Copenhagen: The Six Forgotten Giants Hunt and Nature Walk

Copenhagen’s Six Forgotten Giants turn a simple sightseeing trip into an open-air treasure hunt. Thomas Dambo’s huge wooden figures hide in parks, forests, hills, and under bridges beyond the city center, so you get both unusual public art and a good dose of Danish countryside.

I like two things right away: the small group of no more than six people makes the outing social without feeling crowded, and guide Milad Shekhzada handles the driving between far-flung sites. He also adds coffee, tea, snacks, and useful stories about Danish life and Dambo’s work. The main catch is the walking. It is moderate rather than strenuous, but six stops still take energy, and the final two sites may feel like a stretch if you prefer a shorter outing.

Six giant sculptures, one very different side of Copenhagen

• Sleeping Louis lies in a natural setting, giving the hunt an immediate sense of discovery.
• Hilltop Trine offers a high viewpoint, with scenery that makes the walk worthwhile.
• Oscar Under the Bridge appears in an unexpected spot, one of the tour’s playful surprises.
• Thomas on the Mountain adds a little height and effort to the middle part of the outing.
• Little Tilde and Teddy Friendly complete the set, with more woodland and open-air photo stops.
• Milad’s private transport saves hours of route planning, especially if you are not renting a car.

Why these giants are worth leaving central Copenhagen for

Copenhagen is easy to enjoy on foot, by bicycle, or along its waterfront. Yet after a few days of museums, palaces, shopping streets, and city squares, you may want space and fresh air. This tour gives you that change without asking you to plan a complicated day outside town.

The giants are not placed in one sculpture park. They are spread across the Zealand Region, with each figure sitting in a different outdoor setting. That scattered design is part of the fun. You are not simply walking from one artwork to the next on a marked urban path. You are looking for large wooden figures that may be lying on a hill, tucked between trees, or waiting below a bridge.

The sculptures were made by Thomas Dambo from recycled materials. That gives the activity more substance than a standard photo stop. You see large-scale art, but you also see how it can be placed in ordinary public spaces rather than behind museum walls. The hunt reflects Dambo’s interest in reusing materials and encouraging people to explore the outdoors.

I especially like the contrast between the size of the giants and the quiet places where they sit. Their scale makes them easy to photograph, but their settings keep the experience from feeling like a quick roadside attraction. You get time to walk, pause, look around, and notice how each sculpture relates to its surroundings.

Meeting Milad and getting beyond the city

You meet outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel in Copenhagen. After a short introduction, you board private transport for an approximately 25-minute drive to the first area.

That drive matters. The six sculptures are spread out, and finding all of them independently would require careful planning, several transport connections, or a rental car. Even then, you would need to locate the correct paths and entrances. Milad’s role is not only to drive. He keeps the route moving, explains the project, answers questions, and helps you make the most of the four-hour schedule.

The vehicle has also received especially strong marks for comfort, with 97 percent of ratings giving the transport a perfect score. The small-group setup means you can talk with the guide and the other people in the van instead of disappearing into a large coach crowd.

Milad’s approach seems central to the experience. He is described as friendly, attentive, and easy to understand, with a habit of checking that everyone is comfortable. He also makes time to walk with people individually, which is useful if you have questions about the artist, the sites, or Denmark.

That personal attention is one reason this tour works well for solo visitors. You can come alone and still have a natural chance to talk with a handful of people. It also suits couples, families with older children, and small groups who want a relaxed outing rather than a formal lecture.

Sleeping Louis and Hilltop Trine: an easy start in nature

The first two stops introduce the basic rhythm: drive to a site, walk a short route, find a giant, take photos, and hear about the sculpture and its setting.

Sleeping Louis is a good opening figure for the hunt. The name sets a playful mood, and the sculpture’s position in nature makes the first discovery feel less like checking off a landmark. You may find yourself looking around before the giant comes fully into view.

Next comes Hilltop Trine, whose elevated position gives this stop a different feel. The name hints at the main attraction: a broad view from above. This is one of the places where the walk has a clear reward, as you can combine the sculpture with open scenery and photographs from the hill.

The walks are generally short and not described as strenuous, but they are not simply a few steps from the vehicle. You should expect uneven outdoor routes and repeated walking across the morning. Comfortable shoes matter more here than stylish city footwear.

If the weather is clear, these first sites can feel bright and open. If it rains, the mood changes, but not necessarily for the worse. Denmark’s weather can shift quickly, so a waterproof layer and an umbrella are sensible even on a promising morning.

Oscar Under the Bridge and the mid-tour coffee break

Oscar Under the Bridge brings a more unexpected setting. Rather than placing every giant on a hill or in a clearing, the project uses overlooked corners and built features. Oscar’s location creates a small moment of surprise and shows how differently the figures can be presented.

After the first three giants, you take a short coffee break. Coffee, tea, snacks, and biscuits have been provided on some outings, though the included service is listed as a coffee break rather than a full meal. You can also bring your own food and drinks.

This pause is useful for more than caffeine. It breaks up the walking and gives you time to compare photographs, ask questions, and rest before the second half. A lakeside or park stop has also been used for a picnic-style break, which adds a pleasant outdoor pause when the weather cooperates.

Do not count on the break as lunch. Meals are not included, so bring a snack if you tend to get hungry between breakfast and dinner. Water is also important, especially on a sunny day.

Thomas on the Mountain, Little Tilde, and Teddy Friendly

The second half brings three more figures, each with a different setting and mood.

Thomas on the Mountain adds height to the hunt. The name gives this stop a playful connection to the artist, while the setting calls for a little more walking. It is a good point to pace yourself. You do not need to rush for photographs, and Milad has been praised for allowing rest stops and adjusting the pace for different abilities.

