# Turkey's 81 Provinces Verified Barrier-Free Living and Accessible Places Guide: Barrier-Free Discovery for Disabled Individuals and Elderly People
!Turkey's 81 Provinces Verified Barrier-Free Life and Accessible Places Guide
The most basic criterion showing the level of development of a civilized society; It is not the height of its skyscrapers or the width of its highways, but the freedom of movement and inclusiveness of living spaces it offers to disadvantaged individuals, disabled citizens and the elderly. Traveling, taking a breather in front of a historical monument, soaking in the cool waters of the sea, or tracing the past in a museum is not a privileged blessing; It is the most natural, constitutional and human right of every citizen.
In Türkiye, there are approximately 10 million disabled individuals, millions of elderly people with limited mobility and citizens with temporary disabilities. The modern understanding of urbanism has initiated a radical revolution in mentality for individuals who have been confined to their homes for years due to public buildings surrounded by stairs, narrow toilets that cannot accommodate wheelchairs, sidewalks without ramps and steep steps.
Working together withMy Home, Turkish Confederation of Disabled Persons, Six Point Association of the Blind, Federation of the Hearing Impaired and accessibility architects; It offers the "Turkey Verified Barrier-Free Life and Accessible Spaces Guide", which has been field-tested in 81 provinces, from its ramps to audio descriptions, from its barrier-free beaches to its 'Orange Table' transportation services.
1. Universal Design Principles: When Is a Space Truly 'Accessible'?
Placing a wheelchair pictogram on a sign or pouring vertical concrete at a 25% slope at the back door of a building is not accessibility. 5 criteria sought in a barrier-free space verified according to international TSE and ADA standards:
1. Ramp and Slope Rule
The slope of the ramps should be between 6% and 8% maximum (1:12 ratio). There must be double-sided handrails and non-slip floor covering.
2. Standard Disabled WC
Door opening at least 90 cm, 150 cm free space where the wheelchair can rotate 360 degrees, foldable handles and emergency rope.
3. Sensible Surfaces
For visually impaired individuals, yellow tracks with guide sticks and warning embossed points at the top of the stairs should continue uninterrupted.
4. Braille & Audio Description
Information panels with embossed Braille alphabet, Turkish Sign Language video guide for the hearing impaired and audio description with headphones in museum works.
5. Thresholdless Elevator and Wide Doors
The ground must be at zero level at all entrance doors; Elevator buttons must be suitable for wheelchair height and operate with voice announcements.
6. Dedicated Parking
Disabled parking spaces, maximum 25 meters from the main entrance, with extra width for transfers and never occupied.
2. Turkey's 5 Most Inspiring Barrier-Free Culture and Nature Routes
Turkey's 5 most successful routes for those who want to explore history and nature without any obstacles:
1. Çanakkale Troy Museum (Worldwide Barrier-Free Architecture)
Troy Museum, which has the 2020 European Museum of the Year Special Award; It connects all eras with a spiral and wide ramp, without the need for a single step from the entrance to the top floor.- Features: Braille alphabet explanations next to the works, touchable replica works for the visually impaired and unobstructed viewing opportunity with a wheelchair.
2. Ankara Presidential National Library
The National Library, one of Türkiye's most modern public buildings; It is fully equipped with tactile surfaces, from the entrance to the study halls. For the visually impaired, there are special computers with screen readers, audiobook studios and a zero-disabled elevator network.3. Antalya & Alanya Accessible Public Beaches
"Barrier-Free Beach" concept established by municipalities on the Mediterranean coast; It includes wooden and composite platforms extending from the parking lot to the beach and from the beach to the sea.- Sea Entrance Chairs (Tiralo): Thanks to the buoyant amphibious sun loungers with special wheels, disabled individuals can swim safely accompanied by lifeguards. Showers, changing cabins and sunbed areas are fully suitable for disabled use.
Istanbul Galataport & Historical Peninsula
Galataport coastline is completely flat and unobstructed. Thanks to the low-floor stations of the T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar tram, Sultanahmet Square, Hagia Sophia and Gülhane Park can be easily visited by wheelchair on flat ground.
Eskişehir Porsuk Kordonu & Kentpark
European urbanism award-winning Eskişehir; It is the most accessible city in Turkey with its level ramps at tram stops, flat parks stretching uninterruptedly along the Porsuk Stream, and private tour boats with wheelchair lifts.
3. Services that Make Life Easier in Transportation: TCDD 'Orange Table' and Airports
Free accompaniment and support services offered by public institutions during long-distance intercity travels:
- TCDD Transportation 'Orange Masa': Orange Masa teams serving at High Speed Train (YHT) stations (Ankara, Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme/Halkalı, Eskişehir, Konya, Karaman, Sivas); It welcomes disabled passengers at the station, helps them with their luggage, places them in the wheelchair place in the train carriage, and accompanies them at the arrival station.
- Airport Special Service Desks: THY and other airlines provide wheelchair users with ambulift vehicles and special companion support from the check-in desk to the aircraft seat. provides.
- Disabled Rights on Intercity Buses: In accordance with the Road Transport Regulation, disabled passengers receive a 30% discount on the ticket fee and wheelchairs are carried free of charge in the luggage.
4. 'True Barrier-Free Room' Checklist in Accommodation
When making a reservation at a hotel, it should not be enough for the reception to say "our room is suitable for disabled people"; the following technical details must be confirmed:
- Zero Threshold at the Bathroom Entrance: There should be no high steps at the base of the shower cabin, and there should be floor drainage through which the wheelchair can enter the shower area directly. Bars: There should be sturdy stainless steel handles that provide transfer on the right and left of the toilet.
- Bed Height: The bed level should be at the same level as the wheelchair cushion (approximately 50 cm); Turning area should be left free in the room.
- Emergency Call Buttons: The emergency call button with a pull cord should be functional both at the bedside and near the bathroom floor.
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can disabled citizens and their companions enter museums and historical sites free of charge?
Yes; T.R. Disabled citizens (by showing their disabled ID card) and a companion can enter all museums and historical sites affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism completely free of charge.
2. Is it possible to board a plane with a power wheelchair?
Yes, but depending on the type of battery (dry battery, gel battery or lithium battery), the airline must be informed at least 48 hours before the flight and lithium batteries must be taken into the cabin.
3. How is disabled access provided in historical mosques?
Special ramp entrances for wheelchairs, wheel cleaning stations and ablution rooms for the disabled are available in the grand mosques (Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet, Edirne Selimiye, Bursa Grand Mosque) restored by the General Directorate of Foundations.
4. How are barrier-free venues listed on the Memleketim platform?
You can easily find confirmed places in 81 provinces by using the 'Barrier-Free Place', 'Wheelchair Ramp', 'Disabled WC' and 'Braille Direction' filters in the Memleketim application.
6. Conclusion: Obstacles are Overcome in Minds, Not in Cities
What makes a city beautiful; It is not the width of the sidewalks, but the ability of everyone to walk on those sidewalks equally, safely and with dignity. It is our common conscience and responsibility for disabled individuals to participate in life, travel and meet culture. When Anatolia's thousand-year-old tolerance and ancient hospitality are combined with the right designs, Turkey is a candidate to become the most accessible country in the world.
To overcome obstacles and discover the beauties of Türkiye My Hometown Barrier-Free Places Map and Verified Inclusive Businesses
