My 4-day trip to Barcelona was full of beautiful sunshine, roasty toasty temperatures, lots of delicious vegan food and visiting stunning Gaudí masterpieces. After visiting for the first time last year, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed when I visited again. Barcelona is one of my favourite European city breaks and I can’t recommend a wheelchair accessible trip to Barcelona enough.
Here’s what we did and where we ate during our 4 days in wheelchair accessible Barcelona.
Day One in Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona
Parc Güell
There were a few places we didn’t manage to visit during our first wheelchair accessible Barcelona trip last year. Parc Güell is one of them. So this time, we made sure to put it at the top of the list and ticked it off on our first day back in Barcelona.
Parc Güell is a popular visitor attraction created by Antoni Gaudí. This colourful urban park was originally designed as an amusement park for the wealthy but later opened to the public instead.
It’s recommended to book tickets online so we choose the 11:30am time slot to ensure we had enough time to get there. Entry is free for disabled people and €5.25 for companions, which is a great saving. General admission is €8.30.
Parc Güell is a huge site so aim to spend a few hours here to enjoy the views and take everything in. The park is stunning and full of greenery, sculptures, mosaics and colourful buildings. It gets very busy, so keep this in mind before your visit.
Accessibility: Although it’s located on a hill, I found it relatively easy in my powered wheelchair. Manual wheelchairs may find the hills more challenging unless you have someone strong to help you push. The views of the city are amazing so working up a sweat will hopefully be worth it.
Simply Emma Top Tips: Bring water and snacks with you. It gets so warm and some of the shaded areas can become busy. There are wheelchair accessible routes, which can be tricky to find, so ask any Parc Güell staff member you see for directions to keep you on track.
How we got there: We prebooked our taxi with Albert (which was arranged by our accommodation- MICs Sant Jordi) who dropped us off directly at the entrance gate. He was lovely and did all our taxi rides for us.
Lunch at SINGULAR
After a few hours of wandering around and admiring Parc Güell, we decided to walk into the city centre. It took us about 30 minutes, but we were not in a rush and wanted to explore lots of the streets. We came across lots of amazing street graffiti and cute little shops.
We headed for lunch at SINGULAR a few minutes walk from Sagrada Familia. This lovely restaurant was recommended to me by a reader and I’m so glad we decided to go. We both got the vegan burger which was delicious and just what we needed for our rumbling tums.
I opted for the healthy option of vegetable chips instead of fries, but I was slightly jealous of Allan’s when they came out, but thankfully we ordered an extra side of fries too. Win-win. The tomatoes and cucumber on our burgers were without a doubt the best I’ve ever eaten. No exaggeration. All the vegetables are grown in their gardens in Esparregera. Delicious. For dessert, I chose refreshing sorbet.
Accessibility: Wheelchair access was very good. The tables weren’t too close to each other so I had space to get in and out without any difficulty. The accessible toilet was also spacious with grab bars and a roll-under sink.
Address: Carrer de Sardenya, 321, 08025 Barcelona
Sagrada Familia
Once we were fed and watered we walked for five minutes until we approached Sagrada Familia. Having already enjoyed a visit to Sagrada Familia last year we decided there was no need to visit again. Instead, we made our way across the street to a little park with a lake overlooking the architectural masterpiece.
This was a nice spot to sit for a little while after lunch and get that iconic Sagrada Familia shot. And a selfie of course. I love that Allan captured the moment I was looking at the pigeon mid-flight.
For more information and photos of Sagrada Familia, you can check out my ‘Accessible City Guide To Barcelona‘ post from last year.
Plaça de Catalunya
Plaça de Catalunya is a large square in the heart of the city centre of Barcelona. It is where some of the main streets including Passeig de Gràcia and La Rambla, meet. This square is very lively, day and night, and is where you will find fountains, statues, street performers and pigeons galore. We literally spent ages here watching people come and go.
Plaça de Catalunya is a great meeting spot due to its central location and a great point to head to if you lose your bearings. We often got the metro to and from this area as it was so convenient for us and only a 12-minute metro ride from our MICs Sant Jordi wheelchair accessible apartment.
