Accessible Athens
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
Accessible Athens
Photo: Thomas Gravanis
Athens is a historical city that now, thanks to coordinated efforts, is slowly getting an accessible and anthropocentric character, while maintaining the necessary respect for the cultural heritage and the structural elements needed to be preserved.
In this pilot project, the Municipality of Athens and This Is Athens, the official Athens Guide, in collaboration with the social enterprise “Me Alla Matia”, have tracked the most accessible tourist itineraries, for people with visual and mobility impairments.
* The social enterprise “Me Alla Matia” is a non-profit organization that was founded and organized by disabled people. It takes action in accessibility consulting in digital and structured environments, as well as in psychosocial support and education of the disabled, their families and professionals of the respective field.
The itineraries:
- Were traced by a focus group of disabled people with visual and mobility impairments, as well as respective professionals who studied them in vivo and tracked them based on personal experience.
- Were traced by a focus group of disabled people with visual and mobility impairments, as well as respective professionals who studied them in vivo and tracked them based on personal experience.
- Present general information of accessibility that is available for the public, related to each point of interest.
Historic Heart to Urban Soul of Athens
From ancient citadel to buzzy modern metropolis - experience the evolution of Athens on this landmark-packed exploration.
Syntagma Square, Ermou Street, Church of Panagia Kapnikarea, Monastiraki Square, Thissio, Gazi
See the routes for:
MOTOR IMPAIRMENT
Ancient Athens Uncovered
From Roman arenas to the sacred rock of Athens, discover the legendary landmarks and ancient treasures of the Greek capital.
Dionysiou Areopagitou Pedestrian Area, The Acropolis Museum, Odeon Herodes Atticus, The Acropolis
See the routes for:
MOTOR IMPAIRMENT
Origins of Modern Athens
Athens is so much more than ancient relics. From neoclassical treasures to eclectic urban emblems, let’s trace the contemporary face of the Greek capital.
Athens Academy, National University of Athens, National Library, Polytechnic
See the routes for:
MOTOR IMPAIRMENT
National Garden of Athens and Surrounding Highlights
Former royal estate, the National Garden, is not just a beloved oasis for Athenians. It’s encircled by many must-see city treasures, both ancient and modern.
National Garden, Zappeion Mansion, Olympieion, Panathenaic Stadium, Hellenic Parliament, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
See the routes for:
MOTOR IMPAIRMENT
How to use this guide
First choose the itinerary you like. Our guide begins with a ‘Points of Interest’ list, where you can click each point and find out more about the site (basic info and accessibility) and a map depicting the whole itinerary with an active link on Google Maps. Then, there is an Itinerary Overview to give a better understanding of the route as well as a general accessibility assessment of it. At the bottom there is the Route’s Detailed Description consisting of two parts:
1 | A step-by-step text guide for the accessible navigation of the itinerary. Each step includes carefully curated directions, explanatory photos where applicable and a link that leads to additional touristic and accessibility information for the said point.
2 | An assistive interactive map were the above steps and points of interest are visualized and presented by their relative number icon. Mouse hovering on a number will highlight the related path (desktop). Clicking or tapping on a number opens a tooltip with general & accessibility info of the related point of interest.
At the end of the guide the Next Up section proposes the nearest available Itinerary.
Transportation
Metro
- All metro stations are accessible and equipped with adapted WC free for the disabled public. WCs are locked and you have to notify someone in charge in case you want to use them.
- All elevators have voice output.
- In most stations there is tactile paving in their interior.
- Boarding-Disembarking for wheelchairs is easier in the first or last car in metro lines 2 and 3 and from the first door of the first car in metro line 1. In line 1, stations of Ag. Nikolaos, Omonoia, Monastiraki, there is a big gap between the platforms and the trains, so you can ask for a movable ramp and assistance.
- If your vision is impaired, please ask for help from the stationmaster, who will assist you in boarding and will notify the head of the station where you will disembark to assist you.
- There is a helpline for disabled visitors +302108200887 operating from 06:30 – 22:30 on weekdays and from 07:30 – 22:30 on weekends.
- There are Special Vehicles for transportation of disabled people that cannot be serviced by the conventional vehicles of public transport. The service has three vehicles with space for wheelchairs and one seat for the accompanying person. The use of this service is made by appointment, provided that there is a vehicle available. Call +302104270748 (operating hours 7:30- 14:00, from Monday to Friday) or send an e-mail at amea@osy.gr. The service hours are from 08:00 to 22:00 free of charge.
Car
- There are only a handful public, designated disabled parking spots across Athens free of charge. There are private ones, you can park there by paying.
Taxi
- Taxis are not specially designed to accommodate wheelchairs.
- Via taxi applications you can call one immediately, choose the type of the car to come and be informed about the expected cost of the ride.
- There are wheelchair adapted vehicles for rent with a driver, only by appointment, usually without a taximeter and with a prearranged price per ride. You can google those services and contact them for an appointment or more info.
Restrooms
There are very few public adapted WCs in Athens and these are usually barely functional. You can use the accessible WCs located in every metro station for free, after a contact with someone in charge.