Smart cities aspire to be accessible for all citizens, but what level of accessibility have they actually achieved so far? According to our Global Accessibility Index, smart cities receive a solid rating.

An accessible city enables everyone to live, move around, and engage in urban life freely and without barriers. The goal of accessibility is to remove barriers and ensure that everyone can access public spaces, transportation, and services with ease. Smart cities strive to enhance accessibility by making public services universally reachable and promoting barrier-free urban planning. Our analysis shows that while there is still room for improvement in certain areas, smart cities generally demonstrate a high level of accessibility.

Shanghai and Singapore rank as the most accessible cities among those evaluated in the IMD Smart City Index 2025, each scoring over 80 points on our Global Accessibility Index. They are not the only Chinese cities in the ranking because Hong Kong and Beijing also appear in the top ten. All these Chinese cities are also known for being major tourist destinations.

European cities perform well in terms of accessibility, holding half the spots in the ranking, with Munich, Amsterdam, Prague, and Stockholm standing out by scoring over 67 points. Only two Australian cities made it into the ranking: Wellington and Canberra. Meanwhile, the modern Arab cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi are placed in the lower half of the ranking.

Why are these cities accessible? Primarily, it is their inclusive subway systems that support mobility for all residents, along with high levels of accessibility in accommodation options and tourist attractions that help attract visitors.

The 10 smart cities with the highest accessibility scores

Using the top-rated cities from the IMD Smart City Index 2025 as a foundation, we compiled a ranking of the most accessible cities by evaluating the accessibility of their subway systems, tourist attractions, and accommodations to determine their overall accessibility index.

We also analyzed the public subsidies available for adapting housing to improve accessibility. All the cities provide subsidies to remove architectural barriers in both individual homes and residential buildings, aiming to achieve universal accessibility.

We also gathered the main accessibility apps provided by the city councils of these cities, which inform residents and visitors about accessible services and transportation options.

1. Shanghai

Shanghai tops the ranking with an accessibility score of 84.88 points, largely due to its modern infrastructure and an extensive, fully accessible subway system that accommodates both physical and visual disabilities. Many of the city’s tourist attractions, including the Bund, are adapted for people with reduced mobility, as are most of its museums. However, the accommodation accessibility score is relatively low at 39.44, as accessible lodging makes up less than 15% of available options, despite the city’s strong appeal to tourists.

2. Singapore

With an accessibility score of 81 points, Singapore stands out for its fully accessible subway system, which includes wheelchair access as well as braille and tactile guidance for individuals with visual impairments. The city features modern, accessible infrastructure, with 95% of its sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and bus stops adapted for accessibility. Most tourist attractions are accessible to people with disabilities, and accessibility is mandatory for all new constructions.

3. Wellington

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, achieves a high accessibility score of 79.12 points, standing out particularly for its wide range of accessible accommodation options. As for the subway, which is in fact a network of suburban trains connecting the city to surrounding areas, accessibility is fully ensured for people with reduced mobility. Wellington’s natural harbor is a key tourist attraction, complemented by its protected areas, parks, and a wide array of museums and theaters. The city also serves as the home of New Zealand’s opera, symphony orchestra, and film industry. All the tourist attractions are accessbile to people with disabilities.

4. Munich

Munich is the first European city to appear in the ranking, taking fourth place with an accessibility score of 78.92 points. The German city stands out for having 100% of its streets and open-air spaces accessible, along with a relatively extensive subway network of 100 stations that is fully accessible. In terms of tourist attractions, Munich earns an accessibility score of 50 points, with around half of its sites, such as the New City Hall, the Residenz, and Nymphenburg Palace, being accessible.

5. Amsterdam

The most visited Dutch city ranks fifth with an accessibility score of 76.51 points, standing out particularly for its subway system, where 100% of the stations are accessible to people with reduced mobility thanks to ramps and elevators. Amsterdam also offers adapted bicycles, reflecting its bike-centric culture, and most bike lanes are accessible to wheelchair users. Among Amsterdam’s accessible tourist attractions are the Rijksmuseum, the Royal Palace, and canal cruises. However, the accessibility of accommodation options remains very low.

6. Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a highly vertical city, shaped by its dense urban layout and hilly terrain, yet it has made significant efforts to ensure accessibility for all. Its extensive subway network includes elevator and escalator access, along with tactile paving to assist people with visual impairments. With an accessibility score of 75.82 points, Hong Kong stands out for its substantial number of accessible accommodation options, although some tourist attractions still present access limitations for wheelchair users.

7. Beijing

Beijing is the third Chinese city in the ranking, with an accessibility score of 73.16 points. The city’s extensive subway network, comprising 24 lines and over 500 stations, is the main mode of transportation and is fully accessible throughout. Many of Beijing’s major tourist attractions, such as the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and sections of the Great Wall, are equipped with ramps and elevators to improve accessibility.

8. Prague

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is another European city that ranks among the top positions, with an accessibility score of 68.99 points. While Prague’s older subway stations have accessibility limitations, 77% of the network is currently accessible, with modern stations equipped with full accessibility features. Despite being a highly touristic city, Prague has a low percentage of accessible accommodation. However, efforts have been made to improve access to major attractions such as Prague Castle and Charles Bridge.

9. Stockholm

With a score of 67.68 points, Stockholm launched the “Easy Access” project in the 1990s to improve the accessibility of its public spaces and streets. Through the Stockholm 2030 Vision plan, the city aims to make its center fully accessible for people with reduced mobility, not only in terms of services and usability, but also leisure and recreational activities. However, accessibility at attractions such as the Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum, and the Royal Palace remains moderate.

10. Canberra

The Australian city closes the ranking with an accessibility score of 67.37 points. It is a modern city with wide streets designed for accessibility, featuring ramps and tactile signage for people with disabilities. Its main tourist attractions, including the Australian War Memorial, the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Mount Ainslie, and the National Museum of Australia, are accessible to all visitors. In terms of public transport, Canberra’s subway, which is a light rail system, launched in 2019 with just 14 stations, offers 100% accessibility.

The 25 most accessible smart cities

The 25 top smart cities, according to the IMD Index, show solid sustainability scores, ranging from Shanghai with 84.86 points to London with 42.59 points. 

Most of the cities feature accessible subway networks, equipped with ramps and elevators to eliminate architectural barriers, along with visual and tactile aids to support individuals with visual or cognitive disabilities. They are also actively working to improve the accessibility of their main tourist attractions and accommodation options. Providing subsidies for home adaptation is also a widespread practice across these cities.

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Methodology 

We selected the top 25 smart cities based on the Smart City Index from IMD. We then obtained information from each metrics from the following sources:

• Home Adaptability: Government and Council websites, specific sources available upon request.
• Number of adapted tube stations – Government and Council websites, specific sources available upon request.
• Accessible Tourist Attractions – tripadvisor.com
• Adapted hotels and properties – booking.com

All data points have been indexed in order to allow a fair comparison and to obtain the overall accessibility index figure.

All the data is correct as of June 2025.