Welcome to Greece

Many summer destinations around Greece are not yet accessible for persons with disabilities. For travelers in wheelchairs, the uneven terrain and widespread lack of accessibility infrastructure on the islands can pose problems. The situation is usually easier in large resorts which are often well-equipped to cater to people with disabilities.

The modern architecture of the Greek towns is not accessible either. Sidewalks are narrow and it is not easy for wheelchair users, especially in large towns. Also, street parking raises issues, with cars parked half on the sidewalk or very close to each other and leaving no space for a wheelchair user to get through.

Prosvasis focuses chiefly on mobility disabilities, cataloguing the areas that are accessible to wheelchair users. The site is available in both Greek and English. “The situation in Greece is not too bad. Facilities exist – and indeed well constructed ones – but they are not well known to the people they are intended for,” says EftihiaDaskalopoulou, the co-founder of the platform.

On both platforms one can find information about beaches, which provide individuals with mobility disabilities autonomous access to the sea via SEATRAC systems. These devices allow people with disabilities to enter and exit the sea on a mechanized seat that travels on a track running into the water. Persons with disabilities can thus get in and out of the water at the mere push of a button.

Information about the SEATRAC system, as well as on which Greek beaches it has been installed, is available in both Greek and English on the company’s website.

Many hotels are redesigning their spaces so that they are accessible for people in wheelchair. There are some hotels for accessible for persons with disabilities in Greece. Such is Eria Resort in Crete, or Sirens Resort in Loutraki Peloponnese which even has sea ramps for easy access to the sea and provides sea-wheelchair.