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28 Reviews| Hotel | USD* | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tankardstown | $216 | 2.8 mi 4.5 km |
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| The d Hotel | $158 | 5.8 mi 9.4 km |
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| Scholars Townhouse Hotel | $157 | 6.0 mi 9.7 km |
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| Best Western Boyne Valley | $177 | 6.3 mi 10.2 km |
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| Boyne Haven House | N/A | 6.3 mi 10.2 km |
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| restaurant | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Poet's Rest | 2.9 mi 4.7 km |
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| D'Vine | 5.6 mi 9.0 km |
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| Bru | 5.7 mi 9.2 km |
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| Thing to Do | Distance | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Hill of Tara (Temair) | 8.9 mi 14.4 km |
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| Carton House Golf Club | 21.4 mi 34.4 km |
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| Polly Hops Traditional Irish Bar | 23.4 mi 37.6 km |
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Newgrange was far and away the most amazing thing we saw on our trip to Ireland. The visitors center was interesting, but the tour of the tomb itself was incredible. Tour guides take you inside the tomb and simulate the way the light enters the tomb on the day of the winter solstice. The "grafitti", from the 1800s, was also very interesting. A must see.
If you're a tourist, it is not so easy to arrive there on your own. We found there was no public transport. There is a shuttle bus, and also a few tour buses. We opted for a tour that included a stop at the Hill of Tara. Newgrange is very protected so your time at the actual burial mound will be limited. The visitor center where tickets are sold has alot of info, so even if the subject is new to you, you will feel informed when you get to the burial mound.
Arrive early because only a certain amount of tickets are sold each day. We wished we could have seen the second burial site at Knowth, but that option wasn't available on our tour.
Surely worth a visit- what else is like it?
I don't have too much to add to the previous post, except to reiterate 'wow!' We only had time for the Newgrange tour - wish we could've seen Knowth, too. Drove by Dowth and walked around a bit but it's pretty damaged by now, with no interior access.
Newgrange predates the pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge, so be prepared for your imagination to soar. Terrific art on stone with many swirls and whirls. Very friendly and patient staff. Nice little gift shop at the visitor center, and the exhibitions there added to the experience. A must do if you're in the Dublin area.
Oh, and if you're driving, look for the signs that say 'Slane' and/or 'Bru na Boinne.' It won't say Newgrange. I drove around for an hour looking for it. Also, it really is a good idea to arrive around 9.30 am (opening time in October, anyway) and get on the first tour (10 am). It gets more and more crowded as the day progresses.
The outside is impressive enough, with its re-constructed stone facade, but it is the opportunity to go inside the mound that makes this one of the can't miss sights of Ireland. Imagine a dry stone construction so exact that it has remained watertight for over 5,000 years, and still admits sunlight only on the morning of the winter solstice. If you can, go first thing in the morning so that your tour will not be too crowded. Also, while you are there, take the tour to Knowth as well. While not as awe-inspiring (largely because of the lack of interior access) there are several things you can see at Knowth that you cannot see at Newgrange. However, if you have time for only one of the two, it must be Newgrange.
