The Forgotten Giants Private Tour

Copenhagen has a talent for turning trash into wonder. This private tour takes you to six hidden giants made from recycled materials. You get the story behind the sculptures as you move through quiet suburbs and nature pockets outside the city center.

I love the hands-on, crawl-in style of these trolls, especially for families, and I like that the logistics are handled for you with private transportation and bottled water. One thing to consider: the route is outdoors and requires good weather, and some stops involve climbing, crawling, or being inside larger figures.

Key Highlights You’ll Actually Feel During the Tour

• A private group size (up to 4), so the pace stays comfortable and you can linger at the moments that grab you
• Free entry at each stop, plus all fees and taxes handled, so you are not juggling small costs mid-morning
• Six named giants across different neighborhoods, from Hill Top Trine to Thomas On The Mountain
• Recycled-material craft you can see up close, from scrap wood to other materials like plastic and cardboard
• Short, focused time blocks (mostly 15 minutes, one 30 minutes), which keeps the hunt from dragging

Recycled trolls in Copenhagen, from Hill Top Trine to Thomas On The Mountain

If you think Copenhagen is all canals and bikes, this tour adds a whole new layer. The “Forgotten Giants” project is about art built from leftovers, with sculptures that feel playful, slightly weird, and genuinely human. The artists, led by Thomas and his team, make giants from recycled materials and trash. They specialize in wooden sculptures from scrap wood, including well-known trolls like Hector Protector and Troels The Troll, and they also work with other materials like plastic and even cardboard.

What makes this private version special is that you are not trying to solve navigation in multiple suburbs. You are using a plan, a car, and a guide who connects the dots. And when you arrive at each site, you are not just looking. You are invited to crawl into features like hands, mouths, and openings that make these giants feel less like statues and more like playground worlds.

The 4-hour route: six stops, quick stories, and plenty of picture time

The tour runs about 4 hours starting at 9:00 am, with short visits at each giant. That matters. You get enough time to enjoy the setting and take photos, but the schedule stays light enough that you do not feel exhausted by constant walking.

Here is how the morning flows.

Stop 1 (Hvidovre): Hill Top Trine and the palms viewpoint

Hill Top Trine rests on top of a small hill in Hvidovre, Copenhagen. The fun twist is that you can crawl into the palms of her hands. Inside, you get a close-up feel for the sculpture and the textures of recycled materials, and then you can look out from the hillside viewpoint over Avedøresletten.

Why I like this first stop: it sets the tone fast. You go from roadside to art you can physically enter, then you get the reward view. The visit is 15 minutes, which is usually just enough to enjoy the crawl and catch the wide angle shots without turning it into a long slog.

Possible drawback: if you are not into crawling or you want more time to soak in details, you may feel a bit rushed. The stop is designed to be quick.

Stop 2 (Rødovre): Sleeping Louis in a secret nature nap spot

Sleeping Louis takes things outdoors and quieter. This giant is placed in a secret area in Rødovre, outside central Copenhagen, covered in trees and surrounded by nature. You can crawl into his gaping mouth. The description goes further too, with the idea that you can play or even sleep inside of him, which tells you exactly what this project is trying to do. It is not solemn museum art. It is imaginative public play.

This one is also 15 minutes, and it fits well after Trine. You go from a hilltop viewpoint to a more enclosed, forest-feeling moment. The contrast keeps the morning fresh.

Consideration: the environment can feel more “crawl and explore” than “stand and look.” If your group prefers straight sightseeing over active interaction, keep that in mind.

Stop 3 (Ishøj): scar under the bridge made from scrapwood

Next is Ishøj, and the giant is called scar under the bridge. The materials here come from scrap wood from a torn down watermill and broken pallets from local industries. That detail is a big part of why this stop works. You are not just seeing a cool figure, you are seeing what the figure came from.

This giant is named after an artist from Chile who visited Thomas and helped during the time the team was building the sculpture. That little origin story gives the art a human thread, not just a recycling label.

This stop is the longest at 30 minutes, and that extra time makes sense because this is the one that tends to hold your attention. The bridge setting can also make the vibe feel more tucked away and cinematic.

Possible drawback: because it sits in an in-between space (bridge area), the best viewpoints and photo angles might take a little repositioning. Give yourself the full half hour and you will be fine.

Stop 4 (Vallensbæk Municipality): little Tilde watching from Vallensbæk Mose

little Tilde is in Vallensbæk Mose, an area described as beautiful and full of wild nature and animal life. She watches through the trees on the far side of a small lake, so you do not get an instant, head-on view the moment you arrive. Instead, you catch a glimpse at a distance.

This is the stop that feels most like a “troll spotting” moment. It rewards patience, and it makes the search part of the fun.

The visit is 15 minutes. That is enough time to scan the trees, try a couple of angles, and still move on without losing energy. The tradeoff is that if your heart is set on a close-up, you might not get it in that short window.

Stop 5 (Taastrup): Teddy friendly and the hand-helping crossing scene

Teddy friendly is made from local scrap wood. The description includes that the fur uses cut offs from cut down local trees. There is something satisfying about that clarity, because it tells you the craft is grounded in local materials, not just imported novelty.

He is standing at a water stream beside a lake, and he holds out his hand as if helping people cross. It is a gentle, friendly concept, and it fits the teddy theme in a way that feels direct, not forced.

This stop is 15 minutes, and it is a nice reset from the more hidden woodland feeling at little Tilde. You get something more interactive again, plus the water setting makes for great light and reflections if the weather is kind.

Consideration: the lakeside and stream environment can be damp. I would plan for shoes that can handle wet ground.

