Currency & Payment

Sweden uses the Swedish krona (SEK, kr), divided into 100 öre. Öre coins have largely been phased out, so prices are rounded to the nearest krona. Sweden is one of the most cashless societies in the world, and many places do not handle cash at all.

Because Sweden is so cashless, you rarely need to exchange money at all. If you do want cash, withdrawing from a Bankomat (ATM) usually gives reasonable rates. Airport and city exchange bureaus such as Forex exist but rates vary. Remember that many places do not accept cash, so a card is more important.

Cards are accepted virtually everywhere in Sweden, and contactless is the standard way to pay. Visa and Mastercard are universally taken. Many shops, cafes and even some attractions are card-only or cashless, so a working card is essential rather than a convenience.

ATMs in Sweden are called Bankomat. They are less common than they once were because of the cashless economy, but you can still find them in cities and major stations. Watch out for foreign-card fees, and always decline home-currency conversion (DCC) to get the better rate.

Swish is the dominant local mobile payment in Sweden, but it requires a Swedish bank account and BankID, so visitors generally cannot use it. Instead, rely on contactless cards plus Apple Pay and Google Pay, which are widely accepted and work almost everywhere cards do.

Tipping is not expected in Sweden because service is included in the price. Rounding up the bill or leaving around 5-10% for good service in a restaurant is appreciated but entirely optional. There is no obligation to tip taxis, bars or cafes.

Sweden is expensive, especially eating out and alcohol, and Stockholm is the priciest city. You can save a lot with supermarket food, the fixed-price weekday lunch (dagens lunch), and by enjoying free nature, parks and many outdoor attractions.

Non-EU residents can claim a VAT (moms) refund on eligible purchases above a minimum amount. Ask the shop for a tax-free form when you buy, then get customs validation when you finally leave the EU. Conditions and minimum spend apply, and the refund is paid via the tax-free operator.