The winter solstice
On winter-solstice mornings (19-23 December) the site opens earlier and regular tour options are suspended, as the rising sun shines along the roof box into the chamber.
Newgrange
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About
A vast Stone Age passage tomb older than the Egyptian pyramids, set in the bend of the Boyne and reached only by shuttle bus from the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
Things to Do
Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre exhibition
Start here: all visits to Newgrange and Knowth begin at the visitor centre, which is about 3 km from the monuments. The interactive exhibition covers Neolithic culture and landscape, and includes a replica of the Newgrange passage and chamber plus an audio guide. Pre-booking for the exhibition alone is not required.
Newgrange passage tomb tour
The main tour: a shuttle bus from the centre, then a guided walk to the mound. You get about 45 minutes at the monument, with views of the great cairn and the kerb of decorated stones.
Inside the passage and chamber
On the Brú na Bóinne Tour + Newgrange Chamber you enter the tomb itself. The passage is low and narrow, and the guide switches off the lights to demonstrate the winter-solstice sunrise effect. Photography is not permitted inside; bags must be left in containers.
Entrance stone and megalithic art
The entrance stone carries the famous triple spiral, echoed by another triskele inside the passage. If you book the Newgrange Tour + Exhibition instead, you see the outside of the tomb only, not the chamber.
Knowth tour
The neighbouring mound of Knowth is visited on a separate guided tour (limited to one departure a day in season). There is no access to the chambers at Knowth, but the site holds the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe.
Plan Your Visit
- Hours: Visitor Centre: January and February 9:00-16:15; March and April 9:30-16:45; May to September 9:00-17:45; October to December 9:00-16:15. Closed 24-27 December and 1 January. Earlier opening on winter-solstice mornings (19-23 December). Tour times are booked online.
- Admission: 2025 rates: Brú na Bóinne Tour + Newgrange Chamber adult €18, senior €16, child €12, family €48; Visitor Centre exhibition only adult €5, child €3, family €13
- Parking: Car park and coach parking at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, with bicycle parking; park here and take the shuttle bus, as you will not gain entry by driving to the monuments themselves. The car park is reached beside the flags, and a covered pergola path about 250 m long leads to the visitor centre entrance.
- Food: A café and gift shop are downstairs in the visitor centre; there is no food at the monuments, and the monuments are outdoor sites with no shelter, so bring what you need for the bus and the walk.
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