Newgrange

This place was amazing! You must buy tickets before arriving. They have limited slots available for each time slot. This allows you to enter the mound. The grounds were well kept. The view is amazing. I got goosebumps after entering the mound. It's amazing to think people walked in the passage for thousands of years, just like you do. There is a museum before you enter the grounds with a lot of information. They even simulate the solar cycle in the passage. This place is a must visit while you are in Ireland.

A piece of prehistorical history. It's really impressive how these structures came to us across the millennia. There is a visitor center with an interesting exhibition. You can choose different kinds of guided tours: only new Grange or also knowth and sought. Sometimes, as for us, you can't visit the tumulus inside. Very good experience.

We visited Newgrange as part of a work outing, and it was a truly memorable experience. The guided tour was fascinating—Newgrange is a 5,000-year-old passage tomb, older than the pyramids, built with incredible precision to align with the sunrise on the winter solstice. Walking through the narrow stone passage into the inner chamber felt like stepping back in time. It was a unique mix of history, mystery, and natural beauty—and a great bonding experience for our team. Highly recommended for anyone visiting Ireland!

The tour is quite long (1h) as there is not much to see. It is good if you are very interested about the history. It was raining and windy, hence it was not nice to stay that long time outside.

Beautiful place to visit, always consider the weather and arrive minimum 30min in advance. We had full tour booked from 3:45pm so is plenty of time to walk around the displays indoor and visit the café before the bus. Though the staff in the gift shop needed to advise the customers to buy gifts before the tour, as we asked them vut they didn't know and they were closed then the tour finished...

The most impressive feature is its precise alignment with the winter solstice sunrise. Around December 21st, sunlight enters a special opening above the entrance and travels down a narrow passage, lighting up the central chamber. This event reveals the builders’ deep understanding of astronomy and engineering.The structure itself is massive and entirely made of stone, with intricate carvings, especially the famous entrance stone decorated with spirals. The dry-stone corbelled roof has remained waterproof for millennia, a stunning achievement. Visiting the tomb feels like entering a sacred space frozen in time. Guided tours are informative, and the visitor center provides excellent context with models and interactive displays. Please buy tickets in advance Newgrange is not just a monument—it’s a link to our ancient ancestors. It reminds us of their intelligence, spirituality, and relationship with nature. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a must-see for anyone interested in history, culture, or ancient mysteries.Truly, it’s one of Ireland’s greatest treasures.

Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne), in Ireland is a truly awe-inspiring and ancient site. Newgrange is a must-see for anyone interested in history, archaeology, or Irish heritage. The guided tour is informative and well-paced, starting at the excellent visitor centre with exhibits that explain the Neolithic culture and the construction of the tomb. From there, a shuttle bus takes you to the monument itself. The passage tomb, older than the pyramids, is remarkable in both scale and precision. The highlight is standing inside the narrow stone passage as the guide demonstrates the Winter Solstice light phenomenon using artificial light. The carved entrance stone and surrounding landscape add to the mystical feel. Staff are knowledgeable and passionate, and the experience is well-organized. Do note that access inside the tomb is limited to small groups and involves crouching through a low passage. Booking in advance is strongly recommended, especially in high season. Pros: Fascinating history and architecture, great guides and visitor centre and a unique experience inside the tomb Cons: Interior access is not suitable for those with mobility issues, crowds in peak season and tours are time-limited so you can't experience it at your own pace Overall: A moving, unforgettable glimpse into ancient Ireland. Highly recommended.

Amazing experience! As well as touring the exterior of the mounds we also got to stand inside the passage tomb and experience a reenactment of the sun coming in during the winter equinox.

