Things to Do in Meath: The Royal County's Hidden Treasures

Meath, the Royal County, lies within a half-hour drive north of Dublin. Its standout sights are Newgrange - a 5,000-year-old passage tomb in the Brú na Bóinne complex - the Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings, and Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Most are easy day trips from the city.

Meath packs more genuine history per mile than almost anywhere in Leinster. Inside a half-hour drive you can stand in a 5,000-year-old passage tomb, climb the inauguration hill of the High Kings, and walk the walls of the biggest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. This is the short version of how to do it well, with the prices, hours and practical steers that most listings leave out.

The Royal County earned its nickname honestly: Tara was the seat of Ireland's kings, and the Boyne Valley holds a UNESCO World Heritage cluster older than the pyramids. You can build a brilliant day here for next to nothing, because most of the great sites are free to walk.

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What are the must-see things to do in Meath?

The headline acts are Newgrange, the Hill of Tara and Trim Castle, all within the Boyne Valley. Here is what each one is, what it costs, and when to go.

Bru na Boinne: Newgrange and Knowth

This is the one people travel across the world for. Newgrange is a 5,000-year-old passage tomb, built before Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, and famous for the shaft of light that fills its chamber at the winter solstice. You can only reach the monuments on a guided tour from the Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre at Donore, so there is no turning up at the stones directly.

The combined Bru na Boinne tour plus Newgrange chamber costs €18 for adults, €12 for students and 12 to 17s, with under-12s free and a family ticket at €48. Tours run daily, and the centre opens 9am to 7pm from June to mid-September (shorter hours in winter). Book ahead online: tours sell out, and walk-up tickets are not guaranteed. Aim for the first slot of the day to dodge the coach crowds.

The Hill of Tara

Tara is free, open all year, and quietly one of the best hours you can spend in Ireland. The grassy ridge was the ceremonial capital of Gaelic Ireland, where High Kings were inaugurated, and on a clear day the view stretches across the Boyne Valley to Loughcrew, the Hill of Slane and beyond. Stand by the Lia Fail standing stone and you are at the symbolic centre of the old kingdom.

There is a seasonal visitor point in the old church, but the site itself is yours to wander any time. Go at sunset and bring a windbreaker; the hill is exposed and the light is the whole point. Wear proper shoes, the ground is uneven and gets boggy after rain.

Trim Castle

Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland, a 20-sided stone keep that Hugh de Lacy and his successors took roughly 30 years to build. Film fans will recognise it as a location for Braveheart. The grounds are free to walk; the guided tour of the keep costs €5 for adults, €4 concession and €3 for children, with a €13 family ticket.

Keep hours are seasonal, broadly 10am to 5pm daily from St Patrick's Day to the end of September, shorter the rest of the year. The keep climb is on steep, narrow stairs and is not wheelchair accessible, and summer queues build, so go midweek or early. After, cross the river for the riverside walk to the Yellow Steeple and Newtown Abbey ruins.

Where can you escape the crowds in Meath?

The marquee sites are rightly busy. These quieter corners reward a little more effort and a tank of patience.

Loughcrew Cairns

Up in the Loughcrew Hills near Oldcastle sits one of Ireland's most important prehistoric cemeteries, around 30 passage tombs scattered across the high ground. Like Newgrange, the great Cairn T aligns with the sun, lighting up at the spring and autumn equinoxes. Access is free, with guides on site in summer to answer questions.

Note for 2026: conservation work means the interior of Cairn T is currently closed, though the rest of the hilltop is open and the views are reason enough to climb. There is no public transport, so drive via the R163 from Kells (about 20 minutes) and bring sturdy footwear for the uphill walk.

Kells and its monastic heritage

Kells gave its name to the Book of Kells, and the town still carries the marks of its great monastery: a round tower, a clutch of weathered High Crosses, and St Columba's House. It is an easy, free wander, best on a quiet weekday afternoon when you can read the carved panels of the crosses without a crowd at your shoulder. Pair it with a coffee in town and a run out to Loughcrew, 20 minutes north.

The Battle of the Boyne site at Oldbridge

The 1690 battle between William of Orange and James II shaped the next three centuries of Irish history, and the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre at Oldbridge House tells it well, with restored parkland, walled gardens and weapon demonstrations in the warmer months. Allow two to three hours and check the schedule before you travel, as living-history days and demonstrations run on set dates rather than daily.

What is there to do in Meath with kids?

Plenty, and it is not all standing stones. Emerald Park in Ashbourne (the former Tayto Park) is the big draw: theme-park rides, a zoo and a working crisp factory tour in one site. The headline ride is the Cu Chulainn Coaster, a wooden inverted coaster that climbs 32 metres and hits around 90 km/h, while Tiny Tater's Patch keeps the under-sixes happy. A self-guided walk through the Tayto factory comes bundled with entry, and you leave with a free packet of crisps.

For something more hands-on, Causey Farm near Fordstown runs farm experiences, bread-making and bog jumps, a reliable hit on a wet day. And if your crew has the legs for it, our guide to the best hiking trails in Meath covers gentler family walks alongside the bigger climbs.

