Copenhagen: The Forest Tower & Forgotten Giants Trolls Trip

Forest and trolls make a fine Copenhagen escape. This five-hour outing takes you from the city to Denmark’s striking Forest Tower, then on to two of Thomas Dambo’s giant outdoor sculptures. I like the easy minibus transport and the way the trip combines architecture, woods, open views, and an unusual bit of local art. The main catch is simple: your Forest Tower admission is not included in the $135 tour price.

I also like the relaxed pace. You get about two hours at the tower, enough time for the woodland walk and the climb, then short stops for Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis. The tour is a good choice if you want to see more than central Copenhagen, though one reviewer felt the price was high for an experience built mainly around transport rather than long guided visits.

Key points to know before you go

• The Forest Tower is the main event: Walk 12 circles upward through beech trees to a platform 140 meters above sea level.
• The view depends on weather: On a clear day, you may see Copenhagen and Malmö, more than 50 kilometers away.
• Two giant trolls add a quirky second act: Visit Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis, part of the Forgotten Giants project.
• The minibus is practical: Air conditioning, WiFi, bottled water, and a host, driver, and English-speaking guide are included.
• Budget for the tower ticket: The $135 price covers transport and guiding, but not Forest Tower entry or lunch.
• The meeting point is central: CPH Tours & Tickets is at Colbjørnsensgade 15, about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station.

Leaving Copenhagen for Zealand’s quiet woods

The tour begins at CPH Tours & Tickets on Colbjørnsensgade 15, behind Copenhagen Central Station. That location is useful if you are staying near the center or arriving by train, and several people found it easy to locate.

From there, you ride for roughly an hour in an air-conditioned minibus toward the Forest Tower in the Zealand Region. WiFi and bottled water are provided, and the vehicle has been praised for being comfortable and punctual. The countryside views begin to replace Copenhagen’s streets, which is part of the appeal: this feels like a short trip into rural Denmark rather than another city attraction.

The guide handles the driving and commentary. The best guides add background on the tower, Copenhagen, the surrounding area, and the trolls, while keeping the mood light. Vinod was praised for combining useful information with humor, and other guides were described as friendly, professional, and good at keeping everyone on schedule without making the outing feel hurried.

That guide-led transport is the tour’s basic value. You do not need to work out regional connections, find the tower on your own, or arrange a return ride. On the other hand, the vehicle time is a large part of the five-hour experience, so you should not book this expecting five hours of guided sightseeing.

Walking through the Forest Tower

The bus brings you to the Forest Tower area, where you have about two hours to explore. The access walk through the forest is part of the experience, not just a route to the attraction. You follow wooden walkways through the trees, with the setting changing as you approach the tower.

The structure is an hourglass-shaped wooden tower designed to blend into its surroundings. Its broad lower section narrows toward the middle, then opens again near the viewing level. Instead of climbing a tight staircase, you walk upward along 12 broad circles, making the ascent gradual and giving you changing angles on the trees.

I like this design because it makes the climb feel more like a walk than a workout. You can pause and look outward at different levels, and the slope is easier to manage than a straight flight of stairs. Still, you should wear sensible shoes. The outing involves a walk through the forest and an upward route, so it is not a sit-back-and-watch-the-view attraction.

At the center, the wooden structure is laced tightly around three beech trees. You can touch the trees as you pass through this narrow section, a memorable detail that makes the tower feel connected to the forest rather than simply placed above it.

The final platform sits 140 meters above sea level. From there, the view spreads across woods and fields. On a clear day, Copenhagen and Malmö are visible more than 50 kilometers away. On a gray or hazy day, you will get a quieter view of Zealand’s forests and farmland instead, so weather matters greatly here.

You have time to take photographs, enjoy the view, and walk back through the grounds without being pushed along. The site also has places for coffee and food, a gift shop, and a film area showing how the tower was built. Those extras make the stop feel more like a destination than a single viewpoint.

Lunch is not included. You can bring food with you, and one guide allowed passengers to eat lunch on the bus. The tower site also has reasonably priced food and coffee according to one detailed account, but you should still plan for that expense separately.

Paying for the Forest Tower separately

At $135 per person, this is not a cheap ride into the countryside. The price makes more sense if you value door-to-door transport, a small minibus setting, bottled water, WiFi, and an English-speaking guide who stays with the group during the day.

The important budget point is that Forest Tower entry costs extra. Several people enjoyed the outing but stressed this detail, since it is easy to assume the admission is included. One pair reported paying about £40 for two adults at the time of their visit, but prices can change, so check the current admission cost before booking.

That extra ticket affects the value calculation. If you are comfortable arranging transport yourself, you may find the tour expensive for what it delivers. If you have limited time in Copenhagen and want a simple round trip with commentary, the price buys convenience and removes much of the planning work.

The tour provider also offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when choosing your date.

A short stop at Hill Top Trine

After leaving the Forest Tower area, the minibus makes a 15-minute stop at Hill Top Trine. This is one of the Forgotten Giants, a public art project made by Danish artist Thomas Dambo.

The sculpture is part of a larger search around Copenhagen and the surrounding region. These giant wooden figures were placed in less obvious outdoor locations, encouraging you to see parts of the area beyond the usual sightseeing route. On this trip, you get a quick introduction rather than an extended art walk.

