Your options compared
| Option | Where | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel luggage room | Your hotel | Most travellers; free time in the same area | You must go back to the hotel before the airport |
| Left luggage at Sants | Barcelona Sants station | Afternoon flights with the R2 Nord train to T2 | Check current hours with Adif |
| Private storage shop | Around the centre and the stations | Flexible locations | Compare conditions and opening times yourself |
| Go to the airport early | Barcelona airport | Short gaps or bad weather | You spend the afternoon in the terminal |
| Car that keeps your bags | Driver by the hour, ending at the airport | Families, groups, a last tour of the city | Book in advance and say you have luggage |
Ask the hotel first
Most hotels will hold your bags after checkout, and many will do the same before check-in on arrival day. Ask at reception the day before, and ask whether you can come back for them at the time you need. If you then take a pre-booked transfer from the hotel to the airport, the day becomes simple: bags at the hotel, afternoon in the city, car at the door.
Station left luggage
If you are leaving by train or by the R2 Nord to Terminal 2, a station locker can make more sense than going back to the hotel. Adif lists a left-luggage service at Barcelona Sants, run by a third party. Check the opening hours on the Adif page before you plan around it, and remember that Sants is being rebuilt, so the service may move within the station. See the Sants station guide for what else is there.
Private luggage-storage shops also operate around the centre. We do not list them because their conditions change; if you use one, check the opening hours against your plans for the evening.
Where you cannot take a suitcase
Several big sights do not let you in with large luggage. The Sagrada Família says it has no lockers for suitcases; its lockers are only for bags and rucksacks during the tower visit. Plan any last visit to a monument after you have left the luggage somewhere, not before. For the basilica, see also from the airport to the Sagrada Família.
Getting to the airport with your bags
The Aerobús has space for large suitcases and pushchairs and stops at Plaça de Catalunya, Universitat and Espanya; the R2 Nord leaves from Passeig de Gràcia and Sants for Terminal 2; and the metro L9 Sud needs the Airport ticket. Check your terminal first, because the train only reaches T2 directly.
Allow more time than on arrival day. Evening traffic on the ring roads and the queue for security both grow, and a delay with luggage is harder to recover from. By road, the airport is about 21 minutes from the centre without traffic, according to our route data.
A car with your luggage on board
For families and groups, one option is a driver by the hour who picks you up at the hotel with your bags, takes you to a few last stops while the luggage stays in the vehicle, and ends the route at the airport. QuickPickups, which publishes this guide, sells this service and simple transfers, and its booking box is marked on this page. Tell us about your luggage and your flight time when you book: the driver-by-the-hour service is confirmed by a person, who will check that the plan works for your group.
QuickPickups booking service
Booking a private transfer: the usual questions
- Is the price really fixed?
- Yes. You see the full price for the vehicle before you pay, and it does not change with traffic, the route or the time of day.
- What if my flight is late?
- Your flight number is tracked in real time and the pick-up time is adjusted. At the airport you get 60 minutes of free waiting after landing; at the cruise port, 30 minutes.
- How will I find the driver?
- At the airport the driver meets you in the arrivals hall with a name sign. Your confirmation email has the contact details.
- Can I get child seats?
- Yes, on request when you book, for a small supplement shown before you pay. Tell us the age or weight of each child.
- Can I get an invoice?
- Yes. QUICKPICKUPS S.L. can issue an invoice for your booking, including one made out to your company.
- What if my plans change?
- Cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance are free. You can manage the booking from your confirmation email or by writing to info@quickpickups.es.