Insider's tip: Left Luggage

Hauling your luggage around, even if you "only" traveled with a carry-on, is zero fun. Add in additional challenges of uneven sidewalks, cobblestone streets and jet lag, and you have a miserable combination.

Here's one way to avoid that: Left Luggage.

Many hostels and hotels will let you store your luggage on your arrival day before check-in and on your departure day after check-out; this may be a free service or a nominal-charge service. Train station lockers are big but they will cost you a nominal amount.

Regardless of the arrangement, it saves your back and potentially avoids luggage breakdowns on unfamiliar streets.

The Man in Seat 61, a site I recommend you study, has a whole page devoted to left luggage offices at train stations. It's particularly useful because, for reasons I don't understand, sometimes those Left Luggage offices are hard to find.

Save your back. Save your luggage. Save your day!