Copenhagen: Six Forgotten Giant Sculptures Tour by Bus

Trolls make fine tour guides. This four-hour outing turns Copenhagen’s western suburbs into a playful treasure hunt, leading you to six large scrap-wood sculptures in fields, woods, and quiet nature spots. I like the creative outdoor art and the chance to see parts of Zealand that many city visitors would otherwise miss. I also like the practical bus route, which saves you from finding six scattered sculptures by car. The main drawback is that the tour spends a good amount of time on the road, and the commentary about artist Thomas Dambo and the meaning of each sculpture may feel brief.

I like the way the tour keeps the walks short, making it possible to see all six giants in one afternoon without turning the day into a hiking trip. You will also get a well-organized outing, with a centrally located meeting point near Copenhagen Central Station and a bus equipped with Wi-Fi and chargers on at least some departures. At $135 per person, it is not a cheap sightseeing ride, so the value depends on how much you want convenience, transport, and a playful look at Danish nature.

Six useful things to know before you go

• You visit all six giants in four hours: The route includes Sleeping Louis, Hill Top Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Friendly Teddy.
• The sculptures are made from scrap wood: Local volunteers helped create the project, which brings art outside museums and into overlooked natural areas.
• The walks are short but real: You leave the bus and walk through fields or open areas to reach several sculptures.
• The route covers six western municipalities: The bus travels through Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup.
• The meeting point is easy to reach: CPH Tours & Tickets is about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station.
• The tour is in English: A live guide leads the outing, and recent feedback praised the organization and smooth timing.

Why these six trolls make a good Copenhagen side trip

Thomas Dambo’s Forgotten Giants project is more than a collection of oversized wooden figures. The idea was to move art out of galleries and into places people might otherwise pass without noticing. Each sculpture sends you looking for it, then asks you to pay attention to the setting around it.

That makes this different from a normal city sightseeing tour. You are not simply stepping off a bus beside a famous monument, taking a photograph, and moving on. You walk into a field or wooded patch, spot a giant shape among the trees, and see how the sculpture fits its surroundings.

The project also has a useful environmental message. The giants were made from scrap wood, with help from local volunteers. Dambo has worked with recycled materials in several forms, including plastic and cardboard, but these six sculptures are wooden figures that feel especially suited to the Danish countryside.

I think the tour works best for visitors who have already seen Copenhagen’s central sights and want four hours of something less polished and more playful. Families, art fans, photographers, and anyone who enjoys a small sense of discovery should find plenty to enjoy. You do not need to be an art expert. The fun comes from the search.

Leaving Copenhagen Central Station by bus

The tour starts at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, roughly two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. That is a sensible meeting point, especially if you are staying in central Copenhagen or arriving by train. You do not need a hotel pickup, so plan to make your own way to the office.

The first bus ride lasts about 30 minutes. This gives the guide time to explain the plan, though the amount of information about Denmark, Copenhagen, and Dambo’s work can vary. One recent account praised the guide Vinod for being organized and friendly, but it also wished for more explanation about the artist, each sculpture, and the country during the drives.

That is useful to know before booking. The tour is clearly strongest as a transport-and-discovery experience. If you want a detailed art lecture, ask questions when the guide is available, and do not expect every minute on the bus to be filled with commentary.

The bus is a major part of the value. The sculptures are spread around six municipalities west of Copenhagen, and finding all of them independently would take planning, navigation, and a car. The route cuts out that work and aims for the shortest possible walks to each site.

Sleeping Louis starts the giant hunt

Sleeping Louis is the first sculpture listed on the route. You get about 15 minutes at the site, including a guided visit. The short stop sets the rhythm for the day: leave the bus, walk out to the figure, look around, take photographs, and return to the group.

The first sculpture is useful as a warm-up because you quickly understand the project’s basic appeal. These are not museum pieces behind a rope. They are placed in open areas, and part of the experience is noticing where the artist has positioned the figure.

Fifteen minutes is enough for a focused visit, but it will not allow a long walk around the area. If you like lingering over photographs or reading every detail about a sculpture, you may wish the stops were longer. The benefit is that the tour can fit all six giants into a single half-day.

Hill Top Trine brings a higher viewpoint

The bus ride to Hill Top Trine takes about 15 minutes, followed by a guided visit of around 20 minutes. The name suggests a sculpture placed above its surroundings, and this stop gives the day a change of setting after Sleeping Louis.

The tour is not only about the wooden figures. It is also about the spaces selected for them. At Hill Top Trine, you get a chance to notice how a large, human-shaped sculpture changes your view of an otherwise ordinary Danish outdoor area.

The 20-minute stop gives you a little more breathing room than the opening visit. You can look at the sculpture from different angles and enjoy the surrounding nature without feeling that you must rush back immediately.

Still, conditions matter. The route includes walking in fields and remote outdoor areas, so practical shoes and clothing suited to the weather are a wise choice. The supplied details do not promise paved paths or indoor shelter at each stop, so you should think of this as an outdoor outing, not a bus tour with six roadside photo stops.

Oscar Under The Bridge is the longest sculpture visit

Oscar Under The Bridge receives about 40 minutes, one of the longer stops of the day. It is also a good example of how the project uses a specific place rather than simply placing a sculpture in a town square.

The setting gives you more time to explore the relationship between the figure and the surrounding structure. A sculpture under a bridge has a different mood from one on a hill or in an open field, and that variety helps keep the route from feeling repetitive.

This is one of the stops where I would want the guide to explain the choice of location and the story behind the figure. The tour gives you time to see the work, but the amount of interpretation is important. Available feedback praised the smooth organization while asking for more background on the art, so curious visitors should bring questions.

