While Croatia is joining the euro, which 7 EU countries still use their own currency?
The European Union gave Croatia the green light to start using the euro and **to join the Schengen zone**- from next year.
The country will join 19 other EU member states that use the currency.
It will adopt the currency from January 1, 2023, making Croatia the last nation to join the eurozone after Lithuania in 2015.
From next year, this will mean that only seven EU countries continue to use their own currency.
Why is Croatia joining the euro?
Croatia it will continue to use its own currency, the kuna, until January next year. Currently, one Croatian kuna is worth around 0.13 euros.
To adopt the euro, a country must meet a number of economic conditions, including a stable exchange rate and low inflation.
By adopting the euro, the Eastern European country hopes to gain greater financial security and improve the standard of living of its citizens.
Croatia will also benefit economically from closer financial ties with other members of the single currency area and the European Central Bank.
For visitors Croatia from the Eurozone, this will also mean that there is no need to exchange money.
Which European countries still use their own currency?
Since Croatia became the 20th EU country to adopt the euro, there are still many member states that have not taken this step.
A total of seven EU countries do not use the euro: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Sweden.
In these countries, visitors from the Eurozone still have to exchange money before traveling. Here is a list of the currencies they use and some other information about these non-eurozone EU member states.
Enjoy Danish haute cuisine and hygge
Denmark is the smallest of the Scandinavian countries, but it’s big on gourmet food, culture and design.
As the land of hygge, Denmark is the perfect place for a wellness-focused vacation. A trip along the great coast is a great way to relax and recharge your batteries.
Visitors to Denmark will have to exchange their money for Danish krone.
Experience the midnight sun and northern lights in Sweden
Sweden is a great destination for nature lovers with almost 100,000 beautiful lakes, rugged mountain ranges and patches of forests.
It is the perfect country to witness one of nature’s greatest spectacles, the Northern Lights, or to stay up all night under the midnight sun.
Sweden uses the Swedish krona after a 2003 referendum in which the public voted not to accept the euro.
Book a cheap beach holiday in Bulgaria
Bulgaria is gaining fame as an attractive budget holiday destination that offers both stunning beaches and spectacular mountain ranges with glacial lakes.
The country is also full of fascinating historical monuments from monasteries to fortresses.
Bulgaria it currently uses the lev, although it intends to switch to the euro when it meets the required conditions.
Visit a pristine river delta in Romania
Romania it combines some of the most impressive natural landscapes in Europe with quaint medieval villages and dramatic castles.
The Danube Delta is one of the best preserved on the continent and a paradise for bird watchers, while the spectacular Scărișoara Glacier is the second largest underground glacier in Europe.
Romania uses the leu and, like Bulgaria, hopes to adopt the euro in the future.
Immerse yourself in European history in Poland
Poland is the perfect destination for history buffs with its many medieval castles.
You can also reflect on the European history of the Second World War at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews.
Visitors to the capital will also be impressed by the stylish bars and new vegan restaurants that have sprung up in recent years.
Poland uses zloty as local currency.
Taste the local cuisine in Hungary
Hungary has a rich and hearty local cuisine with delicious dishes like goulash – a meat stew seasoned with paprika – and lángos, a deep-fried flatbread.
The country is also famous for its thermal baths architectural splendor. Lake Héviz, the largest thermal lake in the world accessible to bathers, is also worth a visit.
Visitors to Hungary will have to exchange their money for forints.
The Czech Republic is a county of castles
With the highest density of castles in Europe, Czech Republic is a paradise for lovers of architecture and history. Some of these ostentatious buildings date back to the 14th century, and the capital Prague is home to the largest castle complex in the world.
Visiting historic buildings is hard work, but luckily, the country is also known for its beer brewing tradition that began back in 993.
The local currency of the Czech Republic is the krona.