Where to Skipper Yourself: the 12 Best Self-Drive Boat Rentals

1.Berlin: Self-Drive Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 430 reviews · 1 - 4 hours Our pick

Take the wheel of a quiet electric GoBoat on Berlin’s Spree. After a 15-minute briefing, you choose the route, picnic onboard, and look for sights such as Molecule Man. No boating license is needed, dogs are welcome, and boats hold up to eight people.

“We celebrated our older sons birthday on the boat and it was a lot of fun. It was good family time and very personal as it was just the 4 of us. And 1 hour is just right amount of time for this activity.”

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2.Dubai: Self-Drive Boat Experience for 1 or 2 People

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 276 reviews · 30 minutes - 1.5 hours · from $40Best value

Take the wheel of a small speedboat with one passenger and follow a guide along Dubai’s coast. After a safety briefing, you can reach speeds of up to 60 km/hr while viewing Ain Dubai, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, and Atlantis. Guides including Sinu, Mano, and Sami also help with photos.

“Trip was well organised with friendly staff. Cold drinks on arrival and after activity. Good fun.”

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3.Self-drive Bora Bora Boat Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 211 reviews

You’ll pilot a 13-foot Quintrex around Bora Bora’s lagoon for about four hours, with fuel, safety gear, a cooler, map, phone, and tracker provided. La Plage Tours gives you a practical briefing before you set out, with pickup available and advice on coral gardens, rays, beaches, and safe routes.

“This was a good experience. Administrative staff was great. Explained map and boat guidelines in detail. We took the 3 hour tour. It was enough for us. Got our good tan and beaches all to ourselves. It was good to try some new.”

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4.Dubrovnik Self-Drive Boat Rental for up to 6 People

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 205 reviews · 8 hours (approx.)

Dora, Marko, and their family provide a small self-drive boat, clear instruction, a cooler, sunshade, GPS, life jackets, and snorkeling gear. You set your own route around Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, with hotel pickup inside Dubrovnik and advice on caves, beaches, and swimming spots.

“This was the best day ever!! Massive thank you to Dora and Marco (?) for the awesome instructions and advice on where to go. Amazing way to explore and do your own thing. Lots of snorkelling, cave swimming and general fantastic experiences. Loved to and could t recommend enough.”

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5.Self-Drive License-Free Boat Rental in Santorini from Vlichada

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 174 reviews · 5 hours (approx.)

You drive a private boat from Vlichada for up to six people, after a safety briefing from the Santorini Blue Waves Cruises team. Choose 9 am to 2 pm or 3 pm to 8 pm, visit beaches around Santorini and Thirasia, and use the GPS, cooler, shower, and snorkeling gear on request.

“This is absolutely a must do tour in santorini!! After receiving a safety briefing we were able to explore the island on our own time, stopping at famous beaches such as the red and white sand beach, and just cruising out on the open water. The gps was very easy to use, and the views absolutely can’t be beaten! I can’t recommend this tour enough!”

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6.Self Drive Boat Hire

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 160 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.)

Take the wheel of a self-drive boat from Sorrento for 7 to 8 hours. Staff such as Tomas, Yuri, and Vittorio explain the controls and route, while you choose stops at Capri, Nerano, Positano, and Amalfi. Prior boat experience is required, though no license is needed.

“Our day spent on the boat was one of the best and most memorable days of our 2 weeks in Italy. The boat was attractive, clean, ran great and was very stable and comfortable in a light chop w/ 1-3 foot seas. We started the day by heading around the tip of the Sorrento peninsula and up the coast to Positano. The sights along the way were amazing and too many to list them all. Stunning mountains, cliffs, caves and grottos, as well as quaint towns, ancient watch-towers and ruins. From Positano we returned back along the coast and pulled into Nerano for lunch. I had no idea what to…”

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7.Luxury Eden 18 Private Self-drive boat hire to Blue Lagoon & more

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 148 reviews · 2 to 9 hours (approx.)

Take the wheel of a private Eden 18 motorboat from Latchi Harbour with up to six people. After a map briefing and boat lesson, cruise to Blue Lagoon, Manolis Bay, Fontana Amorosa, Secret Beach, and other Akamas coast stops. Snorkel gear, a cool box, and life jackets are provided.

“The trip was amazing! Lots of beautiful bays to stop at, the water was clear and lots to see with a snorkel! The team were brilliant at explaining how to use the boat, good stops to make and handy tips for along the way. We haven’t hired a boat ourselves before and I would definitely do it again! Only thing I would change is to make the trip a longer one and hire it for the day. Thank you!”

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8.Giethoorn: Self-Drive Boat Rental for up to 8 People

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 130 reviews · 2 - 6 hours

Take the wheel of a cushioned electric boat for up to eight people in Giethoorn. The Dutch, English, and German-speaking team provides instructions, a route map, free parking, toilets, and rescue help if needed.

“It was good, but people dont park their boats in the right place and leaving charging cables in the water like retards.”

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9.Playa Papagayo: Self-Drive Boat Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 113 reviews · 2 - 8 hours

From Puerto de Playa Blanca, you get a safety and navigation briefing, then pilot a maintained boat toward Playa Papagayo. Stop to swim or snorkel, bring snacks, and return within 2 to 8 hours. A captain can join for €20 per hour, and Zaki is one of the helpful team members.

“I would definitely recommend this activity!! You are the captain of your own ship; you can sail and stop to snorkel whenever you like. I will be doing this trip again every time I visit Playa Blanca”

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10.Amsterdam: Self-Drive Boat Rental (5 departure locations)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 95 reviews

Take the wheel of a private electric boat and explore Amsterdam’s canals for two hours. No license is needed, and an English or Dutch instructor shows you the controls. Choose from five departure points, bring snacks and drinks, and bring your dog too. Chris and Ben are among the helpful staff.

“Chris was cool and helpful. He explained everything clearly and we couldn’t be happier with him.”

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11.Marbella: Self-Drive Boat Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 80 reviews · 30 minutes - 4 hours

Take the helm of a private boat for up to seven people from Pier 6 in Puerto Banús. Qualified staff handle docking, while you cruise, swim, snorkel, play music, and search for dolphins. Jose and Fransisco are among the instructors named in recent bookings.

“Great day on the Sea. Thank you Fransisco. We will be back to see you again. Anthony & Judith”

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12.Self Drive Boat Rental in Costa Adeje Tenerife

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews

You drive your own boat from Costa Adeje for 3, 4, or 5 hours, with no boating license required. Martyna, Isaac, and the team explain safety and the permitted route before you set out. Water, snacks, towels, snorkel gear, GPS, fuel, and a Bluetooth speaker are included.

“What an amazing experience!! Had the boat for 4 hours. It was just about enough time to explore the allowed area. The boat comes with a sea scooter which i didnt end up using. Also snorkels and masks. Snacks and water are provided in a cool box. Very easy to drive. Probably does around 10 knots. Very fun and enjoyable if you have your see legs of course”

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