Rent a boat on the Göta and Kinda Canals
—experience Sweden from the water
Rent a boat on the Göta and Kinda Canals—experience a magical journey through Sweden’s most beautiful waterway
We offer a fleet of 9 boats, 4 of which are electric and built by us. You rent and operate the boat yourself. The boats are approximately 7–12 meters long and can accommodate 2–10 people. No special license is required to rent a boat, but it’s helpful if you have previous boating experience.
Passing through the locks is straightforward, and we’ll show you everything on site. If you have limited experience, you can book a guide to accompany you and provide coaching on your first day.
Thanks to close cooperation with the Göta and Kinda Canal Companies, our guests have priority at the locks when following one of our predetermined routes. This means you won’t have to wait in line, and the lock operators will ensure that you arrive smoothly at your final destination for the day. Our electric boats also have reserved berths at every final port. If you’d like to create your own adventure, you’re more than welcome to design your own route—our suggestions are just that, suggestions, not requirements. However, the trip must begin and end at our reserved port in Motala.
Normally, you rent a boat on a weekly basis from Saturday to Saturday, but shorter rental periods may sometimes be available on short notice.
How it works
01.
Boka båt och datum
Välj den båt som passar er grupp och era datum direkt i bokningen. Priset varierar beroende på båtmodell och säsong.
02.
Canal ticket
The canal fee is automatically added to your booking (fixed price of €565 for smaller boats and €762 for larger boats). This includes all lock passages, full-service guest harbours and charging for electric boats.
03.
Confirmation and payment
You will receive a payment link by email. 30% must be paid within 2 days, and the remaining balance no later than 40 days before departure.
04.
Tell us your route
Please let us know which route you plan to take. If we don’t hear from you, we’ll assume the classic Blue Route to Söderköping and back to Motala.
05.
Departure from Motala
Your adventure begins in Motala at the historic ‘Gamla Motala Verkstad’, associated with Baltzar von Platen, where we have our own reserved harbour.
06.
Introduction and test drive
You will receive a personal introduction with practical tips for navigating locks and the chance to take the boat for a relaxed test drive before your canal adventure begins.
Book online or send your enquiry by email – we’ll be happy to help.
Email: boka@kanalcharter.se
Welcome to an unforgettable experience!
Search for available boats here
Discounts
Current offers:
- 50% discount: 1–28 May and 28 August–25 September.
- 30% discount: 29 May–11 June and 14–27 August.
- 10% discount: 12 June–13 August (high season).
For a two-week trip, you pay for only one canal ticket.
Sustainability on the Göta Canal
Discover our four electric boats
Experience the Göta Canal in a quiet, comfortable, and more sustainable way. In our fleet of 9 boats, our four custom-built electric boats—Sigrid, Sophia, Caspian, and Safir Electric 26—combine modern technology with wonderful nature experiences. Enjoy a relaxing vacation on the water with quiet electric propulsion and no local exhaust emissions.
Sigrid & Sophia
Two sister boats with quiet electric propulsion and plenty of room for a relaxing canal holiday. A comfortable choice for families and friends.
One week at
2,990 €
Two weeks at
5,980 €
Caspian
A spacious electric boat combining modern comfort with quiet, smooth cruising. Perfect for exploring the Göta Canal at your own pace.
One week at
3,499 €
Two weeks
6,998 €
Safir Electric 26
A nimble, modern electric boat for a smaller group. Enjoy the scenery and charm of the canal with quiet, comfortable electric propulsion.
One week at
2,290 €
Two weeks at
4,580 €
Find your perfect route
Your trip begins and ends in Motala, the “capital” of the Göta Canal. Choose the route that’s right for you. All routes have been carefully selected by Göta Canal Charter in consultation with Göta and Kinda Canal, which are responsible for staff, locks, and guest harbors along the canals.
In our suggested itineraries, you can choose to explore either the eastern or western side of the Göta Canal, or combine the Göta Canal with a route into its “little sister,” the Kinda Canal. If you want to experience the entire canal, you’re of course more than welcome to book a two-week trip!
All of the marinas in our recommendations have good facilities, such as restrooms, showers, shore power, and proximity to attractions, grocery stores, and restaurants.
Plan your trip
Everything you need to plan your Göta Canal trip
About Göta Kanal
The Gota Canal is Sweden’s biggest tourist attraction, and by far one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in the country. The canal is 190 km long and has 58 locks.
Good to know
No licence is needed to rent a boat. Previous boating experience is recommended, but we are happy to help if you are new to boating.
Boats
Experience the canal and all the sights along the canal in a boat where you are the skipper. What boat model suits you best? Learn more about our boats and book online.
Here you can see our news, nominations and more
100% electric boats on the Göta Canal
Göta Kanal Charter is investing in electric propulsion. Discover our electric boats and enjoy comfortable, climate-conscious cruising on the Göta Canal.
Tourist destination of the year 2018
Göta Kanal Charter – Tourist Destination of the Year 2018.
Innovator of the Year 2019
Göta Kanal Charter – Innovator of the Year 2019.
Scandinavian Business Awards 2021
Best Boat Charter Company – Southern Sweden.
Company of the year along the Göta canal 2018
Göta Kanal Charter – Company of the Year along the Göta Canal 2018.
Nominated for the Sustainability Award 2022
Göta Kanal Charter was nominated for the Sustainability Award 2022.
Frequently asked questions about renting a boat on the Göta Canal
No, no special boating licence is required to hire one of our boats. Before departure, you will receive a personal briefing in Motala covering the boat, safety, navigation and how the locks work.
We show you how the locks work before you set off and explain the key steps on site. During the trip you will also have a GPS chartplotter, maps and guides to help you along the way.
We have suggested routes with planned stops, guest harbours and sights. The best route for you depends on factors such as journey length, your chosen boat and your boating experience.
If you have questions or encounter problems during your journey, you can contact us for support and assistance.
The trip starts and ends in Motala, in the heart of the Göta Canal. Here, we go through the boat together, and you have time to unpack and prepare for departure at your own pace.
That depends on how many people are travelling, the kind of trip you want and whether you prefer a classic canal boat or an electric boat. We will gladly help you choose.
Yes. If you have limited experience, you can book a guide to accompany you on the first day and help you get started.
