Tourists Can Rent A Kayak For Free In Copenhagen If They Follow Some Crucial Rules

Is there any city quite as cute as Copenhagen? When you see the brightly painted buildings, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, don't they look like gingerbread houses? Couldn't you just imagine the philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, dressed in frock coat and top hat, strolling these same cobbled streets? As for the canals — well, these waterways are the best part of all. The ideal postcard from Denmark's capital shows a canal, plus a stone bridge or a row of sailboats. Copenhagen is the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen, so naturally one of these canals inspired a handful of his fairytales.

This is why paddling a kayak through Copenhagen is such a pleasure: You can explore the old neighborhoods through its liquid byways, cutting gracefully across the still water as vintage houses and storefronts pass on either side. Boating is a huge part of Danish culture, especially in this busy Baltic Sea port, and a kayak is the easiest — and most active — way for a tourist to participate. And thanks to the folks at GreenKayak, you can actually borrow one of these watercraft for free. They just ask two favors in return: Pick up trash from the canal as you go, and post your experience on social media with the hashtag #GreenKayak.

GreenKayak isn't your typical boat-rental company. Rather, it's an NGO committed to reducing the amount of garbage adrift in the ocean. Danish outdoorsman Tobias Weber-Andersen founded GreenKayak in 2017, then partnered with Oke Carstensen the next year. The organization was started in Copenhagen and is still headquartered here, and there are branches of GreenKayak across Northern Europe.

The kayaks are simple sit-on-top models, designed for two passengers. If you agree to pick up trash, snap pictures, and post about it online, you'll get two hours of paddling bliss free. You'll receive life vests and garbage grabbers along with a sizable bucket for collecting trash. No kayaking experience is necessary, and the kayaks are very stable, but their unwieldy size works better with two people to maneuver. Paddlers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult, which makes this activity great for eco-conscious outings with the kids — just another reason Copenhagen is considered one of the most exciting European destinations for adventurous families.

It makes sense that GreenKayak would have gotten its start in Copenhagen: The city is famous for its sustainability efforts, such as CopenHill, a ski slope built on top of a waste incinerator, or the 239 miles of protected bike lanes that run through the metropolitan area. Indeed, the country of Denmark is on track to become the first nation free of fossil fuels by 2050, thanks to widespread wind and solar energy. The idea that tourists can get a modest workout, explore the famous waterways, and also help the environment by gathering litter from the oceans seems so simple and obvious, it's a wonder no one thought of it sooner. And all they have to do is share their experience on social media.

Copenhagen is also respected for its public parks and gardens, which beautifully complement the dollhouse facades all around. Once you've explored the city on land and sea and done your part for the environment, you'll probably have worked up an appetite, so here is the food-lover's guide to a Copenhagen vacation.