Frequently Asked Questions
Practical answers about Irish Private Tours with Michael Fox. Topics include private day tours from Dublin to the Boyne Valley and Wicklow, Newgrange tickets and pickup arrangements. We also cover cruise shore excursions and how a private day works.
Newgrange passage tomb in the Boyne Valley, a highlight of many private day tours
What is a private tour?
A private tour is exclusively for you and your traveling companions. You will have your own vehicle and personal driver-guide, allowing for a more relaxed and flexible experience than a scheduled group tour.
What is included in the price?
A standard private day tour typically includes:
- Your private driver-guide, fully licensed and police vetted
- A modern air-conditioned sedan or MPV, fuel, road tolls and parking charges
- Bottled water
- Hand sanitizer
Admission fees, meals and personal expenses are not included unless otherwise stated. See Pricing for current day-tour and extended-tour guideline rates.
What is not included in the price?
- Admission fees (including Newgrange and Knowth), which are added during booking when those sites are on your itinerary
- Food and beverages
- Personal expenses and gratuities
When your itinerary includes Newgrange and Knowth, we secure the timed tickets in advance so your day runs smoothly.
Travel is by private sedan for up to three guests, or MPV for up to six
Where do your tours begin?
We provide pickup from hotels, guest houses, Airbnb stays and private residences. Our area covers Dublin, County Meath (including Trim, Navan and Kells) and County Louth (including Drogheda and Dundalk). We can also collect you from Dublin Airport, and from Dublin Port and Dún Laoghaire Harbour for cruise passengers. Please provide your accommodation or ship details when making an inquiry.
How long is a day tour?
A standard private day tour lasts approximately eight hours. You can add extra time for an hourly fee.
How much does a private day tour cost?
Private day tours from Dublin to the Boyne Valley or County Wicklow cost €675 plus booking fees for up to six guests. The price is per vehicle, not per person. Admission fees, meals and personal expenses are not included unless otherwise stated.
How many people can travel on a private tour?
Vehicles are available for couples, families and small groups of up to six guests. Please tell us the number of people in your party when you inquire, so that we can provide a suitable vehicle.
Are admission fees included?
Admission fees are generally not included in the tour price. We explain any additional costs before you confirm your booking.
Are Newgrange and Knowth tickets included?
Admission to Newgrange and Knowth is not included in the standard tour price. When your itinerary includes these sites, we secure the required tickets in advance and add the admission cost to your booking.
Knowth at Brú na Bóinne, visited with timed tickets arranged in advance when included in your day
Can you guarantee admission to Newgrange?
We can only guarantee admission once we hold the timed tickets. Newgrange and Knowth form part of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Office of Public Works controls access strictly. Tickets often sell out, particularly during the summer months.
How long does a Brú na Bóinne visit take?
Tours begin at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center, with time for the exhibition before the shuttle to the monuments. During the main season, a full Newgrange and Knowth visit typically takes around three hours from the Visitor Center. In winter, Knowth usually closes, so a Newgrange-only visit takes about two hours. You spend the rest of the day at other sites and scenic stops that suit your interests. Ticketing and opening details can change, so we confirm current arrangements when we book your timed tickets.
Will my private guide accompany me inside Newgrange and Knowth?
All visitors to Newgrange and Knowth must join the official group tours operated by the Office of Public Works. These visits begin at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center, and the official onsite guides lead them. There is no independent access at the monuments themselves; a park-and-ride shuttle operates from the Visitor Center. Your driver-guide will provide historical context during the day and personally guide you at the other locations included in your itinerary.
What is Newgrange?
Newgrange is a large Neolithic passage tomb built around 3200 BC within the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage landscape in County Meath. A stone passage leads to a cruciform chamber inside a great circular mound edged by kerbstones. It is famous for megalithic art and for the winter solstice sunrise, when light can enter the chamber through the roof box on clear mornings. For deeper background, see Newgrange.com FAQ and Boyne Valley Tours: Newgrange.
Is Newgrange older than Stonehenge and the pyramids?
