Madrid's public transport is improving for accessibility, but it's not there yet for mobility scooter users. The Metro is theoretically possible but practically frustrating. Buses generally don't work. Cercanías and long-distance trains are your best bets for rail travel.
The good news is that Madrid has invested heavily in accessibility over the past two decades. The main tourist areas are largely navigable. Most major attractions accommodate mobility equipment. Public transport is increasingly accessible. You can absolutely have a wonderful holiday here on a mobility scooter.
Most people who fly with their own scooters wish they hadn't. The airport hassle, the anxiety about damage, the waiting — it adds stress to what should be an enjoyable trip. The ones who arrive to find damage are understandably furious. Even the ones whose scooters arrive fine often say they wouldn't bother next time.
The right scooter doesn't just get you around Madrid — it shapes what Madrid you experience. Choose too small, and you might miss the sunset at Casa de Campo because you were worried about making it back. Choose too big, and you might skip that tiny family restaurant in Lavapiés because you couldn't fit through the door.
Last year I turned 68, and I made myself a promise: I wasn't going to stop traveling just because my knees aren't what they used to be. Madrid had been on my bucket list for years. The Prado, Retiro Park, tapas in Malasana, sunsets in Plaza Mayor... all those things you see in photos and desperately want to experience.
I'm going to be honest with you: Madrid wasn't built for walking if you have any kind of mobility issue. And it pains me to say that because it's my city and I love it. I've seen tourists completely wiped out by 3 PM in Plaza Mayor, grandparents who've stopped leaving the house because Retiro Park feels "too far," and people recovering from surgery who spend weeks stuck indoors because getting around feels impossible. The thing is, it doesn't have to be that way.
Discover everything you need to know about renting mobility scooters, wheelchairs, and walking aids in Spain. Learn how Scooter Town makes travel easier in Madrid and Barcelona with clean, modern equipment delivered to your door.