Accessibility: This square is very open and spacious so you shouldn’t have any problems. There are various shops, hotels and restaurants nearby.
Dinner back at the apartment
We waited until it got dark and casually strolled around before getting the metro back to our hotel. It was nice to relax on our apartment balcony and make dinner with some bits we had picked up at the shops.
Day Two in Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona
Casa Milà
We kicked off our second day in sunny Barcelona with a tour of Casa Milà. Despite walking past this stunning building several times on our previous trip, we never managed to have a look inside. I had assumed it wasn’t wheelchair accessible so was pleasantly surprised when I discovered it was actually accessible.
Casa Milà is another one of Gaudi’s architectural creations, which was built between 1906 and 1912. Also known as La Pedrera or “The stone quarry” due to its wave-like appearance.
Before purchasing our tickets, we were taken to try the building’s original lift which would take us up to the house for the tour. There was a step to access the lift so the staff put a small wooden ramp down for me. The lift is very old so it was a tight squeeze to get inside. I consider my wheelchair to be quite compact, but it just made it through.
Funny story: as I was trying to manoeuvre into the lift, trying not to crash or break anything, I was also speaking to my Dad on the phone about our cat he was looking after back home. Never accuse me of not being able to multitask. That’s skill right there. Ha!
Although the lift entrance was tight I managed to get my wheelchair through so we headed to the ticket office to buy our tickets. The ticket office is not wheelchair accessible as there are a few steps down. I waited outside while Allan went in to get the tickets. Admission is €16.50 for disabled people and if you require a companion they will receive free admission. General tickets cost €22.
With our audio headsets on, we began our tour inside. We then made our way to another lift to take us up to the roof terrace. This was the bit we were both looking forward to the most. However, when we exited the lift we realised there was only a tiny section I could actually access.
The section had a large stone structure in the middle so driving around it was a little difficult and tight. You may be able to see it in the image below. Even though I couldn’t see it for myself, I made Allan go off and explore the rest of the roof as I wanted to see photos of it all.
There is no doubt the roof is very interesting to look at and the views are pretty cool too. Please bear in mind if you plan to visit Casa Milà that there is only a tiny section of the roof that is wheelchair accessible. If I had known this beforehand, then I may not have bothered.
The house tour was next which meant accessing the original lift that I tried out earlier. It was really cool to wander around the house and admire its original features and furniture. It was lovely. I loved how spacious all the rooms were so there were no problems with wheelchair access getting around. My favourite was the beautiful wooden flooring.
Accessibility: Casa Milà is partially wheelchair accessible as the roof terrace is not fully accessible for wheelchairs. There is a lift up to the roof terrace but movability is very limited. The rest of the Casa Milà tour is accessible and although on the small side, there is an accessible toilet.
Simply Emma Top Tips: Ask to try the lift before purchasing your tickets to make sure your wheelchair fits.
How we got there: We got the metro from outside our apartment to Pl. Catalunya. From there we walked the 15 minutes or so to Casa Milà.
Lunch at Flax & Kale Tallers
There were so many amazing vegan restaurants we wanted to try in Barcelona but so little time. Flax & Kale was definitely on our top list. There are three Flax & Kale restaurants and we managed to try two of them. First up was Flax & Kale Tallers which had the coolest decor inside.
The food was something else. So good. With 80% of the menu being plant-based there were so many options for us. We both ended up having ‘Teresa Carles Best Veggie Burger’ and it did not disappoint. The taste and presentation were top-notch.
Maybe it’s just me but burgers with black burger buns always look so cool. For dessert, I went for coco masala chai ice cream (healthy ice cream).
Accessibility: There is a nice accessible toilet upstairs via a lift. The toilet is quite spacious with grab bars next to the toilet and a roll-under sink.
Simply Emma Top Tip: Order the vegan burger. You will not regret it.
Address: Carrer dels Tallers, 74b, 08001 Barcelona
Funicular de Montjuïc
I had read a lot of conflicting information regarding the accessibility of the funicular. Some people said it was accessible, others said it wasn’t. Being curious and somewhat determined, I wanted to check it out.
Montjuïc was another attraction we didn’t manage to visit during our first trip to Barcelona so we made sure to check it out this time around. The funicular is a railway that provides easy and super quick access to Montjuïc so it seemed ideal.
