Visiting Czechia as a wheelchair user

AD PRESS TRIP - At the end of August, Owen and I were lucky enough to be invited on a press trip with Visit Czechia and put Czechia through its paces when it comes to wheelchair access. We spent two days in beautiful South Moravia before heading into the vibrant city of Brno, which is a perfect alternative to the usual busy capital of Prague.

To set the scene, I am a manual wheelchair user, and I also use a SmartDrive (electric power attachment) for exploring cities. I’d like to think that I’m pretty active and do a lot of travelling on my own, usually, so this is something to bear in mind - as of course, every wheelchair user and their capabilities are different! As always, I am here to just tell you what worked/didn’t work for me, and then you can make your own judgment on whether you think this would be suitable for your access needs.

While not everywhere was perfectly accessible to me on this occasion (I’ll expand more on that later), it was still an incredible chance to soak up the culture, try some amazing wine, and see a side of Czechia that feels a bit more off the beaten track. 

Here’s how our trip looked if you’d like to follow the same itinerary…

South Moravia - Mikulov

We were heading to Mikulov for our first stop, a small historical town based in the South of Czechia, very close to the border of Austria, meaning that we actually flew direct from Manchester into Vienna and had a short 1-hour transfer to our hotel.

Hotel Galant

Hotel Galant is a four-star hotel based right in the historic centre of Mikulov, with wheelchair accessible rooms available to book directly. If I am to be completely honest, I find this to be more of a large step-free room than a carefully thought-out accessible room. I wanted to highlight this, as I know that whilst it may work for some, it certainly won’t work for all!

Key features:

• Alternative step-free entrance to the hotel around the back

• One small lift to the rooms

• Large spacious room, but lacking in accessibility features

• No accessible wardrobe

• No clearance under the desk

• Lacking in charging ports (I did struggle with all of my devices!)

• Step-free small bathroom

• Standing height mirror (I was unable to see myself in the mirror)

• Shower stool without back (this was just an old stool that rocked due to the camber on the floor)

Due to this, I didn’t actually get a shower whilst staying in this hotel, just as I didn’t want to risk falling, so unfortunately, I’m not able to give you much on this front!

Castles, Wine, and Water Parks

Mikulov

We started the day with a short tour of the city centre, known as the wine region. To note, this is a small town with around 10,000 inhabitants - and therefore very rural. With this being said, the general terrain throughout is mainly composed of cobblestones, with very few drop kerbs. If you are a pro manual wheelchair user, then this area wouldn't pose a problem!

Chateau Lednice

Our first big stop was the stunning Lednice Chateau, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The grounds and architecture were breathtaking, with so much history tucked into every corner. We had a guided tour of the Chateau itself, with two ramps available upon request. 

We headed round to the botanical greenhouse, which had an alternative step-free entrance to bring us straight into the action. This was a phenomenal experience, with nature and plenty of wildlife at your fingertips. The terrain inside was a mixture of metal griddles and hard-packed sand.

There was a lot to see and do here, and you could even just spend a summer's afternoon exploring the grounds themselves.

To note, there is no accessible toilet on-site at this attraction - the nearest is at the Zámecký Hotel Lednice.

Lunch at U Tlustých

We tucked into a hearty local lunch at U Tlustých to fuel us for the afternoon ahead. With step-free access and an accessible toilet on site, this was the perfect spot to try out some of the local cuisine!

Winery Reisten

Nestled under the Pálava Hills, Winery Reisten winery offered not only some of the region’s best wine but also iconic views across the landscape. Opened back in 2021, this had step-free access throughout and a spacious on-site accessible toilet.

Here we were able to taste their exquisite Pálava, a white wine made from the Pálava grape variety, which you can only find in this tiny section of the world. A fruity blend that we could have sunk ten bottles of in the beautiful sun, enjoying the panoramic views. There is a large step-free terraced decking outside, where they host regular local music on an evening - a perfect spot to relax and unwind.

