Luggage Storage: Solutions for Layovers and Day Trips

Airport and Station Lockers

Major airports and train stations have left luggage lockers costing €5-12 per day. Small lockers fit backpacks; large ones accommodate suitcases.

Opening hours vary. Some operate 24/7; others close overnight. Check hours before leaving luggage if you need late access.

Payment is usually coins or cards. Bring exact change as machines often don't accept large notes.

Locker sizes matter. Standard suitcases (23-27 inch) fit large lockers. Oversized luggage requires jumbo lockers costing €12-18 daily. Measure your bags against size charts before heading to the station.

Popular stations run out of lockers during peak travel times (Friday afternoons, Sunday evenings, summer weekends). Arrive early or have backup plans.

Luggage Storage Services

Services like Radical Storage partner with shops and hotels to store bags for €5-6 per day. Locations are more central than lockers.

Book online before arriving. You get a QR code to show at the storage location. Pickup times are flexible during business hours.

Locations include cafes, shops, and hotels. Check proximity to where you need to go before booking.

Insurance coverage varies by service. Most include €1,000-3,000 liability per bag. Verify coverage before storing valuables.

Staff supervision differs between locations. A dedicated luggage storage business provides better security than a busy corner shop storing bags as a side business.

Hotel Left Luggage

Most hotels store luggage free for guests on checkout day. Drop bags after checkout and collect before returning to the airport.

This works well for final-day exploring but requires returning to the hotel before leaving the city.

Some hotels extend this service to arrival day before check-in. Ask when booking or at reception.

High-end hotels often store bags for free for days or even weeks if you're a regular guest. Budget hotels typically limit storage to checkout day only.

Labeling bags clearly with your name and phone number helps hotel staff manage multiple guest bags.

Hostel Storage Policies

Hostels typically offer free luggage storage for guests. Some charge €1-3 per bag per day.

Security varies. Budget hostels may have open storage areas; better ones provide locked rooms or individual lockers.

Hostel storage works well if you're returning to stay there again. Storing bags then leaving the city entirely requires trusting the hostel to hold them securely.

Some hostels limit storage duration. Free storage for your stay dates is standard, but extended storage (a week before or after) may cost extra or be refused.

Shopping Center Lockers

Large shopping centers in tourist areas sometimes have lockers for €2-5 per day. These are convenient for day shopping trips.

Hours match store opening times (usually 10am-8pm). Plan accordingly as you can't access luggage outside these hours.

Security levels are generally good as shopping centers have guards and cameras. However, they're less monitored than dedicated luggage facilities.

Location within shopping centers matters. Lockers near main entrances are convenient. Those in basement car parks require navigating the building with bags.

Safety Considerations

Never store valuables, electronics, or documents in public lockers. Keep these in day bags with you.

Use TSA-approved locks on luggage when using storage services. This deters casual theft.

Take photos of stored items and get receipts. This helps if bags go missing.

Passports, credit cards, and cash should always stay with you. The inconvenience of carrying a day bag beats the nightmare of losing these items.

Storage facility insurance has exclusions. They won't cover unlocked bags, valuables, or items not declared during storage.

Cost Comparison

Station lockers (€8-12) cost more but offer 24-hour access and no booking needed.

Storage services (€5-6) save money and provide better locations but have limited pickup hours.

Hotel storage (free) is best value but requires proximity to your hotel.

Multi-day storage adds up. Three days at €6/day costs €18 per bag. Sometimes shipping bags ahead or to your next destination costs less than extended storage.

Planning Storage Logistics

Book storage services 1-2 days ahead during peak season. Popular locations fill up.

Choose locations near your first activity or last stop of the day to minimize backtracking.

Factor in retrieval time. Allow 30 minutes to return to storage, collect bags, and continue to your next destination.

Layover storage requires calculating timing carefully. A 6-hour layover means 1 hour each way for airport transfers, 30 minutes storage drop-off/pickup, leaving 3.5-4 hours for city exploration. Judge whether this justifies the effort and cost.

Alternative Strategies

Some travelers ship luggage between cities via courier services. This costs €20-40 but eliminates the need to return to storage locations.

Traveling with only carry-on bags eliminates storage needs entirely. This works for 3-4 day trips with efficient packing.

Renting lockers at your next destination and carrying bags there directly works if destinations are nearby. Store bags at your evening hotel rather than morning hotel.

City-Specific Options

Large cities have multiple storage providers. Compare prices and locations before choosing.

Smaller towns may only have station lockers or hotel storage. Plan accordingly for day trips from small bases.

Some cities ban left luggage facilities due to security concerns. Research options before arriving in sensitive locations.

Emergency Storage Solutions

If planned storage falls through, hotel concierges sometimes store bags for non-guests for €5-10 per bag.

Cafes and restaurants near tourist attractions occasionally offer informal storage for customers. Ask politely and tip well.

Airport storage facilities accept early arrivals. Store bags at your departure airport in the morning, explore the city, and return for your evening flight.