Little Tilde offers a lighter, more compact-feeling contrast after the mountain stop. The name alone makes this one appealing for families and anyone who enjoys the whimsical side of the project. As with the other giants, the setting around the sculpture is part of the attraction, so leave room in your camera roll for trees, paths, and surrounding scenery.

The final stop is Teddy Friendly, a fitting way to end a hunt built around approachable public art. You can expect another walk from the vehicle and another chance for group photos. Milad regularly offers to take pictures, a small but useful service if you want everyone in the frame.

One point deserves a fair warning. One person who enjoyed the tour still felt that four giants were enough for one day and would have preferred to end after the fourth site. That is a sensible concern. The six-giant route is efficient because the driving connects distant places, but the full set can feel long if you are tired, traveling with young children, or not used to moderate walking.

How much walking should you expect?

The tour is suitable for people who enjoy walking, but it is not a fully accessible vehicle-based sightseeing trip. There is walking at every stop, with routes through parks, woodland, hills, and other outdoor areas. The exact distance is not provided, so you should plan for a morning of repeated moderate walks rather than a precise mileage target.

Several details make the outing easier:

• Wear comfortable shoes with good support.
• Bring water and snacks.
• Pack rain gear and an umbrella.
• Dress for changing Danish weather.
• Tell yourself to take a steady pace, not a race pace.

The guide has accommodated slower walkers and people who need more rest. Still, the activity may not suit someone with significant walking difficulties or physical limitations. Unaccompanied minors are not allowed, although the activity is described as suitable for all age groups when accompanied appropriately.

You will not need special hiking gear. Comfortable clothes and weather protection are enough. The key is to treat this as a nature walk with transport, not as a drive-up sculpture tour.

The value of a $137 small-group outing

At $137 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see outdoor art around Copenhagen. The price makes more sense when you consider what it replaces: transport planning, route research, driving between six scattered sites, and the risk of missing one of the harder-to-find giants.

Private transportation is included, along with a live English-speaking guide and a coffee break. The group is limited to six participants, which gives the outing a personal feel and makes it easier to ask questions or request a slower pace.

The value is strongest if you do not have a car. It is also strong if your Copenhagen stay is short and you want to see all six figures in one morning instead of trying to fit them around public transport. For a solo visitor, the chance to join a small social group adds value. For two people, the cost is higher than a self-guided outing, but the convenience may be worth it.

If you enjoy planning routes, have plenty of time, and can arrange transport, you may prefer to search for fewer giants on your own. But finding all six independently is likely to be much less direct. This tour is designed for convenience, access, and a little local help.

What makes the guide important

The sculptures are the headline, but Milad shapes the day. His work includes driving, explaining the artist’s goals, discussing Danish culture, keeping the group together, and watching the clock without making you feel hurried.

That last point matters. A four-hour tour with six separate locations could easily become a rushed series of arrivals and departures. The best descriptions of the experience point to a guide who includes everyone, offers rest stops, and leaves time for conversation.

He also brings warmth to what could otherwise be a simple transport service. People have enjoyed his snacks, tea, coffee, photo help, and flexible manner. If you like tours that feel more like a walk with a well-informed local host than a scripted presentation, this is a strong match.

Weather, timing, and what to pack

The activity lasts four hours, and starting times depend on availability. Morning departures are common in the descriptions of the experience, though you should check the time offered for your date.

Weather can change the character of the outing. Sun makes the hills, woods, and lakeside areas inviting, while rain calls for waterproof clothing and a willingness to accept muddy or damp conditions. The tour runs in mixed weather, so pack for Denmark rather than trusting a single forecast.

Bring:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water
• Snacks
• An umbrella
• Rain gear
• Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing

Meals are not included. You may bring your own snacks and drinks, and the coffee break gives you a planned chance to pause.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Copenhagen plans are still shifting.

Who should book the Six Forgotten Giants hunt?

I would choose this outing if you have already seen some of central Copenhagen and want a change of pace. It is also a good pick if you like public art, photography, light outdoor exercise, and odd places that do not appear on the usual city checklist.

Families can enjoy the playful figures, but adults should judge the walking needs of younger children. Solo visitors gain from the small group and shared activity. Couples get an easy day outside the center without having to organize a car.

I would think twice if you want a purely urban tour, dislike outdoor weather, or have trouble walking on uneven paths. I would also question the price if you are comfortable arranging your own transport and only want to see one or two giants.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if seeing all six Forgotten Giants matters to you and you want someone else to solve the transport puzzle. The combination of private driving, small-group company, nature walks, and Milad’s personal care gives the $137 price a reasonable case.

Skip it if you prefer a slow, self-guided day or only want a short sculpture stop. The full route takes four hours and includes repeated walks. For most people who want an unusual half-day beyond Copenhagen’s center, though, the hunt offers a memorable mix of recycled art, fresh air, and Danish scenery.

FAQ

Where does the Six Forgotten Giants tour meet?

Meet outside the YMCA Interpoint Hostel in Copenhagen.

How long does the experience last?

The activity lasts four hours. Starting times vary, so check availability for your preferred date.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to six participants.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Are transportation and refreshments included?

Private transportation and a coffee break are included. Meals are not included, though you can bring your own snacks and drinks.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, water, snacks, an umbrella, rain gear, and clothing suited to the weather.

Is the tour suitable for people with walking difficulties?

The experience involves moderate walking and may not suit people with walking difficulties or other physical limitations. It is described as suitable for all age groups, but unaccompanied minors are not allowed.