8 Major World Museums Without Luggage Storage

It’s the last day of your holiday. You’ve just checked out of your Airbnb apartment with all your stuff. But your flight isn’t for another seven hours!

That’s plenty of time to snoop around the city one last time before you go on with your journey. And what better way to spend your time than soaking up the culture in a museum!

However, there is a slight problem with that: your luggage.

Many museums around the world do not allow large pieces of baggage into their facilities and might deny you entrance if you show up with your belongings.

Here is a short list with some of the most famous world museums that don’t offer storage for larger items and will turn you away if you carry your stuff around.

Metropolitan Museum of Art – New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s most famous art museums, with a collection of about two million unique artworks from all over the world. Exhibits span centuries of human history, from ancient Greece to modern experimental art.

As you might suspect, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a pretty strict bag policy, since your insignificant stuff has no place around these valuable treasures of civilisation. Small bags and backpacks must be checked by security and left in the coat check.

Luggage, duffle bags and large backpacks are not permitted in the museum altogether, so you must take care of them before planning your visit.

Luggage storage near the Metropolitan Museum of Art

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Check out our luggage storage options near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Opening hours

  • Mon-Thu: 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
  • Fri-Sat: 9.30 am – 9 pm
  • Closed: Thanksgiving Day, December 25, January 1, and the first Monday in May.

Acropolis Museum – Athens, Greece

The Acropolis Museum in Athens hosts a fascinating collection of sculptures from the Archaic and Classical periods. Large bags and luggage are not allowed into the museums, while backpacks and small items must go through an x-ray inspection and left in the cloakroom.

Furthermore, if any sensitive items are damaged, the museum holds no responsibility.

Luggage storage near the Acropolis Museum

All luggage stored with Stasher are fully insured and secure.

Check out our Athens luggage storage options near the Acropolis.

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Opening hours

  • Monday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
  • Tue-Sun: 8:00 am – 8.00 pm
  • Friday: 8:00 am – 10.00 pm
  • Closed: 1 January, Greek Orthodox Easter Sunday, 1 May, 25 and 26 December

Imperial War Museum – London, England

One of the best museums dedicated to those who lost their lives during WW I and II, the Imperial War Museum expands in four different locations: Duxford, London (main museum and Churchill War Rooms), and Manchester. Luggage storage is not permitted in the London branch.

However, they do provide lockers for backpacks and small bags.

Luggage storage near the Imperial War Museum

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Opening hours

  • Mon-Sun: 10 am – 6 pm
  • Closed: 24, 25 & 26 December

LBJ Library – Austin, Texas

The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library is one of the must-visit sites in Austin, housing over 45 million pages of historical documents and about 700.000 artefacts from key points throughout the US history.

The library has no cloakroom or luggage storage facilities. Visitors should either risk leaving their belongings with the staff at the reception (at their own risk) or find another solution. All bags are subject to search by security.

Opening hours

  • Mon-Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
  • Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day

Van Gogh Museum – Amsterdam

The Van Gogh Museum is dedicated to the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. Although it predominately features his work, there is also a collection of artwork made by his contemporaries.

Small bags (up to A4 size) and small backpacks can be left in the cloakroom. However, if you bring large rucksacks, wheeled bags or suitcases, you might be refused entrance to the museum.

Luggage storage near the Van Gogh Museum

Although the bag policy of the Van Gogh Museum is quite strict, there are many StashPoints around the Museum quarters.

Check out our luggage storage options around Amsterdam Museum Square!

Opening hours

  • Mon-Sun: 9 am – 5 pm
  • Friday: 9 am – 9 pm
  • Closed: Christmas Eve (24 December), Christmas (25 December) and New Year’s Eve (31 December): 9 am – 5 pm. New Year’s Day (1 January) 11 am – 7 pm

Smithsonian Institutions – Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian is the world’s most extensive education and museum complex in the world, housing almost 150 million artefacts and specimens over 11 different facilities. Most of the institutions are located in Washington DC.

All bags, backpacks or any other piece of luggage will be subject to a strict search before entry, so leaving your belongings behind is advised. Visitors are strongly discouraged from bringing larger pieces of baggage with them.

Luggage storage near Smithsonian Institutions in Washington DC

While the Smithsonian Institutions do not explicitly ban luggage, storing your bags in one of our Washington DC StashPoints is easier, more secure and comes with full insurance.

Check out our luggage storage options around Washington DC.

Opening hours

You can find more information about the opening hours of each one of the Smithsonian Institutions here.

Pompeii – Italy

Once a prosperous Roman settlement, Pompeii is famous for the cruel fate that awaited its inhabitants after the eruption of the Vesuvius volcano in 79 AD.

The town was buried under tons of ash and rock, trapping many of the fleeing citizens. The ruins of the city are surprisingly well preserved and accessible for visitors to explore.

To protect the ruins and the frescoes in the archaeological area, all luggage and bags over 30x30x15cm are not allowed within the sites of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis, Stabia and the Museo di Boscoreale. A

lthough visitors are allowed to leave their belongings at the cloakrooms, Pompeii is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world, and that might be quite hard to do. The authorities suggest that visitors do not bring any baggage with them whatsoever.

Luggage storage near Pompeii

Avoid congestion and queues by leaving your bags with us. Check out our luggage storage options around Pompeii to store your belongings easily and securely.

Opening hours

  • April – October
    • Mon-Sun: 9.00 am – 7.30 pm
  • November – March
    • Mon-Sun: 8.30 am – 5.30 pm
  • Closed: 1 January, 1 May, 25 December

British Museum – London, England

The British Museum is home to a vast collection of artworks and artefacts from all over the world. It is one of the most popular free museums in the world, meaning that security and bag policy are quite strict.

All bags, sacks and backpacks are subject to search before entry. The maximum bag size allowed inside the premises is 40x40x50cm and must not weight over 8kg. Baggage larger than that and wheeled cases are not allowed onto the Museum facilities regardless of dimensions.

Luggage storage near the British Museum

If you are searching for a place to store your bags around the area, you’re in luck!

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Opening hours

  • Mon-Sun: 10.00 am – 5.30 pm
  • Friday: 10.00 am – 8.30 pm
  • Closed: 1 January, Good Friday and 24, 25 & 26 December

Culture buff? Store your luggage with Stasher

Last-minute visits to museums and archaeological sites are fun but not when you’re dragging your heavy bags along.

Store your luggage with Stasher and avoid nasty surprises at the front desk!