Copenhagen: The Six Forgotten Giants Hunt and Nature Walk

The trolls are hiding beyond Copenhagen. This four-hour outing pairs Thomas Dambo’s recycled-wood giants with easy-to-moderate walks through parks, woods, hills, and lakeside areas outside the city. I like the unusual mix of public art and fresh air, and I like that guide Milad keeps the group small enough for real conversation. The main drawback is simple: you need to be comfortable walking at several separate stops.

You meet outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel, then ride about 25 minutes to the first site. Private transportation makes this far more practical than trying to locate all six sculptures alone, especially since the giants are spread out and some are not easy to find. At $137 per person, the price is not low, but it covers the guide, transport, and coffee break, while saving you the hassle of arranging a car or piecing together public transport.

This is a good change of pace from palaces, canals, and museums. Bring sturdy shoes and weatherproof clothing, since Danish weather can turn from sunshine to rain quickly. If you have walking difficulties, this probably is not the right outing, even though the paths are generally described as manageable rather than strenuous.

Key points at a glance

• Six separate giant sculptures: See Sleeping Louis, Hilltop Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Thomas on the Mountain, Little Tilde, and Teddy Friendly.
• A real nature outing: Walk through wooded areas, parks, hillsides, and lakeside settings instead of staying in central Copenhagen.
• Small group of up to six: The setup allows plenty of questions and a more social, personal experience.
• Private vehicle between sites: You avoid spending the day working out routes between widely scattered sculptures.
• Coffee and a planned pause: The break gives your legs a rest and adds an easy picnic-style moment to the morning.
• A guide who does more than point: Milad is praised for explaining Dambo’s work, Danish life, and the areas around Copenhagen.

Why these six giants make a good Copenhagen side trip

Thomas Dambo builds large sculptures from recycled materials and places them in outdoor settings where people have to search for them. That idea changes the mood completely. You are not simply walking up to an object in a gallery. You are following paths, looking between trees, checking hillsides, and wondering what might appear around the next bend.

The six sculptures were created as part of the Forgotten Giants project. Their names give each one a playful identity, and the settings do much of the work. One may be stretched out on a hill, another may be tucked under a bridge, and another may be surrounded by trees. The result feels part art visit, part treasure hunt, and part countryside walk.

I especially like this for a second or third day in Copenhagen, when you have already seen the central sights and want room to breathe. It also gives you a different sense of Zealand than you get from the city center. You see open spaces and local recreational areas that are easy to miss when your plans focus only on famous buildings.

The sculptures are large, photogenic, and unusual, but the setting matters just as much. You can photograph the giants from different angles, include the surrounding trees and hills, and watch the group gradually turn the search into a shared game.

Meeting Milad and leaving the city

The meeting point is outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel. From there, you join the guide and the other participants before setting off in a private vehicle. The group is limited to six people, which is one of the strongest features of the outing.

A small group makes a difference on a walk like this. You do not have to wait for a large crowd at every turn, and it is easier to ask questions while moving between sites. Several participants appreciated that Milad spoke with people individually, checked how everyone was managing, and allowed time for questions rather than delivering one long speech.

Milad’s role is part guide, part host. He explains Thomas Dambo’s ideas and the environmental purpose behind the sculptures, but he also talks about Denmark and everyday life around Copenhagen. That extra local conversation helps fill the driving time and gives the trip more shape than a simple sculpture transfer.

The drive to the first location takes about 25 minutes. That is short enough to avoid losing a big part of your morning in the vehicle, while still carrying you well beyond the central streets.

Sleeping Louis and Hilltop Trine

The first giant is Sleeping Louis. The name sets the tone for the whole hunt: the sculpture is meant to feel like a character in a story, not just a piece of outdoor construction. Your first walk also helps you get used to the rhythm of the outing, ride, walk, find the giant, take photos, and return to the vehicle.

Hilltop Trine brings a different setting and a higher viewpoint. The name is fitting, since she has one of the better views on the route. This stop gives you a chance to look beyond the sculpture itself and notice how Dambo places his work in relation to the land.

The walks to these early giants are not presented as difficult hikes, but you should still expect uneven outdoor paths and time on your feet. Comfortable shoes matter more than fashionable ones. If the weather is wet, mud or slippery ground may make these short walks feel more demanding.

These first two stops also provide a useful test. If you find the walking tiring at this stage, the rest of the outing may feel long. The vehicle helps by carrying you from place to place, but it does not remove the walking between the parking area and each sculpture.

Oscar Under The Bridge and the coffee break

Oscar Under The Bridge is one of the more surprising stops because the sculpture is placed beneath a bridge rather than in an obvious open clearing. The location adds a small element of suspense. You may be close to a giant without seeing it immediately, which is exactly what makes this project more fun than a standard sightseeing stop.

After the first part of the hunt, the group takes a coffee break. This is a practical touch, not filler. You get a chance to sit, drink something, eat a snack, and talk with the other people in the van before continuing.

Coffee is included. Some outings have also included tea, biscuits, water, or additional snacks from Milad, but you should still bring your own food and drink rather than rely on extras. The official information specifically allows you to bring snacks and beverages, and that is sensible if you need regular food or have dietary needs.