This passage, circular grave is from the Neolithic period. It is reputedly Ireland's greatest national monument. It's wondrous to look so far back in time through a mysterious tomb that still stands today. Sunlight only enters the tomb over the five days of the winter solstice in late December - weather permitting - in a country of lousy weather especially in December. Its larger stones are engraved with Neolithic art and graffiti but there's no agreement on its purpose. As the excavations revealed burnt and unburnt human bones it is believed it had a religious significance. It pre dates the Egyptian pyramids (Egypt isn't the only place with pyramids), the Greek Mycenaean culture and pre dates Stonehenge. The grave is 279 feet wide and at its highest point is 39 feet. It was an impressive site containing over 200,000 tonnes of material for its construction. The European Neolithic period was the third part of the Stone Age that pre dated the birth of Christ by several thousand years. It was characterised by fixed human settlements. By this time Man grew crops and raised animals including cattle. The 2023 entrance fees in euros are 10, 8, 5 and 25 for an adult, senior, child and family. It has an impressive visitors centre. The site sits by the Boyne river a few miles from Drogheda, 35 miles from Dublin and 4O miles from Newry so visitors can also view the 1690 battle sites from the battle of the Boyne that is still celebrated (if that's the right description) chiefly in some parts of Northern Ireland today with over 5,000 parades annually but not in the winter months. This battle was fought on 1 July 1690 but annually celebrated on 12 July as Pope Gregory introduced a new (Gregorian) calendar still used today. That battle was won by William of Orange who fought against his Uncle, King James. William received the Pope's blessing before he went into battle. James, who lived his final years in France, died of a brain haemorrhage at 67, some of his body parts were gifted to various religious sites in France. William died at 51 from pneumonia that derived from a broken collarbone after he fell off his horse when it stumbled into a mole's burrow. Those opposed to him toasted "the little gentleman in the black velvet waistcoat". William's death meant that he would remain the only member of the Dutch House of Orange to reign over England.

At 5000 BC this ancient relic is older than the pyramids. An incredible passage tomb with a roof box that illuminates the interior center once a year exactly during the winter solstice. There is a yearly lottery to enter for a chance to experience the astronomical magic for yourself. The newly renovated visitors center is stunning, with a gorgeous cafe and loads of informative features. Should be on your bucket list. You will get a whole new perspective on the meaning of life, to say the least.

Amazing neolithic pass through tomb- which you can really pass through! We came with a small tour- you could drive yourself- nice large car park. You check in, get a sticker for the time of your trip into the tomb, and then pay your ticket fee- I think ours was 7 euro each (group price). There were several prices- with reductions for children and seniors. You will go out of the visitor center (with a cafe and gift store and history center) and cross the Boyne and make your way to a bus which will take you to the site. Blue buses are assigned based on your sticker time- don't try to cheat. You will arrive at the monument and wait outside the tomb until it is time for your group to go in. Excellent pictures to be had outside and around the tomb- there are standing stones, a stone circle and a great view of the valley. When you enter- DUCK. The stones are low. It is not particularly difficult though. It is also (imo) not that claustrophobic. I generally don't like enclosed places and I was fine with this. The center chamber is truly amazing. It is an engineering marvel- no rain water comes in, to this day! You will see art on the large stone outside and art on the inside as well. They will show you how the light comes into the tomb on the solstice via the "door box"- above the door. I wouldn't have missed a minute of this exceptional experience. The center is handicapped friendly but the tomb is not and cannot be. There's just no way to do it and keep the tomb as pristine as possible. Toilets are nice and there are handicap friendly ones.

Be sure to go to the toilet before you start. There are no facilities. There are no signs and it will be difficult to find. Otherwise this site is extraordinary but you know that and that's why you came....

Well run site , Knowledgeable and very pleasant tour guides. Very efficient transport from the administration building to the Newgrange site. The museum tour could be less wordy.. Don't know if audio guide was available as we went there during Covid restrictions .. personally I prefer listening audio than reading loads of text. Catering at the venue was also excellent, good service with a smile. The Boyne Valley has plenty of history so we will definitely visit again

Impressive Brú Na Bóinne and Newgrange are a 5,000 year old burial site, that is older than the Pyramids in Giza, or Stonehedge by over a thousand years. Your visit will need to start at Brú Na Bóinne Visitor Centre which is nearly 10km away. Please don't do as we did and drive here. You will be turned away. The OPW operates a shuttle bus system and they limit the number of visitors each hour. They employed a "time sticker"s which you wear and the bus driver checks. The Parking Lot is huge and clearly much thought went into this arrangement. Enjoy!

The first settlers in Ireland that were not hunter gatherers arrived around 4000 BCE during the Neolithic period. During this time they built many tombs across the land, with Newgrange being one of the most famous tombs of its type (passage tomb). Newgrange was built around 3200 BCE, older than Stonehenge and the Pyramids of Giza. The construction is quite impressive considering the time period: this structure predates the introduction of metal and horses. Slabs used to build the tomb were most likely from a site near a river and transported by boat. The purpose of such a grand tomb can only be stipulated but it seemed to serve multiple functions. It served as a place to venerate the dead as well as a final resting site as bone fragments have been found at Newgrange. The most significant caveat of this passage tomb lies in the way Newgrange was arranged and specifically the roofbox located above the entrance. For 17 minutes during the winter solstice the rising sun rays light up the passageway from the entrance to the three chambers at the end. All other times of the year the tomb and passageway is dark. The community believed that this light during the Winter Solstice guided the dead to the afterlife and gave hope to the people still living for the upcoming spring. It is a phenomenon that implies that the builders of Newgrange were very knowledgable about astronomy. Newgrange is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site that groups other passage tombs like it such as Knowth and Dowth. Access to the site is through guided tour only and arrangements can be made through the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (if you're traveling independently) or with established tour groups (Mary Gibbons Newgrange Tours, https://www.yelp.com/biz/mary-gibbons-travel-dublin?hrid=yj8BepG4DJi6Cpl6Ggm7Og). Since I did it with Mary Gibbons I had a scheduled time to visit Newgrange but consequently I didn't get to the Visitor's Centre nor get a chance to visit Knowth. Gotta have a reason to come back here. Once you arrive you are separated into groups that enter the tomb during a certain block of time - this is to help limit access to the site as there is a maximum amount of people that can enter the site a year. A tour guide will mention the significance of Newgrange and demonstrate to tour groups the winter solstice phenomenon using flashlights. It is advised that people wearing big backpacks leave it outside, people with small backpacks/purses carry it in front to avoid damaging the site and for people to mind the entrance as the clearance is rather short. As with many fragile sites, no photography is allowed. I can only tell you so much about Newgrange in a Yelp review. The best way to experience Newgrange is to go to Ireland and see it yourself. Most recommended is during the actual winter solstice but that requires entering your name into a lottery with a couple other thousand people who would also love to experience this annual tradition. I'm glad I was able to see the phenomenon for myself, even if I did go during the summer and had it shown to me with flashlights.

Newgrange is about 45 minutes north of Dublin. The parking lot was very easy to find and had plenty of available spaces. We entered the visitor center, bought our tickets, and were given stickers with a designated tour time on it. You can browse the visitor center which has a history of the area, gift shop, and a small cafe. We grabbed a small bite at the cafe since we had just driven there from Limerick. The food wasn't great but it was good enough to tide us over. Shortly before the assigned time, you walk a short distance to the bus pick up / drop off spot and are put on the bus with everyone else who has the same time as you. A brief drive later, you arrive at Newgrange. After a short introduction speech, you head up to the passage grave. The tour guide explains the significance and then you are further divided into two groups since there is very limited space inside. While one group is inside, the other is free to walk around the structure then you swap. While inside you cannot take any pictures. It's a very tight space with even the smaller sized group and the entrance is very low so watch your head as go in. Backpacks and large purses are left outside to prevent people from brushing against the stones. Before exiting, the guide simulates the winter solstice. The length of the history is really what makes it interesting but there's so little actually known about it (like what all of the engravings mean). For some this is a place you absolutely have to visit, but I don't know that I would go if I had a limited amount of time. It's about a half day trip due to the drive and waiting for your tour time. 3.5 stars.

