Packed full of ancient history, rugged terrain and beach resorts, Bulgaria has something to satisfy everyones taste. Prior to ones visit, it appeared that the country would present many challenges for wheelchair users. Granted, planning the trip wasn’t the easiest, however, a large proportion of the stumbling blocks were simply due to the language barrier. For example, contacting Bulgarian Railways to discover that it is actually the Red Cross who provide wheelchair assistance.
In some respects Bulgaria and its capital are, in fact, ahead of their European counterparts in terms of accessibility. For example, all stations on the Sofia Metro possess elevators to street level in addition to providing level access to attractions such as the Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. However, it can be said that the country still has a long way to go to become truly accessible. This is evident in the lack of private wheelchair accessible transportation.
For now, it is necessary for one to be a little creative when visiting the country. This may mean carrying a portable ramp, however, it certainly should not deter a wheelchair user from visiting this fascinating country!
