Copenhagen: The Forest Tower & Forgotten Giants Trolls Trip

The most unusual part of this five-hour outing is the pairing of Forest Tower’s calm woodland walk with two giant wooden trolls hidden beyond Copenhagen. You leave the city behind, climb a striking hourglass-shaped tower, then finish with a dose of Danish outdoor art.

I like the easy meeting point near Copenhagen Central Station and the comfortable minibus with WiFi, air conditioning, and bottled water. I also like the way the tour gets you into the countryside without asking you to plan trains, buses, tickets, and rural directions yourself. The main catch is simple: the $135 price does not include Forest Tower admission or lunch, so budget for both.

Key points at a glance

• Walk 12 circles through the Forest Tower: The broad wooden path rises gradually, so the climb feels more like a woodland stroll than a staircase workout.
• Touch beech trees inside the tower: The narrow center wraps around living trees, one of the site’s most memorable design details.
• See Copenhagen and Malmö on a clear day: The viewing platform sits 140 meters above sea level, with wide views over forests and fields.
• Visit Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis: These large wooden sculptures add a playful, local-art angle to the day.
• Ride from central Copenhagen in a small minibus: The trip includes WiFi, bottled water, air conditioning, and an English-speaking host or driver.
• Keep your schedule flexible: You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund and reserve without paying immediately.

Why the Forest Tower makes a good escape from Copenhagen

Copenhagen is easy to love, but it is still a city. This trip gives you five hours of trees, open fields, and fresh air without turning your day into a complicated regional transport project.

The Forest Tower, or Skovtårnet, is the star. Rather than rising as a straight metal staircase, it curls upward in 12 broad circles. As you walk, the view changes slowly. At ground level, trees frame the path. Higher up, the forest begins to open. Near the center, the tower narrows into its distinctive hourglass shape.

I especially like the way the design makes the walk part of the attraction. You are not simply trying to reach a platform as fast as possible. You are moving through the forest, watching the structure tighten around you, and reaching the top at a natural pace.

At the center, the wooden framework is built closely around three beech trees. You can touch them as you pass. That detail gives the tower a stronger sense of place than a standard observation deck. The building does not merely sit beside the forest. It carries the forest through its middle.

The ride from Colbjørnsensgade 15

Your morning or afternoon begins at the CPH Tours & Tickets office at Colbjørnsensgade 15, only about two minutes from Copenhagen Central Station. That location is handy if you are staying in the center or arriving by train, though you should allow a little time to find the office before departure.

The ride to the Forest Tower takes about one hour. You travel in an air-conditioned minibus with WiFi and bottled water. The smaller vehicle matters here because the trip feels more personal than a large coach transfer, and the guide can explain what you are seeing along the way.

Guide quality is one of the strongest parts of this outing. Vinod is praised for explaining the sites, keeping the ride lively, and answering questions. Other guides have been described as punctual, friendly, witty, and well informed about the tower, the trolls, and Copenhagen. You should expect an English-language host who combines driving with commentary rather than a full lecture at every stop.

One useful detail: the group is kept on schedule, but the pace is not designed to feel frantic. You have roughly two hours at the Forest Tower site, enough time for the walk, the tower, photographs, and a short look around the facilities.

Walking the 12 circles of the Forest Tower

The Forest Tower visit begins with a walk through the trees toward the structure. The route itself is part of the pleasure. Instead of arriving at a building surrounded by pavement and tour buses, you approach through the woods.

The tower’s path rises in a smooth spiral. You walk the 12 circles toward the top, gaining height while the surrounding trees shift around you. The route is more comfortable than a steep stair climb, but it is still a walking activity, so comfortable shoes make sense.

At the tower’s center, the hourglass form becomes most apparent. The upper and lower sections narrow toward one another, creating a tight waist. Three beech trees grow through the middle, and the wooden walkways pass close enough for you to reach them.

The top platform is 140 meters above sea level. From there, you look over woodland and fields rather than a dense city center. On a clear day, the view can reach Copenhagen and Malmö, more than 50 kilometers away. Weather makes a real difference. On a bright, clear day, the distant view is the reward. In cloudy or hazy conditions, the tower is still worthwhile for its architecture and forest setting, but you should not expect the full horizon.

You get about two hours at the Forest Tower area. That is a useful amount of time. You can climb without racing, pause for photographs, and take a break afterward. The site also has coffee, food, gift shopping, and a film area showing how the tower was built, according to details shared by visitors who spent time there.

What costs extra at the tower

The tour price is $135 per person, but admission to the Forest Tower is not included. You need to buy that ticket separately, either before the trip or at the site if available.

This is the biggest value question. You are paying mainly for round-trip transport, the English-speaking host, local explanation, and access to places that would take more work to reach independently. You are not buying an all-inclusive day ticket.

For two adults, one visitor reported paying about £40 extra for tower admission, though prices can change. Check the current admission cost when booking. Add lunch or coffee if you plan to eat there.

My view is that the price is fair for visitors who value convenience and a guided route into the countryside. It is less compelling if you mainly want a ride to the entrance and prefer to arrange every stop yourself. One particularly fair point is that the guide may allow you to bring lunch onto the minibus, which can help keep the added cost down.

