7 Best Newgrange Tours From Dublin: Ireland’s Ancient Wonders

Are you looking for the best Newgrange tours from Dublin to add to your Ireland trip but are not sure where to start? 

Before Ger and I traveled to Newgrange for the first time, we asked ourselves (and I bet you are too): 

• How far is Newgrange from Dublin? 
• How to get to Newgrange from Dublin? 
• Do we need to book a tour and if yes, which one? 
• How much does a ticket cost? 
• How much time is needed for Newgrange?
• What other spots are worth visiting near Newgrange?

Let me save you from doing the research yourself.

In this guide, I’ll give you all the information you need about the best Newgrange tours from Dublin so you can make the most out of exploring Ireland’s Ancient East. 

I’m sure you will enjoy this beautiful area and its history as much as we did.

Look at our happy faces!

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Some of the links here are affiliate links, which I may earn if you click on them AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

Best Newgrange Tours From Dublin [+ Prices]

These are some of the best-rated public as well as private tours that take you from Dublin to Newgrange and back. 

They have good value for money, and you don’t have the stress of having to make your own way there, paying for tolls, worrying about getting there on time, etc. 

1. Get Your Guide Newgrange Tours

Book yourself into a tour with HilltopTreks from Dublin to: 

• Newgrange
• Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
• Monastery of St Bhuite and the
• Boyne Valley

This full-day tour is packed with all the experiences you would want to see when exploring the Ancient East of Ireland. 

Price of this bus tour: $90 USD

2. Newgrange Tours Tripadvisor

Here are some of the most popular Tripadvisor Newgrange tours from Dublin:

• Full-day tour from Dublin to Newgrange and Knowth
• 6-hour private guided tour from Dublin to Newgrange and The Hill of Tara
• Private luxury tour from Dublin to Newgrange and The Hill of Tara
• Full-day private Boyne Valley tour from Dublin to Newgrange, Slane Castle, Trim Castle, Dunboyne Castle, and The Hill of Tara

3. Viator Newgrange Tours

This full-day bus tour from Dublin will take you through the Irish countryside and the County Meath to: 

• Newgrange
• Hill of Tara
• Howth (which is a cute fishing village that gives you a taste of the Viking Era)

The pick-up and drop-off point is 16 O’Connell Street Upper which is the location of the Dublin Visitor Centre.

Unfortunately, there’s no price available at this point. 

4. Newgrange Tours by Mary Gibbons

The Mary Gibbons Newgrange tours from Dublin take you to the Newgrange monument as well as The Hill of Tara. 

Not only will you enter the monument passage and chamber, but you’ll also get to see the famous collection of decorated kerbstones that are preserved examples of Neolithic art. 

Send them an email or give them a call at +353863551355 to book a private tour.

Pick-up and drop-off locations in Dublin: 

• Mespil Hotel (Mespil Road)
• Shelbourne Hotel (St. Stepens Gren North)
• 37-38 O’Connell Street Upper

Price of this private tour: $79 USD

5. Boyne Valley Tours

Boyne Valley Tours offers private group tours for either:

• 1-3 people or
• 4-6 people

The duration of the tour is 8 hours, and you will visit: 

• Newgrange passage tomb
• Knowth passage tomb
• Dowth passage tomb

Note: this isn’t a bus tour from Dublin – you will meet your personal expert guide at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre and then go from there to all the sites together (in a private vehicle).

Price of this private tour: $625 USD

6. Day Tours Unplugged

This Irish family business offers you public and private tours from Dublin to Ireland’s Ancient East:

Public Newgrange tours from Dublin (8.5 hours): start from $52 USD (max. 16 people) 

Private Newgrange tours from Dublin (5 hours): start from $445 USD (max. 10 people)

Facts About Newgrange

Here’s a short overview of the most important facts about Newgrange so you know what you’re in for when booking a bus tour. 

The Newgrange monument is located in the Boyne Valley in County Meath, Ireland,  and overlooks the River Boyne (about 1 hour drive from Dublin).

Built during the Neolithic Period between 3200 and 3100 BC, Newgrange is more than 5000 years old and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

It’s older than the Great Pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge! O_O 

Mind-blowing, isn’t it? 

If you want Irish history, Newgrange and the Boyne Valley are the places to visit. 

Why Is Newgrange So Special 

Now comes the cool thing – the illumination of the Newgrange passage and chamber.

Every year around the 21st of December, the winter solstice takes place. This is the shortest day and longest night of the year. 

When the sun goes up in the morning, it gradually illuminates the Newgrange passage tomb. 

It starts at the entrance first and then travels up the passage and into the chamber (a total of 19 meters).

Can you believe that back in the day, someone constructed this passage in alignment with the sunrise?!

The whole spectacle takes about 17 minutes.

Not everyone is lucky enough to see this beautiful wonder (Ger and I weren’t 🙁).

At the end of September every year, a lottery decides who gets access to the chamber during the winter solstice mornings (19th – 23rd December). 

So even if you win the lottery, you still need to have luck on your side to be there on the right day.

Distance From Dublin To Newgrange

The distance between Dublin and Newgrange depends on which route you take.

You can go straight up to Newgrange via the N2 which is a distance of almost 53 km and will take you around 1 hour. 

The other option is to take the M1 which is the fastest route (53 mins) but is a slightly greater distance (57 km). 

How To Get To Newgrange From Dublin

Are you wondering: is there a bus to Newgrange (i.e. public transport) or what options do I have to get from Dublin to Newgrange? 

Unfortunately, there is no public transport to Newgrange. 

You can either drive up to Newgrange yourself (to the Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre to be more specific) or book a bus tour that takes you from Dublin to Newgrange and back. 

