Copenhagen: The Forest Tower & Forgotten Giants Trolls Trip

The best part of this outing is the contrast: one moment you are behind Copenhagen Central Station, and less than an hour later you are walking through quiet beech woods toward a remarkable hourglass-shaped tower. The Forest Tower is not a quick photo stop. You climb its 12 wide circles, passing trees growing through the middle before reaching an open platform 140 meters above sea level.

I like the easy transport and the unusual second half of the day. The minibus has air conditioning, WiFi, and bottled water, while the troll stops add a bit of Danish whimsy after the calm forest walk. The main drawback is simple: the Forest Tower entrance ticket is not included, so the $135 price is mostly for transport, guiding, and the added troll visits.

Key points at a glance

• Walk through beech woods first: The tower is reached along wooden paths, making the approach part of the experience.
• Climb 12 gentle circles: The ramp lets you gain height gradually rather than tackle a tight staircase.
• See three beech trees inside the tower: At the center, the timber structure wraps closely around living trees.
• Look toward Copenhagen and Malmö: On a clear day, the view can stretch more than 50 kilometers.
• Meet Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis: Two of the Forgotten Giants turn the return journey into an outdoor art hunt.
• Use Copenhagen Central Station as your starting point: The office at Colbjørnsensgade 15 is about two minutes from the station.

Why the Forest Tower makes a good escape from Copenhagen

Copenhagen is easy to explore on foot, but its compact center can begin to feel busy after a few days. This trip gives you a clean break without asking you to rent a car, navigate rural roads, or work out regional transport connections.

The Forest Tower, in Zealand’s South Zealand region, is the star of the outing. Its hourglass form rises among the trees, and the design makes the climb feel more like a walk than a workout. The path circles upward in a slow spiral, so you can watch the forest change as you gain height.

I especially like that the tower does not simply place you above the woods and call it done. You pass close to the trees, look through gaps in the timber, and reach the narrow center where the structure is laced together around three beech trees. You can touch the trunks there. That small detail gives the building a stronger sense of place than a standard observation platform.

The tour allows about two hours at the Forest Tower stop. That gives you time for the walk, the climb, the view, and a little breathing room. You are not expected to rush straight back to the minibus after taking one picture.

The one-hour ride from Colbjørnsensgade

You meet at the CPH Tours & Tickets office at Colbjørnsensgade 15, postcode 1652, roughly two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. That location is useful if you are staying near the station or arriving by train, and it is easier to find than a roadside pickup on the edge of the city.

The drive to the Forest Tower takes about an hour. The air-conditioned minibus includes WiFi and bottled water, and the ride gives you a look at the countryside beyond Copenhagen. The guide handles the driving and talks about the places along the way.

One practical point: the office may not look busy before departure. One person arrived to find a note saying the office was closed and briefly worried, although the guide arrived on time. I would arrive a little early, keep your booking details handy, and wait at the stated meeting point rather than assume you are in the wrong place.

The guide is an important part of the value here. The English-language host handles transport, explanations, and timing. A guide identified as Vinod was praised for providing useful information throughout the ride, explaining the tower, and adding background at the troll stops. Other departures may have a different guide, but the service is designed as a live English tour rather than a driver-only transfer.

Walking to the tower through the forest

At the Forest Tower site, you spend roughly two hours. The approach follows wooden walkways through the trees, and the walk itself is one of the nicest parts of the visit. It gives you time to slow down before reaching the main structure.

The setting feels peaceful rather than grand. You hear and see the forest around you, then the tower begins to appear through the trees. For anyone interested in architecture, the changing views of the structure are worth noticing. From one angle it looks broad and grounded; from another, the narrowing center makes it seem almost delicate.

The path is also a good reason to wear comfortable shoes. You will walk from the visitor area to the tower, circle upward, spend time at the top, and walk back. The supplied information does not give a total walking distance, so I would not treat this as a bus tour where you step off for a quick photo.

There are coffee and food options at the site, along with a gift shop and a film area showing how the tower was made. These details matter because the tour includes a break at Skovtårnsvej 1 after the main visit. You can buy something there, but lunch is not included. One useful habit is to bring your own food. A guide allowed passengers to bring lunch onto the bus and eat it, though you should confirm the arrangement on your departure.

Climbing the 12 circles to the top

The tower’s ramp climbs in 12 circles. This arrangement spreads the ascent out and keeps the route open, so you can pause to look into the woods or back toward the path below.

The center is the architectural highlight. The tower tightens around three beech trees, and the timber connections create a close, almost woven effect. You are not looking at a separate building placed beside nature. The trees are part of the visual experience inside the structure.

At the top, the viewing platform sits 140 meters above sea level. The view takes in forest and fields, and on a clear day you can see toward Copenhagen and Malmö, more than 50 kilometers away. Weather matters. Cloud, haze, or low visibility can reduce the long-distance view, but the woodland setting still gives you plenty to see at close range.

I would plan to spend more than a few minutes at the platform. Take in the shape of the tower below, look for the patterns of roads and fields, and give your eyes time to adjust to the scale. The tower is most rewarding when you treat it as a walk and a place to pause, not just as a high point for a photograph.

What the $135 price really covers

The cost is $135 per person. That is not a cheap ride to a viewpoint, especially because the Forest Tower admission is separate. You need to budget for that ticket in addition to the tour price, and it is sensible to check the current entrance cost before booking.