From the tower to Hill Top Trine

After the Forest Tower visit, you have a 20-minute break at Skovtårnsvej 1 before the next drive. This is the practical pause in the schedule. You can use it for food, coffee, or a final look around the tower area.

The minibus then takes about 45 minutes to reach Hill Top Trine. You spend around 15 minutes there. Hill Top Trine is one of the Forgotten Giants, a series of large wooden troll sculptures placed in outdoor areas around Copenhagen and Zealand.

This stop is short, but it changes the mood. The Forest Tower is about design, height, and woodland views. Hill Top Trine is playful and unexpected. You get time to see the sculpture, hear its story, and take photographs without losing the rest of the schedule.

Because the stop lasts only 15 minutes, do not expect a long walk or a detailed art museum-style visit. It works best as a quick encounter with a surprising piece of public art.

Meeting Sleeping Louis, one of the Forgotten Giants

A further 15-minute drive brings you to Sleeping Louis, another of the six Forgotten Giants. The visit lasts about 15 minutes and includes a guided introduction.

These trolls are built to be found outdoors rather than displayed behind glass. That makes them especially good for photographs and gives the second half of the tour a small sense of discovery. You are not only stopping at a famous viewpoint. You are following the work of an artist through suburban and natural settings.

The guide’s explanation adds value here. Without context, a huge wooden figure can simply be an amusing photo stop. With some background, the two sculptures become part of a larger public-art project scattered around the region.

The tour does not visit all six giants. It focuses on two: Hill Top Trine and Sleeping Louis. That is enough to show you the idea without making the day feel like a long sculpture hunt.

Timing, transport, and the five-hour schedule

The full route takes about five hours:

• About one hour from central Copenhagen to the Forest Tower
• About two hours at the Forest Tower
• A 20-minute break at the tower area
• About 45 minutes to Hill Top Trine
• About 15 minutes at Hill Top Trine
• About 15 minutes to Sleeping Louis
• About 15 minutes at Sleeping Louis
• About 25 minutes back to central Copenhagen

The numbers add up to a fairly full half-day. You spend a meaningful amount of time outside the city, but you are not giving up an entire day of sightseeing in Copenhagen.

The small minibus is a major part of the experience. You avoid the uncertainty of connecting public transport in a rural area, and the air conditioning helps on warmer days. WiFi is useful for checking plans or messages, though the countryside connection may vary.

The vehicle also gives you a place to rest between stops. That matters because the Forest Tower involves a good amount of walking, even though the rising path is gentle. The ride back is a chance to sit down after the tower and troll visits.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want three things in one outing: a strong architectural sight, a peaceful woodland setting, and unusual Danish public art.

It suits first-time visitors who want to see more of Zealand without renting a car. It also works well for people who enjoy design, photography, outdoor walks, and quirky local attractions. Families with older children may like the trolls, while adults will likely appreciate the tower’s structure and the open views.

You should think twice if you dislike organized timing or prefer long, unhurried visits at each stop. The troll visits are brief, and the tour moves according to a set schedule. You also need to accept the extra cost of Forest Tower admission and food.

The experience is not a demanding hike, but you should be comfortable walking through the woods and up a rising tower path. If the weather is poor, the distant views may be limited. The tower and trolls still provide interest, but the outdoor setting is central to the day.

Practical advice before you go

Buy the Forest Tower admission in advance if possible, since it is not included in the tour price. This also helps you understand the true cost before you commit.

Wear shoes suited to a woodland walk. You will be outside at the tower and moving between sculpture stops. Bring a light layer, since the weather may feel different outside the city.

If you want to save money, consider bringing lunch. You may be allowed to eat it on the bus, and the tower area also has coffee and food options if you prefer to buy something there.

Arrive at Colbjørnsensgade 15 with time to spare. The meeting point is close to the main station, but one visitor found the office closed when arriving early and briefly worried about the departure. The guide did arrive on time, but the experience is less stressful if you do not cut it close.

If your plans may change, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when you are still arranging a Copenhagen itinerary.

Is the Forest Tower and Trolls trip worth $135?

I think it is worth considering if you want a simple way to reach Zealand’s Forest Tower and add two unusual sights in the same half-day. The views, the living beech trees inside the tower, and the comfortable transport are the strongest reasons to go.

The value is less clear if you expect every entrance fee and meal to be covered. At $135, plus the tower ticket and lunch, this is not a cheap outing. You are paying for ease, transport, and a guide who can connect the stops into one story.

Book it if you want a well-managed break from Copenhagen, especially if you do not have a car. Skip it if your main goal is a long, quiet forest walk or if you want to spend the whole day at the tower. For most visitors who enjoy architecture, nature, and strange wooden giants, this is a memorable change of pace.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

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

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts five hours. Check availability for the exact departure time.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour is conducted in English.

Is transportation included?

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

Is the Forest Tower entrance ticket included?

No. You must pay for Forest Tower admission separately.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. The Forest Tower area has food and coffee options, and you may be able to bring lunch with you.

How high is the Forest Tower viewing platform?

The viewing platform is 140 meters above sea level.

Can you see Copenhagen and Malmö from the tower?

On a clear day, you can see as far as Copenhagen and Malmö, more than 50 kilometers away.

Which Forgotten Giants does the tour visit?

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

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.