The currency of Sweden is the Swedish Krona (SEK). 1 GBP = is 11.55 SEK (as of 5th October 2020).
In Sweden, tipping is appreciated and recommended in bars, restaurants, and taxis etc. Typically, a round up to the nearest krona will suffice.
Caxton conducted research into tipping etiquette throughout Europe and found that unlike other countries, it is not a requirement to tip hotel or tour guides when in Sweden.
View our tipping guide for more advice on tipping abroad.
When travelling, our experts would recommend always bringing a small amount of cash with you on every trip, for initial taxi transfers or hotel deposits etc. The rest of your travel money should be put onto a Caxton multi-currency card, for safe and secure spending.
Cash is no longer king in Sweden (even more so after COVID-19,) and almost all establishments accept credit/debit cards.
Most international banks and money outlets now charge a fee for using ATM machines, as do most card providers. Taking a travel prepaid card and a credit card is recommended as Caxton does not charge for international ATM use regardless of sum or number of times, (but check with your card provider about charges.)
We would recommend still bringing your bank card on your trip as a backup option. However, if you decide to take your bank card, we recommend telling your bank before you go so the transaction isn’t identified as fraudulent, but be prepared for fees and high exchange rates.
All major cards are accepted widely in Sweden at key tourist hubs.
As a rough guideline, we’ve put together a list of the costs of spending an average day in Sweden:
Domestic beer = 68 SEK (approx £5.90)
One-way ticket on local transport = 30 SEK (approx £2.60)
Meal, inexpensive restaurant = 100 SEK (approx £8.70)
Bottle of wine (mid-range) = 93 SEK (approx £8.00)
Bottle of water = 17 SEK (approx £1.50)
Sweden is known to be a safe country with friendly and helpful people, but this shouldn’t stop you from being smart whilst you travel. If the majority of your cash is on a prepaid card, this will be automatically protected. However, in case the worse happens, here are the list of major debit/credit card ‘lost and stolen’ numbers:
HSBC/First Direct - +44 1442 422929
Natwest - +44 1268 500 813
Lloyds Bank - +44 1702 278270
Barclays - +442476842099
Santander - +44 1908 237 963
Some examples of Sweden's most popular tourist attractions are:
Vasa Museum: The Vasa Museum is a maritime museum set inside the world's best preserved 17th century ship and also the most visited museum in Scandinavia. Children under 18 can visit for free, and adult ticket price is 170.00 kr (approx £15.00)
The Royal Palace: Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch. Stockholm Palace is on Stadsholmen, in Gamla stan in the capital, Stockholm. Tourists can enjoy a tour of the palace for 140 SEK (£12) per adult, and 70 SEK (£6) for children or students.
ABBA museum: Sweden is renown for the pop band ABBA, so it makes sense why they have a dedicated museum for the band. The ABBA museums is an interactive exhibition about the pop band ABBA that opened in Stockholm.
Whilst in Sweden, you may as well spend any remaining currency, if only small amount, on some traditional Swedish souvenirs, such as:
Beat the queues with the Caxton Cash Delivery service. With next day cash delivery to your home and 58 different currencies, it couldn’t be easier to get your holiday money sorted. Simply Login to your Caxton account and select ‘Cash Delivery’ to get started.
Check out our Travel Money Guides for around the world:
Alternatively, if you’re not a big fan of clogs, you can use Caxton’s buy back guarantee to get rid of any unused Kronor. By doing this you ensure that if the exchange rate moves against you, you won't lose out.