The price becomes easier to justify if you value convenience. You get round-trip transport from central Copenhagen, an air-conditioned minibus, WiFi, bottled water, and a guide who stays with the group through the countryside drive and the troll visits. You also avoid arranging a car or piecing together public transport to a site outside the city.

The two troll stops add something that a simple Forest Tower transfer would not. If you only want the tower and prefer to travel independently, this tour may feel expensive. If you want a half-day outing with a set route and a guide, the package makes more sense.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 76 reviews, with especially strong praise for the guide, vehicle comfort, punctuality, and the quality of the explanations. The most useful criticism is that the experience can feel more like transport with commentary than a fully guided walking tour. That is fair. Your time at the tower is largely your own, and the guide does not lead every step of the forest walk.

A short break before the trolls

After the Forest Tower, the schedule allows about 20 minutes at Skovtårnsvej 1. Think of this as a practical pause rather than a major attraction. It gives you time to use the facilities, buy coffee or food, and regroup before the next drive.

This is also when having a snack becomes useful. Lunch is not part of the tour, and the five-hour schedule does not include a full restaurant meal. You can buy reasonably priced food at the Forest Tower venue, or bring something with you.

Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis

The return journey shifts from modern architecture to large-scale outdoor art. First comes Hill Top Trine, with about 15 minutes to see the sculpture and take photographs.

A second 15-minute minibus ride brings you to Sleeping Louis, one of the six Forgotten Giants. The stop includes a guided introduction, and the guide explains the story behind the trolls and their place in the area. These are not polished city-center monuments. They are playful figures placed in less expected settings, which makes finding them feel like a small local adventure.

The time at each troll is short, so do not expect a long walk or a full art tour. You get enough time to see the sculpture, take pictures, and hear the explanation before returning to the vehicle. That quick rhythm works well after the slower forest visit, but anyone hoping to see all six Forgotten Giants will need a separate outing. This trip visits two.

I like this pairing because it avoids making the day too serious. The Forest Tower gives you design, trees, and broad views. The trolls add humor and a reason to look more closely at the suburban surroundings on the edge of Copenhagen.

The ride back to Copenhagen

After Sleeping Louis, the minibus returns to Colbjørnsensgade 15. The final drive takes about 25 minutes, bringing the full outing to around five hours.

The schedule is fairly tight but not frantic. One guide kept the group on time without making the day feel rushed. That balance matters because delays at the first stop could easily cut into the troll visits. You should still arrive ready to leave on time, especially since the tour moves through several stops and uses a shared vehicle.

The return point is the same central office, so you can continue sightseeing, return to your hotel, or connect with trains from Copenhagen Central Station.

Who will like this tour most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want to see more of Zealand without committing to a full day away from Copenhagen. It suits people who enjoy unusual architecture, forest walks, outdoor sculpture, and a guide who fills the driving time with local information.

It is also a good choice if you do not want to drive. The transport removes the main practical hurdle, and the minibus keeps the group together between scattered sites.

Families and mixed-age groups may like the variety. The tower offers a gentle, steady climb, while the giant trolls give younger visitors something memorable to look forward to. Still, you should be comfortable walking through the forest and up the tower’s long ramp. The available details do not promise special accessibility arrangements, so ask the operator directly if that is important for your group.

You may want to skip it if your main goal is a deep guided visit inside Copenhagen, a long nature hike, or a full survey of the Forgotten Giants. The tour gives you a taste of each place, not an extended study of any one attraction.

Booking details worth knowing

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reservation option allows you to pay later. The tour runs in English, with starting times depending on availability.

The Forest Tower entrance is separate, so do not mistake the $135 price for an all-inclusive admission package. Lunch is also separate. Bring a snack or plan to buy food at the Forest Tower site.

For the smoothest day, arrive early at Colbjørnsensgade 15, wear comfortable shoes, and check the weather. Clear conditions give you the best chance of seeing toward Copenhagen and Malmö, while a cloudy day still leaves you with the forest, the tower’s design, and the troll sculptures.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an easy half-day outside Copenhagen with three distinct experiences: a forest walk, a striking observation tower, and two playful sculptures. The guide, comfortable minibus, and simple central meeting point remove much of the planning work.

I would not book it solely for the cheapest way to reach the Forest Tower. The ticket is extra, and independent visitors may find better value if they are comfortable arranging their own transport. But if you want a relaxed countryside break with useful commentary and no driving, this is a well-balanced choice. The Forest Tower is the main reason to go, while Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis make the return trip more memorable.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Copenhagen?

Meet at the CPH Tours & Tickets office at Colbjørnsensgade 15, 1652 Copenhagen. It is about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts about five hours, including transport, the Forest Tower visit, the break, and the two troll stops.

Is the Forest Tower entrance ticket included?

No. The entrance ticket to the Forest Tower is not included in the tour price and must be paid separately.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. Food and coffee are available at the Forest Tower venue, and you can also bring food with you.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Does the minibus have WiFi and air conditioning?

Yes. Transport is provided by an air-conditioned minibus with WiFi and bottled water.

Which Forgotten Giants does the tour visit?

The tour visits Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis, two of the six Forgotten Giants.

Can I cancel the booking?

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