Is Madrid an accessible city for people with reduced mobility?

Madrid is steadily moving towards a more inclusive model of city life. With its wide range of tourist, cultural and leisure offerings, the capital is actively working to ensure its public spaces, services and transport are accessible to everyone, including people with reduced mobility.

Madrid City Council's Department of Tourism, in collaboration with IMPULSA IGUALDAD and various organisations from the tourism sector, has developed the Madrid Accessible Tourism Guide, available in Spanish and English.

It provides detailed information on the accessibility of different tourist attractions and also includes the 'Madrid Accessible To You' project, which offers eight adapted routes through the historic city centre: Landscape of Light, Madrid de los Austrias (Habsburg Madrid), Along Calle de Alcalá, El Barrio de las Letras (Literary Quarter), El Retiro Park and Barrio de Salamanca, Between Chueca and Malasaña, Princesa-Moncloa and Atocha and the Surrounding Area.

Each route includes a brief description of the itinerary, maps, tips and a list of accessible resources and specialised services that may be of interest, such as museums, monuments, squares and gardens. In addition to the eight accessible routes around the city of Madrid, the guide provides practical information to help you plan your trip in advance. This includes details on the capital's tourist information services, the City Council's Accessible Guided Tours Programme and an adapted tourist map.

The guide also has useful information on personal assistants, where to rent or buy assistive devices, accessibility in the transport network and travel agencies specialising in accessible tourism.

Available in both Spanish and English, the guide has an accessible PDF that can be used by people who are visually impaired. The printed edition includes information in Braille and large font, as well as QR codes to download the content in different languages and to connect to the TUR4all platform. Madrid is a city full of amazing tourist attractions. Art, culture, leisure, sports, cuisine, shopping, nature... the possibilities are endless. And the city is striving to improve its offerings so that they can be accessible to everyone.

Madrid also has an Accessible Accommodation Guide, available in Spanish and English, which categorises hotels, hostels and other establishments according to how accessible they are and to the types of disabilities that can accommodate. As for transport, Madrid boasts a modern and adapted network:

1. Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport offers personalised assistance if requested 48 hours in advance by calling 902 404 704 or (+34) 913 211 000 and specifying your needs.
2. Renfe has an Assistance Service for passengers with disabilities.
3. Metro de Madrid has adapted many of its stations (look for the accessible station / lift icon on the official map, or check the station list) and has a special service to help people with reduced mobility.
4. The entire fleet of EMT buses is fully adapted for people with disabilities.
5. The Asociación de Eurotaxi de Madrid provides vehicles for people with reduced mobility at no extra charge.

People with disabilities travelling to Madrid in their own vehicles can check the Madrid Accessible Tourism Guide for information on car parks with designated accessible spaces. The guide also includes a list of companies that offer adapted car rental services, making it easier to get around during your stay in the city.

Madrid's cultural scene is also accessible. Places like Paseo del Arte—comprising the Prado, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofía museums—have adapted their facilities to guarantee universal access.

Other notable examples include the Museum for the Blind, the National Archaeological Museum and the Naval Museum, as well as Movistar Arena, which was awarded the Premio Autonomía Personal (2024 Personal Autonomy Award) in 2024 by FAMMA.

In addition, initiatives such as Teatro Accesible (Accessible Theatre) and the Agenda Cultural Accesible help people with sensory disabilities take part in the city's cultural life.

Madrid also uses and promotes digital tools such as MAPcesible, a collaborative app created by Fundación Telefónica, as well as TUR4all and Accessibility, which offer geolocated information on the accessibility of thousands of city establishments and services.

In addition to this, social organisations like ONCE and Ilunion, which are dedicated to the inclusion and employment of people with disabilities, run a variety of projects. There are also adapted leisure activities available, such as Fundación Lukas' accessible bicycle service in Madrid Río Park.