This is a must-visit vineyard if you are in the area! We would absolutely recommend a trip here.

Aqualand Moravia

Yes, you read that right! A waterpark. After a day of history and wine, it was time to throw on a swimsuit and relax at Aqualand Moravia. 

Although we only visited for a few hours, this could definitely be a spot you head to for the whole day. Perfect for couples to enjoy the quieter side of the park and spa facilities, or visit with the whole family and explore the indoor and outdoor waterparks.

I was ecstatic to find that upon entering, lots of thought and consideration had been put into making this a truly wheelchair accessible experience. Accessible changing rooms, complete with showering facilities, accessible lockers, designated accessible seating areas, and of course, a pool hoist!

Be sure to keep an eye out on my socials for a full video on this, as there is so much to share!

Dinner at Restaurace Víno Šílová

We ended the day with a delicious dinner at Víno Šílová, complete with local wine, of course! This was situated in the heart of Mikulov and had a menu offering local cuisine. I opted for the chicken, which was served with an array of Mediterranean vegetables - delicious! Owen went for the local seafood option and was also really impressed!

Here we dined in the courtyard to the back of the restaurant, which had a larger single step-free toilet onsite.

Caves, wines and moving on…

Wine Salon

Situated underground, the Wine Salon was one of my favourite stops - the chance to discover the 100 best voted wines of Czechia! Here, you are able to sample as many wines in the cellar as you wish, so if you intend on visiting, we’d recommend an afternoon visit to get your money's worth!

Due to the setting of the venue and it’s age, access was technically step-free - but there was a large and steep cobblestone ramp to tackle to get in. Once inside, everything was flat; however, again, there were cobblestones throughout. I managed in my manual wheelchair - but just something to be aware of! There was also a large single toilet onsite; however, I was unable to close the door with my wheelchair in there, so that’s also something to bear in mind.

Archeopark Pavlov

A unique museum tucked underground, showcasing the prehistoric history of the region. 

We did struggle to actually access the entrance due to the beaten track terrain; however, this is due to be renovated in the coming months!

Once inside, there was so much to see and do - and it was great to learn more about mammoth hunters and the local history of the area over the years. At the end, there is actually an excavation available to view via a platform. Unfortunately, this isn’t wheelchair accessible, but the exhibition as a whole is still a must-visit!

Moravian Karst: Sloupsko-Šošůvské Caves and Macocha Abyss

This was a real highlight, exploring the karst cave system and seeing the dramatic Macocha. As a wheelchair user, I never imagined that I would be able to access a cave, let alone multiple and see an abyss with my own eyes! A winding experience of multiple caves with a series of corridors and domes.

The site is situated within a vast nature reserve, with lots to see and do, both in terms of the caves, as well as a wheelchair accessible cable car to take you to the top for some epic views.

Again, due to the nature of the activity, it was a little rocky to get to the actual entrance itself and out of the exit, but once inside, it was completely step-free with carved concrete walkways throughout. The whole experience was truly breathtaking and one to add to the bucket list for sure. 

To note, the accessible toilet located within the visitor centre was obstructed by the sink, meaning transfers were a little tricky. Again, something to be mindful of!

Check-in Hotel International, Brno

We arrived in Brno in the evening and settled into Hotel International, ready for the city adventures to begin. Dinner that night was at Gusto, the hotel’s restaurant. This hotel was a great location if you are looking to be based in the heart of the city centre with local amenities close by and good accessible transport links.

Key features:

• Step-free main entrance

• Two reasonably sized lifts to access rooms

• Small and compact accessible room, with limited turning space throughout

• Divan beds, which unfortunately means there isn’t an option for hoisting

• Lowered clothes rail

• No clearance under the desk

• Very small step-free bathroom

• Seat height mirror

• Foldable shower seat hooked over grab rails.

