The Six Forgotten Giants Trolls Hunt with Minibus

The best thing about this tour is that it turns an ordinary suburban outing into a playful art hunt. You leave Copenhagen by minibus and track down six huge wooden trolls, each placed in a different patch of nature around the western suburbs. Thomas Dambo’s sculptures are not gallery pieces behind ropes. You can climb into hands, sit between long legs, and peer into a giant’s mouth.

I like the small group, capped at eight, and the comfortable minibus, which keeps the morning easy between stops. I also like the mix of art, fresh air, and local scenery. The main catch is the price: at $129.59 per person, you are paying for transport and guidance rather than admission, since every troll is free to visit. You will also need comfortable shoes, water, and enough mobility for several walks.

Key points to know before you book

• Six trolls in about four hours: You visit all six sculptures, with roughly 30 minutes at each site.
• A small-group minibus tour: The vehicle holds no more than eight participants, making the trip more personal than a large coach outing.
• Short drives between sites: Most transfers take about 5 to 10 minutes, so the day does not feel like one long road trip.
• Nature is part of the attraction: The trolls sit by lakes, streams, wooded hills, open fields, and wetland paths.
• Expect real walking: Some sculptures are reached after 10 to 15 minutes on foot, and one hill may be harder in poor weather.
• Best for art lovers without a car: The tour removes the need to map six scattered locations yourself, but a rental car may be cheaper for a group.

Why these six trolls are worth leaving Copenhagen for

Copenhagen has plenty of polished sights, but the Six Forgotten Giants project gives you a different way to see the city’s edge. The sculptures are spread across Hvidovre, Rødovre, Ishøj, Vallensbæk, Taastrup, and Albertslund. You spend the morning moving through places most short city breaks skip.

That is the point. These are not six identical photo stops. Each giant has a different setting and personality, and each is made from wood, including reused or locally sourced material. The art encourages you to touch, climb, sit, and look around. It feels closer to a walk in a public park than a museum visit.

The route also gives you a picture of Copenhagen beyond the center. You see open ground, water, trees, paths, and suburban nature reserves. On a clear day, the ride between stops is part of the pleasure. The minibus keeps the travel time short, while your guide fills in the gaps with stories about the sculptures and their creator.

Guides named Vinod or Vino have led this outing, and the strongest part of the guiding is the personal explanation at each troll. Vinod, in particular, is described as combining humor with a strong grasp of the sculptures and the area. The guide walks with you to the statues rather than simply dropping you at a parking area.

Hill Top Trine: a palm-sized viewpoint in Hvidovre

Your first stop is Hill Top Trine in Hvidovre. She rests on a small hill and gives the tour an immediate sense of scale. The fun detail is that you can crawl into the palms of her hands, turning a giant sculpture into a lookout point.

From here, you get a view over Avedøresletten. The setting is open, and the hill makes this stop feel more exposed than several of the wooded locations later in the morning. It is a good first introduction because you can see how Dambo uses the land around each sculpture, not just the wood itself.

Trine is named after one of the volunteers who worked on another hidden giant. That small detail helps explain the project’s community spirit. These sculptures are not simply dropped into a park as decoration. Their names and construction connect them to the people and materials around them.

Plan on about 30 minutes here. That is enough time for photographs, a look across the open area, and a chance to climb into the sculpture if conditions allow. The hill may be slippery or awkward in wet weather, so shoes with a steady sole are useful from the first stop.

Sleeping Louis and the giant mouth in Rødovre

Sleeping Louis is tucked into a wooded hill in Rødovre. The atmosphere changes quickly from open views to trees and shelter. Louis is taking a nap, and his wide-open mouth is the feature everyone remembers.

You can crawl inside the mouth and even sit or lie there. That makes this one of the most playful stops, especially if you enjoy photographs that show the scale of the sculpture. It is also a good example of why this tour works better in person than in a picture. A photograph shows the troll, but being beside the face gives you a much clearer sense of its size.

The setting is described as a secret place surrounded by nature, though you should not expect a difficult wilderness hike. The walk to the trolls is generally manageable, with some sites reached within about 10 minutes of the parking area. Still, the surface and weather can affect how easy the path feels.

You get around 30 minutes here. If you prefer quiet observation to climbing into the sculptures, you can use the time to study the rough wood, the construction marks, and the way Louis blends into the trees.

Oscar under the bridge in Ishøj

The Ishøj stop brings you to the troll known as Oscar Under the Bridge. The name points to the setting, which is more enclosed and built around a bridge than the open hilltop sites.

This sculpture has a useful story behind its materials. It was made from scrapwood taken from a demolished watermill and broken pallets from local industries. That reuse is central to Dambo’s work. The rough timber is not a flaw to overlook. It is part of the message and part of the sculpture’s character.

Oscar is named after a Chilean artist who visited Thomas Dambo and helped him while the sculpture was being built. That connection gives the stop an international touch, even though the materials came from local sources.

Allow about half an hour here. The bridge and surrounding structure give you different angles for photographs, and the guide can explain how discarded wood became a large public artwork. This stop may feel less open than the lakes and hills, but that change keeps the route from becoming repetitive.

Little Tilde watching from Vallensbæk Mose

Little Tilde sits in Vallensbæk Mose, an area known for wild plants, open water, and animal life. The approach is part of the experience because Tilde watches from across a small lake. You may first catch only a glimpse of her through the trees.