We entered via Metro Paral·lel station and waited for the funicular. I didn’t see any staff as we were waiting for the funicular so I was a little unsure what would actually happen when the funicular arrived and whether I’d manage to get on.
The platform is on a slope so we made sure to go to the top where there was a wheelchair symbol on the floor. This was the wheelchair accessible entrance.
However, the entrance isn’t level with the platform, which made getting on and off a little tricky. Another passenger helped Allan steady my wheelchair as I got on and off, which was so kind and appreciated. Within two minutes we were at Montjuïc for the next part of the journey.
Montjuïc Cable Car
The Montjuïc Cable Car was the next step and took us up to the top of the Montjuïc hill and castle. While riding in the cable car, we got to enjoy amazing aerial views of Barcelona. It was a bit overcast, but we still got brilliant panoramic views as we glided above the lush green trees in the park below us. It was lovely.
Accessibility: The cable car cabins are wheelchair accessible, but it’s important to note that the cabins don’t fully stop. The staff can only slow them down a little, which I was a little worried about. I managed to get on okay, though, but getting off was a tad nerve-wracking as I had to reverse off while it was still slightly moving. The Montjuïc Cable Car was an enjoyable experience and I loved being able to enjoy the views of wheelchair accessible Barcelona.
Montjuïc Castle
Montjuïc Castle also known as Castell de Montjuïc is a castle that sits at the top of the hill. It dates back to 1640 when it was a military fortress. Montjuïc Castle sits 173 metres above the port so it provides fantastic views of the city and sea.
Accessibility: There are cobblestones from the Montjuïc cable car terminal building to the main entrance of Montjuïc castle. It was a bumpy ride, to say the least. It was nice to admire the perfectly manicured gardens during my bumpy ride. We casually strolled through the castle grounds and enjoyed the slight breeze as it was so hot. The Castle itself is currently being adapted to accommodate people with reduced mobility.
Night stroll and back to the apartment for dinner
Much like the night before, we enjoyed walking around and taking in the atmosphere at night. We picked up some drinks, snacks and noodles for dinner at the grocery store and headed back to the apartment.
Day Three in Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona
La Rambla and Gothic Quarter
We decided to have an easy morning and head out a little bit before lunch. We took the metro to Plaça de Catalunya and from there walked along La Ramblas and through the Gothic Quarter. Passing some time browsing some shops and buying a few bits for ourselves and our nephew.
Lunch at The Green Spot
The Green Spot was one of the restaurants we went to last year and absolutely loved it. We couldn’t go home without visiting again. We love everything about this restaurant from the decor, the staff, the atmosphere and of course the amazing food.
Since we were feeling really hungry we decided to order a selection of appetisers before our pizzas. If you are visiting Barcelona, be sure to hit up this restaurant and order as many of the options as you can possibly eat.
Accessibility: There are various styles of tables and chairs so you should be able to find one that is suitable for you. I had no problems rolling my wheelchair under the table. The accessible toilet is nice and clean, which is always a bonus. Everything is on one level. Great wheelchair accessible restaurant in Barcelona.
Simply Emma Top Tip: Order a selection of appetisers – they are delicious, as is, all the food here.
Address: Carrer de la Reina Cristina, 12, 08003 Barcelona
Parc de la Ciutadella
Continuing with our relaxing day we visited Parc de la Ciutadella for an afternoon of relaxing in the beautiful sunshine/shade. If you know me and read my previous travel posts then you will know we always head for greenery and parks in whatever city we visit.
Parc de la Ciutadella is the largest and oldest park in Barcelona. It is also peaceful and a green haven. It’s not surprising locals spend a lot of their time in this park either exercising, having picnics, soaking up the sun or spending time with friends and family.
We took some shade under some trees and watched a flock of geese happily hang out together. There were also lots of green parrots flying around and living in the trees. After a while, we strolled through the rest of the park in search of the Cascada, the iconic monument of the park. It was made by Josep Fontserè and then a young student, Antoni Gaudí.
Unfortunately, during our visit, the fountain was under construction and there was no water surrounding the monument. It was a shame and bad timing, but we still managed to snap a few shots and enjoy our time in the park.