Yes. Newgrange was built around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge in its main stone phase and older than the Great Pyramid of Giza. That comparison helps place the engineering and artistry of the Boyne Valley monuments in a wider context.
Can I visit Newgrange without going inside the chamber?
The standard Newgrange visit from the Visitor Center is a guided tour that includes chamber access. The passage is narrow and the chamber is dimly lit, with uneven surfaces and limited space, so access inside is not suitable for everyone. Occasional exterior-only arrangements can arise on the day through the Visitor Center, but they are not something to rely on when planning a private tour. If anyone in your party has concerns about enclosed spaces, mobility or steps, tell us when booking and we can plan alternatives.
What should families know about visiting Newgrange?
Many families visit Newgrange successfully. It helps to prepare children for a short time in a narrow, dimly lit passage and chamber. Everyone must also follow the official guide's instructions at all times. Children usually need tickets even when admission is free by age; when we book for you, we include the correct tickets for your party.
What about the winter solstice at Newgrange?
Around the winter solstice, sunrise light can enter the roof box and reach the chamber floor on sunny mornings. Only a handful of places inside the chamber exist for those mornings, and an official lottery allocates them. The public can generally gather outside the entrance on the main solstice mornings. A private day tour can cover the story of the alignment, along with a regular Newgrange visit at other times of year, though solstice chamber places sit outside standard tour tickets. See Newgrange.com FAQ for lottery and solstice details.
Is there luggage storage at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center?
No. There is no luggage storage facility at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center. If your day includes airport transfers or hotel changes, tell us about bag sizes in advance so we can plan vehicle space.
Is Knowth open throughout the year?
Knowth generally closes during the winter season. When it is unavailable, we can include an alternative Boyne Valley site based on your interests.
Can the itinerary be customized?
Yes. We tailor your itinerary at the time of booking and adjust it on the day to suit your interests, admission times, opening hours, weather and preferred pace. Possible themes include prehistoric Ireland, early Christian heritage, castles, gardens, scenic landscapes, photography and locations away from the main visitor routes.
We can also arrange a fully bespoke day. We can create an ancestry tour visiting places connected with your family history. Contact us to discuss options and pricing.
The Hill of Tara, associated with kingship, ritual and wide views across Meath
Which places can we visit in the Boyne Valley?
Depending on your interests and the time available, your tour may include:
- Newgrange Passage Tomb: UNESCO World Heritage monument at Brú na Bóinne, famous for its winter solstice sunrise alignment
- Knowth Passage Tomb: the largest mound at Brú na Bóinne, renowned for outdoor megalithic art and satellite tombs
- Dowth Passage Tomb: the third great Brú na Bóinne mound, quieter, with direct access and not part of the OPW Visitor Center tour
- Oldbridge, Battle of the Boyne: 1690 battlefield and Visitor Center at Oldbridge House, where William III defeated James II
- Hill of Tara: ceremonial landscape traditionally linked with Irish kingship, earthworks and wide valley views
- Hill of Slane: early Christian site associated with Saint Patrick and the Paschal fire tradition
- Monasterboice: early Christian monastery with outstanding high crosses and a round tower
- Fourknocks Passage Tomb: a smaller Neolithic chamber with striking megalithic carvings, accessed by arrangement
- Loughcrew Cairns: hilltop passage-tomb cemetery with equinox sunrise illumination at Cairn T
- Mellifont Abbey: Ireland's first Cistercian monastery, including the distinctive lavabo ruins
- Bective Abbey: atmospheric Cistercian ruins beside the Boyne, a daughter house of Mellifont
- Trim Castle: the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, beside a historic ford on the Boyne
- Kells: early monastic town linked with Saint Colmcille, round tower and high crosses
It would take a number of days to visit every site comfortably, so we will help create a balanced itinerary for your available time. More detail is on the Boyne Valley page.
Monasterboice high crosses and round tower, often combined with Newgrange on a Boyne Valley day
What can we visit on a Wicklow tour?
A private Wicklow tour may include:
- Sally Gap
- Lough Tay
- Glenmacnass Waterfall
- Glendalough
- Avoca Handweavers
- Avoca Village
- Powerscourt House and Gardens
- A coastal return to Dublin through Killiney and Dalkey
We may adjust the itinerary to suit your interests, opening hours, traffic and weather. See the Wicklow page for a fuller overview.
