Copenhagen: Six Forgotten Giant Sculptures Tour by Bus

Copenhagen’s Six Forgotten Giants turn a simple bus outing into a giant-sized treasure hunt. Instead of finding art in a gallery, you walk through fields and quiet nature areas around the city, searching for six huge wooden figures made from scrap materials and local volunteer help.

I like two things right away: the tour makes remote sculptures practical to visit, and it gives you a side of Zealand that is easy to miss from central Copenhagen. Guide Vinod has also been praised for keeping the day organized and on time. The catch is that you spend a fair amount of the four hours on the bus, and the tour does not include food or drinks.

Key things to know before you book

• Six sculptures, six different western suburbs: The route reaches Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup.
• Scrap wood becomes public art: Thomas Dambo’s giants were built from recycled wood with help from local volunteers.
• Short walks lead to remote sites: You leave the bus and walk through fields or open nature areas to reach the figures.
• The bus saves serious planning time: Reaching all six alone would mean working out several remote locations and driving between them.
• A four-hour outing from central Copenhagen: Meet near Copenhagen Central Station, then return to the same office.
• Best for art hunters and families: The playful search works well for anyone who wants an unusual half-day outside the city center.

Why these giant trolls make a good Copenhagen side trip

Thomas Dambo created the Forgotten Giants to bring art out of museums and into overlooked parts of the region. That idea shapes the whole experience. You are not simply driven from one famous sight to the next. You are taken to places where a giant figure appears among trees, fields, bridges, and low-key suburban nature areas.

The sculptures are made from scrap wood, which gives them a rough, handmade look. They are not polished monuments. Their size, odd shapes, and names make them easy to enjoy without needing an art degree or a long lecture.

I especially like the treasure-hunt quality. You know there are six figures waiting, but each one is reached in a different setting. The fun comes from spotting the giant and then seeing how it fits into the place around it.

This is also a useful choice if you have already covered Copenhagen’s central sights. The tour shows you the western municipalities of the capital region, including Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup. You get a broader sense of Zealand without arranging a rental car or trying to locate six sculptures on your own.

Starting near Copenhagen Central Station

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

The tour uses a bus or coach for the full route. The drive to the first area takes about 30 minutes, followed by shorter rides between most sculptures. One bus used for the tour had WiFi and charging points, and you can bring snacks aboard. Those small details matter because the road time adds up.

You should think of this as a moving sightseeing day rather than six long hikes. The walking is mainly for getting from the bus to each sculpture and looking around the surrounding area. The route has been planned to keep the walks short, which helps you see all six within four hours.

Still, wear shoes that can handle fields and uneven ground. The sculptures sit in remote outdoor places, not on paved museum floors. The exact condition of the paths may vary with weather.

Sleeping Louis: the first giant sets the tone

The first sculpture is Sleeping Louis, reached after roughly 30 minutes on the bus. You get about 15 minutes here with a guided visit.

Starting with a sleeping giant is a good introduction to the project’s sense of humor. The figure gives you an immediate feel for the scale of the work and the way these sculptures sit apart from ordinary city sights.

Fifteen minutes is not a long stop, but it is enough for photos and a quick look around. The short visit also protects the full route. With six sculptures to cover, the guide needs to keep the group moving.

The first stop helps you understand the basic rhythm: ride, walk, find the giant, take pictures, hear some background, and return to the bus. If you want a slow nature walk at every location, this tour may feel brisk. If you want to see all six in one half-day, the timing makes sense.

Hill Top Trine and the pleasure of the search

After about 15 minutes on the bus, you reach Hill Top Trine. The visit lasts around 20 minutes.

The name hints at the playful way the sculptures interact with their surroundings. The giants are not presented as isolated objects in a formal park. Their placement is part of the experience, and the walk to each one adds a small sense of discovery.

This is where the tour’s format becomes clear. You are not just checking names off a list. You are looking for large wooden figures in places that may not seem like art destinations at first glance.

The guide can also help connect the sculpture to the wider project. Thomas Dambo and his team have made works from different recycled materials, including wood, plastic, and cardboard. The Forgotten Giants focus on scrap wood, but the larger idea is turning discarded materials into public art.

Oscar Under The Bridge: the longest sculpture stop

The bus ride to Oscar Under The Bridge takes about 20 minutes, followed by the longest stop so far, around 40 minutes.

This extra time is useful. You can take in the sculpture without feeling pushed straight back onto the bus, and you have more room to notice the setting around it. The title itself points to one of the project’s strengths: the figures often gain character from where they are placed.

A 40-minute visit also gives the guide more time to explain the story behind the work and the artist’s approach. If you want more detail about each piece, listen closely during these longer stops. Some passengers have wanted additional information about what the individual sculptures mean and about Dambo’s methods, so it is reasonable to ask questions when the group pauses here.

The tour is conducted in English. The guide’s role is especially important on a route like this because the sculptures do not come with the same wall text and formal interpretation you would find in a museum.

A ten-minute break at Spisestedet Mosen

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

This is a short pause, not a meal stop. Food and drinks are not included, so bring something small with you if you expect to want refreshments. The bus also allows snacks, which is helpful on a compact schedule.