A break by a lake or in a park can become one of the nicest moments of the morning. You are no longer rushing to locate the next sculpture, and the group has time to relax. If rain arrives, this pause may feel less idyllic, so pack rain gear rather than trusting the forecast.

Thomas on the Mountain and Little Tilde

Thomas on the Mountain is one of the later giants and comes with a more open, elevated setting. The climb is not described as strenuous, but the stop can require more effort than simply stepping out of the vehicle. Your reward is a larger sense of space and a good chance for wide photographs.

This is also where the title of the project becomes especially clear. The sculptures are not lined up in a park for easy viewing. They are spread across different outdoor sites, and the setting changes the character of each one.

Little Tilde offers a gentler contrast. Her name gives the sculpture a more charming, approachable personality, and the surrounding nature adds to that effect. Families and adults who enjoy playful art should find this stop especially appealing, though children must remain accompanied because unaccompanied minors are not permitted.

The walks at these locations are part of the value, but they also explain why the full route can feel substantial. One participant felt that visiting four giants was enough for one day and would have been happy to finish after the middle section. That is a fair point. If you prefer a relaxed half-day with plenty of time at each stop, six locations may feel full. If your main goal is to see the complete set, the four-hour duration gives you enough time to do it.

Teddy Friendly and finishing the full hunt

Teddy Friendly is the final giant on the route. The name suggests a warm, cuddly character, and the sculpture provides a cheerful finish to the hunt. By this point, you will have seen six large works in six different outdoor settings, not one repeated type of park.

The final two stops are where the schedule can feel most demanding. You are still walking after several earlier visits, and the excitement of finding the first giants may have settled into a steadier pace. This is not a flaw if you want the complete collection, but it is worth knowing before you book.

The best way to approach the day is to treat it as an active outing, not a vehicle-based sightseeing tour. You will ride between sites, but each giant requires some walking. The pace can be adjusted to the group, and Milad has been praised for allowing slower participants to keep comfortable, but the basic physical requirement remains.

Allow time for photographs. The sculptures are designed for pictures, and the group may want individual shots, wide views, funny poses, and close details of the recycled wood. A guide who offers to take photos is particularly useful for couples and solo participants.

What the $137 price buys you

At $137 per person, this is a premium half-day excursion. You are paying more than you would for a self-guided walk in a city park, but that comparison misses the main point. The six giants are spread out, and finding all of them independently would require a car, careful route planning, or a lot of public transport research.

The private vehicle is the biggest part of the value. It lets you reach each area efficiently and keeps the four-hour schedule realistic. Without transportation, the trip could easily become an all-day project with long waits and confusing transfers.

You also receive an English-speaking guide, local context, help locating the sculptures, and a coffee break. The small group improves the value further because the experience is more personal than a large coach tour. Milad’s attention to individual participants is repeatedly praised, including his efforts to walk with different people and answer questions along the way.

I would consider the price worthwhile if you strongly want to see all six giants or if you have limited time in Copenhagen. It is less compelling if you only want one Thomas Dambo sculpture, dislike organized activities, or are happy to spend a full day solving the route yourself.

The tour also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and lets you reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful when Danish weather looks uncertain, though they do not change the need to pack properly.

Who should book this experience?

I would choose this outing if you enjoy outdoor art, short hikes, photography, and unusual sights. It suits couples, solo visitors, families with accompanied children, and anyone who wants a social morning in a small group.

It is particularly good for solo visitors. The group size makes conversation natural, and the vehicle means you do not need to solve the transport puzzle alone. It can also work well for a cruise stop or a short Copenhagen stay, since the guide handles the route and the full experience takes four hours.

You should think twice if walking on outdoor paths is difficult for you. The activity is described as moderate, and the route includes several walks rather than a single flat stroll. You should also consider your tolerance for Danish weather. Bring comfortable shoes, water, snacks, an umbrella, rain gear, and clothing suited to changing conditions.

This is not primarily an art lecture. The information about Dambo and Denmark adds value, but the heart of the experience is moving through nature and finding oversized wooden figures. If you want detailed museum-style interpretation, choose a city museum instead. If you want a playful outing that gets you outside, this is the better fit.

Practical verdict: should you book?

Book this tour if you want to see all six Forgotten Giants without renting a car, and if you like the idea of turning public art into a countryside treasure hunt. The small group, private transport, and warm guiding style make the price easier to justify.

I would skip it only if you want a completely easygoing sightseeing morning with almost no walking, or if you prefer to visit just one sculpture at your own pace. For most visitors who have already explored central Copenhagen, this is a memorable and genuinely different half-day, with enough nature, humor, and local conversation to make the four hours pass quickly.

FAQ

How long does the Six Forgotten Giants tour last?

The experience lasts four hours, including transportation, walks to the sculptures, and a coffee break.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel in Copenhagen.

Which giants will I see?

The route visits Sleeping Louis, Hilltop Trine, Oscar Under The Bridge, Thomas on the Mountain, Little Tilde, and Teddy Friendly.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation between the separate sculpture locations is included.

Is the tour suitable for people with walking difficulties?

The activity involves moderate walking and may not suit people with walking difficulties or other physical limitations. Comfortable shoes are recommended.

What should I bring?

Bring water, snacks, comfortable shoes, an umbrella, rain gear, comfortable clothing, and clothing suited to the weather. The tour is in English, and you may bring your own snacks and drinks.