Cashless Society
Sweden is the most cashless country in the world. Less than 1% of all transactions are made with cash. Many shops, restaurants, buses, and even church collections no longer accept cash.
What does this mean for travelers?
- Credit card is a MUST: Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere — in the subway, at the kiosk, at the market, in taxis. Without a credit card, you're lost in Sweden.
- Contactless payment: Apple Pay and Google Pay work almost everywhere. Many terminals accept only contactless payments.
- Swish: The Swedish payment app (similar to PayPal) used by 90% of the population. Unfortunately, only usable with a Swedish bank account — not available for tourists.
- ATMs (Bankomat): Becoming rarer, but still available in larger cities. Caution: Some third-party ATMs (Euronet) have high fees.
- Tipping: Not obligatory. In restaurants, 5–10% is customary for good service (just round up when paying by card). Not expected in cafés and bars.
Achtung
No Sweden without a credit card! Many local buses (SL in Stockholm, Västtrafik in Gothenburg) do not accept cash — tickets must be purchased via app or card. Even some public toilets accept only card payment. Bring at least two cards (as a backup).
