This is a full private day out from Dublin into Ireland’s Ancient East - covering four of the country’s most historic and spiritual sites: Newgrange, the Hill of Slane, Monasterboice, and Mellifont Abbey.
Newgrange is a UNESCO World Heritage Site older than the Pyramids of Giza, built over 5,000 years ago. You’ll step inside the passage tomb, hear stories of the Celtic gods, and learn about the winter solstice alignment that makes this place like nowhere else on earth. The Hill of Slane is where St. Patrick lit the Paschal Fire, marking the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. Monasterboice holds some of the finest High Crosses in the world, including the famous Muiredach’s Cross. Mellifont Abbey, founded in 1142, was Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery - peaceful, evocative ruins that your guide brings alive.
The day runs 8 to 9 hours with pick-up and drop-off in Dublin and the surrounding area. It’s a private tour with a driver-guide, so you travel at your own pace between stops.
What’s Included
Bottled water
Air-conditioned private vehicle
What’s Not Included
Entrance fee to Newgrange (€18 per adult)
Itinerary
Newgrange, Brú na Bóinne (240 min) - Your day starts with a scenic drive north of Dublin, your guide sharing stories about Ireland’s Neolithic people and the legends surrounding the Brú na Bóinne complex - which includes Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. At Newgrange you’ll step inside the ancient passage tomb, perfectly aligned with the rising sun at the Winter Solstice. Afterwards, explore the visitor centre with its interactive exhibits, archaeological finds, and views over the River Boyne.
Hill of Slane (60 min) - St. Patrick is said to have lit the first Paschal fire here, marking the dawn of Christianity in Ireland. From the summit you’ll have broad views across the Boyne Valley.
Mellifont Abbey (60 min) - Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery, founded in 1142. Wander through the evocative ruins and graceful cloisters as your guide brings medieval Ireland to life.
Monasterboice (120 min) - An early Christian monastic site founded in the 5th century, home to one of Ireland’s finest collections of High Crosses. Muiredach’s Cross is richly carved with biblical scenes and Celtic designs. The round tower still stands - a silent reminder of the monks who sheltered here from Viking raids.
Good to Know
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Specialised infant seats are available
Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all other fitness levels
This is a private tour, available in English and French
Local Tips
The Hill of Slane is a short walk with a big payoff. The path up is straightforward, though it can be windy at the top. From the summit, you get broad views across the entire Boyne Valley - the same panorama St. Patrick would have looked out at when he lit the Paschal fire in defiance of the High King. Spend the full hour here rather than rushing back to the vehicle.
Slane village is four minutes from the Hill - if timing allows, your guide may pass through the crossroads. The four symmetrical Georgian houses are exactly as unusual as they sound. The Conyngham Arms Hotel on the main street is a solid lunch stop if you need one.
Book your Newgrange chamber tickets before the tour. The entrance fee (€18 per adult) is not included, and availability inside the chamber is limited. Plan ahead so you’re not restricted to the visitor centre on the day.
Mellifont Abbey and Monasterboice sit close together in the same landscape.Collon is the village four kilometres north of Mellifont - a planned Georgian estate village built by Speaker Foster, last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. Old Mellifont, which you’ll visit, was the mother house of every Cistercian abbey in Ireland; New Mellifont, a working Cistercian abbey re-established in 1938, sits on the edge of Collon itself. If the afternoon allows, the walk around Collon demesne and a pint at Stanley’s Bar (trading since 1896) is a good way to end the day before the drive home.
Monasterboice is the final stop - arrive with energy. The high crosses reward close attention. Walk slowly around Muiredach’s Cross and look at all four faces; the carving detail is genuinely remarkable and easy to miss if you’re moving quickly.
Drogheda is useful if you’re overnighting near the tour sites. Newgrange is fifteen minutes west of Drogheda, Mellifont and Monasterboice are both inland from the town, and the restaurants on King Street - Scholars Townhouse holds two AA Rosettes - are a clear step up from the roadside options around the sites themselves.
Nearby on IrelandMe
Slane - a crossroads made famous by rock and roll, whiskey, and a saint’s fire; the Hill of Slane is one of the day’s highlights and the village below holds the Slane Whiskey Distillery in the old castle stables.
Collon - a planned Georgian village four kilometres from Mellifont Abbey, with Stanley’s Bar (trading since 1896), New Mellifont working abbey at the edge of the village, and Collon House for a stay in Speaker Foster’s own dining room
Drogheda - Newgrange is fifteen minutes west of this Boyne estuary town; the Boyne Ramparts walk goes upriver toward the Battle of the Boyne site, and Scholars Townhouse is the best dinner for forty minutes in any direction
