The Six Forgotten Giants Trolls Hunt with Minibus

Trolls hide in Copenhagen’s outer suburbs. This half-day outing takes you to all six of Thomas Dambo’s original wooden giants, combining outdoor art, short walks, and countryside views that most city visitors miss. I especially like the small minibus group, capped at eight people, and the chance to crawl into or sit on several of the sculptures rather than simply photograph them from a path.

I also like the relaxed rhythm. The drive between most stops takes only five to ten minutes, while each troll gets about 30 minutes. The main drawback is value: at $129.59 per person, you are paying for transport and guiding rather than admission, since all six sites are free. If you already have a car, you can visit the sculptures on your own for much less.

Six details that make this troll hunt different

• Six giant wooden sculptures in one morning: You visit Hill Top Trine, Sleeping Louis, Oscar under the Bridge, Little Tilde, Teddy Friendly, and Thomas on the Mountain.
• A true small-group outing: The minibus carries no more than eight people, making the ride more personal and easy to manage.
• Outdoor art with a playful purpose: You can crawl into a giant’s hands or mouth, sit on long legs, and cross a stream with Teddy Friendly.
• Short but real walks: Most sculptures are around 10 minutes from the parking area, with some walks taking 10 to 15 minutes each way.
• A break from central Copenhagen: The tour reaches Hvidovre, Rødovre, Ishøj, Vallensbæk, Taastrup, and Albertslund, with nature preserves, lakes, hills, and suburban green space along the way.
• Comfortable transport: The minibus has air conditioning and Wi-Fi, according to tour details and recent experiences.

Why these six trolls are worth your morning

Thomas Dambo’s sculptures are not polished bronze figures placed behind a barrier. They are huge, rough wooden characters built into parks, hills, wooded areas, lakesides, and other ordinary places around Copenhagen.

That setting is the point. You do not simply arrive, take a picture, and leave. You walk through a patch of nature, search for the sculpture, and often discover the troll from a distance before reaching it. The scale makes the art playful, but the reclaimed materials give it a handmade, local feel.

The six sculptures are part of Dambo’s wider troll project, which places giant figures around the world. This tour focuses on the original six outside Copenhagen. You get a useful introduction to the artist, the construction methods, and the people connected with the work. The guide may also explain details such as the volunteers who helped build the sculptures and the local materials used in them.

I like that the experience works for more than one kind of visitor. Children can treat it as a real-life treasure hunt. Adults can focus on the woodwork, the settings, and the environmental message. Photographers get unusual subjects, while anyone who needs a break from museums can spend a morning outdoors.

Leaving central Copenhagen at 10:00 am

The meeting point is CPH Tours & Tickets at Colbjørnsensgade 15, near public transportation. The scheduled start is 10:00 am, and the activity returns to the same spot after roughly four hours.

The minibus is a major part of the value. You do not need to work out six separate destinations, search for parking, or keep checking a map while driving through the suburbs. With a maximum of eight people, the vehicle should feel more like a shared excursion than a large coach tour.

The drive itself is not dead time. You pass from the city center toward suburban districts and open green areas, and the guide can provide local context along the way. Guides named in the experiences include Vinod, Vino, and the owner of the company, who sometimes drives the minibus himself. Vinod in particular is praised for making the tour both fun and informative.

Most drives between sculptures take only five to ten minutes. That keeps the morning moving without making you feel rushed. You can expect roughly 30 minutes at each site, although the exact timing depends on walking conditions, group pace, and how long people want to take photographs.

Hill Top Trine in Hvidovre

The first stop is Hill Top Trine, sitting on a small hill in Hvidovre. The sculpture overlooks Avedøresletten, giving you an immediate sense that this is more than a statue-spotting trip.

One of the best features is the chance to crawl into Trine’s palms. That makes the first stop interactive and gives you a fun photo that is hard to reproduce with an ordinary monument. The hill also provides a viewpoint over the surrounding open area.

This is a good warm-up because you begin with a wide view and a clear sense of scale. The one thing to remember is that the tour is outdoors from the start, so wind, sun, or wet ground can affect your comfort.

Trine’s name has a personal connection. She is named after one of the volunteers who worked on another of the hidden giants. Details like this help turn the sculptures from oversized props into community projects with real people behind them.