After Oscar Under The Bridge, the bus runs for about 15 minutes to the break at Spisestedet Mosen. The break lasts about 10 minutes. Food and drinks are not included, so do not count on this as a full meal stop. It is best viewed as a quick pause before the second half of the route.

Little Tilde keeps the pace moving

Little Tilde comes after the break, with about 20 minutes at the sculpture. By this point, you will know how the tour works, which makes the stop easy to enjoy without much instruction.

The figure is part of the same recycled-material project, but each location gives the six sculptures a different character. Little Tilde helps show that the route is not simply six copies of one idea. The names, placements, and surrounding areas create small changes in mood from stop to stop.

The bus rides between the sites also give your feet a rest. This matters because six outdoor stops can sound easy on paper but still become tiring if you are constantly walking. Here, the longest walks are kept short, according to the practical experience provided, and the bus handles most of the distance.

Thomas on the Mountain gives you a longer look

Thomas on the Mountain is scheduled for about 40 minutes. Like Oscar Under The Bridge, this is one of the more generous visits, giving you time to take in both the sculpture and the area around it.

The name points to the playful spirit of the project. These figures are large enough to feel surprising, yet their names keep the experience friendly rather than grand or formal. I think that balance is a big part of the appeal for families and visitors who want something light after Copenhagen’s churches, palaces, and museums.

This stop is also a good place to ask about Thomas Dambo’s use of scrap wood and volunteer help. The project connects art with reuse and local participation, and that context adds meaning to what might otherwise be just a series of oversized photo opportunities.

The route then continues for about 20 minutes to Friendly Teddy. By this stage, you may appreciate having a longer stop behind you and only one sculpture left to find.

Friendly Teddy finishes the six-sculpture route

Friendly Teddy, also identified as Thomas Dambo’s number 14, is the final sculpture visit. You get around 20 minutes before the bus begins the 30-minute return to Copenhagen.

Ending with a figure called Friendly Teddy fits the tone of the day. The tour is playful, social, and outdoorsy rather than solemn. You have spent the afternoon finding works in places that are not part of the usual Copenhagen sightseeing circuit.

The final drive gives you time to rest and compare the six stops. You return to the same CPH Tours & Tickets meeting point, making the experience simple to combine with other plans in central Copenhagen.

What the $135 price really covers

At $135 per person, this is a fairly costly half-day activity. You are paying for more than a guide standing beside one sculpture. The price includes the bus transportation between six separate sites, an English-speaking guide, route planning, and the convenience of reaching remote places without renting a car.

That convenience is the key value. On your own, you would need to locate all six sculptures across Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup. You would also need to allow for parking, directions, and the time required to move between places. For a visitor without a car, the organized bus can make the difference between seeing the full project and seeing only one or two figures.

The price is harder to justify if you already have a car and enjoy planning independent outings. It is also less appealing if you want long walks, extensive art interpretation, or a full meal included. Food and drinks are extra, and the break at Spisestedet Mosen is only about 10 minutes.

The transport itself has received particularly strong praise. A recent departure had Wi-Fi, chargers, and room for snacks, which makes the bus time easier. Those features may depend on the vehicle used that day, so treat them as helpful extras rather than the main reason to book.

Who should book this outdoor art tour?

I would recommend the tour to you if you want a simple way to see a different side of Zealand without arranging a car. It suits families, couples, solo visitors, and groups who enjoy unusual art, short walks, and a bit of searching.

It is also a good choice if you have already covered Copenhagen’s center. The tour takes you into quieter areas around the city and gives you a look at Danish nature that a standard city tour cannot provide.

You may want to skip it if you dislike bus rides or prefer to set your own pace. The schedule is organized around six stops, so you cannot decide to spend an hour at your favorite sculpture and shorten another visit. The available feedback says the tour runs on time and does not feel rushed, but the fixed schedule remains part of the experience.

Art lovers should also set realistic expectations. The tour introduces the sculptures, but it may not provide a detailed lecture on Dambo’s artistic process or the symbolism of every figure. If that is important to you, prepare a few questions and use the visit time well.

You should also be comfortable walking outdoors in fields and remote areas. The supplied information does not give a full accessibility description, so contact the provider before booking if you need specific assistance.

Booking details that matter

The tour lasts four hours and runs in English with a live guide. The start time depends on availability, so check the schedule before building the rest of your day around it.

You meet at CPH Tours & Tickets, about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, and food and drinks are your responsibility.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available, which is useful if you are still arranging your Copenhagen plans.

The experience has a 4.8 rating from 23 reviews, with especially strong praise for organization, transport, timing, and the fun of discovering the sculptures. The clearest criticism is the wish for more information about Thomas Dambo, the individual works, and Denmark during the bus rides.

Should you book the Six Forgotten Giants Tour?

Book it if you want an easy, cheerful half-day outside Copenhagen and do not want to organize six remote sculpture stops yourself. The bus, short walks, central meeting point, and full six-giant route give you a practical way to see the project in one outing.

Skip it if $135 feels too high for four hours, if you want a serious art seminar, or if you would rather explore independently by car. For most visitors seeking something unusual, the strongest reason to go is simple: you get playful public art, Danish countryside, and a well-managed route in a single afternoon.

FAQ

Where does the Six Forgotten Giants tour start?

The tour starts at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, located about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts four hours, including bus travel between the six sculptures and the return to Copenhagen.

Which sculptures do you visit?

The route visits Sleeping Louis, Hill Top Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Friendly Teddy.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Bus transportation between the meeting point and the sculpture locations is included.

Is a guide included?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. The route includes a short break at Spisestedet Mosen, lasting about 10 minutes.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You must make your own way to the centrally located CPH Tours & Tickets office.

Can you cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.