I found this room to be perfect for my access needs, as we were only staying two nights; however, if I were to stay for a longer period of time, I would like to explore and see what other options are out there to give me that bit more room to maneuver.

A full day in Brno

We started with a guided walk around Brno’s city centre, which gave us a brilliant sense of its mix of modern culture and historic charm. We stopped by the famous Brno Astronomical Clock, which is a city centre monument that attracts a lot of tourists and attention! Every day at 11:00 AM, the clock releases a glass marble, which spectators can catch from one of four openings in the monument and take with them as a souvenir. It’s totally at random where the marble will land, and it was so fun to watch everyone getting so excited!

We continued our tour, stopping by St Peter and Paul Cathedral, and even checked out the local fruit and vegetable market in the bustling city centre square. Be mindful that while some streets in the city centre are redeveloped with smooth terrain, there are still a lot of side streets with cobblestones.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Brno had quite a lot of ‘Euro Key’ accessible toilets within most of the public areas we visited. This scheme is the equivalent of our RADAR key system here in the UK.

Museum of Applied Arts

Here, we got a look at design, fashion, and art exhibitions, and the theme really was “expected, unexpected”. With many floors to explore, the museum showcases the work of many Czech contemporary designers.

We also stopped by the famous robot cafe, where you can order a coffee with your own selfie on it! A perfect pit stop with a twist!

To note, I did struggle with some of the exhibitions, which I wasn’t able to fully access due to pathways and a lack of step-free access, but I presume this will change depending on what is being showcased when you visit.

Brno Water Tanks

This was one of the more unusual stops, an underground labyrinth of water tanks that genuinely took our breath away. With all three water tanks opened to the public in the Spring of 2024, it was great to see that accessibility wasn’t an afterthought here.

I was pleased to find that two out of the three water tanks had step-free access, with a large, well-maintained lift onsite as well as a roomy, accessible toilet.

If you are interested in architecture, then this site is a must-see. We were blown away by the acoustics in each of the tanks we visited and how this varied depending on the layout and the materials inside.

Accessible transport

The one you’ve been waiting for! I’m sure you’re all wondering how all of this was possible, and I figured it would be easiest to save the best till last, as we used various methods of transport throughout the trip.

For the region itself, ParaCENTRUM Fénix helped us arrange the accessible transport. They can also be contacted directly by international visitors who may need adapted transport services -  it just needs to be arranged in advance, as their capacity is limited. 

To note, public transport in this area is somewhat limited, especially if you want to visit some of the attractions mentioned above that are more off the beaten track. That said, I’m wary that everyone has different access needs, and local transport may be a viable option for some who want to combine this with more on-foot exploration. Most of the bus and rail networks do offer accessible options, but it’s best to do your research beforehand to double-check. For more on this, you can head to the IDOS web and mobile apps to assist with route planning - in particular, if you want to visit Aqualand, Lednice, Mikulov, or Valtice via public transport.

Once we arrived in Brno, I set myself the task of trying out all of the public transport to see if any would be suitable for wheelchair users. I was VERY impressed with this and opted to try both the tram system and a few bus routes. Again, stay tuned for a full video on this over on my Instagram, but I am happy to report that both offered step-free access, and it was a fantastically smooth experience throughout. I’d go as far as saying that I had a much better experience here with public transport than when I tried to tackle the London network here in the UK!

Would I recommend this trip?

All in all, this itinerary was such a fantastic way to explore both the rural charm of South Moravia and the lively city vibe of Brno. From castles and caves to wine and waterparks, there’s such a variety packed into just a few days.

I’d highlight that South Moravia was certainly more challenging for wheelchair users than the bustling city of Brno, but if you are an active wheelchair user and have assistance with you, then there are definitely ways to make the rural aspects of this itinerary work - you’ve just got to adapt in the moment.

As always, if you have any questions about any part of this trip, feel free to reach out to me directly via email: jennie@wheeliegoodlife.com

Would you try this Visit Czechia itinerary yourself?