Tour Preparation

There are many things to consider when preparing to travel to Sweden for the Folk Tour.  On this page I will be providing information on what to expect, important words to know, everyday customs in Sweden,  Money conversion, and more.

   If you are going on the tour this year, be sure and check this page regularly!

Covid Restrictions for travelers:

Sweden has raised its restrictions at present.   It is advised that you be vaccinated before travel, however.

  1. Sweden has dropped all testing requirements for entering the country.   Proof of vaccination is not required.
  2. Proof of vaccination may still be required for entry to some businesses or events.
  3. Wearing masks is still a requirement on some airlines.
  4. Wearing masks is not required in Sweden, but social distancing is encouraged.

Money concerns:

Sweden is becoming a nearly cashless society.   Almost all financial transactions are done electronically by credit card, by an app called “Swish”, or otherwise.

  1.  Do not bother to take Travelers’ Checks or large amounts of cash with you.  They are difficult to convert to Swedish money – even banks do not handle cash!
  2. There are ATMs in most places where you can withdraw cash with either credit or debit cards.   Make sure your PIN for each card is only 4 digits .  Also, choose cards to take that do not charge an extra fee for international transactions. 
  3. MasterCard and Visa are universally accepted, American Express is common, but Discover is not used much in Sweden.
  4. Except in situations where you are dealing with individuals rather than businesses, you will not need cash.   Even buying a candy bar at a grocery is usually done with credit card!
  5. The basic monetary unit of Sweden is the krona, or crown.  It is pluralized as kronor, and price tags use the acronym SEK.  The exchange rate between dollar and Swedish krona can vary over the year.   At present, the krona is equal to 10 cents American.
  6. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 kronor:  a  a dime, a 20 cents, a 50-cent piece, and a dollar.
  7. Paper money is in different colors and sizes, to make it easier to differentiate the denominations.   It comes in values of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1,000 kronor:  about 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars.