Brú na Bóinne (Palace of the Boyne) or popularly known as the Boyne Valley tombs are passage tombs located near River Boyne, 8 km west of Drogheda, County Meath.
The site covers over 780 hectares where the majority of the monuments are located on the north side of the river.
Bru na Boinne contains one of the most important pre-historic landscapes in the world dating back from Neolithic period. It is famous for its Megalithic passage tombs called Knowth, Newgrange, and Dowth.
Aside from these three spectacular ancient sites, there are over 90 Neolithic monuments dotted across in Brú na Bóinne.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, this famous River Boyne Valley is considered one of the best attractions in Ireland.
Things you'll find in this article
Things to see in Bru na Boinne
Newgrange
Newgrange was built during the Neolithic period, around 3200 BC. Which means it is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. It is a large kidney shaped mound covering an area of over one acre, retained at the base by 97 kerbstones. Some of these kerbstones are decorated with megalithic art.
Newgrange is also popular during the winter solstice. During winter solstice dawn, the sun shines on the roof-box of the passage tomb which illuminates the floor of the main chamber. It is said to be the oldest astronomically orientated structure in the world.
The winter solstice experience is done yearly and it’s only limited to a few people. Selection of the visitors is done based on a lottery. For more information on the lottery, click here.
Knowth
Knowth, on the other hand, is a 5000-year-old mound which the western passage ends in a rectangular chamber. Like Newgrange, the mound is encircled by 127 kerbstones decorated with megalithic art. The Knowth site also contains one-third of all the megalithic art in all Western Europe, with over 200 decorated stones were found during excavations at Knowth.
Dowth
Dowth is one of the three principal tombs of the Brú na Bóinne. Unlike Newgrange and Knowth, Dowth creation is unknown, but the features of the tomb aligned with the other passage tombs which date approximately between 3200 and 2900 BC. It is also less developed as a tourist attraction than its neighbors because of its lower chamber and the decoration is less visible compared to others.
Archaeologists classified Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth as passage tombs, however these tombs are now recognized to be much more than passage tombs. Ancient Temple is a more fitting classification, which is a place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance.
Brú na Bóinne Opening Hours
February – April: Daily 09.30 – 17.30
May: Daily 09.00 – 18.30
June – Mid September: Daily 09.00 – 19.00
Mid – End September: Daily 09.00 – 18.30
October: Daily 09.30 – 17.30
November – January: Daily 09.00 – 17.00
Brú na Bóinne Admission Fee
There are different admission fees depending on the attraction you want to see. Please note that Dowth is not officially included on the tour to Brú na Bóinne. However, visitors can go on their own to Dowth through private transportation.
A. Exhibition
Duration: 1 hour
Adult: €4.00
Sen/Group: €3.00
Child/Student: €3.00
Family: €10.00
B. Exhibition and Newgrange
Duration: 2 hours
Adult: €7.00
Sen/Group: €6.00
Child/Student: €4.00
Family: €16.00
C. Exhibition and Knowth
Duration: 2 hours
Adult: €6.00
Sen/Group: €4.00
Child/Student: €4.00
Family: €14.00
D. Exhibition and Newgrange and Knowth
Duration: 3 hours
Adult: €13.00
Sen/Group: €10.00
Child/Student: €8.00
Family: €30.00
How to get to Brú na Bóinne from Dublin
Brú na Bóinne is only less than 40 km from the city which makes it one of the most popular day trips from Dublin.
There are several ways to get to Brú na Bóinne.
Through private car
Depending on which area of Dublin you’re on, you can head to M1. Drive from M1 to Meath and then take exit 9 from M1. Then follow Donore Rd and then turn right to Staleen Rd. Then turn right again and you will see the entrance to Brú na Bóinne.
Through Uber or Taxi
You can simply book an Uber or take a taxi to Boyne Valley tombs. Taking an Uber might cost you between €95-€130 and €75-€90 for Taxi.
Through Train
Take a train from Connolly Station (Irish Rail) to Drogheda. Trains leave every hour and it takes an hour to get to Drogheda. Train fare is between €9-€14 for one way. Then from Drogheda station, take a taxi to Brú na Bóinne. This might cost between €14-€17 for an almost 9km trip.
Through group tours
There are several companies that offer tours to Brú na Bóinne from Dublin. The best thing about these tours is you can also combine Boyne Valley tombs with other attractions in the area such as the imposing Slane Castle and Trim Castle, Navan and other attractions in the Drogheda area.
You can check the tours below:
Newgrange, Slane Castle, and Trim Castle tour (€35 per person) and Boyne Valley, Trim Castle & Drogheda Tour (€49 per person) are both good deals. But if you are travelling with friends, this private tour of Boyne Valley and Trim Castle Day Tour might be a better option.
Contact Information for Brú na Bóinne
Location: Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, Donore, Meath
Email: brunaboinne@opw.ie
Phone: +353 41 9880300
For hotel deals around Boyne Valley, use the search bar below.
Like It? Pin It!
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries for the past 8 years. I also lived in 3 continents – from the Caribbean, South East Asia to Africa. But despite living in several countries, my love for Ireland remains the same. A country that had been a part of my life since I was 14 because of my love for Irish music and bands. Ireland Travel Guides was born because of this passion and hopefully, in some little ways, this website will be able to help you on your next trip to Ireland.
Stumbled on your post seeking info on trips to Ireland. Im part Irish! Learned so much, and Ireland is on my bucket list. Gorgeous photos too.
I love anything old like this! I would be in heaven visiting these sites. Definitely have to put on my bucket list.
Wow Ireland looks amazing! Is in my bucket list! Amazing guide! I want to go there so badly
Whoa this is a really cool place! I haven’t heard of it before but it looks like it’s worth a visit for some history! I love visiting things from a bygone era.
I would love to visit Boyne Valley tombs and see the monuments you speak of. What an awesome place!
Newgrange is older than the Egyptian Pyramids? Wow, that in itself is one of the key reasons to visit it, something as old as that. Also, the fact that it is an astronomically orientated structure, the oldest one, is so intriguing.
Been wanting to visit and explore Ireland and this one though it’s my first time seeing this place makes me want to visit the country even more. So much beauty and definitely worth visiting!
It doesn’t look like a burial ground. It looks very neat and welcoming to visit!
The greenery and the landscape look so perfect! I have not heard of this part of the world so this is very helpful for me