Copenhagen: Six Forgotten Giant Sculptures Tour by Bus

Troll hunting makes a fine Copenhagen escape. This four-hour outing takes you beyond the city to find six giant wooden sculptures by artist Thomas Dambo, each tucked into a different corner of western Zealand. I like the playful treasure-hunt feel, and I like that the project brings art into fields, woods, and overlooked outdoor spaces instead of keeping it behind museum walls. The main drawback is the price: at $135 per person, you are paying for convenience and transport more than a long guided art talk.

The tour also solves a real problem. Finding all six sculptures by rental car would take planning, local driving, and plenty of time searching for remote paths. You ride a bus from central Copenhagen, make the shortest practical walks to the trolls, and return without worrying about directions. Still, expect several bus rides and outdoor walking, not six large museum visits.

Six large wooden trolls, one unusual day out

• You visit all six Forgotten Giants in one trip: Sleeping Louis, Hill Top Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Friendly Teddy.
• The sculptures use scrap wood: Thomas Dambo and local volunteers built the project from recycled materials, giving each troll a rough, handmade character.
• The settings are part of the attraction: The sculptures sit in remote nature spots around Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup.
• The bus makes the route practical: The tour links six scattered sites that would be awkward to visit independently.
• You get an English-speaking guide: The guide handles the route and the stops, with Vinod specifically praised for keeping one departure organized and on time.
• Bring your own refreshment: Food and drinks are not included, although the bus has reportedly offered Wi-Fi, charging points, and space for snacks.

Why Thomas Dambo’s trolls are worth seeing

Thomas Dambo is known for making large sculptures from reused materials, including scrap wood, plastic, and cardboard. The Forgotten Giants project uses local volunteers and recycled timber to create art that feels playful without being polished in the usual gallery sense.

The idea is simple but effective. Put oversized figures in places most people would pass by, then give people a reason to search for them. You are not just looking at a sculpture. You are walking through a field or wooded area, following the route, and waiting for a giant face or body to appear.

That setting changes the mood. In a museum, you examine a work from a few feet away. Here, the sculpture becomes part of the place around it. You see how the wood sits among trees, grass, paths, and open ground. The countryside around Copenhagen gets equal billing with the art.

I also like the community angle. Local volunteers helped make the sculptures, and the project was designed to bring art outside the city center. It gives international visitors a side of Denmark that can be missed on a standard Copenhagen itinerary.

Starting near Copenhagen Central Station

The day begins at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. That is a practical meeting point, especially if you are staying in the center or arriving by train.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the office on your own. The tradeoff is a central start and a clear meeting place. You are not spending the first part of the morning collecting people from scattered hotels.

The bus ride out takes about 30 minutes before the first sculpture. That first stretch gives you time to settle in, but the tour has a fair amount of driving overall. The route covers six municipalities west of Copenhagen, so the bus is not just a bonus. It is what makes the full route possible in one outing.

A recent departure led by Vinod was praised for running promptly and keeping the day organized. That matters here. With six stops and several road transfers, poor timing could easily turn the hunt into a rushed checklist.

Sleeping Louis starts the search

Sleeping Louis is the first of the six Forgotten Giants on the route. The planned visit lasts about 15 minutes, following the initial bus ride.

Starting with a sculpture called Sleeping Louis sets the right tone. The first stop introduces the project as an outdoor hunt rather than a formal art tour. You get your first look at Dambo’s use of scrap wood, then begin to understand how each sculpture is placed away from the usual sightseeing circuit.

The short stop is useful for getting familiar with the format. You leave the bus, walk to the sculpture, look around the setting, and return for the next transfer. If you want long, quiet time with each piece, 15 minutes may feel brief. If your goal is to see all six in one half-day, the pace is sensible.

Hill Top Trine and the pleasure of the setting

After about 15 minutes on the bus, you reach Hill Top Trine for a visit of roughly 20 minutes. The name itself points to the importance of location. These sculptures are not simply placed beside a city road for easy viewing. They are part of a search.

This is where the tour’s outdoor character becomes clearer. You may find yourself paying as much attention to the path and surrounding nature as to the sculpture. That is the point of the project: to send people into places that might otherwise receive little notice.

The bus lets you see several different areas around Copenhagen without arranging separate transport. You will not get a long walk at every stop, but the route does require leaving the vehicle and crossing outdoor ground. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for fields and uneven paths.

Oscar Under The Bridge is the longest stop

The next ride takes about 20 minutes, followed by a visit of around 40 minutes at Oscar Under The Bridge. This is the longest early stop and gives you more time to take in both the sculpture and its surroundings.

Oscar’s location sounds different from the hilltop and open nature settings. The bridge is not just part of the name. It helps create the sense that the giant has been placed in an unexpected corner of ordinary infrastructure.

I would use this stop to slow down. Take a proper look at the construction, the scrap wood, and the way the sculpture occupies the space. It is also a good point for photographs because the surroundings help explain the work better than a close-up portrait alone.

The stop may feel generous compared with Sleeping Louis. That variety is useful. Some sculptures are quick discoveries, while others deserve more time because the setting has a stronger role in the experience.

A short break at Spisestedet Mosen

After Oscar Under The Bridge, the bus continues for about 15 minutes to Spisestedet Mosen. The break lasts approximately 10 minutes.

This is a short pause, not a full meal stop. Food and drinks are not included, so do not count on lunch being provided as part of the tour. The practical move is to bring a snack and water with you.

A bus tour with six outdoor stops benefits from even a brief reset. You can use the pause to sit down, gather your belongings, and prepare for the second half. If you need a long meal break, though, this itinerary does not offer one.

