Is cash still widely used?
Barely. Sweden is a global leader in cashless payments. Many shops, cafes, museums, and even some churches no longer accept cash at all. Swish (a mobile payment app) is used by virtually all Swedes for everything from splitting bills to paying at markets.
Some banks have stopped handling cash entirely at their branches.
ATMs and withdrawing cash
ATMs are becoming harder to find as cash usage declines. Bankomat ATMs are the main network.
- Fees are around 35 SEK per withdrawal for foreign cards
- ATM availability has declined significantly in rural areas
- Many venues will decline cash even if you try to pay with it
Card acceptance
Excellent. Visa and Mastercard are accepted virtually everywhere. Contactless is standard. Sweden’s card acceptance rate is among the highest in the world.
Tips for travelers
- Cards are your primary tool — cash is genuinely rarely needed
- Swish requires a Swedish bank account so isn’t accessible to tourists
- A few tourist-oriented markets accept cash for the benefit of visitors
- Sweden has one of the highest costs of living in Europe — budget accordingly