Category: Airport Transportation

You might have been told that Paris is not very wheelchair accessible. I’m here to tell you to ignore this information and go anyway.

I legitimately thought I would arrive at the airport or train station and be stuck there, unable to make it to the Louvre or Eiffel Tower or any of the dozens of things to see in Paris. If you listen to some other travelers with disabilities, you might think this too.

I’m not going to ramble off all the accessible places I was able to go in Paris because my general attitude is that everything is possible. If there’s a restaurant you really want to go to, you’ll find your way in. The only thing I’ll tell you is that the public, self-cleaning toilets in the city don’t have seats on them, so good luck! But seriously, if you make sure you go to the bathroom when you are in the presence of a bathroom, you’ll be fine.

Paris Accessible Transportation

I like the bus the best to get around in Paris. They’re clean and safe and the people are generally very helpful. They’re also free for wheelchair users. The most common question you’ll be asked is where you are going to get off the bus. Listen for the word, “descendez,” as in descend, or go down to the sidewalk. Just know your stop before you get on the bus and you’ll be fine.

Don’t even bother with the Metro. If you want to take the RER trains you should schedule it first. The RER from the airport is easy but you still have to arrange ramp service. I have preferred taking taxis from the airport since they capped the fee at 50 euro.

For calling taxis I prefer the Taxi G7 app. Once you setup a profile you can request taxis with ramps. It’s easier than calling once you get going. I’ve had decent luck with this but if you plan to take a taxi back to the airport make sure you plan for a pickup much earlier than necessary just in case.

Paris Accessible Hotels

I had a great time staying at the Astotel Hotel 34b the last time i was in Paris. There is a huge accessible room with a giant accessible bathroom right on the first floor. They have a large library/lounge area with refreshments available free throughout the day. There are several Astotels in Paris with accessible rooms.

The only drawback to this place is that you have to ring the front desk from a panel outside so they can pop open the accessible door. It wasn’t a big deal and I was never left stuck outside. It’s a small hotel so the staff is readily available.

I’ve also stayed in an airBnB a few times. While they’ve been just fine, the bathroom and elevator situations can get hairy in older Parisian apartments. So your best bet is to look for one in a newer building and make sure you have the host measure the elevator for you!

Paris Things to Do

The nice thing about Paris for wheelchair users is that most of the museums are free for you and a companion. The Louvre, for example, is free and has one of the neatest elevators in the pyramid entrance. Just go to the entrance and they’ll guide you in and then all you have to do is roll to the wing you want to go to, no tickets required. If you have more than one person with you then they’ll need tickets.

Other smaller museums are usually free too, but there are a few which do charge tickets for special exhibitions. One of my favorites was the Museum of Hunting and Nature. It’s a very small museum in an old hunting lodge but it had some of the most unique things I’ve ever seen. I’ll just leave it at that!

Occasionally the staff at the museums will ask for your disability card, even though you’re sitting in front of them in your chair. I’ve never had one of these but discovered that this is a formality. I can usually get myself in without one but if someone really needs it, as if their job depended on it, I use my own disability card which you can make using this tool I created. It’s meant to be humorous but it actually works if you need it.

Restaurant-wise your best bet is always going to be the street-side cafes and brasseries. It’s easiest to roll up to an outside table and have a seat. Many places have at least one step. Unless you’ve got your heart set on some particular place, going to one place or another isn’t going to make much difference especially if you’re like me and just keep ordering a Croque Monsieur everywhere you go!

My main reason for visiting Paris has been to go to the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros. If you want to go but need accessible seating, you should setup an account and provide the proper documentation way before tickets go on sale. Follow the information on the Roland Garros website. The accessible seating is great on all courts and they’ve done a nice job with creating accessible pathways around the grounds. Make sure you get dropped off at Gate I (pronounced ‘Eeee’). If you take the bus to the grounds, it’s a short roll from the nearest stop.

From Paris you can take day trips to lots of great places as well. I’ve gone to Dijon and Luxembourg on the train and had a great time. Just make sure you buy your train tickets at the station and make sure you request the accessible seating AND the accessible fare. Make sure you let them know you’ll need help with a ramp as well.

Paris Airports

I’ve only ever flown into Paris Charles de Gaulle. I don’t love it because it’s big, but it has been ok. I’ve stayed at the Sheraton inside the terminal more than once as it’s the easiest hotel to get to from the terminals. There are others nearby which are cheaper but I’ve not tried to stay there.

If you need a taxi on arrival, you should either request one in advance with arrival service, or you can wing it and go to a queue. The last time I arrived I went out without an appointment and the taxi guys were helpful calling one for me. You could also request one from G7 on arrival. The RER B train is a cheaper but more cumbersome way to get from the airport to the city.

Paris Summary

I’ve been back to Paris five times or so now and I never run out of things to do. It’s a great city to explore and take your time and just enjoy it! The people are nicer than you’ve been told and most speak English, but it’s good to know a word or two and put in the effort. It’s definitely a place that you should go anyway!