Planning your journey is an essential part of travelling and, if you are intending to use public transit, most service providers have information lines and contact details. Make use of these and get as much information as possible, but most importantly make their staff aware of your visit and your needs, such as step-free from pavement to platform or lift access.

Most transport authorities will also have information about local travel and accessibility on their websites so that’s worth a check too.

If you have a disability or reduced mobility, in the EU you have the right to access air, train, bus, coach, or boat travel like anybody else. When you buy your ticket, the vendor must give you information about your journey in a format that is accessible to you as well as information on the specific facilities available to you on board the aircraft, train, bus, coach or ship. Here is information on passenger rights for people with disabilities or reduced mobility in the EU.

Here is another useful resource exploring wheelchair accessible cities in Europe.

Plan ahead and always take a contact number with you in case you get lost, are going to be late or have any access problems when you get to your destination.

If you want to take someone with you, this can often help when travelling somewhere for the first time. Sometimes for important meetings it may be worth doing the journey once or twice in advance to make sure everything is OK.