Left luggage at European airports and train stations is widely available but not always obvious. Knowing where it is and what it costs before you arrive means less time searching and more time using it.

How It Works

Most major European airports and main city train stations offer either staffed left luggage counters (where a member of staff takes your bag and gives you a receipt) or self-service lockers (coin or card operated, sized for small to large bags). Both are secure. Staffed counters sometimes offer insurance on stored items; lockers rarely do.

Opening hours vary: staffed counters at train stations typically operate 6am-11pm. Airport facilities often run 24 hours. Lockers are accessible whenever the station is open.

Typical pricing: €4-8 per item per day at staffed counters. Locker pricing usually ranges from €3-4 for small lockers to €6-10 for large ones per 24 hours.

Key Locations by City

Paris: Staffed left luggage at Gare du Nord, Gare de Lyon, Gare de l'Est, and CDG Airport. Lockers at smaller stations are being phased out for security reasons. Book ahead at Gare du Nord for peak travel dates — it fills up.

Amsterdam: Centraal Station has staffed storage and lockers operated by NS. Open daily with extended hours. Schiphol Airport has 24-hour locker facilities at multiple points.

Barcelona: Sants station has both lockers and a staffed counter. El Prat Airport has left luggage on both terminal levels.

Berlin: Hauptbahnhof has multiple locker banks across several floors, all card-operated. Available whenever the station is open.

Rome: Termini has left luggage (Deposito Bagagli) on the lower concourse. Get there early in summer as it gets busy. Fiumicino and Ciampino airports both have facilities.

London: All major terminals at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted have left luggage. At St Pancras International (Eurostar), left luggage is located near the Eurostar check-in area.

What to Watch Out For

Size limits apply: oversized bags (very large suitcases, bicycles) may be refused at locker facilities. Staffed counters are more flexible.

Prohibited items include anything containing food, liquids over certain volumes, or valuables that exceed the counter's stated liability limit. Don't store anything irreplaceable at a station locker.

Allow time on collection: staffed counters can have queues during peak departure windows, particularly at major international rail stations.