Note: if you drive by yourself and decide to take the M1, you will have to pay for tolls.

Can You Visit Newgrange Without A Tour?  

Unfortunately, you will have to book a tour to be able to access the Newgrange monument. 

You have the choice between:

• Booking a public tour directly via Brú na Boinne or
• Booking a private tour with a provider like Mary Gibbons, Tripadvisor, Viator, etc.

Entry is via the Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre, from where a shuttle bus will take you to the Newgrange monument. 

You will have to walk around 600 meters from the car park of the visitor center to the shuttle bus stop. 

Did you know that Bru na Boinne means Battle of the Boyne (Boyne Valley)? 

Newgrange Tickets Online

It’s important to pre-book your ticket for Newgrange, otherwise you might miss out if you expect to get a ticket on the day. 

If you book via Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre, you can only get a maximum of 14 tickets online. An e-mail must be sent for group tickets (15-24 people). 

Newgrange Tickets Price

So, how much does it cost to visit Newgrange? 

Doing a private tour, especially if it’s combined with a bus tour from Dublin to Newgrange and back, will cost you more than just booking the ticket online.

Let’s look at the ticket price if you were to book directly with the Boinne Visitor Centre. 

You can choose between 3 different options.

1. Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre, Newgrange Chamber + Knowth

This is the most popular option as it includes all 3 places.

For the price of $19 USD (1 adult), you get: 

• A guided tour to Knowth and Newgrange
• Access to the Newgrange Chamber
• Access to the exhibitions at Knowth and Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

This is the main tour option (takes around 3 hours) and tickets sell fast, so pre-booking is essential. 

2. Knowth World Heritage Sites + Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre

This limited tour option isn’t available every day, so you need to keep an eye out for when it’s available. 

For the price of $11 USD (1 adult), you get: 

• A guided tour to Knowth
• Access to the exhibitions at Knowth and Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

The tour takes approx. 2 hours. 

3. Brú na Boinne Visitor Centre + Newgrange Chamber

Like the tour above, this is a limited tour and is not available every day. 

For the price of $11 USD (1 adult), you get: 

• A guided tour to Newgrange 
• Access to the Newgrange Chamber
• Access to the exhibition at Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

This tour takes around 2 hours as well. 

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Recommended Dublin To Newgrange Bus Tour

Book this small-group guided bus tour from Dublin to Boyne Valley and back with stops at Newgrange, the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Bru Na Boinne”, and Monasterboice Monastic Site!

This Newgrange half-day tour is the perfect activity to get to know Irish history.

Price: $79 USD

Newgrange House Rules

There are some important visitor information you need to follow when visiting Newgrange: 

• No dogs or other pets allowed (except assistance dogs)
• Online tickets are non-refundable (unless you contact them within 1 hour of purchase)
• Some parts of the tour are not suitable for people with limited mobility
• Children & infants need a complimentary ticket too (so seating on the shuttle bus is guaranteed)
• Arrive on time (the shuttle bus leaves 45 minutes after the booking time on your ticket)
• Wear weather-appropriate clothing (monuments are outside with no shelter)

Speaking of the bad weather in Ireland, this is what I wore that day to fully enjoy my experience at the Newgrange monument: 

• Water-proof raincoat 

• Rain boots

• Merino wool socks
• Merino wool base layer (underneath my jumper)

Yep, it gets cold here! And windy… So, bring a windproof umbrella as well.

If you visit Newgrange during the months of May, June, July, or August, your chances of having better weather are higher.

Other Spots Worth Visiting Near Newgrange

There are many day tours from Dublin you can do and once you visit Newgrange, you should check out the following sites if you get time: 

• Knowth Megalithic Passage Tomb
• Hill of Slane
• Slane Castle
• Slane Whiskey Distillery
• Francis Ledwidge Museum
• Boyne Boats Adventure Drogheda
• Mellifont Abbey Drogheda
• Drogheda Museum Millmount
• Irish Military War Museum & Family Park
• Newgrange Falconry
• Monasterboice Monastic Site
• Red Mountain Open Farm

Recommended Dublin To Newgrange Bus Tour

Book this small-group guided bus tour from Dublin to Boyne Valley and back with stops at Newgrange, the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Bru Na Boinne”, and Monasterboice Monastic Site!

This Newgrange half-day tour is the perfect activity to get to know Irish history.

Price: $79 USD

FAQs On Newgrange Tours From Dublin

Is Newgrange The Oldest Building In The World? 

Are you asking yourself – is Newgrange the oldest building in the world? Even though Newgrange is the oldest site in Ireland and also older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza, it isn’t the oldest building in the world. 

The oldest one is Barnenez, which is another passage tomb in France, which was built around 4850 BC. 

How Many Bodies Were Found In Newgrange? 

Are you wondering how many bodies were found in Newgrange? Five bodies were found inside Newgrange, however the original number would be much higher as the chamber had been entered before proper excavation. 

Most of the bones of these 5 bodies had been cremated. 

Is Newgrange A Wonder Of The World? 

So, is Newgrange a wonder of the world? Although the Newgrange monument is without a doubt a wonder of Ancient times, it isn’t one of the 7 wonders of the world. 

The updated wonders are the Great Wall of China, Chichén Itzá (Mexico), Petra (Jordan), Machu Picchu (Peru), Christ the Redeemer (Rio de Janeiro), Colosseum Rome, and the Taj Mahal in India. 

What Is The Famous Stone In Ireland? 

Have you been wanting to know what is the famous stone in Ireland? You can find the most famous stone of Ireland at Blarney Castle hence why it’s called The Blarney Stone (Irish name: Cloch na Clarnan). 

The legend says that kissing the stone will give you the skill of flattery. 

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