lstamu

If we will only be in Dublin for two days should we try to make it to Newgrange?

jefe

I replied in your other thread, but if I only had 2 days in Dublin - and it was my first time there - I'm not sure I'd take a day to go to Newgrange. But that depends on your interests.

nytraveler

If you are truly interested in ancient sights it makes sense to do it - since I don't know when else you will get the chance. But, you need to be aware that if you have any problem with dark or small places (very small places - in some parts of the tunnel 2 people really can;t pass) you should rethink it.

We found it fascinating - but a woman on the tour became very overwrought and several people had to back out so she had the room to get out of the tunnel.

LindaL

I agree with Jefe. If you only have 2 days in Dublin, save Newgrange for your next visit.

GreenDragon

Newgrange (and the surrounding areas, like Hill of Tara, Knowth, Dowth) are worth a full day's attention. With only the two days in Dublin, I'd give it a skip this time - you'll be back to Ireland, it's addicting!

bratsandbeer

Newgrange is awesome. If I remember correctly it isn't that far from Dublin. Dublin was okay - we liked the Book of Kells at Trinity College, the Temple Bar area, Guinness tour.
If you just wanted to see Newgrange I think you could fit it in.

GreenDragon

Newgrange isn't far, that's true - but with the visitor centre and tour set up they have, you could travel there and discover the early tour is full - and have to wait several hours for the next one. If you book ahead of time, it could work.

jaja

You cannot book Brú na Bóinne tours in advance; tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis.

You don't say when you will be there, but you can check opening and tour times here: http://newgrange.com/visitor.htm .

I have visited three times and would go back in a minute.

lstamu

I think we've decided definitely to do Newgrange...Thank jefe for your input...I think we'll be able to do the first couple of suggestions in Dublin without a problem...We'll just have to make another trip to see the rest. Any thoughts on Over the Tops tours(or other tours) going from Dublin to Newgrange? Someone posted that they liked them. It looks like they leave early so I think that's good.

GreenDragon

If you are going up that way, see if you can find a tour that also includes the Hill of Tara, Knowth and Dowth. Knowth and Dowth are more (smaller) passage tombs like Newgrange, and Tara is where kings were crowned for thousands of years. An impressive spot It looks like you can see all of Ireland spread out before you in a patchwork quilt of history.

china_cat

We went on the Over The Top "Celtic experience" tour several years ago. We did not go to Newgrange, because I suffer from claustrophobia, and was afraid I'd wait all day for the tour and then be unable to enter the tomb. Also, I thought we'd get better use out of limited time by going elsewhere. My mom, who is an anthropologist, was disappointed to miss it however. I kind of wish we had gone.

I thought Over The Top was pretty good, and worth the money. The tour guides were well informed. One thing I found slightly annoying...they sell these as "small" tours, just 14 people on the van. Then we found we did the entire thing with one or 2 other vans, so everyplace we went, we were essentially with about 30 people. But other than that we really did enjoy the tour. We saw a very small tomb (called 4 Knocks), Hill of Tara, Mellifont Abbey and Monasterboice. All very interesting.