Copenhagen: Six Forgotten Giant Sculptures Tour by Bus

Copenhagen’s Forgotten Giants turn a simple sightseeing trip into a giant outdoor treasure hunt. These six scrap-wood sculptures sit in quiet spots across the western suburbs, so you get more than troll photos: you also see fields, woods, paths, and overlooked corners of Zealand that are hard to reach without a vehicle.

I especially like the door-to-door sightseeing by bus and the way the sculptures draw you into nature rather than keeping you inside a museum. I also like the clever use of local volunteers and discarded wood. The main thing to consider is the price, $135 per person, and the fact that some bus time is necessary to connect six widely scattered locations.

Key points to know before you book

• Six sculptures in one half-day: Visit Sleeping Louis, Hill Top Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, and Friendly Teddy.
• A practical route by bus: The tour handles the driving and navigation between remote sites around Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup.
• A nature-based art project: Each giant was made from scrap wood with help from local volunteers.
• Short walks at each stop: You will leave the bus and walk through fields or other outdoor areas to reach the sculptures.
• English guidance: The tour includes a live English-speaking guide. Vinod has led departures and is described as organized and friendly.
• A four-hour outing from central Copenhagen: Meet near Copenhagen Central Station at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, with transport included.

Why these forgotten giants make a good Copenhagen side trip

Thomas Dambo’s sculptures work because they are playful, large, and placed far from the usual city sights. You are not simply driven to a park, shown a statue, and sent back to the bus. You search for each figure, often walking through a field or along an outdoor path before the sculpture comes into view.

That small element of discovery changes the mood. Children can treat the tour like a hunt, while adults get an unusual look at how art can bring people to places they might otherwise skip. The giants were built from scrap wood, and the project involved local volunteers. That gives the outing a strong community feel without turning it into a formal art lecture.

The setting matters as much as the sculptures. The six sites are spread through the western municipalities outside Copenhagen, including Rødovre, Hvidovre, Vallensbæk, Ishøj, Albertslund, and Høje Taastrup. These are not the postcard sights most visitors associate with Denmark, but that is part of the appeal. You get a short look at the quieter edges of the capital region.

I would not book this as a substitute for Copenhagen’s major museums, canals, or historic center. I would book it if you have already seen the central sights, or if you want a relaxed change of pace with fresh air and something genuinely different.

Meeting near Copenhagen Central Station

The tour begins at the CPH Tours & Tickets office, about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. That location is useful if you are staying in the center or arriving by train, since you do not need to cross the city for an early pickup.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the office, so leave enough time to find the meeting point and check in before departure. The bus then carries you between the sculpture sites, returning to the same central meeting point at the end.

The transport is an important part of the value. Finding all six sculptures independently would mean working out a scattered route across the western municipalities, locating remote access points, and allowing for parking or public transport connections. The guided bus removes that work.

One departure was led by Vinod, who kept the group organized and on schedule. Guide assignments can change, but the tour is conducted in English and includes a live guide throughout the outing.

Sleeping Louis begins the search

The first sculpture is Sleeping Louis, one of the six Forgotten Giants. The planned visit includes a guided stop of about 15 minutes, followed by another bus ride.

Starting with a sleeping giant gives the tour an immediate sense of scale and humor. You are looking for a large wooden figure in an outdoor setting, not entering a gallery with a row of labeled objects. The short stop is enough for photographs and an introduction, but you should not expect a long talk at every statue.

This first stop also shows how the tour works. The bus takes you close to the site, then you walk out to find the sculpture. Exact walking conditions can vary with weather, so practical shoes are a wise choice. The experience is outdoors, and the sites are not all placed beside a paved city street.

Hill Top Trine and the joy of finding the route

Next comes Hill Top Trine, with roughly 20 minutes planned at the site. The name suggests the kind of setting that makes these sculptures fun: you are looking around the countryside for a giant that may not be visible from the road.

The value here is not only the sculpture itself. The walk lets you notice the surroundings, and the group experience adds a mild sense of teamwork as you head toward the figure. You are not hiking for hours, but you should be ready to get off the bus several times and walk across outdoor ground.

This is a good stop for people who like an active sightseeing rhythm. The tour does not leave you to wander for half a day, yet it gives you more movement than a standard coach tour. If you want a fully seated experience, this is not the right choice.

Oscar Under The Bridge gets the longest early stop

Oscar Under The Bridge receives about 40 minutes, making it one of the more substantial visits on the route. Its location is part of the fun. The sculpture is connected to an ordinary piece of infrastructure, showing how Dambo’s work uses overlooked places rather than grand squares.

A longer stop gives you time to take photographs from different angles and enjoy the area without being rushed. It also lets the guide explain more about the project and the artist, though the depth of that commentary may depend on the guide.

One useful point came through clearly from the tour experience: the bus route keeps the walking distance as short as possible at each location. That does not remove all walking, but it makes the six-stop plan more manageable. You can see a lot in one morning or afternoon without spending the day trying to locate each sculpture on your own.