Sleeping Louis in Rødovre

Sleeping Louis rests on a wooded hill in a quiet part of Rødovre. Compared with Hill Top Trine, this stop feels more enclosed by trees and nature.

The playful feature here is Louis’s wide-open mouth. You can crawl inside, sit, play, or even lie down there. For children, this may be the most memorable stop. For adults, it shows how Dambo designs the sculptures to be entered and used rather than viewed at a distance.

The setting also changes the mood. Louis is not placed on a grand plaza. He is taking a nap among trees, making the search feel like a small discovery. You might need to walk along an uneven or sloping path to reach him, so sturdy shoes are more useful than fashionable ones.

Allow enough time for photographs. A person standing inside the mouth gives the sculpture a sense of scale, and the surrounding trees offer a softer background than a city street.

Oscar under the Bridge in Ishøj

The Ishøj sculpture is made from scrapwood taken from a demolished watermill and broken pallets from local industries. Its materials are part of the story, not just a construction detail.

This stop shows the practical side of Dambo’s work. Reused wood gives the troll a rough texture and a distinct character, while the location under or near a bridge adds an urban edge to the wider nature-focused route.

The sculpture is named after an artist from Chile who visited Dambo and helped with the work while it was being built. That connection adds an international note to a project rooted in local communities and discarded materials.

The walk here may be fairly easy, but you should still expect a short approach from the parking area. The tour is not a drop-off-at-the-statue experience. Part of the fun is moving through the area and finding the giant at the end.

Little Tilde beside Vallensbæk Mose

Little Tilde is in Vallensbæk Mose, an area known for wild nature and animal life. Unlike the sculptures you can enter or climb around, Tilde is positioned across a small lake, watching through the trees.

This is the most distant viewing experience of the six. You may catch only a glimpse at first, then see more of the figure as you move to a better position. The distance makes the search feel more like spotting a creature in the woods.

You should not expect the same close-up interaction here as at Sleeping Louis or Hill Top Trine. That is a limitation if you want to touch every sculpture, but it also gives the collection variety. Little Tilde feels less like a playground and more like a giant woodland character keeping watch.

Bring your phone or camera, but do not rely only on a wide-angle shot. The trees, water, and distance are part of the composition. On a sunny day, this can be one of the prettiest stops, though cloudy or wet weather may make the view less clear.

Teddy Friendly near Taastrup

Teddy Friendly is built from local scrapwood, including cutoffs from trees that were cut down nearby. His wood forms part of his fur, giving the sculpture a chunky, textured look.

Teddy stands by a stream at a lake and holds out a hand to help people cross. This is another sculpture that encourages you to interact with the setting. Instead of looking at Teddy from a marked viewing area, you can use the figure as part of the route across the water.

Take care here if the ground is wet. The tour information describes the walks as generally manageable, but one hill can be more difficult in poor weather, and outdoor paths can change with conditions. Comfortable shoes with a decent grip are a sensible choice.

Teddy also makes a good family stop because the action is easy to understand. The troll is not simply sitting in the woods. He is helping people get across, which gives the sculpture a friendly role and explains his name without much interpretation.

Thomas on the Mountain in Albertslund

The final sculpture is Thomas on the Mountain, perched on top of a hill in Albertslund. From here, you get a view over the municipality, and the troll’s long legs provide a place to sit with friends.

This is a fitting final stop because it combines the main pleasures of the tour: a large wooden figure, a hilltop position, and a chance to pause outdoors. After five earlier stops, the view also gives you a natural moment to look back over the morning.

The climb is the detail to watch. Most walks are described as easy, but the tour includes hills, and one site can be more challenging in poor weather. If you walk slowly or need level paths, ask about current conditions before booking.

For everyone else, the hill adds just enough effort to make the final viewpoint feel earned. You can sit on the giant’s legs, take photographs, and enjoy the sense that the sculptures belong to their surroundings.

What the four-hour schedule really feels like

The advertised duration is about four hours, but the actual experience can run closer to four or five hours depending on driving, walking, and group pace. A typical morning runs from 10:00 am to around 2:00 pm.