Ten minutes is enough to stretch and reset, but not enough for a leisurely café visit. Treat it as a practical rest stop between the first three sculptures and the final three.

Little Tilde brings the route back to the smaller stops

Little Tilde comes next, after another short bus ride. The visit lasts about 20 minutes.

By now, you will have the routine down. The guide gets you close to the site, you walk out to the sculpture, and you have time for photos and a look around before returning to the coach.

Little Tilde is part of the same six-giant project, but each sculpture has its own personality and setting. That variety keeps the route from feeling like the same stop repeated six times.

The natural areas are a major part of the appeal. You see open spaces and quiet corners around Copenhagen that you might never reach during a standard city break. The tour works best when you treat the surroundings as part of the attraction, not just empty space between sculptures.

Thomas on the Mountain gets a generous 40 minutes

The next ride takes about 15 minutes, followed by a 40-minute visit to Thomas on the Mountain.

This is another long stop, giving you more time to take in both the sculpture and its position in the area. The name points to the playful, oversized character of Dambo’s work. These are figures made to be approached, photographed, and enjoyed from several angles.

The 40-minute period is also valuable if you want to hear more about the construction. The giants were made from scrap wood with help from local volunteers. That community element matters. These are not objects shipped into place by a distant art institution. They were built with local participation and placed in everyday outdoor settings.

If your group is interested, this is a good point to ask about the use of recycled materials, the artist’s other work, or how the sculpture fits the site. One fair criticism of the tour is that some people may want more explanation about each figure and its meaning. The bus rides offer time for that, so do not hesitate to ask.

Teddy Friendly closes the sculpture hunt

The final giant is Friendly Teddy, also known as Teddy Friendly by Thomas Dambo number 14. The ride from Thomas on the Mountain takes about 20 minutes, and the visit lasts about 20 minutes.

Ending with a friendly-sounding figure gives the tour a cheerful finish. By this stage, you have seen all six sculptures and several different parts of the western Copenhagen area.

The final stop is also a reminder of the wider scale of Dambo’s work. The project is not just about one famous figure. It belongs to a larger body of recycled-material sculptures, including works made from plastic and cardboard as well as scrap wood.

After Teddy Friendly, the bus takes about 30 minutes to return to the CPH Tours & Tickets office. You finish close to Copenhagen Central Station, making it easy to continue sightseeing, catch a train, or return to your hotel.

What the $135 price really covers

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap local bus ride. The value comes from the amount of transport and planning packed into four hours.

You are paying for a guide, a dedicated coach, and transport between six remote sculpture sites. Without that structure, you would need to locate each figure, work out the roads between municipalities, and manage parking or walking routes. For visitors without a car, that would be difficult. Even with a car, finding all six could consume much of your day.

The bus also keeps the experience simple. You do not have to watch the road, navigate unfamiliar suburban areas, or worry about returning a rental vehicle. A bus with WiFi and chargers makes the travel time easier, though conditions and equipment can vary by departure.

The price makes less sense if you only want one or two sculptures, prefer long walks, or already have a car and enjoy planning your own route. It is strongest for you if seeing all six in one organized outing matters.

Who should take this tour?

I would recommend it to families, first-time visitors, art fans, and anyone who wants a change from central Copenhagen. The treasure-hunt format gives children something concrete to look for, while adults can enjoy the recycled-art idea and the views of Zealand outside the city.

It also suits solo visitors and couples who do not want to rent a car. The English-speaking guide and fixed route remove much of the guesswork.

You should think twice if you dislike coach travel or want deep time at each outdoor site. The tour covers a lot of ground, so the stops are measured in minutes. You will have enough time to see and photograph each giant, but not an entire afternoon at any one place.

Guide Vinod has been associated with departures praised for clear organization and careful timing. If he is leading your outing, you can expect a well-ordered day. The wider guide experience may vary, so ask questions if you want more information about Dambo’s artistic choices, Denmark, or the areas you pass on the bus.

For comfort, wear practical shoes and bring a snack or drink. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan to reach the central meeting office on your own.

Should you book the Six Forgotten Giants tour?

Book this tour if you want all six sculptures in one manageable half-day, especially without a car. The best parts are the unusual art, the outdoor settings, and the chance to see a quieter side of Copenhagen’s region.

Skip it if you want a slow countryside walk, a full meal break, or a detailed art lecture at every stop. The schedule is efficient rather than leisurely.

For most visitors who enjoy playful public art and simple logistics, the $135 cost is reasonable because the bus solves the hard part: reaching six scattered giants in four hours. It is a fun, unusual add-on to a Copenhagen stay, and one that gets you beyond the usual city route.

FAQ

Where does the Six Forgotten Giants tour start?

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

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts four hours, including bus travel, visits to all six sculptures, and a short break.

Which sculptures will I see?

You will visit Sleeping Louis, Hill Top Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Friendly Teddy, also called Teddy Friendly.

Is the tour conducted in English?

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

Is transportation included?

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

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You need to make your own way to the CPH Tours & Tickets office, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can bring snacks for the bus, and the scheduled break at Spisestedet Mosen lasts about 10 minutes.