This is one of the less hands-on stops. You do not simply walk up and climb inside the sculpture. Instead, you see her at a distance, which makes the search feel more like a real troll hunt. The trees and water also create one of the prettiest settings on the route.

That distance is worth keeping in mind. If you want every stop to offer the same close contact as Sleeping Louis or Hill Top Trine, Little Tilde may feel quieter. I see the difference as a strength, because it gives the tour a pause and asks you to look carefully.

The half-hour here should give you time to reach the viewing point, take photographs across the lake, and enjoy the natural setting. Bring water and sunscreen. You can spend much of the tour outside, and summer sun can catch you even when the air feels mild.

Teddy Friendly at the stream in Taastrup

Teddy Friendly is built from local scrapwood, including pieces from trees cut down nearby. His wood becomes part of his fur, giving the sculpture a rough, layered appearance.

Teddy stands beside a stream and reaches out a hand to help people cross. This is another interactive stop, but the interaction comes from the setting as much as from the figure. You look at the way the giant relates to the water and path rather than viewing him as an object placed on a flat lawn.

The stream also adds a little movement to the stop. After several hills, woods, and lake views, water at your feet changes the feel again. This variety is what makes the six-stop route hold your attention.

You have about 30 minutes. The guide may point out construction details or explain the use of local wood, while you take photographs and explore the immediate area. As always, be sensible near water and on uneven ground.

Thomas on the Mountain in Albertslund

The final giant is Thomas on the Mountain in Albertslund. He has found a hilltop place to rest, with a view across the municipality. His long legs are made for sitting, so this is a natural place to pause at the end of the route.

This final stop brings together several themes from the morning: a large recycled-wood figure, a broad view, and a setting that invites you to stay for a while. You can sit with friends between the long legs and look out across Albertslund.

The climb is one of the points to take seriously. Most walks are easy to moderate, but there is some uphill walking, and one location can be more difficult in wet weather. If your mobility is limited, this may not be the right excursion. The tour involves walking at every stop, and one person specifically estimated 10 to 15 minutes each way at some locations.

After around 30 minutes, you return to the minibus for the ride back to the Copenhagen meeting point. The advertised duration is about four hours, though the complete outing can run closer to four or five hours depending on walking and timing.

What the minibus adds to the morning

The meeting point is CPH Tours & Tickets at Colbjørnsensgade 15, near public transport. The start time is 10:00 a.m., and the tour ends back at the same place. That simple arrangement works well if you are staying in central Copenhagen and do not want to arrange several suburban connections.

The vehicle is a major part of the value. The group is limited to eight, and the minibus has been described as clean, air-conditioned, and equipped with Wi-Fi. You will not spend long stretches on the road, since most drives between trolls take only 5 to 10 minutes.

A small vehicle also makes it easier to keep the tour at a relaxed pace. You are not trying to move a large crowd through a path or gather everyone after each photograph. The guide can walk with the group and explain the sculpture in a more direct way.

Do not expect food to be supplied. Lunch is not included, and water is not provided onboard. Buy a drink before departure or bring one with you. With about three and a half hours outside the minibus, sunscreen and water are practical basics, not extras.

Is $129.59 a fair price?

At $129.59 per person, this is not a cheap way to see free public art. If you have a rental car, a phone map, and a full day to plan the route, you could likely visit the sculptures independently for less. That is the clearest weakness of the tour.

The price makes more sense if you do not have a car, do not want to navigate several suburban locations, or prefer a guide to handle the route. You are paying for private transportation, all fees and taxes, a small group, and the convenience of seeing all six giants in one morning.

For a solo visitor or couple, the organized trip may be easier than arranging a rental car. For a larger group that can split the cost of a vehicle, self-driving may offer better value. The tour is also a good fit if you care about the stories behind the materials, names, and locations, not just checking off six statues.

Who should book the troll hunt?

I would choose this tour if you want a break from museums and city streets, or if you enjoy public art with a playful edge. Families can make good use of the climbing and photo opportunities, while solo visitors benefit from the small group and guided transport.

It also suits anyone who likes a gentle active outing. The walks are not described as terribly difficult, but you should be ready to walk on paths and hills for much of the morning. Wear comfortable shoes and carry water.

I would think twice if you have restricted mobility, dislike outdoor weather, or want a tightly timed sightseeing experience with no walking between stops. The tour depends on decent weather and may be canceled if conditions are poor. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, so a cancellation is possible if that number is not reached.

Should you book it?

Book it if you want an easy, social way to see six unusual sculptures outside Copenhagen and you value a guide, a small group, and door-to-door transport. The strongest parts are the variety of settings, the chance to interact with several trolls, and the simple minibus logistics.

Skip it if you have your own car and are focused mainly on saving money. You can also skip it if long periods outdoors or 10 to 15 minute walks are not comfortable for you. For everyone else, this is a cheerful half-day outing with enough art, nature, and oddball charm to make the price easier to justify.

FAQ

Where does the Six Forgotten Giants tour begin?

It begins at CPH Tours & Tickets, Colbjørnsensgade 15, 1652 København, Denmark. The tour starts at 10:00 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The minibus returns you to the same meeting point in Copenhagen at the end of the activity.

How long does the tour last?

The listed duration is approximately four hours. Allowing for driving and walking, the full outing may take four to five hours.

How many people can join the minibus?

The tour has a maximum of eight participants.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, and water is not provided onboard. Bring water or buy some before departure.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.