Throughout our time at the park, it was sunny and so hot, but there were constant rumbles of thunder in the distance. We never really thought much of it, but just before we left the park, there was a massive downpour. Everyone in the park ran to take shelter under trees and anything they could find. Thankfully, we found a relatively big tree to protect us from the rain. Then my trusty poncho came out and I was sorted. I loved it though and it made us laugh.
You will also find Barcelona Zoo, the Catalan Parliament, The Museu d’Art Modern, The Zoological Museum and the Museu de Geologia in Parc de la Ciutadella.
Accessibility: Wheelchair access is very good throughout the park and I didn’t have any problems getting around. I didn’t require the use of a toilet, but I’m sure there would be accessible toilets in any of the buildings mentioned above if required.
Simply Emma Top Tip: Bring a picnic and enjoy a few hours of relaxing in this beautiful park. It is a lovely spot to get away from everything.
Arc de Triomf
After the thunderstorm had passed we made our way out of Parc de la Ciutadella. We continued in the direction alongside the rows of palm trees to the Arc de Triomf.
This iconic landmark was built by Josep Vilaseca as the main access gate to the 1888 Barcelona World Fair. The fair was held in Parc de la Ciutadella, which explains its close proximity. The arch is a beautiful landmark with red brick and sculptural motifs. It was pretty striking against the dramatic sky.
A stroll to the metro and back to the apartment for dinner
We made it back to our apartment just in time before another thunderstorm hit. It was great to relax on the balcony and watch the lightning light up the sky. I’ve never seen lightning like this in my life. It was amazing. We spent the rest of the night having dinner, using the swimming facilities and packing.
Day Four in Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona
This was our last day in beautiful wheelchair accessible Barcelona. Even though our flight wasn’t until later that night, we didn’t want to plan too much. We wanted to take it easy and enjoy our last day in our favourite city.
Lunch at Flax & Kale Passage
We went for lunch at another Flax & Kale restaurant. This one was Flax & Kale Passage and is given its name due to its location through Passatge de Les Manufactures. This area was quaint and had a beautiful little passage with plants hanging from the balconies. Lovely.
Each Flax & Kale restaurant specialises in different cuisines and this once offered healthy pizzas, healthy Asian Fusion and exclusive specially homemade drinks. Again the decor and atmosphere were amazing as were the pizzas we ordered.
Accessibility: The staff were lovely and seated us at a table that best accommodated my wheelchair. The friendly waiter was also lovely when showing us the accessible toilet. The toilet was a good size and I had space to move around. There were grab bars and a roll-under sink.
Address: Carrer de Sant Pere Més Alt, 31-33, 08003 Barcelona
Barcelona Beach
Next up and our last pit stop before heading back to our apartment was the beautiful and wheelchair accessible Barcelona beaches. Would a trip to Barcelona be complete without going to the beach? Probably not.
Last year we had a fantastic day enjoying everything that Barcelona beach offered wheelchair users. I got to experience being in the sea and on the sand for the first time in over 20 years thanks to the amazing beach wheelchairs.
This time there were no water activities for me, I wanted to relax and enjoy the view from the promenade. It was just good to sit and take in the views and feel the warmth of the sunshine for the last time before heading home to cold Scotland.
Accessibility: Barcelona beaches are wheelchair accessible offering beach wheelchairs, accessible paths/promenades, changing rooms and showers as well as accessible toilets. For more on wheelchair accessible Barcelona beaches, you can check out my ‘8 Amazing Reasons To Visit Nova Icària Beach Barcelona In A Wheelchair‘ post.
The Ultimate Guide to Wheelchair Accessible Barcelona
My trip to wheelchair accessible Barcelona was fantastic. In my opinion, it is one of the most accessible cities I’ve ever been to. I can’t recommend Barcelona enough if you are looking for a wheelchair accessible holiday with the best of both worlds; beach life and sightseeing/culture.
As this was our second time in Barcelona, we felt that we were able to relax more and really soak up the atmosphere. It was also great that we managed to tick more activities off our list of wheelchair accessible things to do in Barcelona. We will be back again!
