Beth L. Says:
I read the article written by Jeff Opdyke, who moved from Prague to Cascais, Portugal. This town/oversize village sounds like a place I would like to stay for a few weeks/months.
However, while not paralyzed, I use a wheelchair for mobility.
Would I have issues gaining access to shops, restaurants, etc.? Even finding an accessible place to live. Can you help me with this or steer me to someone who can?
Global Intelligence Editor and Cascais Resident Jeff Opdyke Says:
I’m glad you liked my article about Cascais. This charming Portuguese seaside town has a lot to recommend it.
As for wheelchair accessibility, one thing you will need to keep in mind is the prevalence of cobblestoned streets here—including unseated cobblestones that rise up higher than the rest, and an unevenness that means navigating dips and divots in the cobblestones that very often trip me up. These could prove a challenge for navigation via wheelchair. Also, the sidewalks are often narrow.
Cascais is also a hilly area, so there are inclines to navigate, particular if you venture outside the core of the town. If you remain in the core restaurant/shopping area, the hilliness is less troublesome, but the alleyways where most of the shop and eateries are located can be narrow as well.
I’ve also not noticed many wheelchair ramps in shops, restaurants etc. And while public transport is readily available, I’ve not noticed any buses with wheelchair lifts. And taxis are very often smaller cars, as is common across much of Europe.
When it comes to accommodation, I would suggest avoiding older buildings. These tend to be small, and most don’t have elevators.
Newer buildings do, of course, but they are in the minority. I’ve stayed in a couple hotels when I first arrived while waiting for our apartment to be ready, and I did not notice ramps.
You might start by exploring the hotels listed on Booking.com as scoring well for accessibility.
Another possible resource is this website listing accessible hotels and apartments. However, I have not used this myself so recommend some due diligence before use.
As you can see, Cascais—and Portugal in general—presents some challenges for wheelchair accessibility.
I hope I’ve given you a frank and clear account of what those challenges might be.