Stop 6 (Albertslund): Thomas On The Mountain and the “sit with him” viewpoint

The last stop is Thomas On The Mountain in Albertslund. He is placed on top of a hill, where he chills and where you also get the view. His legs are long, and the description makes it clear that there is room to sit with friends.

This is the wind-down moment that brings the tour together. You finish with a viewpoint and a chance to relax without hunting for the next photo angle. The visit is 15 minutes, which is perfect for regrouping, checking who got which picture, and enjoying the scenery one last time.

Possible drawback: if your group loves hands-on interaction, you may find the vibe here more about sitting and looking, not crawling in. The tour balances it across the other stops though.

What the private transportation gets you (and why it changes the experience)

This tour is private, meaning only your group participates. With up to 4 people, the day stays flexible. You are also not stuck sharing space with strangers who might want a different pace. That matters for a tour built around small time windows and playful interaction points.

The included transport is private transportation, plus bottled water. All fees and taxes are included in the price, which removes a common frustration on art-and-nature tours. You also have mobile tickets and pickup offered, with the meeting point noted as near public transportation.

One detail that stood out from the experience feedback: the car was described as clean and comfortable, and one review mentioned a Tesla that was clean and cozy. That does not change the art, but it absolutely changes how the morning feels before you reach the first giant.

Price and value: $935.81 per group, and when it makes sense

At $935.81 per group (up to 4), this is not a budget day. But you are not paying for a single admission ticket or one statue visit. You are paying for:

• private transportation across multiple areas of the Copenhagen region
• all fees and taxes handled
• bottled water included
• access to each stop on the schedule, with admission tickets listed as free per stop

When it feels like value is when you compare it to the real costs of doing it on your own. Car rental, fuel, parking stress, and the time cost of figuring out a multi-stop route add up fast. Even if you are a confident planner, you are still managing timing across scattered suburbs.

It also helps that the tour is only about 4 hours. You get a condensed giant-hunt without losing the rest of your day in transit.

Who should see this as a good deal:

• families with kids who will enjoy crawling and climbing
• couples who want a smooth, low-stress art outing
• small groups who want a guided thread from giant to giant instead of a self-guided scavenger hunt

The artists behind the giants: recycled materials that you can actually notice

The biggest reason this tour feels special is that the sculptures are not just decorative. They are built from leftovers and found materials, and that craftsmanship shows.

Thomas and his team have made different sculptures from recycled materials and trash. They specialize in wooden sculptures from scrap wood, but they also create giants using other materials such as plastic and cardboard. That variety means you do not always see the same texture, the same construction pattern, or the same “look.” At each stop, you are likely to spot new material choices and joinery styles.

And the naming details add meaning. Hill Top Trine is named after a volunteer who worked on another hidden giant. scar under the bridge is named after an artist from Chile who helped Thomas during the building phase. Teddy friendly uses local scrap wood, including cutoffs from cut down trees, for the fur. These are the kinds of specifics that make the sculptures feel cared for by real people, not just by a concept.

Family-friendly fun, with a few practical notes

The giants are built for interaction. That is not a vague claim. The tour description explicitly includes you crawling into Trine’s palms and into Sleeping Louis’s gaping mouth, plus the idea that you might play or even sleep inside him. little Tilde is for watching through trees, scar under the bridge has a longer visit window, and Teddy friendly offers a hand-helping scene near water.

Based on that, I think this is one of the better family activities in the Copenhagen area for kids who like imagination and movement. One family review specifically highlighted that two kids loved the experience and that the guide was friendly, knowledgeable in how they presented it, and enthusiastic. (And yes, the kids liking it matters. It means you are not dragging them through something dull.)

Practical note: some parts involve crawling or being inside larger spaces. If your group includes anyone who prefers to avoid cramped areas, you can still enjoy the viewpoints and exterior moments, but you should go in knowing that interaction is part of the concept.

A guide makes it flow: friendly, dedicated, and story-led

This is a private tour, and the guide role shows up quickly. The narration and attention to names and material sources matters on these sites. You are not just seeing what is there, you are getting context that turns a pile of artful wood into something more memorable.

One review mentioned Vinod as a dedicated guide and called out that the Tesla car was clean and cozy. That kind of care is exactly what you want for a morning that moves through multiple locations. It keeps you on schedule without feeling rushed, and it helps you notice details you might otherwise skip.

Tips for timing, comfort, and photos

You do not need special gear, but a few smart choices will make the day easier.

• Wear shoes that handle uneven ground and possible damp patches, especially near the water stream and lake at Teddy friendly.
• Bring a light layer. These stops are partly in nature settings, and weather can shift.
• Plan for short stops. The schedule is built around 15 minutes at many giants, with one 30-minute stop. If you want more time at one, tell the guide at arrival so the pace can flex within the overall plan.
• If your group loves photos, arrive early for each stop and try angles quickly before others reposition. Even on a private tour, you are sharing the outdoor spaces with day-to-day locals.

And keep your eyes on the materials. Even if you only spend a few minutes per stop, you can usually spot something different about the recycled choices if you look closely.

Should you book the Forgotten Giants Private Tour?

Book it if you want a low-stress, guided giant-hunt that you can do with small kids or with a small group. The private format, the included transport, and the free admission at each stop make the day feel smooth. You also get a solid route that hits multiple sculptures in a half-day window, with time to crawl, play, and enjoy the outdoors.

Consider skipping or switching plans if:

• you expect mainly scenic sightseeing and you do not want any crawling or inside-the-figure moments
• you are traveling during a time when weather is uncertain, since the tour requires good weather
• you are looking for a longer, unhurried museum-style experience, because this schedule is intentionally tight at around four hours

If those points match your style, this is a fun, practical way to see Denmark’s recycled giants up close, without doing the stressful logistics yourself.