Dublin to Newgrange, Monasterboice Small Group Guided Tours
4.5

Dublin to Newgrange, Monasterboice Small Group Guided Tours

By Hilltoptreks
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Make the most of your time in Ireland on a small-group full-day tour from Dublin that features a range of historical destinations in the Boyne Valley. Highlights include the UNESCO-listed ruins of Newgrange and Knowth; a trip to the 1690 battlefield in Boyne; and the St. Bhuite monastery.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 5-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • Cover a lot of ground in one day
  • Hear insightful commentary from your guide
  • Skip the hassle of driving on your own on this comprehensive tour
  • A small group means a personalized experience

  • Transportation in small minibus
  • Qualified friendly guide
  • Enatrance Fee into Newgrange and Bru Na Boinne
  • Entry/Admission - Newgrange
What's not included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off


Start:
  • Molly Malone Statue, Suffolk St, Dublin 2, D02 KX03, Ireland
    Pickup point is at the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street at 09:00am. Please be 10 minutes early. Look for a white bus with "Hilltoptreks" written on it.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Not wheelchair accessible
    • Near public transportation
    • Infant seats available
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 24779P3

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • In case of bad weather, rain gear is recommended
    • Items to bring: camera
    • Most travellers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 24779P3

    From
    €85.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers
    Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • Suffolk St, Dublin 2, D02 KX03, Ireland
      Pickup point is at the Molly Malone statue on Suffolk Street at 09:00am. Please be 10 minutes early. Look for a white bus with "Hilltoptreks" written on it.
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Hilltoptreks
      1,763
      Ireland
      Joined in August 2010
    • 229myraa
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Good
      A good experience with very informative Kevin, an irish man who is knowledgeable with his job as a tour guide. Love the experience
      Written 8 February 2025
    • Peter B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Carrigoligan 4/01/2025
      The hike was well organised and led with all participants saying how much they enjoyed it - would definitely recommend!
      Written 9 January 2025
    • S5671DJnoora
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Took the best picture of my life
      Linda was amazing. Unforgettable experience! The small group tour experience is much nicer than the giant tour bus experience, in my opinion.
      Written 3 December 2024
    • Elimbar
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience!
      It was awesome! Riding through Wicklow, in such an amazing forest and panorama. Gorgeous! And then walking around Glendalough. Ireland is such an amazing country
      Written 3 December 2024
    • KD9438157
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great day
      Kevin was a good driver and guide. The tour was well paced with the right amount of time at each stop. I loved walking the grounds of the estate. Even in fall it is beautiful. Had plenty of time to shop around as well. While the rainy day made the views somewhat less spectacular, they were still wonderful to see. The hike thru Glendalough was lovely and the monastic village was rather interesting as well. Kevin did a great job getting us back to the city after a slight detour due to an accident.
      Written 30 November 2024
    • Madison M
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful tour!
      Linda was a fantastic guide! She was friendly and knowledgeable. The tour was a great way to see the Wicklow area. I loved the guided walk, Glendalough, and all the beautiful sights we got to see along the way. She also had some great recommendations for Dublin and the surrounding area. I highly recommend this tour!
      Written 30 October 2024
    • lilywO2886ZW
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Best horse riding experience
      The horse riding experience was amazing would recommend to all friends and family visiting Ireland. The towns and views were also well worth it. Linda was a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable.
      Written 28 October 2024
    • Rahbar21
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Lovely scenery
      I took a day tour to powercourt estate-Wicklow. The driver-guide Linda was very knowledgeable and supportive during the day long trip. The sights are breathtakingly beautiful.
      Written 28 October 2024
    • ElkeC30
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Wonderful day!
      We had a wonderful day with tour guide Linda. She gave us lots of interesting information and tips about Dublin. Perfectly on time at every meeting point. We didn't have to worry about any traveldetails all day.
      Written 28 October 2024
    • 215melindav
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fantastic views of Wicklow Mtns on horesback
      Linda, our driver & guide, was great! Very friendly and shared lots of fun info on the ride throughout. Ella and Joe at the stables were really helpful and patient getting us all setup, but once we started the views were just stunning! Back in the van, the tour through the mountains offered spectacular views with several photo stops before reaching Glendalough. The town and 2 lakes didn’t disappoint either! Highly recommend!
      Written 13 October 2024
    • Gina B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent day in Wicklow Mountains! Definitely 5 Stars!!
      This was our family of three adults first visit to Ireland and the day trip with Hilltop Treks from Dublin to the Wicklow Mountains, including Glendalough and Powerscourt Estate, was amazing!. The landscapes of Wicklow Mountains National Park were a joy to explore, while Glendalough’s ancient ruins were interesting and a perfect backdrop for peaceful walks. Despite some rain at Powerscourt Estate, the beautifully landscaped gardens made it worth the visit. Our guide, Linda, was the highlight of the trip; her deep knowledge and passion for the area brought the history to life. She was engaging and friendly, making every moment enjoyable. This experience was a perfect blend of nature, history, and great company, leaving us eager to return to explore more of Ireland’s beauty.
      Written 10 October 2024
    • 593kaitlina
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Charming introduction to Ireland
      I can't recommend enough the trip into the Wicklow Mountains. It was absolutely breathtaking, even if we got a bit wet! Our tour guide, Linda, was fabulous, and provided rich detail of the region and many laughs! The trail ride was so much fun, and the staff at the stables were extremely courteous. I'm generally not someone who enjoys guided tours since they usually involve 30+ people stuck on a large tour bus. There were 14 of us in a van, which made it easy to wrangle everyone and ensured no one held up the group. Would definitely recommend this tour, and worth the full day to experience.
      Written 10 October 2024
    • K726JKsharonp
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Excellent tour - highly recommend!
      Excellent tour from start to finish. Linda was brilliant - friendly, professional and very informative. Couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Would highly recommend this tour - absolutely amazing! Thank you Hilltoptreks and special thanks to our guide, Linda.
      Written 2 October 2024
    • E7078VOpatriciab
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      nicee. thank u
      it was a very nice day. Kevin, our driver was fun and told us a lot about the history and the thinks we passed. Horseback riding was also nice, the people at the stable were fine. We didn’t have that much of a conversation with them but all in all it was a nice day.
      Written 1 October 2024
    • 921barrys
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Exceptional Experience Very Personable
      Well organized trip to avoid the unpredictable Ireland weather. Tour guide was very personable and accommodating. In the end the weather prevailed however the ability to adjust the tour made our day very enjoyable. Covered Irish history, detailed commentary of the beautiful countryside and areas that we visited. It was a very special memorable day for our group. Thank you Gillian for an amazing day in our lives.
      Written 1 October 2024
    See all 1,763 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    We perform checks on reviews.
    Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
    Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
    When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
    Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
    Learn more about our review moderation.
    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles141 reviews
    Excellent
    100
    Very good
    23
    Average
    12
    Poor
    2
    Terrible
    4

