We will be traveling from the U.S. and visiting Noway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and London. Will we need country specific currency in each of those countries? Most of our travels thus far have been in countries that all us Euros.
Edit - we will using our cards for most things. This is for having a small amount of cash available when needed.
Thanks!
Fortunately, the Scandinavian countries and Germany accept plastic for virtually everything these days. You might find occasion to use cash in the UK, but credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, etc. will suffice to pay for almost everything.
Pounds for the UK and Euro for Germany and Denmark not sure about Scandinavia countries. We always take a small amount of cash for each country.
Each of these countries uses a different currency. The three Scandinavian countries have their own Kroner; Germany uses the Euro and England/UK the Pound.
As noted above, using a credit card or Apple Pay would make navigating this situation easier. You may still need/want to have a small amount of the individual currencies.
We spent 2½ weeks in Norway in 2023 and never used cash. We used our credit and debit cards for everything. We didn't need cash in London, either. However, in Scotland there were a few places that cash was needed.
Thanks! We have found in our travels that having a small amount of cash available is good. Every now and then we’ve come across a street food vender or other such thing that requires cash.
I know each of these countries have their own currencies (euro, pound, sek, nok, dkk), just wondering if any over lap, or we just need each specific currency in each country.
No overlap - each country only accepts its own currency. But as noted you don't need much - for the UK I normally don't use any cash at all.
We have found in our travels that having a small amount of cash available is good. Every now and then we’ve come across a street food vender or other such thing that requires cash.
I understand that as a general rule. But in Norway, Sweden and Denmark you'll have no need whatever for cash. They've become essentially cashless societies.
Norway is the most cashless country I've been to (I haven't been to Denmark recently)--so much so that you will probably have a very hard time finding a bank-owned ATM. I looked for hours, going to bank locations found on Google Maps without success. I ended up using a commercial ATM which, most unexpectely, didn't charge a withdrawal fee.
I understand wanting a bit of cash because I feel the same way, and in fact I needed cash twice in 3 weeks there, but make a very, very small withdrawal from the ATM. Otherwise, you'll be looking for places to spend the remaining money before you cross into Sweden. There are an awful lot of business establishments in Norway that simply do not take cash at all, so don't wait too late to start offloading what you have left. I didn't see as many "No Cash" signs in Sweden as in Norway, but you can definitely use plastic in Sweden for almost everything.
Johbucks - that’s great to know! Thanks! And I love that you’re from SoCal, not Cali!! (I grew up there)
Great info! Thanks everyone!
the Scandinavian countries and Germany accept plastic for virtually everything these days.
Wrong for Germany:
"Measured in terms of turnover, debit card payments accounted for 32% of total expenditure, placing them firmly in first place, followed in second place by cash (26%) ahead of credit transfers and e-payment methods such as PayPal, Klarna and giropay [debit]."
Source: Payment behaviour in Germany in 2023
Agree to statement for Scandinavia.
Another insight: in some German businesses no credit cards are accepted or only from a certain amount of bill, e. g. 5 or 10 Euro.
We did a great trip to Norway in 2019 and discovered that when you use a credit card, you should tell the waitress or cashier that your charge will be "signature." Not sure there is a need for that today.
if your UK is limited to London you will be hard pressed to need to pay for even a single pound in cash. I haven't since 2019.
I agree with MarkK, of the countries listed, Germany may be the one where you will need more cash than a bit. Many can do just fine, businesses geared towards international tourists will take card, but smaller restaurants may be cash only, laundries will need cash, paying for a regional bus ticket on the bus I found required cash. If you go to any festival and most street markets, cash is preferred to required for small purchases (many Germans would use a money transfer or app) similar with many beer gardens.
Like I said, you can avoid cash only places with some effort, but stray from the tourist path, it becomes difficult. I was probably more off the path than most for a month, plus 3 big fests, and found I needed about 200 euro a week.
halfdozmom,
Not among the listed countries, but at the Wed. market in Sarlat, a couple of local vendors only took cash (fruit and veg).
P.S. This was in 2023.
This past year, we were in England, Poland, and Italy. And in each country, we encountered vendors who either would only take cash, or stated that they preferred it. And at least twice, the debit/credit card system wasn't working, and only people with cash could make purchases.
But indeed, we used our cards for most purchases.
Another thought - for tips, street vendors, things like that, in a pinch you can probably use Euro notes in the Scandanavian countries, albeit at a poor exchange rate. Or maybe even US dollar notes. I suspect the guy hawking souvenirs on the corner would rather have to change the money than lose a sale! But not coins, because they’re much harder to exchange, so stock up on 5 Euro notes.
On my last three trips to the UK, I have only needed cash in three places. I used cash once to buy a bottle of water from a kiosk and twice for coin operated laundries that did not have credit card machines; an attendant made change.
No one in Scandinavia is going to want Euros or dollars, but you are highly unlikely to need any cash.
And at least twice, the debit/credit card system wasn't working,
I run into that about once a month.
Great info! Actually, we’re good with what to do in Germany. Have family there. Guess I could have left that off the list. We will primarily be in London, when in UK, Spurs match! With maybe a day trip to a nearby town.
I would suggest you have cash on you when out and about in Germany. I use cash there almost exclusively.
Even though the WC in train stations can be paid for by using the tap option, what happens if that function is out of order at the time you're there or somehow that function, though not out of order, is not just working with your credit card. What then? It happens. I've seen it the last 2 summers. Cash or another credit card.
