Reisen für Alle — Germany's National Accessible Tourism Certification
Reisen für Alle (Travel for All) is a national accessibility certification scheme for tourism accommodation in Germany. It is administered by the DSFT (Deutsches Seminar für Tourismus Berlin) and operates under the patronage of the Federal Government Commissioner for the Interests of Persons with Disabilities.
The scheme uses trained auditors who carry out on-site inspections. Accommodation that passes receives a certification label specifying which visitor groups the property is accessible to. The label distinguishes between accessibility for people with:
- Walking difficulties
- Wheelchair users
- Visual impairments
- Hearing impairments
- Cognitive impairments
A single property may be certified for some but not all of these categories. A hotel certified as "accessible for wheelchair users" may not hold the certification for visitors with visual impairments, because the specific requirements differ. The Reisen für Alle database at reisen-fuer-alle.de allows filtering by certification category and region.
DIN 18040: The Technical Standard Behind Accessibility Ratings
Much of German accessibility certification references DIN 18040, a technical standard published by the Deutsches Institut für Normung. For hospitality and commercial accommodation, DIN 18040-1 applies (public buildings, including hotels), while DIN 18040-2 covers residential buildings.
The standard defines specific measurable requirements. Some of the most practically relevant for hotel stays include:
| Feature | DIN 18040-1 Requirement |
|---|---|
| Accessible route door width | Minimum 90 cm clear width |
| Guest room door width | Minimum 80 cm clear width |
| Manoeuvring space beside bed | Minimum 150 cm × 150 cm on one side |
| Bathroom turning circle | Minimum 150 cm diameter |
| Shower threshold | Maximum 2 cm, or barrier-free (flush) |
| Grab rails beside toilet | Both sides, foldable on at least one side |
| Lift dimensions | Minimum 110 cm × 140 cm interior |
Not all properties that market themselves as "barrier-free" have been formally tested against DIN 18040. The Reisen für Alle certification involves a physical inspection against a detailed checklist derived partly from DIN 18040 requirements, which makes it more reliable than a hotel's self-reported accessibility description.
What to Verify Before Booking
Marketing language around accessibility in the accommodation sector is inconsistent. Terms such as "accessible room," "adapted room," and "barrierfreies Zimmer" are used without a standardised definition in many hotel booking systems. A room described as barrier-free may have a walk-in shower with a low threshold but no grab rails, or may be on a floor served only by stairs.
Before booking, it is worth requesting specific information directly from the property. The following questions are practical starting points:
Entry and Ground-Level Access
- Is the entrance step-free, or is there a ramp? What is the ramp gradient?
- Is automatic or power-assisted door opening available?
- Is parking for holders of disabled parking badges available on or near the property?
Getting to the Room
- Is the accessible room on the ground floor, or is there a lift? What are the lift dimensions?
- Is the corridor width sufficient for a powered wheelchair (typically requiring at least 120 cm)?
Room Features
- What is the clear door width of the accessible room?
- Is there a roll-in shower (barrier-free entry) or a shower with a low threshold?
- Are grab rails installed beside the toilet and in the shower?
- What is the bed height? Can the height be adjusted, or is a bed raiser available?
- Is there sufficient turning space beside the bed on both sides?
Practical note: Some hotels have only one accessible room. If that room is booked, other rooms may not meet the same standard. Confirming the specific room number or type at the time of booking, and noting it in writing, reduces the risk of receiving a different room at check-in.
DEHOGA Classification and Accessibility
The DEHOGA hotel star classification system (administered by the German Hotel and Restaurant Association) includes accessibility criteria from three stars upward, but these are a subset of the overall rating criteria and do not constitute a standalone accessibility certification. A three-star or four-star hotel has met the minimum accessibility points required within the DEHOGA criteria, but the specific features covered differ from the Reisen für Alle checklist.
In practice, a high DEHOGA star rating is not a reliable indicator of comprehensive wheelchair accessibility. A five-star hotel may have impeccable facilities overall but an older building with limited lift dimensions, while a three-star guesthouse that has undergone a targeted accessibility renovation may perform better on the specific features most relevant to wheelchair users.
Regional Variation Across Germany
Accessibility standards in accommodation are enforced at the federal state (Bundesland) level in Germany. Building regulations that incorporate accessibility requirements differ slightly between states, and the age of existing buildings significantly affects what retrofitting has taken place.
Urban hotels in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt, and Cologne have generally higher rates of Reisen für Alle certification and DIN 18040 compliance, reflecting both the age of renovations and the higher proportion of business travellers with accessibility requirements. Rural areas — particularly in parts of eastern Germany — show lower rates of certified accessible accommodation in the Reisen für Alle database, though exceptions exist.
Travellers planning rural or less-visited routes may need to contact accommodation providers directly and request detailed accessibility information, rather than relying on certification databases alone.
Finding and Booking Accessible Hotels
Several databases and booking channels include accessibility filters, though the depth of information varies significantly between platforms.
- The Reisen für Alle database is the most comprehensive source of independently verified accessible accommodation in Germany. It allows filtering by accessibility category and region.
- The Germany National Tourist Board (DZT) maintains an accessible Germany section that links to regional resources.
- Large OTA (online travel agency) platforms include accessibility filters, but these are based on hotel self-reporting rather than independent verification. The reliability of such filters varies.