GoBoat is a company that was founded in Copenhagen in 2014 with the intention of giving people the freedom to explore Copenhagen on your own by boat. The idea is simple: you can rent a boat with eight friends and be your own captain.

The founders are Anders Mørck, Kasper Eich-Romme and Carl Kai Rand. The inspiration for starting this company came from the joy people feel when on the water. The founders wanted to make this feeling accessible to everyone, according to their website.

 Why It’s Newsworthy: GoBoat’s are very popular in Copenhagen. For a tourist looking for things to do in the city, a GoBoat is definitely something to add to the list. 

Since Denmark is known for being sustainable, it is only fitting that the GoBoat engines are electric. The boats are powered by solar, wind and water energy, so users can sail with a clean conscience.

Laura Holsteinborg has been working with GoBoat on the marketing team for two years. She describes GoBoat as “a company that wants the best for the environment.”

“There are some other boat rentals in Copenhagen, but I really think that people want to be sustainable and choose us,” Holsteinborg says.

Having around 1 million customers worldwide, locals and tourists alike use these boats.

“Locals just love that we use the water and open up the waters to everyone,” says Holsteinborg.

Sebastian Brehmer, a local college student in the Copenhagen Business School, agrees.

“GoBoats are a really fun group activity, especially with friends and family,” Brehmer said. “It’s a great way to hang out together while seeing the city in a very different way.” 

GoBoat gives tourists a unique opportunity to see the city on their own. Being sustainable just adds to the experience and makes a tourist really feel like a local.

“People come to us to get their own experience. Most of our customers are local people from Copenhagen wanting to experience Copenhagen from the water,” says Holsteinborg.

First-Hand Experience

My first weekend in Copenhagen, my friends and I rented a GoBoat for two hours. We got the chance to see the city from a different perspective and all thoroughly enjoyed our time on the water. 

Renting a GoBoat doesn’t just mean you can hang out with friends on the water, although that is part of the appeal. It gives you the chance to be your own captain and explore the city without a guide.

Spending our first Sunday in the city on a GoBoat was a great way to spend the evening. We learned about the layout of the city and got to know each other better.

The feeling of being on the water makes everyone feel calm and at peace. Having the opportunity to explore Copenhagen in that way is truly an unforgettable experience, all thanks to GoBoat.

“I really think it’s great that you can be your own captain. It gives you a feeling of freedom, but also the social aspects of being on the water with friends. Just being on the water makes you calm and happy,” says Holsteinborg.

Ellie Pool is a junior majoring in journalism at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia.