Planning a holiday to Greece is fun and exciting, but it can be frustrating if you find that some resorts lack the required access for disabled holidaymakers. This is especially true of Greece’s pristine beaches, where a lack of access for disabled people can significantly impact the overall enjoyment of the holiday.
Fortunately, there are accessible beaches in Greece, which makes it easier to catch some rays on the soft sands if you use a wheelchair. Larger resorts, in particular, are more access friendly – and we’ve put together a list of the best islands that have wheelchair-friendly beaches.
Kos
Known for its sandy beaches, Kos is one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands and features many wheelchair-friendly beaches. The once-sleepy fishing village of Kardamena is now a popular beach resort with disabled access.
Then there’s Tigaka, which is another wheelchair-friendly part of Kos. It features a white sandy beach and has seen plenty of development in the last few decades, helping to modernise its access for disabled holidaymakers in the process.
Kos is the third-largest Greek island and welcomes around one-million people each year. Therefore, it has several beaches that offer wheelchair access. It’s also a relatively flat island and is quite straightforward to navigate in a wheelchair.
Corfu
One of the most sought-after Greek islands, Corfu is filled with soft, sandy beaches and crystal clear waters. The Ionian Islands (where Corfu is located) get just under three-million tourists per year, so it won’t come as a surprise to learn that many of the beaches are equipped with wheelchair access.
In Corfu alone, around 20 beaches have access for floating wheelchairs, which can be moved in and out of the calm waters. Some beaches also have well-maintained ramps, making it even easier to navigate the beach.
Many of the nearby beach bars, restaurants, and watersport centres have also adopted wheelchair-friendly features. Subsequently, Corfu is one of the best-equipped islands in Greece for people with special needs.
Crete
Crete has taken inspiration from Corfu, adding a number of accessible beaches for disabled people. And with more islands becoming increasingly wheelchair friendly, you might want to do a spot of island hopping by book your ferry tickets from Ferryscanner.
Most of the beaches in Crete are Blue Flag standard and provide warm shallow waters, making it easier for people in a wheelchair to enjoy a day at the beach. That means you can find beautiful wheelchair-friendly beaches, many of which have direct access from the roads.
A visit to Crete serves up more than fantastic beaches; there are great restaurants and picturesque sights practically everywhere you turn. The city Rethymno, in particular, is wheelchair friendly with its wider, more accessible roads.
Enjoying Greece with more access
Greece has seen plenty of development over the years, resulting in the country becoming more wheelchair friendly. This is reflected in the growing number of beaches that offer wheelchair access so that disabled people can enjoy sandy beaches, warm waters, and soak up the best of the Greek islands.