Little Tilde brings the project back to its playful side

Little Tilde comes next, after about 15 minutes of driving. The visit is planned for around 20 minutes.

The name captures what makes the project accessible. You do not need an art degree or much background in modern sculpture to enjoy a giant figure hidden in nature. The scale is immediate, the materials are easy to understand, and the search gives the stop a small sense of adventure.

This is also a good place to consider the environmental message. Dambo’s work uses discarded materials, but the sculptures are not presented as stern environmental statements. They are playful objects that encourage you to notice reuse, local participation, and outdoor spaces at the same time.

Thomas on the Mountain gets the longest look

The bus then continues for about 20 minutes to Thomas on the Mountain. The scheduled visit lasts around 40 minutes, tying Oscar Under The Bridge for the longest stop.

A longer visit makes sense for a sculpture with a larger setting. You have time to see the work from different angles, walk around it, and take in the surrounding area without immediately being called back to the bus.

This stop also gives the guide more room to explain the project, though the amount of artistic background may depend on who leads your departure. One useful improvement would be more information about Dambo, the meaning of each piece, and the story behind the materials. The route is well organized, but the bus time could also be used for more information about Copenhagen and Denmark.

That is an important distinction. If you want a strong art lecture, this may feel light. If you want an unusual outing with sculptures, nature, and simple explanations, the balance works better.

Friendly Teddy closes the six-troll circuit

The final sculpture is Friendly Teddy, also called Friendly Teddy by Thomas Dambo number 14. You have about 20 minutes at the site before a 30-minute ride back to the Copenhagen office.

Ending with a friendly, approachable figure keeps the mood light. By this point, you have seen how the same basic idea changes with each location. The six trolls are connected by materials and style, but the surrounding places keep the stops from feeling identical.

You may also appreciate the rhythm of the day by this stage. Each sculpture offers a short outdoor walk and a photo opportunity, then the bus carries you to a new part of the western Copenhagen area. It is a good format for people who enjoy variety and do not want to spend a full day on one attraction.

What the bus adds to the $135 price

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. The value depends on how much you care about seeing all six sculptures without organizing the route yourself.

The price includes the guide and bus transportation. It does not include food, drinks, or hotel transfers. You are paying for a direct route through six municipalities, the driving between remote locations, and the time saved by not having to find each sculpture yourself.

For an independent visitor with a rental car, the tour may seem expensive. You would have more freedom and could stay longer at each sculpture. But you would also need to locate all six sites, plan the roads, and manage parking and walks in unfamiliar areas.

For a short Copenhagen visit, the calculation changes. A four-hour outing gives you a clear half-day away from the city without using a full day. If you value convenience, the price is easier to justify. If you mainly want one or two trolls, you may be better off choosing a simpler outing.

The transport itself has earned especially strong marks. One recent departure had a bus with Wi-Fi and charging points, and snacks could be brought aboard. Those details matter because the route includes several transfers. A comfortable ride makes the driving less of a burden.

Timing, walking, and what to bring

The advertised duration is four hours, with starting times depending on availability. The route includes bus rides of roughly 15 to 30 minutes and outdoor visits ranging from 15 to 40 minutes.

You should plan for repeated walks between the bus and the sculptures. The exact distance is not specified, but the sites are described as remote and reached through fields and outdoor areas. Comfortable shoes are the sensible choice.

Bring:

• Water and a snack, since food and drinks are not included
• Shoes suitable for outdoor paths and fields
• A phone or camera for the sculptures and their settings
• A light layer for changing outdoor conditions

The tour is conducted in English. The guide leads the route and provides the structure, but the amount of explanation about each sculpture can vary. If you are curious about Dambo’s other recycled works, you can ask about pieces such as Hector Protector and Troels The Troll.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those terms make the booking less rigid if your Copenhagen plans are still shifting.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to families, couples, art fans, and anyone who likes a little searching built into sightseeing. The giant figures are easy to enjoy, and the route gives you a different view of the area outside central Copenhagen.

It also suits visitors who want Danish nature without committing to a full countryside day. You get open-air stops and short walks, then return to the city the same day.

The tour is less suitable if you dislike bus time or want a slow, detailed examination of every sculpture. The route is efficient, and the schedule keeps moving. It is also not the right choice if you expect lunch, hotel pickup, or a formal museum-style talk.

Families should appreciate the hunt, although the supplied information does not specify children’s pricing or age limits. Ask the provider directly if those details affect your plans.

Should you book the six giants tour?

Book it if you want to see all six Forgotten Giants, prefer not to drive around western Copenhagen, and enjoy outdoor art with a playful edge. The strongest reasons are the organized route, the highly praised transport, and the chance to reach remote nature spots that are awkward to connect independently.

Skip it if $135 feels high for a half-day or if you would rather spend your time inside Copenhagen’s museums and historic center. You should also pass if short outdoor walks and repeated bus transfers sound tiring.

For the right person, this is a clever use of four hours. You get six unusual sculptures, a look at less familiar parts of Zealand, and a simple treasure hunt that makes the countryside feel part of the attraction.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, located about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station.

How long does the tour last?

The tour duration is four hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

How many sculptures will I visit?

You will visit six Forgotten Giants sculptures by Thomas Dambo.

Which sculptures are included?

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

Does the tour include transportation?

Yes. Bus transportation between Copenhagen and the sculpture sites is included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You meet at the central CPH Tours & Tickets office.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. The itinerary includes a short break at Spisestedet Mosen.

Do I need to walk outdoors?

Yes. The sculptures are in remote areas, and the experience includes walking through outdoor areas and fields to reach them.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. The booking option allows you to reserve your place and pay later.