Accessibility

With disabled people in mind, Paris Region promises to make the capital and the surrounding area accessible to all. Whether you’re a wheelchair user, have impaired vision or hearing, or any other disability, you’ll find adapted facilities to help you enjoy your visit to the full.

Thanks to the “Paris, accessible city” initiative, you can find an entirely accessible district in every arrondissement of the capital. Stroll without fear through the city streets, between museums and other iconic sites of the region, enjoying peace of mind and the best possible conditions when using public transport… In Île-de-France, you can go wherever you fancy. Your disability needn’t knock your confidence while sightseeing.

The Paris Region has a multitude of tourist attractions that disabled people can visit. More than 200 sites have been certified by “Tourisme & Handicap”, which guarantees they are accessible to all. The most iconic sites among them include the Louvre, one of the world’s most visited museums, where there are adapted tour paths for wheelchair users and audioguides for the visually impaired. Descriptive tours and touch tours are also available on a regular basis. Admission is free for all disabled persons and their companions, on presentation of proof.

The Eiffel Tower is also accessible, with adapted lifts and observation platforms designed for all. Other attractions, such as the Palace of Versailles and the Orsay Museum, offer inclusive guide tours.

The museums aren’t the only places accessible to disabled people. Many of the parks and gardens, such as the Jardin des Plantes, have also been improved to guarantee full access.

Travelling around the Paris Region is getting easier for disabled persons as more and more improvements are being made in public transport services. The Île-de-France bus network is almost entirely accessible, with access ramps and spaces reserved specifically for wheelchair users. Despite its long years of service, the metro has a number of partly-accessible lines with, among other features, lifts and wider doors at key stations, such as those that connect to the main train stations (Gare de Lyon, Gare Montparnasse, etc.).

The RER express trains, running between Paris and the surrounding region, are also partially accessible, with lifts and ramps installed at certain stations. The tram lines covering much of the outskirts are all entirely accessible. Comfortable, door-to-door travel is also available on prior booking of an adapted taxi or minicab. For visitors arriving by plane, the two main airports, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, are equipped for people with disabilities and provide specific assistance services.

For a hassle-free stay, many companies in Paris Region rent out equipment to meet the specific needs of disabled visitors. Whether it’s a wheelchair you need, a white cane, a hearing aid or other specialist equipment, you’ll find rental services that deliver directly to your hotel, apartment or even the airport.

Certain specialist agencies propose electric scooter or electric wheelchair rentals, allowing you to explore the city independently. Other solutions are available for visually impaired persons, such as Braille devices and electronic magnifiers. In some cases you can even rent specific equipment for leisure activities, such as amphibious wheelchairs for use at accessible swimming pools.

These services often include bespoke guidance, including advice in choosing the equipment that best meets your needs and technical support where required. Time to enjoy the freedom of visiting the Paris Region, safely and independently.

This public demand-responsive transport service was created in 2002 to make it easier for disabled people to get around. Operating 7 days a week from 6am until midnight (and in inner Paris, until 2am on Fridays & Saturdays), the PAM service is used by an average 12,000 travellers, for a total of 730,000 trips each year. The principle? A specialised driver arrives at your home with an adapted vehicle, to take you to your pre-determined destination.

To use this service, you must first request membership online, by mail, or at a PAM agency.

Once your membership is confirmed, you can book individual trips with the local agency, either by phone, mail or email, at least 48 hours ahead of travel. You can also book regular trips in advance.

The fare ranges from 2 to 14 euros, depending on the distance covered (one-way fare only).

Further details on: https://pam.iledefrance-mobilites.fr/