Traditionally you have often been charged to use the toilets in public places like stations - the cost going towards their cleaning and upkeep.
It is perhaps also worth mentioning that historically per much everyone would have been carrying cash and coins pretty much by default, so payment was straightforward. In recent years (and since COVID especially) Europe has moved almost completely towards digital payment making these sorts of toilets a lot more awkward - though I have seen a few that do now accept contactless payments.
Virtually all cafes and restaurants bigger than a takeaway counter will have their own toilets available, in busier places often locked so that they remain for the use of customers rather than a stream of non-paying travellers - most places will be reasonable though, and will let you use them if you ask nicely, or worst case if you buy something.
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u/Nrysis 3h ago edited 1h ago
Traditionally you have often been charged to use the toilets in public places like stations - the cost going towards their cleaning and upkeep.
It is perhaps also worth mentioning that historically per much everyone would have been carrying cash and coins pretty much by default, so payment was straightforward. In recent years (and since COVID especially) Europe has moved almost completely towards digital payment making these sorts of toilets a lot more awkward - though I have seen a few that do now accept contactless payments.
Virtually all cafes and restaurants bigger than a takeaway counter will have their own toilets available, in busier places often locked so that they remain for the use of customers rather than a stream of non-paying travellers - most places will be reasonable though, and will let you use them if you ask nicely, or worst case if you buy something.