Sweden is a beautiful country in the Northern part of Europe. It borders Finland on the East and Norway to the west and north.
Sweden is a wonderful country that is frequented by tourists due to its peaceful nature and many ideas that tourists can explore beyond the box. Sweden has a rich culture and history and many tourists’ attraction sites.
If you are planning to visit Sweden, there are a few things you should know about its currency.
Although Sweden is part of the European Union, it is among the three countries, Denmark and the UK that voted against the use of the common currency and do not use the European Currency, Euro.
Sweden uses its own currency, called the Swedish Krona, commonly translated as Crowns in English. The plural for Swedish Krona is Kronor.
Swedish Krona is also commonly referred to as SEK or Kr. Each Krona is divided into a hundred öre. Öres are very small unit, you can liken them to pennies or cents, and they are not commonly regarded when it comes to paying bills.
For instance, when you visit a store and buy goods worth 199,98 SEK, you will be charged 200,00 SEK. On the other hand, if the goods amount to 199,20, then you will be required to pay 199,00 SEK. The öre is always rounded off to the nearest Krona.
The Swedish Krona coins are available in four different denominations, 1, 2, 5 and 10 Krona coins.
Additionally, the banknotes are available in five denominations, that is, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 Krona notes. Sweden also has 1000 Krona notes, however, they are a few in circulation, and mostly they are not universally accepted.
When visiting Sweden, remember to change your money into Krona. Other currencies, including Euros are not generally accepted in Sweden, especially areas that are not frequented by tourists.
Specific areas that accept Euros include tourists’ shops and hotels in Stockholm and any other company that is owned by big international chains. Foreign exchange rates in some areas may also so poor.
Exchanging Your Money in Sweden
While visiting Sweden, you want to have your money in Swedish Krona. This is because, as mentioned before, most places do not accept other currencies.
There are different places you can exchange your money from. They include;
Airport
When you land, you may need money to pay for your taxi or to get some food. There are places at the airport where you can change your money into Swedish Krona.
However, note that the exchange rate at airports are poor. Therefore, you can change a few notes to get money to use at the moment.
Hotels
There are also some international hotels in Sweden that will offer you the service of changing your money into Swedish Krona. Just like the airports, the hotel’s exchange rates are also poor.
Withdraw Directly From an ATM
The other alternative is to withdraw SEK from a bank directly using your ATM card. Banks allow you to withdraw the new currency at a reasonable and affordable rate. There are many ATM spots in Sweden, commonly known as ‘Bankomats’, and easy to locate and spot because they are all painted blue.
If you cannot find any near you, you can use an online locator to find your convenient ATM that is within your network.
When travelling, remember to inform your bank, so that their anti-fraud software does not block your account. Sweden is a relatively expensive country; you do not want to end up without any means to pay for your trip.
You can also ask your bank if they collaborate with any specific bank in Sweden. If your bank has partnership with banks in Sweden, then you are able to access some bank services for a cheaper fee, for instance ATM withdrawal charges.
Alternatively, if you have a bank account in Sweden, or know someone who has one, you can transfer your money between your home bank account and the Sweden bank account.
This will allow you to use the reasonable and fair real mid-market exchange rate. When you travel to Sweden, you can then access your Krona cash without any hidden charges.
There are four major international banks functioning in Sweden, Barclays Bank, BNP Paribas Sweden, Danske Bank and Santander Bank Sweden. There are also four main local banks in Sweden, they include, Swedbank, Nordea Bank, SEB and Handelsbanken.
Reputable foreign exchange offices
There are many foreign exchange offices available in Sweden where you can get SEK. Due to high competition, most of these offices allow you to exchange your currency at a better rate compared to hotels and at the airport.
In addition, you can do your research online to compare different exchange rates available in the mid-market and use the online currency converter to check the exchange rates offered to tourists.
Sweden is a Cashless Nation
Whereas having cash is comforting and convenient in case of an emergency, Sweden is mostly a cashless country. It is recognized as one of the most cashless societies in the World.
Therefore, while travelling to Sweden, carry your credit and debit cards, they will come in handy because most Swedes prefer to use plastic money rather than actual notes and coins. All major cards are accepted with hotels, kiosks, cafes, taxis, boutiques and retailers.
This is good news for you as the tourist, because you will not have to deal foreign exchanges.
Sweden is mostly said to be an expensive country. Therefore, you should make sure you have saved enough before making a trip to Sweden. Before you depart from your home country to tour Sweden, you should remember Sweden uses their own currency known as Krona.
Therefore, do not change your money into Euros because they may not be accepted. If you have credit and debit cards, you should carry them on your trip to Sweden, because Sweden is mostly a cashless nation.