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Major city · Ireland

SlaneBaile Shláine

Give Slane one night, not a base: castle, distillery and Hill of Slane on foot, then Brú na Bóinne by car from the south bank.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
EUR
Best months
May–Sep
avoid Nov–Feb (short, wet days); concert days if you want a quiet village
Airport
DUB
Nights
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.

Slane is a village of about 1,400 people on the River Boyne, 14 km west of Drogheda, with a castle, a whiskey distillery and a hill where St Patrick is said to have lit an Easter fire. The big Neolithic site at Brú na Bóinne is nearby but has no public access from the north side, so you need a car or a taxi to reach it from the south bank. Most travellers pass through in half a day; one night covers the village properly.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Slane, 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.

  • CoffeeCoffee or tea in a café€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
  • Sit-down mealPub bar food, main course€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
  • BeerPint of stout or lager€5.50–6.50 (≈ US$7–8)
  • Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, Slane to Brú na Bóinne visitor centrecheck; book a return, taxis are scarce in the village€15–20 (≈ US$18–25)
  • Museum or sight ticketSlane Castle admissioncheck current opening daysAdult €14 (≈ US$17), concession €12 (≈ US$14), child €9 (≈ US$11)
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed (Slane Farm Hostel), a night, per person€28 (≈ US$35)
  • Mid-range bedHotel or B&B double room, a night, per room€130 (≈ US$160)
  • High-end bedHotel or B&B double room, a night, per room€200 (≈ US$250)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget €45 (≈ US$55) · Mid €85 (≈ US$100) · High €160 (≈ US$190)

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.

Slane Castle and its summer concertsSlane Irish Whiskey distilleryHill of SlaneGateway to Brú na Bóinne and the Battle of the Boyne site
Airports
DUB Dublin Airport (About 50 min by car via the M1 and N51; no direct bus from the airport — Collins Coach N2 does not serve it (check))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Slane: 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

13 rd

Feb

8°C

2°C

11 rd

Mar

10°C

3°C

12 rd

Apr

12°C

4°C

11 rd

May

15°C

6°C

11 rd

Jun

18°C

9°C

10 rd

Jul

20°C

11°C

11 rd

Aug

19°C

11°C

12 rd

Sep

17°C

9°C

11 rd

Oct

14°C

7°C

13 rd

Nov

10°C

4°C

13 rd

Dec

8°C

2°C

13 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

The village is walkable in 10 minutes end to end. Everything else — Brú na Bóinne, the Battle of the Boyne centre, the riverbank path — needs wheels; a bike works but the roads are hilly. Bus Éireann 190 runs hourly to Drogheda (25 min), Navan and Trim. Collins Coach N2 runs every couple of hours to Dublin, about 50 min, but not from Busáras or the airport.

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 30 min

Car or taxi south over the Boyne to the Donore lane, then the visitor centre shuttle

Timed entry only; book ahead. No public access from the north bank.

Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre, Oldbridge

go

Door to door: About 20 min

Car south over the river, about 6 km

House, gardens and battlefield walks; pair it with Brú na Bóinne in one morning.

Droghedago

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus Éireann 190 from the village, hourly

Rail to Dublin or Belfast, St Peter's Church and the town's historic core.

Trim

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Bus Éireann 190 towards Navan and Trim

Castle and river walks; a half-day, not a full one.

Kells

caution

Door to door: 1.5–2 h

Bus to Navan, then onward bus or car

Slow by public transport; easier with a car.

Navan

skip

Door to door: About 30 min

Bus Éireann 190, hourly

A transport and business town; useful for connections, not for a day out.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

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

Village centre (Main St and Chapel St)

Walk to pubs, distillery and castle gates; Conyngham Arms and The Failte are here.

Harlinstown, 2 km north-west off the R163

Slane Farm Hostel on a working dairy farm; dorm beds and self-catering cottages. Car or a 25-min walk.

Drogheda

Rail station, more beds and restaurants; 25 min by Bus Éireann 190 if Slane is full.

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
€45–70 (≈ US$55–85) excl. bed
Mid
€70–120 (≈ US$85–140) excl. bed
High
€120 (≈ US$140)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel or B&B double room1 × 1 night × €130€130
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × €85€170
Bus Éireann 190, Slane to Drogheda, one way2 × €5€10
Collins Coach N2, Slane to Dublin, one way2 × €12€24
eSIM, about a week of data2 × €15€30
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge€36
Trip total≈ €200 per person per day, bed included€400≈ US$500

2026 estimate in euro; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or tea in a café€3–4.50 (≈ US$4–6)
Pub bar food, main course€14–20 (≈ US$17–25)
Restaurant main course€18–28 (≈ US$25–35)
Pint of stout or lager€5.50–6.50 (≈ US$7–8)
Slane Castle admissioncheck current opening daysAdult €14 (≈ US$17), concession €12 (≈ US$14), child €9 (≈ US$11)
Ledwidge Cottage Museum admissionAdult €4 (≈ US$5), concession €3 (≈ US$4), child €1 (≈ US$2)
Distillery tourcheck€20–30 (≈ US$25–35)
Taxi, Slane to Brú na Bóinne visitor centrecheck; book a return, taxis are scarce in the village€15–20 (≈ US$18–25)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Slane is a small, low-crime village and safe on foot after dark. The real risks are narrow, unlit country lanes with no footpath, fast traffic on the N51 and N2, and wet, slippery steps at the castle and hill ruins.
  • Brú na Bóinne has no public access from the north side of the Boyne: approach from the south, on the lane towards Donore.
  • Slane Castle is a private family seat and closes for events: check opening days before you drive out.
  • Concert days (Slane Festival, summer) fill every bed and close roads in the village.
  • Village pubs serve food at set hours only; kitchens can stop early on quiet weeknights.

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.

SlaneBaile Shláine

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 Slane; the US Embassy is in Dublin, and most other missions are in Dublin. UK citizens: the British Embassy is in Dublin.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Éireann 190, Slane → Drogheda: about €5 (≈ US$6), 25 min (check)
  • Collins Coach N2, Slane → Dublin: about €12 (≈ US$14), 50 min (check)
  • Taxi Slane → Brú na Bóinne visitor centre: €15–20 (≈ US$18–25) (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)
  • Sláinte — Cheers (slawn-cha)
  • Cá bhfuil an leithreas? — Where is the toilet? (kaw will an leh-rass)
  • Cé mhéad é? — How much is it? (kay vade ay)

Irish is not needed in Slane; everyone speaks English.

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 Slane. 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, wet days); concert days if you want a quiet village · 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 bus and coach departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking cluster for the village: castle gates, distillery, Hill of Slane, Chapel St, with a rain anchor.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Slane Castle, distillery, Ledwidge Cottage Museum, Brú na Bóinne) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Concert-day fixtures so the village can flag full beds and closed roads.

Meanwhile

Back to Ireland

Sources