Sweden
Cards, ATMs and cash in Sweden: what to expect
Yes — Sweden is close to cashless, and Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, including buses, toilets and market stalls. Carry a card with no foreign transaction fee and a small cash backup of SEK 200–500 for the rare cash-only till. Always pay in SEK, not your home currency.
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Key facts
- Cards accepted
- Almost everywhere: shops, cafés, buses, taxis, toilets, museums
- Card networkscheck
- Visa and Mastercard; American Express and Diners less widely taken
- Cash neededcheck
- SEK 200–500 backup; some rural kiosks and markets are card-only or cash-only
- Currency to pay in
- Swedish krona (SEK) — decline 'pay in USD/EUR' at the terminal
- ATM feecheck
- Swedish bank ATMs usually free for the operator; your own bank may charge
- Contactless limitcheck
- No PIN needed for small contactless taps; PIN for larger amounts
- Tipping on card
- Included; add 5–10% on the terminal for good restaurant service
Details
Sweden runs on card. Grocery stores, coffee bars, museum ticket desks, bus and metro ticket machines, taxi meters and even public toilets take contactless Visa or Mastercard. Many Swedes carry no cash at all, and a few businesses — especially in Stockholm and Gothenburg — have stopped accepting notes and coins entirely.
The practical setup for a visitor is one contactless card with no foreign transaction fee, a second card from a different network as backup, and a small amount of krona. Apple Pay and Google Pay work widely; load a card into your phone before you fly so you have a fallback if a physical card is lost.
ATMs (called Bankomat or Uttagsautomat) are common at airports, train stations and outside supermarkets. Swedish bank ATMs generally do not add their own withdrawal fee, but your home bank may charge a foreign ATM fee plus a currency conversion markup. Withdraw in SEK and decline any offer to convert to your home currency on the screen.
Cash still works where it is accepted — shops are legally required to accept krona in most cases — but staff may look surprised and some tills have no float. Keep small notes for rural markets, church stalls and the occasional cash-only kiosk in the north.
Card terminals will often ask whether you want to pay in SEK or your home currency. Always choose SEK. The 'pay in your currency' option is dynamic currency conversion, run by the terminal operator at a worse rate than your bank's.
| Situation | What to do | Cost or note |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a coffee or bus ticket | Tap contactless card or phone | No PIN for small amounts (check) |
| Withdrawing cash | Use a Swedish bank ATM, choose SEK | Operator usually free; your bank may charge (check) |
| Terminal asks 'SEK or USD?' | Choose SEK | Avoids dynamic currency conversion markup |
| Rural market or kiosk | Carry SEK 200–500 | Some are card-only, some cash-only (check) |
| Restaurant bill | Pay by card, add tip on terminal | Service included; 5–10% for good service |
| Lost card | Use phone wallet or backup card | Report to your bank; police report for insurance |
Tips
Tell your bank you are travelling to Sweden before you leave, or the first foreign transaction may be blocked. Check the foreign transaction fee on each card — 0% cards save roughly 2–3% on every purchase.
Keep one card separate from your wallet, in a hotel safe or a different bag. If your main card is skimmed or lost, you are not stranded.
Swish, the Swedish mobile payment app, is used by locals but requires a Swedish bank account and personnummer, so it is not an option for visitors. Card and phone wallets cover the same ground.
Public toilets often cost SEK 5–10 and are card-paid; keep a contactless card handy rather than hunting for coins.
If you plan to buy alcohol, note that Systembolaget takes card like everywhere else, but closes early — around 19:00 weekdays, 15:00 Saturdays, and all Sunday.
- Carry two cards from different networks.
- Load a card into Apple Pay or Google Pay before departure.
- Withdraw SEK 200–500 on arrival for backup.
- Always pay in SEK, never in your home currency.
- Keep a card separate from your main wallet.
Questions people ask
Are credit cards widely accepted in Sweden?
Yes. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, including buses, taxis, museums and public toilets. American Express and Diners are less widely taken. A few businesses are card-only and no longer accept cash.
Which ATMs have the lowest fees in Sweden?
Swedish bank ATMs (Bankomat) generally do not add their own withdrawal fee, so the cost depends on your home bank. Use a bank-branded ATM rather than a private one in a bar or shop, and always withdraw in SEK.
Should I pay in local currency or my own?
Always pay in Swedish krona (SEK). If a terminal offers to charge you in USD, EUR or another currency, decline — that is dynamic currency conversion and usually costs 3–7% more than your bank's rate.
Do I need cash in Sweden?
Not much. Carry SEK 200–500 as backup for rural markets or the rare cash-only kiosk. Most travellers use card or phone wallet for everything.
Can I use Apple Pay or Google Pay in Sweden?
Yes, contactless phone payments work widely wherever contactless cards are accepted. Load a card before you travel so you have a backup if a physical card is lost.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialVisit Sweden
- officialSveriges Riksbank – cash and payments
- secondaryWikivoyage – Sweden