    Lilitreamont
    New York City, NY57 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2024 • Couples
    Overall, we enjoyed our day tour out to Newgrange and the Boyne Valley but the tour could use a little polish. To start, we had difficulty finding the bus as it was not exactly where it said to meet nor did we see it. I would recommend the tour guide stand by the meeting point listed so that guests can check in rather than hoping they find the bus on their own if it is not going to be parked at the exact meeting point.

    This tour is definitely a convenient way to get to the visitor’s center for Newgrange and Knowth, and those sites were great with informative guides at each mound. I have been to Newgrange before and always love visiting the site! Knowth was a new addition that I was very excited to see and enjoyed.

    While we liked the idea of additional stops along the way home, it unfortunately did not feel like a cohesive tour and they felt tacked on rather than organic; the stop at the Boyne Valley battle site in particular felt superfluous and like a time filler. It would have had a greater impact if the guide had walked us through the field to explain the significance rather than parking and sending us off into a museum whose fee was not included in the tour ticket (the museum is only 5€ but for the sake of convenience would have been nice to have been built into the tour ticket fee). To be honest, this stop can be skipped entirely with more time going to Monasterboice which again would be elevated by a guided tour.

    The tour drop off point was also different than listed in the details and threw us off when it came to dinner plans as we disembarked in a different location than the summary showed.
    Written 29 September 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for the detailed and positive feedback.
    Written 1 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    jsilverman83
    Oakland, CA410 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Aug 2024 • Solo
    The tour had 24 people on it, despite the website saying there would only be 16 max. The coach was small, but comfortable with USB chargers (but no wifi). The guide, Matt, was awesome -- super nice & entertaining & informative.
    We spent almost the entire time at Brú na Bóinne and while there we did the tours of Knowth and Newgrange, plus had time for lunch and shopping in the gift shop, as well as looking at this little displays/museum in the visitor center. The 2 sites were amazing and super interesting, lunch was fine, and the displays were pretty meh.
    We also stopped at Monasterboice and Mainistir Bhuithe which were cool old sites as well.
    Written 15 August 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you for your very positive feedback.
    Written 16 August 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    TVeeDeeBee
    Ireland58 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023
    I can't believe it's taken us so long to visit these sites. It is ancient, steep in mystery & mythology. Both Knowth & Newgrange are very well maintained, & the OPW staff members are very passionate about these historic spaces. We were blessed with good weather on the day, & the buses to & from the visitor center & sites made the trip even more nostalgic & exciting.

    You can climb on top of the Knowth mound, which gives you an un paralleled 360 degree view of the surrounds. The stones around the Knowth mound are full of petroglyphs & you can get up close & take photos (if you're lucky, the light might be in the right place for you to get a great photo). Time flies when you're there, so take it in as fast as you can before the bus leaves for Newgrange. Jackie (OPW staff - Knowth) was very right when she shared her passion for Knowth over Newgrange. Knowth appears bigger, has multiple little mounds, & a lot of petroglyphs.