Six stops at about 30 minutes each already account for three hours. The remaining time covers the minibus journeys and walks. Most drives are short, but the approach to each troll can add around 10 minutes, with some locations taking 10 to 15 minutes each way.

That means you should not think of this as six quick roadside photo stops. You are outside for much of the morning, and one account describes a bathroom break between the sculptures. Since the provided tour details do not promise a fixed restroom stop, it is wise to use facilities before departure and ask the guide about the plan.

The pace is one of the strongest parts of the outing. You get enough time to explore and take pictures, yet the short transfers prevent the day from dragging. You are unlikely to feel rushed at every sculpture, but you should be ready to keep moving.

Price, comfort, and the question of value

At $129.59 per person, this is not a cheap way to see free public art. If you rent a car, use a map, and plan your own route, you can reduce the transport cost and spend as long as you like at each site.

The tour earns part of its price through convenience. You get private transportation, all fees and taxes, a driver-guide, and a planned route to six separate places. The minibus saves you from navigating the outer suburbs, and the small group means you can ask questions without competing with 40 other people.

The guide is another reason to consider paying for the tour. Vinod and Vino are praised for their humor, organization, and explanations of the trolls and their artist. That personal context is difficult to get from a map alone.

The value is strongest for you if you do not have a car, have only one morning available, or prefer an organized outing. The value is weaker if you already have transportation and enjoy planning independent day trips. At this price, you should book it for the guide and ease, not because the sculptures charge admission.

What to bring for a better morning

You will be outside for around three and a half hours, with walking at every site. Pack water, since it is not provided on the minibus. A small store is available before departure if you need to buy a drink.

Sunscreen matters even on a mild day. Several stops are in open areas, and you can spend more time outside than expected while taking photographs or waiting for others to finish exploring.

Wear comfortable walking shoes. The paths are generally manageable, but there are hills, wooded routes, and at least one location that can become harder in bad weather. Dress for changing Danish conditions rather than relying on the forecast alone.

A phone or camera is essential for most people. The sculptures are large, playful, and built for unusual angles. Wi-Fi is available on the minibus, and air conditioning adds comfort during the transfers.

Who should book this troll hunt

I would recommend it to families, couples, solo visitors, and small groups of friends who want something more playful than a standard city tour. It is also a smart choice if you have already seen central Copenhagen and want a morning in the surrounding green areas.

Art lovers will appreciate the recycled wood and the way each sculpture fits its location. Nature lovers will enjoy the lakes, trees, streams, and open views. Children will have plenty to explore, especially at Sleeping Louis and Teddy Friendly.

You should think twice if you have limited or restricted mobility. Some locations require a 10 to 15 minute walk each way, and the route includes hills and outdoor ground. The tour can also be less appealing if rain is likely, since the experience depends heavily on walking and viewing sculptures outside.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. If poor weather cancels the outing, you can receive a different date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached.

FAQ

Where does the Six Forgotten Giants tour start?

It starts at CPH Tours & Tickets, Colbjørnsensgade 15, 1652 København, Denmark. The meeting point is near public transportation.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 am.

How long does the experience last?

It lasts approximately four hours, although the actual outing may take four to five hours depending on driving, walking, and group pace.

How many people can join the minibus?

The activity has a maximum of eight participants.

Are admission fees included?

Yes. All fees and taxes are included, and each troll site has no admission charge.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. Bring water or buy a drink before departure, since water is not provided on the minibus.

Is the tour suitable for someone with restricted mobility?

The tour may not be suitable for someone with limited or restricted mobility. Some sculptures require walks of about 10 to 15 minutes each way, and some locations include hills or outdoor paths.

Should you book the Six Forgotten Giants?

Book this tour if you want an easy way to reach all six sculptures without renting a car, and if you enjoy a mix of art, fresh air, local stories, and light walking. The small group, comfortable minibus, and strong guide feedback make it a pleasant use of half a day.

Skip it if you already have a car and prefer to explore independently. The $129.59 price is mainly paying for transport, planning, and the guide, since the troll sites are free.

For most visitors with limited time in Copenhagen, I think the organized route is the sensible choice. Bring water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes, then treat the morning as an outdoor art hunt rather than a simple sightseeing drive.