Copenhagen: The Forest Tower & Forgotten Giants Trolls Trip

The unusual heart of this outing is a wooden hourglass tower built among beech trees, reached by a quiet walk through the forest. At the top, you are 140 meters above sea level, looking over fields and woodland instead of Copenhagen’s usual streets and canals.

I like the easy round-trip minibus ride from Copenhagen Central Station, complete with air conditioning, WiFi, and bottled water. I also like the oddball finish: two giant outdoor trolls hidden around Zealand. The main catch is simple but important: the Forest Tower entrance ticket is not included, so the $135 price is mainly for transport, guiding, and the half-day route.

Key points at a glance

• Walk 12 circles through a beech forest: The tower rises gradually, so the climb feels like a stroll rather than a staircase.
• Reach a 140-meter viewing platform: On a clear day, you may see Copenhagen and Malmö more than 50 kilometers away.
• Visit two Forgotten Giants: Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis add a playful, distinctly Danish art stop.
• Start near Copenhagen Central Station: The office at Colbjørnsensgade 15 is about two minutes from the station.
• Ride in a comfortable minibus: Air conditioning, onboard WiFi, bottled water, and a live English-speaking guide make the countryside transfer easy.
• Budget for the tower separately: The tour price does not cover Forest Tower admission or lunch.

Why this Copenhagen day trip feels different

Copenhagen is easy to enjoy on foot, but Denmark’s wider Zealand Region gives you a different sense of the country. This trip trades royal rooms and city squares for trees, open fields, local roads, and two oversized wooden creatures placed away from the usual sightseeing circuit.

The Forest Tower is the main reason to go. Its design makes the approach part of the attraction. Instead of climbing a narrow central stairway, you follow a broad wooden walkway that curls upward in 12 circles. The forest changes around you as you gain height, and the tower’s structure keeps revealing new angles.

At the center, the hourglass shape tightens around three living beech trees. You can reach toward the trees through the open structure, a small detail that makes the tower feel connected to its setting rather than simply placed in it.

The troll stops change the mood. Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis are large outdoor sculptures linked to the project known as the six Forgotten Giants. They are playful, strange, and good subjects for photographs. They also take you into ordinary suburban areas, which is part of their appeal. You are not visiting a polished theme park. You are looking for public art in places where you may not expect it.

Leaving Copenhagen from Colbjørnsensgade 15

The meeting point is at CPH Tours & Tickets, Colbjørnsensgade 15, just behind Copenhagen Central Station. That location matters. You do not need to cross the city before an early departure, and the main station gives you a clear landmark for finding the office.

The drive to the Forest Tower takes about an hour. This is not dead time. You get a look at the countryside beyond Copenhagen, and the guide uses the ride to explain the places ahead and share information about the area. Several guides have been praised for keeping the trip moving while still answering questions. One guide named Vinod was singled out for explaining the route and the sites in a friendly, entertaining way.

The minibus is a practical advantage over arranging your own transport. It has air conditioning, WiFi, and bottled water. The ride is long enough that these small comforts matter, especially after a walk at the tower. You can also bring lunch onto the bus, which helps since lunch is not included.

One minor point may cause a moment of worry. The office may not always look open when you arrive, and one person found a note on the door before the guide appeared on time. Arrive at the stated meeting place and time, but do not assume the tour has been canceled simply because the office looks closed.

The forest walk to the tower

You get about two hours at Forest Tower, including the approach through the trees and the climb. The walk is one of the best parts of the stop. It gives you time to slow down after the city and notice how the tower is framed by the woodland.

The site also has coffee, food, gift shopping, and a film area showing how the tower was made. These extras can be useful if you finish early or want a break before returning to the minibus. The food is not part of the tour price, so bring money or pack something of your own.

The walk is described as accessible, but you should still expect a substantial outing on foot. The tower rises gradually, yet you will spend much of the visit walking outdoors. Comfortable shoes are a better choice than anything chosen only for city photos.

Climbing the 12 circles of Forest Tower

The tower’s clever design removes much of the strain from the climb. The walkway bends in a steady loop, with no sudden vertical staircase dominating the experience. You keep moving upward while the view changes around you.

At first, the trees are the main attraction. Later, the gaps open and the horizon begins to appear. You can stop for photographs, but remember that the group has a fixed schedule. The generous two-hour stop usually gives you enough time to walk, climb, look around, and pause without feeling hurried. One person specifically noted that the schedule stayed on track without making the visit feel rushed.

The center of the structure is worth taking your time over. The hourglass narrows as it rises, and three beech trees grow through its middle. You can touch them from the walkway. That detail gives the tower a human scale and helps you understand the design better than a quick photograph from the outside.

The final platform sits 140 meters above sea level. The view is mostly forest and fields, with Copenhagen and Malmö visible more than 50 kilometers away on a clear day. Weather will decide how much you see. On a gray or hazy day, the tower remains an interesting piece of architecture, but the long-distance view will be less impressive.

A useful break at Skovtårnsvej 1

After the tower, the itinerary allows about 20 minutes at Skovtårnsvej 1. This is your chance to use the facilities, buy coffee or food, browse the shop, or simply gather yourself before the next drive.

Do not expect a full meal stop built into the schedule. The break is short, and lunch is not included. If you want a proper picnic, bring it with you. You may eat it on the bus, a practical option that lets you avoid spending extra time searching for food.