    BUT, unlike Knowth, you can go into the shaft & chamber of Newgrange. You can't take photos inside Newgrange though. Be advised, if you're claustrophobic, this might not be the best part of the experience for you. The Newgrange chamber is very narrow & low at one point. I am a curvey 5ft6 had some difficulty getting through comfortably. Also, if you have mobility issues (wheelchair/rollator/crutches), you will not be able to access the stairs to & from the main entrance to the entrance, nor will you be able to access the passage & chamber at Newgrange.
    Written 3 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for the excellent and detailed review.
    Written 3 October 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Cheryl
    Horseshoe Bend, ID8 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Family
    We were supposed to go to Knowth, New Grange, Slane Village and Castle and the village and castle of Trim. We were supposed to stop for lunch in Slane Village at one of Irelands most snug cultured pubs and cafes.

    We did go to Knowth and New Grange, but not the last 2. Instead we were dropped at a rather boring tiny museum where we had to pay $5.00 if we wanted to go in. Not much to see. The lunch was not snug or cultured, but rather a simple buffet cafe with not enough inside tables for the group. It was too hot to sit outside. From there we made a 15 minute stop at a cemetery and abbey.

    Our bus was so tiny we had to walk sideways down the aisle and there was no air conditioning. We were melting.

    Knowth and New Grange were great but I don't know why we weren't taken to the other 2 places but instead were substituted for boring places. I have reached out for a refund but haven't had a response yet.
    Written 10 September 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    This tour Itinerary was changed in March 23 due to the extended visit in Newgrange. We updated all our platforms about this and emailed everyone who had already booked. I'm sorry that you were not aware of these changes.
    Written 30 September 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Gabriela Z
    Manresa, Spain10 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2023 • Solo
    The trip is fine, however, in the title it states "Hill of Tara" which we have not seen. In fact, I have asked the guide, Jill, about that and she said that it is too far away and there is no time for that. Also, the stop at the restaurant in the middle of nowehere is terrible, you are forced to spend money there and eat there.

    A part from that, the trip was nice, she explained everything very well and Newgrange is fantastic.
    Written 5 October 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    We have to change the Itinerary of this since March 23 due to the extended visit of Newgrange and Knowth. You must have booked this months ago. I did try contact everyone about the change.
    Written 7 November 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Kennedy H
    4 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dec 2024 • Friends
    As someone from Canada who is obsessed with ancient tombs, this was an unforgettable experience. Richard was a good storyteller, and I found out I love visiting ruins when we went to Millifont!

    My only downside to this tour was that the microphone was very quiet in the van, so sometimes I had trouble hearing the guide. Other than that it was great! If you aren’t driving while in Ireland and are not comfortable using public transit, I highly recommend this tour to visit newgrange!
    Written 4 January 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for the wonderful feedback about our Day tour to Newgrange from Dublin.
    Written 12 January 2025
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Thomas M
    Cleveland, OH5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    May 2024 • Solo
    Matt was a great guide to lead us through these ancient sites. Not only were the sites that we saw incredible, but Matt shared a lot of information about Ireland’s history to help put everything we saw into context. I learned a lot about thousands of years of Irish history on this tour. A highlight of the day for me was going inside Newgrange and seeing what the inside of the structures looked like, and learning about how it’s constructed around the winter solstice. Great day altogether, and I’d recommend this trip.
    Written 3 May 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for the excellent review.
    Written 14 May 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Karen M
    5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2024 • Solo
    Well organized tour for a worthwhile experience to a UNESCO heritage site. The guide at Knowth provided information that you would never otherwise learn. Climbing to the top of the mound provided a beautiful view. Transiting inside the 5000 year old tomb at Newgrange was a profound experience, connecting to the long ago past of inhabitants. The cafe at the tour center was lovely. The trip is an excellent value for money for an unforgettable experience. Note: there are inclines and steps but conquerable if you take your time.
    Written 30 September 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much Karen for the excellent review.
    Written 1 October 2024
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Rebecca
    20 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wonderful small group tour to NewGrange area. Wow! I never knew about NewGrange and my FB Ireland group recommended if one can get tickets since they sell out fast.

    Great tour guide on 6/6/23 was the best and I forgot his name. Perfect day and history lesson from 5200 year old passage tomb to 1850ish famine mass grave. Learned so much history and more to study.
    Written 2 July 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much for the excellent review.
    Written 4 July 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Judy K
    Thousand Oaks, CA38 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jul 2023 • Couples
    Jillian was an outstanding tour guide and an excellent driver from Dublin to New Grange with a few other memorable stops. She is so knowledgeable about the history of everything we saw and added dimensions with all the background info she shared. Her love of Ireland came through during the day and her passion for sharing what she knew and experienced growing up in Ireland made the day so memorable.
    We highly recommend you take her tour with Hilltop Treks.
    Written 1 August 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thank you very much Daphne for your excellent review and I'll pass along your kind words to Gillian.
    Written 2 August 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Showing results 1-10 of 131
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Dublin to Newgrange, Monasterboice Small Group Guided Tours provided by Hilltoptreks

    All Dublin HotelsDublin Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Dublin
    All things to do in Dublin
    Day Trips in Dublin
    RestaurantsFlightsHoliday RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire