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Are you traveling Switzerland and need a place to store your luggage for a day while you sightsee? In most cases, it is not exactly practical to drag your suitcases around while you explore. Not many people realize this, but Switzerland is very accommodating when it comes to providing storage solutions for your luggage while you are traveling. There are also multiple options for luggage transfers, which can be super helpful. So if you are planning your trip and wondering what to do with your luggage, this article is for you!
We have all the details of Switzerland’s luggage storage and transfer services so you can make the most of your time in this magical country!
Are you traveling Switzerland and need a place to store your luggage for a day while you sightsee? In most cases, it is not exactly practical to drag your suitcases around while you explore. Not many people realize this, but Switzerland is very accommodating when it comes to providing storage solutions for your luggage while you are traveling. There are also multiple options for luggage transfers, which can be super helpful. So if you are planning your trip and wondering what to do with your luggage, this article is for you!
We have all the details of Switzerland’s luggage storage and transfer services so you can make the most of your time in this magical country!
About Us
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel – especially to Sandro’s home country. Because we are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy Travels!
Most train stations in Switzerland offer luggage storage services. You can find secure lockers or luggage storage counters at train stations in cities like Zürich, Geneva, Bern, Lucerne, and more. These facilities are convenient if you’re traveling by train, as you can drop off your luggage before exploring the city.
Essentially, there are two options for storing your luggage at SBB Train Stations: lockers and the SBB Travel Center.
This option is particularly helpful if you are in a city for a short period of time, or just passing through and want to ease the burden of lugging around your bags while you explore. Train station lockers are particularly helpful for storing smaller bags like backpacks and carry on luggage. The SBB website is great because it will show you what train stations have lockers, how much they are to rent, and even the size options!
Just a note: You can only store your stuff for a limited amount of time. Depending on the locker – a maximum of 72 hours for the blue lockers and 96 hours for the new ones. If you exceed that, you will be charged a fee. They will also empty your locker and you will have to collect your bags from the SBB luggage center.
PROS:
Flexibility – Easy access to lockers without having to wait for certain open hours.
Convenience – Since the lockers are at the train stations, you can easily drop off and pick up your luggage without having to go out of your way.
CONS:
Size limitations – Although, there are various size options, most of the lockers can’t fit very large bags.
Security – The lockers are unmonitored, so you have to feel ok with your stuff being locked away but with no supervision. (We’ve never had an issue, but it’s important to just be aware of this.)
Click HERE to see the locker locations.
HOT TIP: It’s important that you check the locker availability ahead of time, as it is not always guaranteed that there will be an open one when you need it!
The SBB Travel Center is also referred to as “luggage deposit.” If you have larger or oversize luggage that might not fit in a locker, you can drop it off at an SBB travel center!
PROS:
Less size limitations – Accommodates large and oversize bags. However, they can’t weigh more than 25kg (55 lbs).
Monitored – Your bags are locked away safely in a designated storage room that only the staff has access to. So if you have something valuable, we recommend storing it at the travel center for extra security.
Long-term storage – You can store your luggage for weeks, months, or even up to a year!
CONS:
Limited hours – The travel center is only open during specific hours during the day, so you don’t have access to your stuff whenever you want.
Space availability – Space can be limited, especially during holidays or peak travel seasons.
Click HERE to see luggage deposit locations.
HOT TIP: Like with the lockers, definitely check availability ahead of time, as storage in the SBB Travel Center is limited.
One of our favorite (and in our opinion, most useful) services is the option of luggage transfer in Switzerland. This is something that not many people consider or even realize is a thing – but it is!
Here are just a few of many reasons why you might want to utilize Switzerland’s luggage transfer service:
Easy travel – If you are traveling around Switzerland via train or other public transportation, having your luggage transferred to your next destination is an amazing way for you to travel with ease. It is much more enjoyable to not have to drag your bags on and off trains and buses. Traveling without heavy bags allows you to fully enjoy the views while you travel without worrying about your luggage.
Just an example, for our trip to Zermatt over Christmas, we dropped our bags at the train station near us and had them transferred directly to our hotel in Zermatt. Due to the holiday, the trains were packed. We were able to enjoy our train ride stress-free and our bags were waiting for us at the hotel upon arrival!
Convenience – Also, by having your luggage transferred, you won’t need to wait for hotel check-in or check-out times. Your luggage is either already waiting for you at the hotel or already has left for your next destination. You can have the freedom to explore cities or hiking trails on the same day you arrive or depart, even if you have a few hours to spare.
*A note for hikers: If you are planning some multi-day hikes, you will definitely want to utilize the luggage transfer service. You can send your main luggage to your next accommodation while carrying only a daypack, making long hikes much more manageable.
If you are traveling with oversized or specialized equipment (skis, golf clubs, or bicycles), using the transfer service is probably ideal. Just make sure to check the rules according to the service you are seeking!
IMPORTANT: There is a 2 day delay on all luggage transfers, you will need to plan accordingly and allow 2 days for your luggage to get to its destination if you decide to use this service.
Now that you have an idea of when and why the luggage transfer service is beneficial, let’s go over the various options that are available.
Switzerland is really killing it (in the good way) when it comes to convenience, as there are multiple luggage transfer options to suit your needs.
Door to Door:
You can arrange to have your luggage picked up at any address in Switzerland and taken to your next destination/accommodation!
Remember, you must place your luggage order at least 2 days ahead, as it will take 2 days for your luggage to arrive at your destination.
CLICK HERE for more detailed info about this luggage transfer option, including pricing, luggage collection time slots, and other rules/conditions.
Station to Station:
You can drop off your luggage at a qualifying SBB station and have it sent to your destination station for pickup upon arrival!
It takes 2 days for your luggage to arrive at your destination station, so keep that in mind!
CLICK HERE for more detailed info about this luggage transfer option, including pricing, luggage drop off and collection times, and other rules/conditions.
Station to Door:
You can drop off your luggage at an SBB station and have it sent directly to your destination. This is what we did and it worked out great!
Again, it takes 2 days for the transfer.
CLICK HERE for more detailed info about this luggage transfer option, including pricing, luggage drop off time windows, and other rules/conditions.
Door to Station:
You can have your luggage picked up from wherever you are in Switzerland and then pick it up 2 days later at whatever SBB station you want that offers luggage services.
CLICK HERE for more detailed info about this luggage transfer option, including pricing, luggage collection and pick up times, and other rules/conditions.
Car-free Towns:
There is also a list of the car-free towns that your bags can be picked up from. (Switzerland has really thought of everything!)
HOT TIPS:
There you go – the best options for luggage storage and transfer in Switzerland to help make your trip smooth sailing. We know how stressful traveling can be, especially in a country you most likely are not familiar with. Hopefully you find this helpful! Feel free to browse the rest of our site for more Switzerland travel tips, itineraries, and travel guides!
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If the town does not have an SBB station that offers storage, we suggest contacting the Tourist Information Center. Most villages, even the small ones, have a Tourist Information Center. They may offer storage options there or direct you to a place that does. Another option would be leaving your bags at your hotel, as they will likely hold your stuff for you even if you haven’t checked in or if you have already checked out.
This is when we recommend using the SBB storage lockers (or the SBB Travel Center depending on how much stuff you have). The lockers are inexpensive and a great option if you just need to store you luggage for a short period of time.
Another option is to check with your hotel, as most hotels will gladly hold your luggage for you until it is time to check in.
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel – especially to Sandro’s home country. Because we are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
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