Fifteen minutes is enough to see the sculpture, hear its story from the guide, and take photographs. It is not enough for a long exploration, so think of Hill Top Trine as a distinctive roadside stop. The brief visit works because the Forest Tower has already provided the longer walking portion of the day.

Meeting Sleeping Louis, one of the Forgotten Giants

A further 15-minute bus ride brings you to Sleeping Louis, another of the giant trolls. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, with the guide explaining the sculpture and its place in the Forgotten Giants project.

These enormous wooden figures give the trip a playful change of tone. The Forest Tower is careful architecture set among trees. Sleeping Louis and Hill Top Trine are more whimsical, and they make good photo stops because they are so unlike the standard sights in central Copenhagen.

The stops are not full museum visits. You will not spend an hour at either sculpture, and the tour does not present the whole Forgotten Giants project. What you get is a convenient introduction to two large outdoor artworks that would be difficult to reach without a car or organized transport.

One practical point is that the itinerary describes Hill Top Trine as a 15-minute visit, followed by Sleeping Louis. The trip is therefore focused on two specific trolls, not all six Forgotten Giants.

The ride back and the five-hour pace

After Sleeping Louis, you return to Copenhagen in about 25 minutes. The full schedule includes roughly one hour going out, two hours at the Forest Tower, a 20-minute break at Skovtårnsvej 1, the two troll stops, and the return journey.

This timing gives the day a clear shape. The tower receives most of your time, while the trolls provide short, memorable additions on the way back. I think that balance works well if the tower is your priority. If the trolls are your main reason for booking, the visits may feel too brief.

The route also makes the tour a useful break from city sightseeing. Several people liked getting into the countryside and seeing something different from Copenhagen’s canals, palaces, and museums. You get fresh air, open views, and a change of pace without giving up an entire day.

The guide’s role can make or break the experience. The strongest accounts describe guides who were punctual, friendly, witty, and generous with local tips. One guide upgraded a passenger to another tour at no extra charge when the original departure did not have enough people. That suggests a practical approach to managing the day, though you should still confirm your departure details.

There was one small meeting-point concern: one person arrived to find a note saying the office was closed and worried until the guide appeared on time. The address itself is central and easy to reach, but arriving a little early is sensible.

Who will get the most from this outing

I would choose this tour if you want three things in one half-day: an unusual piece of architecture, a walk in nature, and quirky public art. It suits first-time Copenhagen visitors who have already seen the central sights, as well as repeat visitors looking for a different side of Zealand.

It is especially good for:

• Architecture fans, who will appreciate the tower’s wooden hourglass form and circular ascent.
• Nature lovers, who want a peaceful forest walk and views across fields.
• Families and mixed-age groups, since the route is more gradual than a conventional tower staircase.
• Visitors without a car, because the trolls are not easy to combine with the tower independently.
• Photographers, provided the weather is clear enough for the long-distance views.
• People who prefer a guide, rather than arranging tickets, directions, and return transport alone.

You may want to skip it if your Copenhagen schedule is tight and you only want central attractions. You should also think twice if you dislike minibus travel or want a highly detailed guided tour at every stop. One fair criticism is that much of the day consists of transport, with only short explanations at the troll locations.

Weather, comfort, and useful planning tips

The view from the tower is highly weather-dependent. The structure and forest walk remain worthwhile in dull weather, but Copenhagen and Malmö may disappear in haze or cloud. If the long-distance view matters most to you, check the forecast and keep your expectations flexible.

Wear shoes suitable for a woodland walk and the 12-circle climb. The route is described as accessible, but the experience still includes walking through the forest and gaining height gradually. Take a light layer as well, since conditions can feel different in the open viewing area than among the trees.

Buy or reserve your Forest Tower admission separately before the day if possible. This avoids an unpleasant surprise at the entrance and helps you understand the real total cost. Bring lunch or be ready to buy food at the site, since lunch is not part of the tour.

The minibus has air conditioning, WiFi, and bottled water. That matters on a half-day trip because the ride is long enough for comfort to affect your mood. You also get a chance to rest between the walking sections, rather than handling every part of the route on foot.

Final verdict: book it for the mix, not just the transport

I recommend the Forest Tower and Forgotten Giants trip if you want an easy countryside escape from Copenhagen and like unusual sights. The tower is the strongest part, with a peaceful approach, a clever wooden design, a gradual climb, and an impressive platform view. The two trolls then give you a memorable, slightly offbeat finish.

The $135 price is reasonable for convenience, guiding, and round-trip transport, but it becomes less attractive once you add the separate tower ticket. Book it if you value a smooth, guided half-day and do not want to plan Zealand transport yourself. Skip it if you are focused only on the lowest cost or want a full day of intensive sightseeing at each stop.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Copenhagen?

Meet 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 stated duration is five hours. The schedule includes about one hour to reach the Forest Tower and a return journey after the tower and troll visits.

Is Forest Tower admission included?

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

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You may bring food, and the Forest Tower site has coffee and food options.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide and tour information are in English.

What transportation is provided?

Round-trip transportation is provided in an air-conditioned minibus. WiFi and bottled water are also included.

How much time do you get at the Forest Tower?

The scheduled visit lasts about two hours. This allows time for the forest walk, the 12-circle climb, the viewing platform, and the surrounding facilities.

Which Forgotten Giants are included?

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

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.