After studying Irish Folklore and Celtic Civilisation, I was motivated to visit this amazing site! We finally made the mini road trip. It was a short enough drive, and easy to find the place as the roads were clearly marked. Tickets were quite affordable, and I even got the student rate. As we had an hour before our bus left to convey us to the site, we meandered around the exhibit and examined the diagrams and explanations of what had been found at the site. We were in time to catch a short movie that suggested various explanations as to the purpose for the building of the site. We had tea downstairs in the Brambles cafe, which was quite large, and then walked down the path over the lovely Boyne. We hopped on the bus and made the short drive out to the place. Once there, we had to wait outside for a bit while another group was inside the passage. It was chilly and windy atop the hill, but listening to our tour guide's fascinating dialogue on the mysteries of the "tomb" alleviated the coldness. Her well-rounded explanation was perfect for us, as we only had slim knowledge of Newgrange before arriving. She was amiable and made the discussion alluring and interesting. Eventually we entered the passage, crouching and weaving around stones to make our way to the middle room. It was amazing to be inside such an ancient structure, so riddled with myth and legend that passed down through the generations. Our guide explained that past the reinforcements on the walls and lower ceiling, there had been no changes, and the space remained much as it was all the years ago when it was first created. With the lights off to demonstrate the light shining through the interior with the alignment of the sun, it was stiflingly dark and silent- amazing! I was a bit disappointed (even though I understood) that we weren't permitted to take pictures inside. I also wish that we would have had more time inside the passage. Our group seemed quite large (not sure what the norm is) so maybe we would have benefitted from a smaller one. Amazing experience!

Brú na Boinne is the area which means palace of the Boinne. Newgrange is the passage tomb. It predates the pyramids at Giza and Stonehenge by 500-1000 yrs. - once you park at the visitors center, which happens to be nicely set up you pick your time and head to the site on their bus. -There are also toilets, gift shop & cafe in the visitors center

Great tour of the Newgrange monument built in the Neolithic era - 500 years older than the Giza pyramids! The guide was fantastic and regaled us in its history and various theories of how it was used. Upon stepping into the monument, I was amazed at how structurally sound it was having survived over 5 millenniums in the Irish weather. Definitely worth a visit but make sure to come early to avoid the crowds!

Having not been here since I was a childer, I was keen to make use of the good weather over the weekend, get out and about and explore somewhere I remembered being cool years ago, that needed a bit of a memory jog. Newgrange is only 50 mins drive up the M1 from Dublin, so that was The One. I must say, it's all done so well. It's cheap - 11 euro for an adult to see both Newgrange and Nowth. You are taken round both sites by two different guides, which takes around three hours. I have to admit that I baulked a little at the three hours - I have the attention span of a goldfish and it seemed that it may be more of a chore than a pleasurable way of spending my time. I needn't have worried. The guides really only talk for 20 - 30 minutes at each site, and they really make it so interesting. It's a very brief run-through of the history of the place, so don't expect massive detail, but really this is mainly because they still don't know that much about it. They give you the facts, and the likely possibilities, then it's up to you to wander around, take it all in, and draw your own conclusions. One thing is for sure - these structures were built about 500-1000 years before the pyramids. With stones that weighed 1-5 tonnes, from up to 60 miles away. In a time in which the land was 95% forested, and before the invention of the wheel!! Pretty damn impressive in anyone's book!

This prehistoric monument is older than the Pyramids and Stonehenge. It was built during the Neolithic period, and its definitely a must see if you are into history. I guess it was used as a spiritual, astrological and ceremonial place during the ancient times. There are other mounds in Ireland, but this is the most popular one and the biggest. I guess it's because it's known for the illumination of its passage by the winter solstice sun. Our tour guide even recreated the illumination with a flashlight when we were inside the mound. It's not the same as the real deal, but it was good enough. There is no direct access here, so you have to go to Bru Na Boinne Visitor Centre. They shuttle you there by bus, and it cost £3 unless you are a student or a senior. You pay £2.