A brief pause at Spisestedet Mosen

The schedule includes a 10-minute break at Spisestedet Mosen. This is a short pause rather than a full meal stop, so plan accordingly.

Food and drinks are not included. You can bring snacks, and the bus used on one departure had Wi-Fi and charging points, which made the longer transfers more comfortable. Those features may depend on the vehicle assigned that day, so I would not book the tour based on them alone.

The break is useful because the itinerary moves at a steady pace. You have already visited three sculptures, and a few minutes to reset helps before the final group of stops. Do not expect enough time for a relaxed restaurant meal.

Little Tilde brings the giants back into focus

Little Tilde follows the break, with about 20 minutes at the site. By this point, the pattern is familiar: bus ride, short outdoor walk, sculpture, photographs, guide commentary, and back to the bus.

That rhythm is one of the tour’s strengths. You get six distinct installations in one outing, and each location changes the surroundings. It also creates the main limitation: no single site receives the kind of extended attention you might give a sculpture on an independent visit.

If you are interested in Thomas Dambo’s materials and methods, listen closely and ask questions. Dambo and his team have made sculptures from recycled materials including scrap wood, plastic, and cardboard. The six Forgotten Giants are especially tied to reused wood and local involvement, making them a useful introduction to the artist’s broader work.

Thomas on the Mountain is the major stop

Thomas on the Mountain has about 40 minutes scheduled, matching Oscar Under The Bridge as one of the longest visits. A larger sculpture in a natural setting gives you time to appreciate both the construction and the placement.

This is the point where the project’s idea becomes clearest. The sculptures are not just objects transported into a field. They are made to fit their surroundings and to send people looking for places that might otherwise receive little attention. You are seeing art as a reason to walk, explore, and notice the area around you.

The tour is strongest when the guide connects the sculpture to the artist’s working methods and the local volunteer effort. One area for improvement is the amount of information available during the bus rides. If you want a detailed account of every sculpture’s meaning or more background on Copenhagen and Denmark, ask questions directly. The guide keeps the tour organized, but the level of storytelling may vary.

Friendly Teddy closes the sculpture trail

The final sculpture is Friendly Teddy, also identified as Thomas Dambo number 14, with around 20 minutes planned for the visit. Ending with a friendly-looking giant keeps the tone light and gives you one last chance for photos before the return drive.

By now, you will have seen how different settings change the feel of the same basic idea. The figures are all part of one project, but each site offers a different walk and a different way to encounter the sculpture.

After Friendly Teddy, the bus returns to central Copenhagen. The full experience is advertised at four hours, including the travel between sites. Since the route covers six municipalities and includes several separate visits, the timing is efficiently arranged. You should not expect the free-flowing pace of a private car day trip.

What the $135 price includes

At $135 per person, this is not a low-cost city excursion. The price makes the most sense if you place a high value on convenience. You get a guide, bus transportation, and a route that links six scattered sculpture sites in a single outing.

Trying to visit all six without organized transport would take more planning than a normal Copenhagen day trip. You would need to identify each site, work out the best order, find the access points, and allow time for outdoor walks. The bus turns that into a clear half-day plan.

The value is weaker if you have access to a car, prefer independent exploration, or only want to see one or two sculptures. It is also less attractive if you want a detailed art seminar. The tour gives you a broad introduction and a playful day outside the city, not an in-depth study of every work.

The perfect transport score and overall rating of 4.8 from 23 ratings point to the tour’s strongest feature: it runs in an orderly way and makes a complicated route simple. The most praised qualities are the friendly organization, the efficient bus, and the chance to see Danish nature while hunting for the sculptures.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend it to families, first-time visitors with an extra half-day, and anyone who likes public art with a sense of humor. It is also a smart option for people who do not want to rent a car but still want to get beyond central Copenhagen.

It suits you especially well if you enjoy short walks, outdoor photographs, and unusual places. The treasure-hunt element gives children a reason to stay engaged, while adults can appreciate the recycled materials, volunteer work, and rural edges of the capital region.

I would think twice if you dislike repeated bus transfers, need a long meal break, or want to spend an hour studying each sculpture. The tour covers a lot of ground, and its strength is variety rather than depth.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability for your date. Food, drinks, and hotel pickup are not included.

Should you book the Six Forgotten Giants tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized escape from central Copenhagen and like the idea of finding giant recycled-wood sculptures in quiet outdoor settings. The bus is the key: it lets you see all six without turning your day into a transport puzzle.

Skip it if $135 feels too high for a four-hour outing, or if you prefer to move at your own pace. For most people who want an easy, playful look at Danish countryside and public art, the convenience and variety make the cost reasonable.

FAQ

Where does the Six Forgotten Giants tour begin?

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

How long does the tour last?

The stated duration is four hours, including bus travel and visits to all six sculptures.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Which sculptures will I visit?

You will visit 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 meeting point and the sculpture sites is included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to reach the central meeting point yourself.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. The schedule has a short break at Spisestedet Mosen, and you can bring snacks.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $135 per person.

Can I cancel for a refund?

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