Have you ever visited Barcelona? I’d love to know what you thought of the beautiful city! Or are you interested in visiting now? Let me know in the comments below.
An Accessible City Guide To Barcelona
8 Amazing Reasons To Visit Nova Icària Beach Barcelona In A Wheelchair
MICs Sant Jordi: The Most Accessible and Stylish Apartment in Barcelona
My 9 Favourite Accessible Things To Do In Barcelona
7 Reasons to Stay at MICs Sant Jordi: The Best Accessible Accommodation in Barcelona
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12 Responses
I have never visited Barcelona but my son loves it there.
I’m always quite nervous about visiting places I’ve never been before because, unless I’ve spoken to people with a disability similar to mine, I’m nervous about whether the accommodation and attractions really are as accessible as they say. I’ve had some real holiday disasters due to this.
Thanks to both of your blogs and other info, especially about the beach which I haven’t been on for 14 years but still love. I think that I will definitely be adding Barcelona to my list.
I don’t suppose you noticed, other than the beach whether there were any changing places style of toilets there?
Thanks for this Emma it was really useful.
Hi Dawn. I’m so pleased you found the Barcelona posts helpful and that you are hoping to visit sometime. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice changing places toilets on the beach. I really wish there was as it would be incredibly helpful. Let me know if you have anymore questions I can help with 🙂
Hi Emma. I’m planning a trip to Barcelona this June. I was looking at hotels right in the centre but the prices are a little out of my range!
I’ve just read your review of the accessible apartments and they sound ideal! I’m traveling alone, in your opinion, would I be able to navigate the Metro without getting lost?! My sense of direction is terrible lol.
Thank you in advance
Hi Paula. Thanks for your comment 🙂
We loved our stay at the apartments? Are you thinking of staying there? It’s great that the metro is right outside the apartments, it makes it so easy and you get into the centre in 12 mins – really quick. I would say it’s pretty easy and I don’t think you would have too much trouble 🙂 The staff in the apartments are very good so they would be able to tell you which stop you would need to get off at for wherever you were planning on visiting etc.
I think you would be absolutely fine 🙂
Yayyyy. Thanks Emma, the apartments look perfect for me. I can’t wait!
Brilliant! Is that you all booked up at MICs? Keep me posted 🙂
Emma, ur info is extremely useful, as we r traveling w my disabled mom next week to Barcelona. Ur tips are very detailed n informative. Much appreciate!
Oh wow, thank you so much Monica. I’m so glad it has been helpful to you. I hope you have a fantastic time in Barcelona next week and please let me know how you get on. I’d love to hear what you got up to 🙂
Hi Emma, I’m traveling to Barcelona next month. I have LGMD2i and think I will book where you suggested. I’ve always wanted to try a hydrotherapy pool 🙂 Did you bring your own power chair? I don’t want the airlines to mess with mine so I may rent one while I’m there. Is the hotel centrally located? Thanks SO MUCH for your blog!
Hi Lacey. Thank you so much for your comment – it’s great to hear from you 🙂
That is amazing you are going to Barcelona soon. Have you been before? Have you booked MICs Sant Jordi? I have a full review on staying there which you can read here – https://www.simplyemma.co.uk/mics-sant-jordi-accessible-apartment-barcelona/
Yeah, I always travel with my own powerchair as I cannot walk at all or have any other options in terms of chairs etc. Did you manage to rent one for yourself?
MICs Sant Jordi is a 12-minute metro ride from the central, which we found to be ideal. We’ve stayed twice and plan on returning again. We love it and I hope you do too 🙂
Let me know if you have any other questions and enjoy Barcelona 🙂
Hi Emma this was a brilliant detailed description of your trip, thank you so much for putting it together it is very helpful for me and my family. I was wondering if there was any accessible toilets in the Park Guell?
Hi Rachel. Thank you for your comment. I’m so glad you found this post helpful. I’m excited to hear you are going to Barcelona. I believe you will find accessible toilets located in Carretera del Carmel next to the ticket office (before you enter) and inside the Monumental Core in front of the bookshop. I don’t know what the toilets are like though as I didn’t see them, but that’s where I was told they were by Park Guell. I hope you have a great time. Please let me know how you get on.