You have to pass by the visitor centre to get tickets and a sticker for your timing. The exhibit is interesting in its own right. Once at newgrange, not you can't take photos inside and that it's low ceilings. Super interesting to discover

Awesome. I love old crap, and this is about as old as it gets. 5000 years old! I found this to be really fascinating. Newgrange is a passage tomb, and the entrance is perfectly aligned with sunrise on winter solstice. Very cool. The tour starts at the Bru Na Boinne visitor center, where you take a bus to the entrance of the tomb. From there, a guide gives you some history and background on the tomb, then takes you inside. Warning: not for the claustrophobic or morbidly obese. Inside, everyone piles into the tomb, which is entirely made out of stone and was used to store ashes from cremated dead. Then, they turn off the lights and simulate what it's like on December 21 at sunrise, but I'm sure the simulation doesn't hold a candle to the real thing. Anyway, if you're in Dublin, it's more than worth your time to take a day trip up to Bru Na Boinne and check out the tomb at Newgrange.

Wow, what an experience to go in the tomb! I'm a bit claustrophobic so I had some hurdles to overcome but it was worth going in there. The guide was great as well. It's a bit of a hike as it's on a hill but nothing too crazy. Just make sure you wear comfortable shoes!

Amazing. Would love to be the lucky chosen to see the sunrise at winter solstice! So cool to see the 5000 year old carvings and architecture. No photos inside the tomb but the narrow walk was very worth it! I recommend combing trips so see Knowth as well. Make sure to book in advance as the tours sell out quickly. As we left we were all wondering what the purpose of making these was as they took quite a bit of effort and time to build and were left untouched for quite some time....

This is a must see for any visitors to Ireland. The visitor centre is very interesting but it's 20 minute bus ride to the burial site itself. The site is over 5000 years old. This predates Stonehenge. It is a wonderful experience

I was a bit skeptical of driving here. My brief research on the internet made it just kinda look like some hills. But my friend was super excited about it, so I went with it. And glad I did! From the visitor center they shuttle you out to one of the two sites (you can do both if you want, which you should!) where a tour guide meets you and tells you the history of the mounds. And we're talking thousands of years! The guides were very knowledgeable and great at telling the stories. The carvings on some of the rocks are just beautiful. They let you go into the larger mound, and it was a tight fit! You had to duck, turn sideways and squeeze yourself in! Definitely not a good idea if you're at all claustrophobic. And the carvings inside were fantastic! This was a great place to visit and I'm so glad we went.

We all read about Newgrange in school, but, I'd never been here before! Well we fixed that on a wet and windy December day. The visitor center is very well setup, even the walk from the car park to interpretive center is nicely done. We were greeted as soon as we walked in by friendly staff who explained the tickets and timetable for visiting the passage grave. After a quick look around the interpretive center we walked across the bridge to the bus stop and then off to the tomb. We were greeted by the tour guide at the tomb and given a history of the Boyne Valley and passage graves. Then with minimal fuss we headed on into the main event. The tomb is small, but, is very impressive. Walking through the passage is like stepping back 5,000+ years, seeing a space that has remained virtually untouched for millennia is something special. The main highlight is when the lights are turned off and a simulation of the winter solstice is run. It is very well done and makes me wonder how special the real thing must be. The tour guide was excellent!

This was an amazing experience and definitely worth visiting. Although the logistics can be a little complicated. Be aware that you have to go to a visitor center that's 20 minutes away from the actual site first to purchase tickets. From there you will get on a shuttle bus to the actual monument itself. The visitor center was crowded with long lines and a packed parking lot, so my advice is to go early.

Great tour through Grayline with a knowledgeable and thoughtful tour guide. Geoff is a Dubliner who tells great stories from his childhood as we pass through town. He is also clearly passionate about the history and is happy to field extra questions. When we were at Newgrange, instead of taking a break, he waited for us outside the tomb so that he could then tell us more information around the tomb. In terms of the logistics, enough time at each stop for food and photos. Don't miss the lovely bookshop at Tara, owned by the scholar who has written all the books on Tara. Pick up is 9am, return back to the city by 6pm. Comfortable buses with a careful + polite driver Michael.

We accidentally missed our booked tour time by an hour due to travel and traffic. They had a bunch of openings in a later tour but would not honor our tickets and wanted us to pay again. With all the openings for a later time, why they could not accommodate us, the customer, shows their lack of customer service. I realize we missed our time, but being from out of the country, it is harder for us to judge travel times. You would think they would be more understanding of a situation like ours, where we will probably never be back. They seem less apt to educate and rather more money hungry.

