Tipping in Sweden (2024)

FAQs

Tipping in Sweden? ›

Tipping in Sweden isn't as established as in many other countries. It's always welcome but not expected. When eating out in Sweden it is common to to round up to the nearest big number. For example if your bill comes to 280 SEK, you can round up to 300 SEK.

Most restaurant service staff in Sweden are paid a decent salary and do not rely on tips. However, when you ask around, you`ll hear that tipping is becoming more and more common in recent years. It is now fairly common to leave a small tip of 5-10% in restaurants and bars.

Tipping, although not necessary, is at own discretion. The general rule is that you tip if you are satisfied with a service, for example in a restaurant. In the Scandinavian countries this is often done by rounding up the bill (about 5 to max. 10% of the total bill).

Once at your table, you can ask for the check. In Swedish, “Check, please” is Notan, tack. Notan, tack.

Please do not spread our stupid culture of over-tipping, it's a terrible custom that is classist and needs to die already. The only time I would even consider tipping for anything in Sweden would be at a restaurant or for a taxi if the service is exceptional, and even then just round up (no more than 5%).

Here are some things that you should know. 1. No cash needed: There's no need to exchange a lot of currency – Stockholm is in large parts a cash-free city. Although you'll find ATMs (recognized by teal/blue-green-colored signs reading "Bankomat"), many restaurants, shops, and hotels don't accept bills or coins.

Tap water in Sweden is of high quality and is perfectly safe to drink.

However, it is necessary to carry a travel document (passport or national ID-card) to prove citizenship upon request (driver's license, bank ID-card etc are not valid for this).

Debit or credit card

Card payments can be helpful in shops, restaurants and hotels but there will be places where cash is also important. Order a travel card from a provider like Wise for cheap and fast transactions, including card payments and cash withdrawals as and when you need travel money in SEK.

What is the etiquette for eating in Sweden? ›

Leaving any food on the plate is impolite. Guests usually wait for the host to offer second helpings. It is not impolite to decline, and guests may take more if they desire. Each guest will personally thank the host directly after the meal.

Food guide

Sweden uses a simple and clear graph with three key messages in a traffic light colours. Green: eat more vegetables, fruit, berries, fish, shellfish, nuts, seeds, exercise. Yellow: switch to whole grains, healthy fats and low-fat dairy products. Red: eat less red and processed meat, salt, sugar and alcohol.

The delicious aroma wafts below the child's nose, but there is no plate for him. This setting, while quite normal in Sweden and other Nordic countries, has horrified people around the world, shocked to learn that some Swedish families do not invite their children's visiting friends to eat with them at mealtime.

Aside from being the northernmost point of Sweden, Treriksröset represents the westernmost point of mainland Finland. The tripoint that is currently erected there goes as far back as 1926 and is about 1,604 feet above sea level.

While tips are appreciated no matter where you travel, tipping in Europe isn't as automatic nor as generous as it is in the US, and in many countries, tips aren't expected at all. The proper amount depends not only on the country you're in, but also on your resources, tipping philosophy, and the circ*mstances.

In Sweden, tips or “dricks” are completely at your discretion and not expected in a lot of situations. In any case, if you believe you've paid a fair price, feel free not to tip.

You may or may not want to supplement that. For the wait staff at sit-down restaurants, the tip should be 15 percent to 20 percent of the pretax bill. Tips are not necessary at fast-food restaurants.