Take a guided Boyne Valley tour

If you are coming from Dublin without a car, or you simply want the history brought to life by a local guide, a day tour links the main Boyne Valley sites without the driving. Two we rate, at different price points:

• Celtic Boyne Valley and Ancient Sites Day Tour from Dublin, taking in the Boyne Valley, the Hill of Tara and the Loughcrew Celtic tombs on a guided run out from the city. The value pick for solo travellers, couples and anyone who wants the shared-group version. Check dates and prices on Viator.
• Private Tour of Newgrange and the Hill of Tara, a private option built around prehistoric Newgrange and the inauguration hill of the High Kings, at your own pace. Worth it for families or small groups who want to set their own itinerary. See the private tour on Viator.

Frequently asked questions

What are the must-see things to do in Meath? The headline sights are Newgrange - a 5,000-year-old passage tomb in the Bru na Boinne complex - the Hill of Tara, seat of the High Kings, and Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, all within the Boyne Valley.

How far is Meath from Dublin? Most of Meath's headline sights are within a half-hour drive north of Dublin, making them easy day trips from the city.

How much does it cost to visit Newgrange? The combined Bru na Boinne tour plus Newgrange chamber costs EUR18 for adults, EUR12 for students and 12 to 17s, with under-12s free and a family ticket at EUR48. The visitor centre opens 9am to 7pm from June to mid-September.

Is the Hill of Tara free to visit? Yes. The Hill of Tara is free and open all year. Wear proper shoes, as the ground is uneven and gets boggy after rain.

Can you visit Meath on a budget? Yes. You can build a full day for very little, because most of the great sites are free to walk, including the Hill of Tara and the grounds of Trim Castle.

Getting to Meath and getting around

Meath sits right on Dublin's northern doorstep, which makes it one of the easiest day trips in Leinster. The Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre is about a 75-minute drive from Dublin Airport, with Navan, Trim and Kells all close by. The M3 and M1 motorways carry most of the traffic; the M1 is your road for the Boyne Valley sites near Drogheda, the M3 for Tara, Navan and Kells.

A car is by far the best way to link the sites, since several (Loughcrew especially) have no public transport at all. Bus Eireann serves the main towns from Dublin if you are travelling light, but plan on a guided tour or a hire car if you want to cover ground. For the full lay of the land, the official Discover Boyne Valley site maps the driving routes.

Make a weekend of it

Meath rewards an overnight. You can pair it with neighbouring counties without much driving: the coast and Cooley peninsula are an easy hop in our guide to things to do in Louth, and the county town has its own food and music scene covered in our things to do in Navan guide. Solstice weekend in June is the busiest and best time to be in the Boyne Valley, so book a bed early if you are coming then.

The short version

Start at Newgrange (book the tour), spend a free hour at sunset on the Hill of Tara, climb Trim Castle's keep, and keep Loughcrew, Kells and the Battle of the Boyne site in reserve for a second day. Bring kids? Add Emerald Park. Coming from Dublin without a car? Take a Boyne Valley tour. Either way, you will have seen more of ancient Ireland in two days than most people manage in a fortnight.

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Closer to Dublin, the commuter town of Dunboyne makes an easy half-day out - see our full guide to things to do in Dunboyne.

Where to stay in Meath

Making a night of it? Browse hotels, guesthouses and places to stay in Meath:

See places to stay in Meath on Expedia

Swim safety right now

3 Meath beaches are monitored by the EPA through the bathing season. No bathing restrictions are in place right now. See live water-quality status for every Meath beach →

Heritage sites in Meath

Meath has 4,921 recorded archaeological monuments, and 7 are set up to visit. See the historic sites in Meath worth visiting →

Walking trails in Meath

Meath has 5 waymarked walking trails on the national register, graded and mapped. See the walking trails in Meath worth lacing up for →

Historic buildings in Meath

Meath has 1,132 recorded NIAH buildings, 8 of them rated of National or International importance, from Georgian houses and churches to bridges and mills. See the historic buildings in Meath worth seeking out →

Top things to do in Meath

Donaghpatrick Church, In 1862, the London trained Fuller had answered an advertisement for a district architect under the Irish Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

Kells High Crosses, The town of Kells, in County Meath, is one of the highlights of any tour of Ireland’s historic Boyne Valley.

Townley Hall Woods, Built in 1799, the house is not open to the public.

Wellington Memorial, Arthur Wellesley, later to become the Duke of Wellington, was born on Merrion Street in Dublin City and spent his early formative years in Trim, County Meath.

Bective Abbey, The abbey at Bective was founded in 1147, though much of the remaining ruins date from the 15th century.

Skryne Church, A 15th Century church ruin, known locally as Skryne Tower, perches atop The Hill of Skryne.

St Columba's Church, St Columba’s Church, Kells, County Meath, was built in 1778, but the land on which it stands is one of County Meath’s most important ecclesiastical sites.

Bettystown Beach, The beach is linked to the discovery of the Tara Brooch, an exquisite piece of ancient jewellery dating back to the 8th century, now housed in the National Museum of Ireland.

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Events & attractions: Fáilte Ireland Open Data (failteireland.ie), CC BY 4.0.