It's really too bad that they make it so difficult for people to see this site. Built a visit center 30 min away from the monument so you have to pay to take a bus and a tour. Waste of two hour and a half hours. Save yourself some time and money, just look it up online and avoid this one. Plenty of better things to do with half a day.

I have been to Chichen Itza another UNESCO world heritage site. You can visit the outside and the grounds, but the interior chambers have been closed to the public for some years now. I can't tell you the excitement i felt when I discovered that I would be able to enter the chambers of a burial mound that pre-dates the Pyramids at Giza. This is truly one of the most profound experiences I have had. I am not sure there are many archeological sites that date to such an early epoch that welcome visitors to the most solemn areas of the site. The visitor facility is very new and modern and does a good job through a AV presentation on explaining how this are fits in world history and some of the hypothesis regarding the use of this massive burial chamber. If you want to be enveloped by and touch truly ancient history this is the opportunity of a lifetime. The complex is in the middle of no-where, and I would recommend eating before arriving at the facility it is exorbitantly expensive to have a meal here.

This is a must do if visiting Dublin. Even if you find history a little boring, Newgrange is so very cool in that you get to see something over 5000 years old (older than the Egyptian Pyramids) and you get to visit inside the chamber to see the amazing structure. You can also get into the lottery to see the real sunrise event in December (about a 1 in 30,000 random draw chance). I've been to Stonehenge, which is more popular, but Newgrange was a better visit, although it is not as famous or well-known outside of Ireland.

Worthy visiting just to c history so well preserved. It's def an impressive structure from the exterior. When u enter it's quite small but u get the sense of how the structure was built from the inside out and the artwork is nifty.

The place everyone has to have seen / been. The inner chamber is very impressive, even without the real sunlit effect... Older than the Pyramids guys.... and in Ireland!

I went in mid-March, and Newgrange was one of the most beautiful places in Ireland I've ever seen. Was simply blown away by the lifelong effort and science that went into building the monument, and the mystery of WHY is it was built that surrounds it. It was a joy to be able to go inside the tomb (it's quite narrow, so claustrophobics should stay away) and have the guide show us with artificial sunlight what the inside of the tomb looks like when the sun aligns with it at just the right spot. The visitor's center was also quite interesting. Just outside it there was a pond full of hundreds, maybe thousands of frog eggs. The kids got a huge kick out of it. and the River Boyne was gorgeous to look at. Went with the Mary Gibbons tour group (http://newgrangetours.com/) that also took us to the Hill of Tara. There are multiple areas in Dublin she can pick you up from, and entrance to Newgrange is included in the tour fee with her. Highly recommend her tours.

Newgrange is a huge passage tomb that was constructed about 3,200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge in England and the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. It is perhaps most famous for the trick it performs on December 21, the shortest day of the year. It turns into a giant game of Mousetrap, whereby at dawn a narrow beam of sunlight hits a specially designed opening at the top of the door, illuminating the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway. Getting to see this live is not an easy task however - you either have to be incredibly lucky and win a place by entering the lottery run by the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, or become some sort of politician.

Awesome site, for the few minutes that you get to spend inside and enjoy the simulation of the 21st Dec miracle, which really looks real, and get to feel the wind coming in, swirling in the main (tiny) room and get out. I thought it was a pity that it doesn't feel that old. Of course the outside part of it had been rebuilt and it wasn't always as protected as it is now. The visitor centre exhibition is particularly good, goes through all aspects of the life in that era, there's a short video and some audio visual installations which I found interesting. To preserve the site, you have to take a shuttle bus at a given hour and follow the guide etc. That part was a bit the drawback of it, as you are limited in time and space to what and where you can go. On a practical note, it's really easy to go there, just a few minutes off the M1..

Newgrange is one of the must do daytrips from Dublin. It's one of the oldest passage graves in Europe and still in remarkable condition. You can go inside the tomb, as well as tour the heritage centre.

