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Major city · Ireland

KellsCeannas Mór

Give Kells half a day from Dublin or Navan for the monastic site and a Book of Kells copy; sleep here only if you want a quiet Meath base.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many sites closed or locked)
Airport
DUB
Nights
0–1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Neither the UK nor Ireland is part of Schengen: days spent here do not count towards the 90/180-day Schengen limit, and a Schengen visa does not admit you to either country.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗The island of Ireland runs on two currencies: euro in the Republic, pound sterling in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Carry a card that pays in both without fees.
  • Britain and Ireland ↗Both islands drive on the left. Speed limits are in miles per hour in the UK (including Northern Ireland) and in kilometres per hour in the Republic of Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland is in the EU but not in the Schengen area; it sets its own entry rules and a Schengen visa is not valid for Ireland. Check Irish immigration for your passport.
  • Ireland ↗Ireland and the UK form the Common Travel Area, with no routine checks on the land border. Visitors who are not Irish or British must still meet UK rules (including the UK ETA where it applies) to enter Northern Ireland.
  • Ireland ↗Driving is on the left; rural roads are narrow with hedges and few passing places.

Kells is a small Meath town 65 km north of Dublin that held the Book of Kells for roughly 800 years. The round tower, high crosses and St Columb's House are the reason to come; the town itself is compact and walkable in an hour. Most travellers see it as a stop between Dublin and the Boyne Valley, not as an overnight base.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Kells, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub main course€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
  • BeerPint of stout€5–6.50 (≈ US$6–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, short town hopcheck€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per person€30 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or townhouse double room, a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
  • High-end bedHotel or townhouse double room, a night, per room€180 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €55 (≈ US$65) · Mid €95 (≈ US$120) · High €170 (≈ US$200)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Abbey of Kells monastic siteRound Tower and high crossesSt Columb's House oratoryBook of Kells connection
Airports
DUB Dublin Airport (About 25 km south-east; Bus Éireann 109A runs from the airport via Ashbourne and Navan, roughly hourly around the clock)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Kells: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

8°C

2°C

14 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

12 rd

Mar

10°C

3°C

13 rd

Apr

12°C

4°C

12 rd

May

15°C

6°C

12 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

11 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

12 rd

Aug

19°C

11°C

13 rd

Sep

17°C

9°C

12 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

14 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

14 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

14 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Walk: the centre is compact and the abbey, tower and St Columb's House sit within a few minutes of each other. No railway since 1963; buses are the public transport. Taxis are local firms only, so book ahead for early departures.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Brú na Bóinne (Newgrange and Knowth)go

Door to door: About 1 h by car

Drive via Navan and the N51, or bus to Navan then a local link; visitor centre at Donore

Timed entry to the passage tomb only via the visitor centre; book ahead in summer.

Oldcastle and Loughcrew Cairns

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus 187 from Kells, just under an hour, 4 times Mon–Sat

The cairns are a further walk or drive from Oldcastle; the bus alone will not get you there.

Trim and Trim Castle

go

Door to door: About 45 min by car

Drive via the R161 and N51, or bus with a change in Navan

Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle; pair it with Kells in one day by car.

Navan

go

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus Éireann 109 or 109A, about 25–30 min

Nearest large town and the main bus interchange for the region.

Slane

caution

Door to door: About 25 min by car

Drive via the N51, about 20 km

No direct bus; the village and castle grounds are worth the detour if you have a car.

Ashbourne

skip

Door to door: About 40 min

Bus Éireann 109A towards Dublin Airport

A commuter town on the way to Dublin; no reason to make it a destination.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre (Headfort Place / John St)

Walk to the abbey, the round tower and the pub strip; the only real hotel and townhouse options are here.

Cavan Road retail strip

Supermarket and fuel stops on the R147; not a place to stay, just where buses terminate.

Countryside B&Bs (e.g. Teltown, 6 km south)

Quiet farmhouse stays; you need a car or a taxi.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
€50–80 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
€80–130 (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
High
€130 (≈ US$160)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or townhouse double room1 × 1 night × €120€120
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €95€190
Bus Éireann Dublin to Kells, one way2 × €12 · check€24
Taxi around town and to Castlekeeran1 × €15 · check€15
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€38
Trip total≈ €209 per person per day, bed included€417≈ US$500

2026 estimate in euro; transport to Kells excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub main course€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
Pint of stout€5–6.50 (≈ US$6–8)
Hotel double room, B&B€80–180 (≈ US$95–250)
Taxi, short town hopcheck€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)
eSIM or data SIM, about a week€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Kells is a quiet, low-crime town and feels safe on foot by day. The real issues are unlit rural roads, uneven graveyard and ruin ground, and a thin late-night taxi supply: book your lift before the pubs close.
  • St Columb's House is kept locked; ask locally for access rather than assuming it is open.
  • The Spire of Lloyd and Castlekeeran are outside town with no bus service: you need a car or taxi.
  • Several town websites and small accommodation pages go offline; confirm by phone before relying on them.
  • Rural roads around Kells are narrow and unlit; drive with care after dark.

Emergency numbers

Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard
112
Alternative emergency number
999

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

KellsCeannas Mór

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Chuig an seoladh seo, le do thoilTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, ambulance, fire, coast guard112
  • Alternative emergency number999

Embassy

No embassies in Kells; the US Embassy and most others are in Dublin. Garda station in town for urgent local help.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Éireann 109 Dublin Busáras → Kells: about €12 (≈ US$14) one way, about 2 h (check)
  • Bus Éireann 109A Dublin Airport → Kells: about €12 (≈ US$14) one way, roughly hourly (check)
  • Taxi Kells town centre → Castlekeeran: €12–18 (≈ US$14–25) (check)

Say or show

  • Dia duit — Hello (jeea gwit)
  • Go raibh maith agat — Thank you (guh rev mah agut)
  • Le do thoil — Please (leh duh hull)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)
  • Cá bhfuil an leithreas? — Where is the toilet? (kaw will un leh-rass)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)

Irish is not needed in Kells; English is spoken everywhere. The phrases are a courtesy.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kells. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Feb (short days, many sites closed or locked) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 6 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for DUB: last 109A departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster with rescue anchors: Market Cross and Courthouse, the abbey and round tower, St Columb's House.
  3. Place pages with verified access rules (abbey grounds, St Columb's House key, Spire of Lloyd gate) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources