Copenhagen: Six Forgotten Giant Sculptures Tour by Bus

The fun starts when the Copenhagen city streets give way to fields, paths, and giant wooden figures hiding in plain sight. Thomas Dambo’s six Forgotten Giants were built from scrap wood with local help, then placed in overlooked corners of the western suburbs.

I like two things here: the route makes remote sculptures easy to reach, and each stop gives you a reason to get out and walk a little. You also get a fresh look at Danish nature beyond the center. The catch is the price, $135, which feels high if you only want a quick photo with trolls.

• Six large scrap-wood sculptures: Find Sleeping Louis, Hill Top Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Friendly Teddy.
• A practical bus route: The coach connects sites in Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup.
• Short walks in open country: Each sculpture sits away from the main city, so expect fields, paths, and nature rather than pavement all the way.
• A guide-led treasure hunt: The experience is designed around searching for the giants, not simply stepping off a bus at six roadside stops.
• Four hours from central Copenhagen: Meet close to Copenhagen Central Station and return to the same office.
• Useful onboard comforts: A recent departure had Wi-Fi and phone chargers, and you can bring snacks for the ride.

Why these six giants make a good Copenhagen side trip

Copenhagen is easy to enjoy on foot, by bike, or from a canal boat. This tour gives you something different: a half-day in the western municipalities, where public art appears beside water, fields, wooded paths, and forgotten corners.

The sculptures were made from scrap wood, with help from local volunteers. That matters. These are not polished museum pieces behind a rope. Their rough boards, oversized bodies, and playful names fit the places where they were built.

Thomas Dambo’s larger project is about bringing art outside the museum. You do not need to know much about contemporary art to enjoy it. The basic pleasure is direct: you search, spot a huge wooden figure, and wonder how you missed it from the road.

I also like the way the tour changes your sense of Copenhagen. The city center can make Denmark feel compact and urban. Out here, you see a quieter side of Zealand, with open ground and small nature areas that most short-term visitors would never reach on their own.

Meeting near Copenhagen Central Station

The tour begins at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. That is a useful meeting point if you are staying in the center or arriving by train. You do not need to arrange hotel pickup, because the tour starts and ends at the office.

The bus ride to the first area takes about 30 minutes. From there, the day follows a steady pattern: ride, walk, find a giant, take photos, hear about the stop, then return to the coach.

That format keeps the day organized. Guide Vinod was praised for running the departure neatly and keeping the group on schedule without making it feel hurried. The bus also had Wi-Fi and chargers on at least one departure, a small but welcome detail when you are spending a good part of four hours on the road.

Food and drinks are not included. You can bring snacks, and there is a short ten-minute break at Spisestedet Mosen. Do not plan on a full meal during this outing.

Sleeping Louis begins the hunt

The first sculpture is Sleeping Louis, reached after the opening bus ride. You get a guided visit of about 15 minutes, enough to look around, take pictures, and begin to understand the scale of the project.

Starting with a sleeping giant sets the tone nicely. The point is not speed. You are looking for a figure that belongs to its surroundings, then getting close enough to notice the wood and construction.

This first stop is also a reminder that the six sculptures are spread across different municipalities. You are not walking from one giant to the next. The bus is essential, and the short visit helps the group stay on course.

Hill Top Trine and the pleasure of the search

After about 15 minutes on the bus, you reach Hill Top Trine. The visit lasts about 20 minutes. The name tells you to expect a location with some change in elevation, but the supplied details do not specify the exact walking conditions, so wear practical shoes for outdoor paths and fields.

This is where the treasure-hunt idea becomes clear. The sculptures are not presented as a neat row of attractions. You leave the bus, follow the route, and uncover the figure in a less obvious setting.

For me, that is a stronger experience than simply viewing large art in a gallery. You remember the walk and the surprise of finding the sculpture. It also makes the scenery part of the visit rather than a backdrop you barely notice.

Oscar Under The Bridge is the longest stop

The coach ride to Oscar Under The Bridge takes about 20 minutes. This stop lasts around 40 minutes, the longest visit on the first half of the route.

The title gives you a useful clue about the setting. Oscar is placed under a bridge, making the location part of the sculpture’s identity. You have more time here to take photos, look at how the figure fits its surroundings, and listen to the guide.

The guide’s role is important at every stop, but especially here. One useful suggestion for improving the outing would be more explanation about Dambo, the meaning of each figure, and the materials used. If you are interested in the artist’s methods, ask questions when there is time.

Dambo has made sculptures from recycled materials beyond wood, including plastic and cardboard. On this tour, the focus is the six wooden giants, but the wider background helps explain why these works feel more inventive than ordinary roadside decorations.

A short pause at Spisestedet Mosen

From Oscar Under The Bridge, the ride to Spisestedet Mosen takes about 15 minutes. The break is only ten minutes, so think of it as a chance to stretch, use the facilities if available, or have a quick snack rather than sit down for a leisurely meal.

That brief pause breaks up the first cluster of stops. The day involves repeated walks and bus rides, so even ten minutes helps. If you need regular time for food, bring something with you and use the coach ride sensibly.

Little Tilde brings you back outside

Little Tilde follows after another bus ride of about 15 minutes. The visit lasts approximately 20 minutes.

By this point, you will understand the rhythm of the tour. Each giant has a different setting, and the pleasure comes from seeing how the sculpture changes the place around it. Little Tilde is another chance to leave the coach and enjoy the open air before the longer stops later in the afternoon.

The walks are part of the appeal, but this is not a hiking tour. The route is designed to keep walking distances short, with the bus doing the hard work between locations. That makes the outing manageable for anyone who can handle several brief outdoor walks, though the description does not give exact distances or accessibility details.

Thomas on the Mountain deserves extra time

Thomas on the Mountain receives about 40 minutes, matching Oscar Under The Bridge as one of the day’s longer visits. The name points to another location where the setting and the sculpture are closely linked.

This stop gives you time to slow down. Instead of rushing from one giant to the next, you can study the rough scrap wood, photograph the figure from different angles, and pay attention to the surrounding nature.

The title also offers a natural opening for the guide to explain Dambo’s work and the local volunteer effort. The sculptures were not simply delivered as finished commercial attractions. They were made with community help and placed to draw people into areas that are often overlooked.

If you want more than photographs, this is a good point to ask about the artist’s approach, the construction, and the choice of location. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide, but the amount of commentary may vary by departure.

Friendly Teddy finishes the sculpture trail

The final giant is Friendly Teddy, also identified as Thomas Dambo’s number 14 sculpture. The visit takes about 20 minutes, followed by a 30-minute bus ride back to central Copenhagen.

Ending with Friendly Teddy keeps the tone light. After several stops, you will have seen six large wooden figures in six different settings, and the final visit gives you one last chance to take pictures before the ride back.

The return trip is not just dead time. It is part of the day’s structure, and the onboard Wi-Fi or chargers can make it easier to check photos, message people, or simply rest. The overall schedule is tight enough to cover all six sites, but the timing has been designed so you are not sprinting away from each sculpture.

What the $135 price really covers

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap add-on. You are paying for a four-hour guided route, coach transportation, and the convenience of reaching six scattered sites without renting a car or working out several local connections.

That convenience has real value. Finding all six giants independently would require route planning across Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup. Some sculptures are in remote areas, and the tour aims to leave you with the shortest practical walk to each one.

I would consider the price fair for visitors who specifically want all six giants in one half-day and do not have a car. It is less compelling if you only want to see one sculpture, prefer a slow day, or already plan to explore the western suburbs independently.

The bus, guide, and route planning do the practical work. Food, drinks, and hotel transfers are extra, so include those costs when planning your day.

Who will enjoy this tour most

This outing suits families, fans of unusual public art, and anyone who wants a break from Copenhagen’s central streets. The treasure-hunt format gives children a clear goal, while the giant figures make the stops easy to remember.

It also suits international visitors who want to see more of Denmark without committing to a full day outside Copenhagen. You get countryside and local nature areas, but you return to the city the same day.

I would choose it if you enjoy:

• Outdoor art with a playful edge
• Short walks rather than a long hike
• A planned route with transport included
• Taking photos in unusual settings
• Seeing parts of Copenhagen’s wider region
• A four-hour activity with a clear start and finish

I would look elsewhere if you want detailed art criticism, a long meal, or a flexible schedule. The tour has a lot to cover, so each stop has a set time.

Practical advice before you go

Meet at the CPH Tours & Tickets office near Copenhagen Central Station. Since there is no hotel pickup, allow enough time to reach the office before departure.

Wear shoes suited to fields and outdoor paths. The sculptures are in remote areas, and the experience includes walking to find them. Exact path conditions are not supplied, so sensible footwear is better than city sandals.

Bring water and a small snack. Food and drinks are not included, and the planned break at Spisestedet Mosen lasts only ten minutes.

Keep your camera ready, but do not let the photo hunt crowd out the setting. The best part of the project is the way the giants sit among ordinary Danish nature spots, bridges, hills, and open spaces.

The tour runs in English. A recent departure was praised for good organization, and guide Vinod was singled out for keeping the outing smooth. Still, if you want extensive background about each sculpture, Dambo’s ideas, or Denmark during the bus rides, ask questions directly.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for your chosen date.

Should you book the six-giant bus tour?

Book it if you want to see all six Forgotten Giants in one organized half-day and value transport over independence. The route turns a scattered art project into an easy Copenhagen side trip, with enough walking to feel outdoors but not so much that the day becomes a hike.

Skip it if $135 feels steep for a playful art outing, or if you would rather spend the same four hours in museums, neighborhoods, or a slower countryside visit. For the right audience, though, this is a memorable way to see a less familiar side of Zealand, one giant wooden troll at a time.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

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

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts four hours, including bus travel, visits to all six sculptures, a short break, and the return to Copenhagen.

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.

Is transportation included?

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

Is a guide included?

Yes. The experience includes a live English-speaking guide. Guide Vinod has led at least one departure.

Is hotel pickup or drop-off provided?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You meet at the central Copenhagen office instead.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. There is a ten-minute break at Spisestedet Mosen, and you can bring snacks.

Can I cancel or pay later?

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