Glendalough monastic valley, a centerpiece of many private Wicklow day tours
Do you offer tours beyond the Boyne Valley and Wicklow?
Yes. Longer private days and multi-day touring can include destinations such as Galway and the Burren / Cliffs of Moher area. Guideline pricing for extended touring is on the Pricing page. Contact us to discuss dates, distance and a suitable pace.
Is lunch included?
Lunch is not included in the tour price. Your driver-guide can recommend a suitable cafe, restaurant or traditional pub and allow time for lunch during the day. On Boyne Valley days, we suggest lunch stops to suit your route and timing. Options include the cafe at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center and Maguires Cafe at the Hill of Tara. Dolly's Pantry and the Conyngham Arms in Slane also work well.
What should I wear?
Irish weather can be changeable throughout the year. Wear comfortable footwear suitable for grass and uneven ground, dress in layers, and bring a waterproof jacket. We can supply umbrellas if needed.
What weather should I expect?
Ireland's climate is generally mild and changeable, with frequent rain. Most winters see little or no snow, though occasional cold spells can bring snow for a week or two. Average winter daytime temperatures are around 47°F (8°C), with colder days around 35°F to 37°F (2°C to 3°C). In summer, temperatures often exceed the average high of about 67°F (19°C), with warmer days reaching around 77°F (25°C). See the Weather page for more seasonal guidance.
Changeable Irish weather: layers and a rain jacket are useful year round
How much walking is involved?
The amount of walking varies by itinerary. Some historic sites have uneven ground, gravel paths, steps, slopes or exposed outdoor areas. Please let us know in advance if anyone in your party has limited mobility or particular accessibility requirements. We can then recommend suitable locations and adjust the pace where possible.
Are tours suitable for older visitors?
Yes. This is a private tour, so we adapt the pace to suit your party. Please mention any mobility concerns or other requirements when booking so that we can plan the day appropriately.
Are children welcome?
Yes. We adapt private tours for families traveling with children. Please give the children's ages when you inquire, so we can discuss any seating you need.
Can we bring luggage?
Luggage capacity depends on the vehicle, the number of passengers and the size of the bags. Please provide details of your luggage before booking, particularly if the tour includes an airport transfer or travel between accommodations.
Do you provide airport transfers?
We can include airport collection or drop-off by prior arrangement. Suitability will depend on your flight schedule, itinerary, group size and luggage requirements.
Do you offer tours for cruise ship passengers?
Yes. We can arrange private shore excursions from Dublin Port and Dún Laoghaire Harbour for cruise passengers. We plan the itinerary around the ship's arrival and departure times, allowing a comfortable margin for returning to the port. Please provide the name of your ship, arrival date and scheduled times when making an inquiry.
What happens if the weather is poor?
Tours normally proceed in changeable weather, and we can adjust the itinerary when necessary, though outdoor sites remain exposed to rain and wind. In cases of severe weather or an official site closure, we will discuss the most suitable alternatives with you.
What language are tours conducted in?
We conduct tours in English. Commentary and conversation suit international visitors, including travelers from the United States and Canada.
Is travel insurance included?
Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. We strongly advise guests to arrange cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, baggage and related risks before travel. Full booking conditions are on the Privacy, Terms and Conditions page.
What is your cancellation policy?
In brief, we refund payments less transaction charges up to 30 days before a tour. A 50 percent refund applies between 30 and 10 days before, and no refund applies within 10 days of a tour. Please read the full policy on the Terms page before booking.
How far in advance should I book?
We recommend booking as early as possible, particularly for the summer season and for tours that include Newgrange. Space fills quickly, and timed admission tickets to popular attractions may sell out.
How do I make a booking?
You can submit a tour inquiry through the Contact Form or contact us directly by email. Please include:
- Your preferred date
- The number of guests
- Your pickup location
- The places or themes that interest you
- Any mobility or accessibility requirements
We will confirm availability and help you plan the most suitable itinerary.