel agency that helps you book hotels and activities to make sure your trip is perfect for you and your accessibility needs. As a reminder, here’s how it works:

1. Sign Up - Sign up with your email address.

2. Create an Accessibility Profile - Creating an accessibility profile helps Wheel the World get to know you so you can find the best hotels and activities that meet your needs.

3. Start Exploring! - Type in your destination and Wheel the World will show you accessible hotels in that area! You can also book accessible transportation and activities like walking tours or museum visits through Wheel the World

Things to Do:

Colosseum -

Visiting this iconic arena was one of the first things we did. It was just a short stroll from our hotel. This was convenient, however it made it really hard to find the accessible entrance because of the angle we were coming in from. The cobblestone surrounding The Colosseum was very bumpy, making it more difficult to find the entrance.

We were able to bypass the line which was really nice, especially with the heat, and visitors with disabilities + 1 companion get free admission. There’s an elevator giving access to the upper level and there’s an accessible bathroom on the first level. There’s rough cobblestone surrounding the Colosseum but inside is smooth.

Tip: Bring documentation (or a disability card) to show proof of your disability. I was unaware of this and had no idea what a disability card was. I almost wasn’t let in because I guess I didn’t “look” disabled enough. Luckily this was the only time I was questioned about this.

Trevi Fountain -

Visiting the Trevi Fountain is a must! We woke up super early (like 5:00 AM early) to get there before it got super crowded. I highly recommend doing this if you’re wanting pictures with as few people in the background as possible.

There’s steps on either side to get down to the base of the fountain but if you’re able to get up to the railing you’ll still have a great view! I got lucky and someone offered to carry me down the steps so I could get up close. Definitely a highlight of my time in Rome!

Pantheon -

The Pantheon was built between 25 and 27 BC and was a temple to honor the gods. It’s since been converted to a Catholic church and famous for being the most preserved monument of Ancient Rome. It’s absolutely breathtaking inside and is worth seeing and is only a short walk from The Trevi Fountain.

Those with disabilities + 1 companion get in free and are able to skip the line. There’s steps leading into the Pantheon but there’s a ramp to the left of the building.

Piazza Novana - Piazza Novana is famous for being one of the most beautiful squares in the center of Rome. There’s towering monuments, gorgeous fountains, and lots of restaurants to check out. Unfortunately there was scaffolding on the fountains when we went but we still enjoyed strolling through. The pavement was smooth in this area, making it super easy to get around.

Chiesa del Gesù -

If you want to see some beautiful artwork and architecture but want to avoid crowds, check out this church! We visited Chiesa del Gesù after the Pantheon because it was only a few blocks away. Don't forget to snap a selfie in their mirror that gets a really cool view of the paintings on the ceiling!

It’s free entry for all and has a ramp to enter.

Transportation:

Train - We flew into Fiumicino Airport and took the train (about 30 minute ride) at the airport to Rome Termini, the train station in Rome’s city center. You can buy your ticket at one of the kiosks in the airport or on the Trenitalia app. All of the trains we rode in Italy were wheelchair accessible and had accessible bathrooms on board.

• Booking with Sala Blu - Sala Blu offers free assistance services for people traveling with disabilities. Here’s how it works:

  1. Book your train at least the night before

  2. Email the Sala Blu office that’s at your departure station. Let them know your train number, departure time, and assistance needed (list of Italy’s Sala Blu contacts)

  3. You’ll get an email back explaining where and what time to meet the Sala Blu worker

Bus - Riding the bus was the primary mode of transportation we used in Rome. It took us a little while to figure them out though. There were even a couple times the bus we needed wouldn’t stop for us, which was frustrating, but we eventually got the hang of it. Each bus has a ramp and space inside for wheelchair users. There’s a button on the side of the bus to press if you need the ramp, but I recommend flagging down the bus driver to make sure he sees you.

Metro - The metro system has some wheelchair accessible stations so if you choose to ride it make sure the station you’re going to has an elevator. I wouldn’t recommend using it because there were so few accessible stations.

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Rome was absolutely beautiful and I’m glad I had the chance to see it but it was definitely the hardest city to navigate of the three I visited. It's such an old city and has alot of cobblestone and rough sidewalks but is still doable! Next stop: Milan! Stay tuned for the next blog!