This place is really simple with not much to see. However the history of the place is mysterious and entertaining. Also, I had an AMAZING guide with a very dry sense of humor but extremely knowledgeable (cannot remember his name) and that made it all very exciting. Be sure to check their website for their opening and closing times as it changes with the season. A little out bit the way, but not too expensive and worth the trip.

A memorable experience for all! Whether you're interested in Irish history or watch Game of Thrones you'll find New Grange fascinating. If you're visiting in summer GO EARLY! Tours sell out and you won't know until you arrive.

Newgrange was an amazing site to visit. World Heritage status for a reason. If you're here, and you appreciate history, not to be miseed. I recommend Mary Gibbon's tour company.

I've visited here a number of times now and it is really amazing. The staff from the time you arrive are very friendly. Make sure to go early as the wait times can be long in peak seasons even call ahead make sure they aren't out of places for the day. If it is wet and cold which ireland usually is make sure to bring the right gear as you will be outside. The cost isn't bad either for what you are getting compared to other attractions around the Island.

You cannot go to Dublin and not take a train up to Drogheda and then shuttle bus to Newgrange to see a place that is older than the pyramids and older than Stonehenge. The area next to the River Boyne is beautiful and it is easy to see why people from the neolythic period settled there. From the train station we walked a few blocks to a bus station and had lunch in town before finding out we had missed the last free shuttle of the day. We easily got a cab right out and back later. We enjoyed both our drivers and the whole adventure is very much worth a day trip. You can see the countryside on the train and enjoy lunch in Drogheda and a conversation with very knowledgable and freindly taxi drivers (if you miss the shuttle.)

Newgrange is an impressive Neolithic (+- 3500 BC) megalithic building on a natural hill in the bend of the river Boyne. It is only approachable via the visitor's centre (Brú na Boinne), from where you are taken to the monument(s) by small buses. At the centre is a well-made exhibition explaining Newgrange's history and construction, with various interpretations as to its function in prehistoric society. You can go and visit Newgrange on its own, but to visit Knowth (another megalithic monument, much more complex but sadly inaccessible...) as well and realizing Dowth and many other small tombs, wooden circles and earthenworks make up for a vast ritualistic landscape in the riverbend is positively mind-blowing. It's a shame there aren't any helicopter rides available over the area, that would be so wonderful... But anyway, Newgrange IS accessible and to enter the tomb, with all its beautiful rock-art (and even 18th-century-graffiti!) and to see the construction of the tomb itself from the inside is truly worthwhile, even if it's a bit crowded inside, especially in high season... I also think the time allowed inside is much too short. There is a simulation of the sun shining inside the tomb at the winter solstice (the tomb goes utterly completely dark by the way... impressive...) but after that your group will be shooed out because the next one is waiting. I feel there is no time to check out the beautiful carvings inside, and you trip over the people you're with. But not to go in would be a great loss! Every year a select group of people gets picked out of a lottery to witness the actual winter solstice... but every year about 20,000 people apply, so the chances are limited! If you have any interest in history or archaeolgy, you cannot afford to miss Newgrange!

We went as a family a few years ago and it was amazing, but for some silly and charming reasons. For example, the top of this ancient building is covered in grass and strikes me as telly tubby land - and I was an adult in our group! It is a fascinating building inside and I think it can be enjoyed by many age groups who can take it at face value or read a bit more about it. Although small, it has the ambience of somewhere very special, like a cathedral. The kids enjoyed the outing and were not too tiresome about it.

Very beautiful. I got to visit this uniquely stunning piece of history while on a recent visit to Ireland. The guide will give you a history lesson first on the outside of the tomb and then take you inside. The inner chamber is small but there is a small opening that during the winter solstice allows the sun to flow through and lights up the inside. I recommend everyone visit.

I grew up quite close to Newgrange so I've been in it more times that I care to remember and it still stuns me to silence when I go inside! My Dad actually worked on the excavations of it back in the 60's! It's such a magical experince and one that I'd highly recommend to anyone visiting the area - I challenge you not to come away impressed.