Boyne Valley Day Trip from Dublin
Neolithic passage tombs older than the pyramids, plus Trim Castle
A one-day drive from Dublin to Boyne Valley — 83 km round trip, about 1h 44m behind the wheel, with stops, timings and where to eat already worked out.
Neolithic passage tombs older than the pyramids, plus Trim Castle. It's a day out of Dublin: 88 km of driving in total, about 1h 45m behind the wheel, and the rest of the day on your feet.
The plan below is paced so the driving doesn't eat the day: leave after breakfast, be back for the evening. Every stop can be swapped for one of three alternatives if it isn't your kind of thing.
Your days
You cross the Boyne to stand inside a 5,000-year-old tomb by late morning and end the day looking up at Trim's Norman keep.
A short shuttle ride from the visitor centre across the River Boyne brings you to the mound itself.
Back on the shuttle from Newgrange, a few minutes further to the second great mound at Knowth.
From Knowth, a short drive brings you into Slane village for lunch around midday.
Right above the village, a quick climb up from Slane after lunch.
The route back toward Dublin passes right by Trim, so a quick stop is easy.
Nothing stops you at the road, so this is on you to settle. The M50 around Dublin has no barriers — pay online by 8pm the next day or it becomes a penalty.
Buy at www.eflow.iePrice checked 2026-07-30. Confirm on the official site.
- Book Brú na Bóinne timed tickets online in advance — it's the only way to see Newgrange or Knowth.
- Dublin's low-emission zone rules mainly affect buses/trucks — a regular car is fine returning into the city.
- Slane and Trim are small villages — park centrally and walk, no restricted zones to worry about.
- Total driving is well under the 400 km cap, leaving the whole day free for the sites themselves.
- Monasterboice+15 km
Superb high crosses and a round tower in a peaceful graveyard setting, a quieter counterpart to Brú na Bóinne.
- Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre, Oldbridge+10 km
Georgian house and battlefield site of the famous 1690 battle, with river walks along the Boyne.
- Bective Abbey+8 km
Atmospheric ruined Cistercian abbey on the riverbank near Trim, free to wander and rarely crowded.
This route was drafted with AI. Please double-check roads, opening hours and local conditions before you go.
Questions, answered
- Are the Cliffs of Moher really doable in a day from Dublin?
- Yes, but it is a long one: roughly three hours each way, so plan on ten to eleven hours door to door. It works best if you make the drive part of the point and add the Burren on the way back, rather than treating it as a single stop.
- Do I need to pre-book Newgrange?
- Yes. The passage tomb can only be visited on a guided tour from the Brú na Bóinne visitor centre, tours sell out in summer, and you cannot drive to the monument itself: the shuttle from the centre is the only access. Book before you drive.
- What about the M50 toll?
- The eastbound and westbound toll at Junction 6–7 is barrier-free: cameras read your plate and you pay by 8pm the next day online. Hire companies charge an administration fee on top if they pay it for you, so do it yourself the evening you drive.
- Which day works best in bad weather?
- Kilkenny: the castle, the medieval mile and the brewery are all indoors or short hops. Glendalough is fine in drizzle and better without crowds, but the upper lake walk turns to mud.
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