Ancient mound structure with green grass and blue sky

County Meath

See Ireland’s prehistoric tombs, the Hill of Tara and Norman castles in a rural county about 50 km from Dublin.

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County Meath is in Leinster, in Ireland’s Eastern and Midland Region. Navan, the county’s largest town and county town, is about 50 km from Dublin. The River Boyne runs through fertile farmland and past major historic sites. Brú na Bóinne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, built before 3,000 BC. Newgrange is Ireland’s largest prehistoric tomb. Around the equinoxes, sunlight passes through its roofbox and reaches the inner chamber.

Meath is known as the Royal County because the Hill of Tara was the seat of Ireland’s High Kings. From Tara, you can continue to Trim Castle, an Anglo-Norman fortification, or visit the early Christian sites at Kells and Clonard Abbey. Bettystown, Laytown and Mornington are among the county’s coastal beaches. Meath suits a history-focused trip, whether you are making a day trip from Dublin or staying longer to reach sites spread across the county. May and June are the sunniest months. Allow extra time on narrow rural roads; public transport is limited in rural areas. Check heritage-site opening hours before travelling, as some sites close in winter.

County Meath in five

Book Brú na Bóinne before anything elseTickets open 30 days ahead from April to 1 November and 7 days ahead otherwise, at midnight Irish time. Every visitor, including infants, needs a ticket for the tombs, which are guided-tour only.
Check for cancellations twice a dayThe site says returned tickets reappear online between 15:00 and 16:00 and between 08:30 and 09:30. Pre-booking for the visitor center exhibition alone is not required.
Skip the Knowth chambers, they are closedThe site says there is no access to the chambers at Knowth, and photography is not allowed in the Newgrange passage or chamber. The Newgrange passage is low and narrow.
Add Tara between May and SeptemberThe Hill of Tara is an open site, with a visitor center and guided tours from 1 May to 30 September 2026, 10:00 to 17:00. Tours cost €5 for adults.
Visit Trim Castle before it closes for worksHeritage Ireland says Trim Castle will close for works from 1 November 2026 to 1 April 2027. Until then, check its seasonal hours; the keep tour costs €5 and the grounds are free.County Dublin

Things to do in County Meath

See all attractions in County Meath

Monument · County MeathNewgrangeBook ahead: tickets for visits inside the chamber can sell out.

Sight · County MeathHill of Slane

Sight · County MeathKnowth

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Need to know

Airport: Dublin (DUB) is the nearest airport
Getting there: By car or tour from Dublin; check public transport to the visitor center
Getting around: A car links Brú na Bóinne, Tara and Trim; tours cover the first two
Best base: Dublin, or Drogheda or Trim for an early start
Time needed: 1 long day for Brú na Bóinne plus one more site

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh7°Low2°Cold, wet
FebruaryRain14 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold, damp
MarchRain15 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Mild, short days
AprilRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Mild, spring
MayCloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Long days
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Long days
JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, busy
AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh19°Low12°Warm, busy
SeptemberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Calmer
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low8°Cool, autumn
NovemberRain14 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°Wet, dark
DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°Solstice mornings

Average daily high and low in Navan, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in County Meath

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 4°
Humidity: 90%
Wind: 10 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

County Meath

08:47 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+0

Today12°1°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 0%.
Tue11°2°6%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 6%.
Wed12°6°36%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 12°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 36%.
Thu11°8°12%Thursday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 12%.
Fri9°7°6%Friday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 6%.
Sat11°7°25%Saturday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 25%.
Sun8°5°12%Sunday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 08:46 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in County Meath

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Dublin, IrelandSt Patrick's Festival DublinMar 13 – 17, 2027 · Read the event guide

Day trips by train

Dublinback to the capitalThe usual hotel base and airport for a Meath day.Read the guide
Dublin Bay coastsouth and east of MeathHowth, Malahide and Dalkey make a calmer second day by train.Read the guide
Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centreabout 4 km from Brú na BóinneHeritage Ireland lists the Oldbridge Estate site near the tombs.

Before you go to County Meath

Brú na Bóinne tourUse the official ticket page firstCompare day trips

Rental car from DublinLinks the tombs, Tara and TrimCompare car hire

eSIM for the Boyne ValleyTicket codes on your phoneRead the guide

Insurance for timed ticketsDelays that cost a booked slotRead the guide

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Rules for County Meath, checked

Brú na Bóinne: pre-booking essential for Newgrange and Knowth; tickets 30 days ahead April to 1 Nov, 7 days otherwise. No access to the Knowth chambers.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Trim Castle will close for works from 1 November 2026 to 1 April 2027; keep tour €5 adult, grounds free.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source

Plan around County Meath

All of Ireland

Regions, rail, driving, money and entry

Read the guide Dublin

The usual base for a Meath day

Read the guide County Dublin

The DART coast, Howth to Malahide

Read the guide Belfast

Two hours north, in another country

Read the guide Driving in Ireland

Narrow roads, left-hand traffic, rentals

Read the guide Official site or reseller

How to buy timed tickets safely

Read the guide

County Meath FAQ

How do you get tickets for Newgrange?

Book through Heritage Ireland's official ticket page. Tickets are released at midnight Irish time, 30 days ahead from April to 1 November. Access is by guided tour only, so book before planning the rest of the day.

Can you visit Newgrange without booking?

The site says access is not guaranteed without a pre-booked ticket, and visitors may not get in. You can visit the visitor center exhibition without pre-booking, but not the tombs.

Is Newgrange worth it?

Yes for 5,000-year-old passage tombs and megalithic art, in a guided visit that starts at the visitor center. It is a poor fit for visitors who dislike narrow, low passages.

Can you do Newgrange and Tara in one day?

Yes, with a car, as Tara is about 17 km from the visitor center. From May to September the Tara visitor center is open 10:00 to 17:00, so book Brú na Bóinne for the morning.

Is Trim Castle open in winter?

Not for now: the site says Trim Castle will close for works from 1 November 2026 to 1 April 2027. Check the official page for updates before you plan a Meath trip.