Meeting Hill Top Trine

The first troll stop is Hill Top Trine, reached after about 45 minutes on the road and visited for roughly 15 minutes. This is a quick photo and storytelling stop rather than a long walk.

The value here comes from the contrast with Forest Tower. The tower is controlled, elegant, and carefully engineered. Hill Top Trine is oversized, playful, and a little absurd. The guide explains the idea behind the Forgotten Giants and gives the sculpture a place in Denmark’s public-art scene.

Fifteen minutes is enough to see the troll and take photographs, but it is not enough for a long exploration. Keep your expectations in line with the schedule. You are getting a well-chosen introduction to the sculpture, not a separate half-day art tour.

Finding Sleeping Louis among the suburbs

A further 15-minute drive brings you to Sleeping Louis, one of the six Forgotten Giants. The visit lasts about 15 minutes, followed by a 25-minute ride back to Copenhagen.

This stop works because the sculpture is not presented in isolation. The giants were created to encourage people to explore parts of the area they might otherwise ignore. You see one in a setting that feels local and everyday, rather than in a formal museum or a fenced attraction.

The guide’s explanation adds useful context. Without it, you might simply photograph a giant wooden figure and move on. With the story behind the project, the stop becomes a small lesson in how public art can send you into less familiar corners of a region.

The two trolls do not offer the same sweeping payoff as the tower. Their appeal is lighter and more personal. Families, photographers, and anyone who likes unusual art will likely enjoy them most. If you want only major monuments, these stops may feel like a detour.

What the $135 price really covers

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap add-on, especially once you include the separate Forest Tower admission and any food. The fair comparison is not with a free walk in a Copenhagen park. It is with the cost and effort of arranging a full day of regional transport, finding the tower, reaching two scattered troll sculptures, and managing the timing yourself.

The price pays for a five-hour route, a driver-host, round-trip transport, and local explanation. It also removes the need to rent a car or work out several connections across Zealand. If you value convenience and have limited time, that can make the cost reasonable.

The value is weaker if you are comfortable driving, already have transport, or plan to visit only the tower. In that case, you are paying for a guided transfer you may not need. The separate entrance fee is the key budget detail. Check the current tower price before booking, and add lunch if you do not plan to bring food.

The tour has a 4.7 rating from 76 reviews, with transport receiving especially strong marks. That matches the practical picture: the bus is comfortable, the meeting point is central, and the guide keeps the day organized. The experience is more transport-led than an intensive walking tour, so you should book it for access and a well-shaped route rather than constant commentary.

Who should book this outing

I would choose this trip if you have already seen the central Copenhagen sights and want a half-day outside the city. It suits you particularly well if you like modern architecture, forests, public art, photography, or unusual roadside attractions.

It is also a good option for people who do not want to drive in an unfamiliar country. The tower and trolls are spread across the Zealand Region, and the minibus connects them without making you handle directions or parking.

Families may enjoy the mix of a forest walk and giant sculptures. Couples and solo visitors get a calm change of pace, while architecture fans have a strong reason to focus on the tower itself.

I would hesitate if you dislike walking, want a slow lunch, or expect a long guided visit at every stop. The troll visits are brief, and the Forest Tower ticket costs extra. The day works best when you see it as a compact countryside sampler.

Practical advice before you reserve

Book the Forest Tower entrance separately before the outing if possible. This avoids wasting time at the venue and makes the extra cost clear before you leave Copenhagen.

Wear comfortable shoes and check the forecast. The tower experience depends on outdoor walking, and the long view toward Copenhagen and Malmö is best in clear weather. Even with clouds, the structure and forest remain worthwhile, but do not count on the distant skyline every day.

Bring a snack or packed lunch. There are food options at the tower site, but the scheduled break is only about 20 minutes. Bringing food also gives you flexibility, since you may eat on the minibus.

Keep your camera ready for the trolls, but do not expect long visits. The schedule gives you around 15 minutes at Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis, enough for photographs and a short explanation.

Finally, allow a little patience at the meeting point. The departure office is close to the main station, and the guide may arrive on time even if the office door does not look fully open.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a simple way to pair Forest Tower’s strong design and wide views with two quirky pieces of public art. The comfortable minibus, central meeting point, bottled water, WiFi, and lively English-speaking guide make the day easy to manage.

Skip it if you only want the tower and are happy arranging your own transport, or if the extra entrance fee pushes the total beyond your budget. For most visitors with one free half-day and a taste for Denmark beyond the capital, the combination is unusual enough to justify the outing.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts five hours, including transport from Copenhagen, the Forest Tower visit, the troll stops, and the return journey.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is transport included?

Yes. Round-trip transport is provided in an air-conditioned minibus with WiFi and bottled water.

Is the Forest Tower entrance ticket included?

No. The Forest Tower admission ticket must be purchased separately.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You can buy food at the Forest Tower site or bring your own lunch.

How much time do you get at Forest Tower?

The Forest Tower portion lasts about two hours, including the forest walk and the climb through the tower.

How high is the viewing platform?

The viewing platform is 140 meters above sea level.

Which trolls does the tour visit?

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

Can you see Copenhagen and Malmö from the tower?

On a clear day, the view can reach Copenhagen and Malmö, more than 50 kilometers away.