Newgrange & Monasterboice tour from Dublin: Skip-the-line entry

Ancient monuments, a round tower, and three high crosses in one morning

A small group guided tour from Dublin to Newgrange Monument and Monasterboice, two of Ireland's most important prehistoric and medieval sites in the Boyne Valley. The tour includes entrance fees to Newgrange and Bru na Boinne, transportation in a mini coach, and a qualified guide who explains the sites as you move through them. Between November and March, Knowth is not accessible, so the Bru na Boinne portion is shorter those months.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Molly Malone Statue10m
2. Monasterboice40m

Boyne Valley monuments tour

• Meet guide at Molly Malone statue
• Travel through Boyne Valley
• Visit Newgrange Monument
• Lunch at Newgrange Visitor Centre cafe
• Visit Monasterboice monastic site

The experience

The tour starts at the Molly Malone statue in Dublin, where you meet your guide and board a small mini coach with a maximum of 29 people. From there you head into the Boyne Valley, a landscape dotted with ancient monuments and one of Ireland's most important prehistoric areas. Newgrange itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the largest purpose-built burial site and place of ancient worship in Ireland. The monument was constructed so that it aligns with the winter solstice, a detail that mattered deeply to the Neolithic people who built it thousands of years ago. Your entrance fee is included, so you skip the queue at the visitor centre.

After Newgrange, the tour moves to Monasterboice, a 5th-century monastic site founded by St Buithe. The round tower here is about 28 metres tall and dates to around 968. It was damaged in a fire in 1098 but remains in good condition. The site holds three high crosses from the 10th century, all carved with biblical scenes. Muiredach's High Cross, at 5.5 metres, is regarded as the finest high cross in all of Ireland. It features Old and New Testament carvings and is named after an abbot who died in 923. You'll have time to walk among these monuments and photograph them, and there's a café at the Newgrange visitor centre for lunch during the day.

The tour runs for seven hours and suits all fitness levels. A qualified, enthusiastic guide leads the group throughout, explaining the history and significance of each site. If weather turns wet, rain gear is recommended. The mini coach keeps the group small enough that you can actually hear and move at a comfortable pace, rather than being herded through in a large crowd.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Newgrange Monument and Bru na Boinne.
• transportation in a small mini coach.
• a qualified guide throughout the day.
• access to the round tower and high crosses at Monasterboice.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (17 to 59 years) · Senior (60 and older) · Youth (13 to 16 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Infant (under 5)

GroupUp to 29

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Hilltoptreks

Is this one for you?A small group means you move at a pace where the guide's explanations actually land and you're not jostling for space at the monuments. The mini coach keeps it under 29 people, so the Boyne Valley's most important sites stay in focus instead of becoming a blur of stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 16 years); Child (5 to 12 years); Infant (under 5).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is Newgrange and why is it aligned to the winter solstice?

Newgrange is a massive Neolithic burial mound and place of worship built so that sunlight enters its inner chamber only at the winter solstice: a feat of ancient engineering that shows how precisely the builders understood the solar year. It's the largest purpose-built monument of its kind in Ireland and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Can I see both Newgrange and Knowth on this tour?

The tour visits both sites at Bru na Boinne between April and October. From November 1st through March 1st, Knowth is not accessible, so the Bru na Boinne portion of the day is shorter during those months, but Newgrange remains the main stop.

What is Muiredach's High Cross and where do I see it?

Muiredach's High Cross stands at Monasterboice and is considered the finest high cross in Ireland. It's a 5.5-metre Celtic cross carved with biblical scenes from both the Old and New Testaments, created in the 10th century and named after an abbot who died in 923.

How many people are on this tour and will I have time to walk around the sites?

The tour uses a small mini coach with a maximum capacity of 29 people, which keeps the group manageable. You'll have time to walk through Newgrange and explore Monasterboice, including the round tower and high crosses, rather than being rushed through.

What's included in the price and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes entrance fees to Newgrange and Bru na Boinne, transportation in the mini coach, and a qualified guide. Bring a camera to photograph the monuments and sites. Rain gear is recommended if weather looks uncertain. Food and drinks are not included, though there's a café at the Newgrange visitor centre during the lunch stop.