Things to do in Co. Meath
13 places
1.Loughcrew Cairns
A 5,000-year-old tomb aligned to the equinox
A 5,000-year-old Neolithic passage-tomb cemetery spread over the hills above Oldcastle, crowned by the richly carved Cairn T — the highest point in County Meath.
- Highlights
- Cairn T, with its cruciform chamber and corbelled roof
- Some of the finest Neolithic art in Ireland
- Aligned to sunrise at the spring and autumn equinoxes
2.Bective Abbey
Ireland's 2nd Cistercian abbey, a Braveheart film set
Founded in 1147, Bective Abbey is Ireland's second Cistercian foundation and one of the best-preserved medieval cloisters in the country — a free, roofless maze of gothic arches on the banks of the Boyne.
- Highlights
- Ireland's second Cistercian abbey, founded 1147
- Exceptionally well-preserved cloister with decorated gothic arches
- A maze of ruined passages, dead ends and broken staircases
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
3.Brú na Bóinne
5,000-year-old tombs older than the pyramids
A UNESCO World Heritage landscape in a bend of the River Boyne, Brú na Bóinne holds the great Neolithic passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, built around 3200 BC. All visits start at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre, the only gateway to the monuments.
- Highlights
- Newgrange passage tomb and chamber, aligned to the winter solstice sunrise
- Knowth, with the largest collection of megalithic art in Western Europe
- Full-scale replica of the Newgrange chamber in the Visitor Centre
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
4.Irish Military War Museum
Hold the rifles and uniforms of two world wars
A hands-on military museum outside Collon where you can pick up original artefacts, feel the weight of a rifle's cold steel and handle a coarse woollen uniform. Its permanent exhibition covers World Wars I and II, with living history events spanning Roman times to the present.
- Highlights
- Hands-on original artefacts
- World War I and II permanent exhibition
- Living history weekends, lectures and workshops
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
5.Loughcrew Megalithic Centre
5,000-year-old tombs older than Newgrange
A traditional Irish courtyard, café and campsite sitting directly beneath Loughcrew's 5,000-year-old passage tombs — older than Newgrange and set on Meath's highest point.
- Highlights
- Cairns over 5,000 years old — older than Newgrange
- Cairn T, lit down the passage at the equinoxes
- Legend of the witch and her throne
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
6.Newgrange
5,200-year-old tomb aligned to the winter solstice
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.
- Highlights
- Newgrange passage tomb, built c.3200 BC
- Winter-solstice sunrise light in the chamber
- Triple-spiral entrance stone and megalithic art
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
7.Trim Castle
Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle
The largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, Trim Castle is a monumental 20-sided keep begun by Hugh de Lacy and 30 years in the building, looming over the heritage town of Trim beside the River Boyne.
- Highlights
- Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman fortification
- Monumental 20-sided, cruciform keep
- Guided roof tour with interior walkways
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Wheelchair access
8.Emerald Park
45 rides, 180 animals and a wooden coaster
Ireland's only theme park and zoo, spread over 50 acres in the Boyne Valley, combining more than 45 rides and attractions with a 180-animal zoo.
- Highlights
- Over 45 rides and attractions across 50 acres
- Cú Chulainn Coaster, the country's only wooden rollercoaster
- Accredited zoo with over 180 animals
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
9.Moynalty Steam Threshing Museum
A 51-year-old steam and vintage festival
Moynalty Steam Threshing Museum keeps the sights and sounds of a bygone farming era alive in the heart of a Meath village, home each August to one of Ireland's longest-running steam and vintage festivals.
- Highlights
- 51st annual Steam Threshing Festival, 8–9 August 2026
- Working steam threshing and binding displays
- Traditional crafts: basket weaving, blacksmith and forge, wood turning
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access
10.Slane Castle
Home of legendary rock concerts since 1981
A 1785 Gothic-revival castle on a 1,500-acre Boyne Valley estate, still the Conyngham family home and the site of Ireland's most famous rock concerts. The castle and grounds are open by appointment only.
- Highlights
- Guided tour of the 1785 castle by Wyatt, Gandon and Johnston
- Afternoon Tea in the Gothic Revival King George IV Ballroom
- Slane Irish Whiskey Distillery on site
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
11.Loughcrew Estate, Coffee Shop and Gardens
17th-century gardens, fairy trail and 6km lake walk
A 17th-century Meath estate of terraced gardens, ancient yew walks and a children's fairy trail, tucked below the Neolithic Loughcrew cairns about an hour from Dublin.
- Highlights
- 2.5 hectares of 17th- and 19th-century gardens
- Ancient yew walk and lime avenue
- Loughcrew Fairy Trail - open all year
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
12.Navan Adventure Centre
18-hole footgolf, laser tag and a sand barn
A multi-activity outdoor adventure park beside Navan Racecourse, where kids and grown-ups burn off energy on footgolf, pedal go-karts, inflatables and a 40-tonne indoor sand barn.
- Highlights
- Family Fun package: €15 per child, €5 per adult
- 18-hole championship footgolf plus a 9-hole family course
- Indoor sand barn with 40 tonnes of natural sea sand
- Facilities
- Wheelchair access
13.The Zone
24,000 sq ft of indoor karting, bowling and VR
A large indoor activity centre on the edge of Navan, built around a 24,000 sq ft karting track and home to Navan's first bowling alley, with outdoor laser combat, VR, Xbox and a giant inflatable Air Zone. Award-winning and firmly aimed at families, groups and parties.
- Highlights
- 24,000 sq ft indoor karting track with a bridge flyover
- Navan's first ten-pin bowling alley
- Giant inflatable Air Zone with four slides
- Facilities
- Good for kids · Restrooms · Wheelchair access