Laytown Travel Guide

City Coastal town in Leinster, Ireland

Laytown’s long sandy strand and the peculiar spectacle of the annual beach horse races draw coastal walkers and photographers; regular commuter trains make it an easy stop for pubs, surf and wide views along the east Meath coastline.

Costs

Moderate - Irish coastal town prices

$80-140/day for lodging, meals and transport to Dublin.

Safety

Safe and relaxed

Very safe and family-friendly; typical small-town atmosphere.

Best Time

May-September (warmer, festival season)

Warmer, sunnier months and festival season are best.

In This Guide

Why Visit Laytown?
Top Things to Do
Plan Your Visit
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Time

—

Weather

—

Population

10,889

Infrastructure & Convenience

Rail and bus links to Dublin; walkable seafront and small-town services.

Popularity

Popular with locals and day-trippers, especially during the beach races.

Known For

Laytown Races (beach horse racing), sandy beach, coastal walks, commuter link to Dublin, seafood pubs, summer festivals, surfing, family-friendly atmosphere

Laytown hosts the annual Laytown Races - horse racing on the beach - every September.

Why Visit Laytown? #

Perched on County Meath’s coastline, Laytown draws attention for its unique beach horse races each September, a rarity in Ireland. Wide sandy stretches that continue into neighboring Bettystown invite walkers and swimmers, while the village’s pubs serve fresh seafood and traditional Irish stews. Close proximity to Dublin and the Boyne Valley’s ancient sites makes it an easy seaside stop with local character.

Top Things to Do in Laytown

All Attractions ›

Kilmainham Gaol

Former Dublin prison now a history museum

Museum

Guinness Storehouse

Interactive museum about Guinness brewing history

Amusement Park

Newgrange

Neolithic passage tomb older than Egyptian pyramids

Tomb

Dublin Zoo

Large city zoo in Phoenix Park, Dublin

Zoo

National Museum of Ireland

Ireland's national museum preserving archaeology and cultural collections

Museum

James Joyce Tower and Museum

Georgian Martello tower housing James Joyce memorabilia

Museum

Aviva Stadium

Modern Dublin stadium hosting rugby and football

Stadium

Trinity College, Dublin

Historic university college housing the Book of Kells

Building

Don't Miss

Laytown Strand - Wide sandy beach famous for seasonal horse racing and long coastal walks.
Laytown Races (annual event) - Unique annual beach horse races drawing local crowds and festive atmosphere.
Laytown village shops and cafés - Small village centre with bakeries, cafés and friendly local businesses.

Hidden Gems

River Nanny estuary - Estuary offering birdwatching, calm walks and quiet fishing spots near the shore.
Mornington coastal walk - Coastal path linking Laytown to Mornington with dunes and sea views.
Local seafood takeaways and family-run pubs - Family-run pubs and takeaway spots serving fresh local seafood and hearty meals.

Day Trips

Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne) - World Heritage prehistoric passage tombs at Newgrange, impressive Neolithic burial mounds.
Dublin city centre - Short train ride to Dublin for museums, Georgian squares and lively cultural life.

Best Time to Visit Laytown #

Laytown is nicest in summer for mild, pleasant weather and beach time, while spring offers fewer crowds and green scenery. Winters are cool and wet - atmospheric but not ideal for long beach days.

Winter

December - February · 4°C to 8°C (39°F to 46°F)

Cold, damp and blustery - cozy pubs and quiet beaches, but bring a rainproof jacket and warm layers.

Spring

March - May · 6°C to 14°C (43°F to 57°F)

Refreshing and green with longer days - great for coastal walks and smaller crowds compared with midsummer.

Summer

June - August · 14°C to 20°C (57°F to 68°F)

Mild, pleasant and the sunniest stretch - best for swimming, seaside cafés and community events, though weather can be changeable.

Best Time to Visit Laytown #

Climate

Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 20°C. Moderate rainfall (866 mm/year).

Best Time to Visit

MayJuneJuly

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

24°

Warmest Month

-2°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 7°C and lows of 2°C. The wettest month with 90 mm of rain, mostly overcast skies, and breezy conditions.

42 Poor

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

2° – 7°

91%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

90 mm

Rainfall

6.2 m/s

Wind

Breezy

0.0

UV Index

Low

7.9h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (68 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

46 Poor

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

2° – 8°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

68 mm

Rainfall

5.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.6h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

3° – 10°

88%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

67 mm

Rainfall

5.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.4

UV Index

Low

11.7h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (54 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

8°

Feels Like Cold

8°C

Temperature

4° – 12°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

54 mm

Rainfall

5.0 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.8

UV Index

Moderate

13.8h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 15°C and lows of 7°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

66 Good

Comfort

11°

Feels Like Cool

11°C

Temperature

7° – 15°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

56 mm

Rainfall

4.7 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.2

UV Index

High

15.7h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (62 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

14°

Feels Like Cool

14°C

Temperature

9° – 18°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

62 mm

Rainfall

4.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.5

UV Index

High

16.7h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

16°

Feels Like Cool

16°C

Temperature

11° – 20°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

60 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.3

UV Index

High

16.2h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 19°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

62 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

11° – 19°

86%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

77 mm

Rainfall

4.3 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

1.1

UV Index

High

14.6h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 17°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (71 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

64 Good

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

9° – 17°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

71 mm

Rainfall

4.8 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

12.5h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

54 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cool

10°C

Temperature

7° – 14°

88%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

86 mm

Rainfall

5.4 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.4h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 4°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

52 Acceptable

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

4° – 10°

90%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

85 mm

Rainfall

5.5 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.4h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 3°C. The wettest month with 90 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

3° – 8°

91%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

90 mm

Rainfall

5.9 m/s

Wind

Light Breeze

0.0

UV Index

Low

7.3h daylight

How to Get to Laytown

Laytown is on the coastal Dublin-Belfast rail corridor and is straightforward to reach from Dublin Airport via a coach into the city plus a direct train to Laytown. For regional travel, trains are usually the fastest and most convenient option.

By Air

Dublin Airport (DUB): Dublin Airport is the main gateway. To reach Laytown, many visitors take a bus or Airlink into Dublin city (Airlink 747/748 or private coaches) - city transfer takes about 25-40 minutes and fares for coaches commonly range €7-€8. From Dublin Connolly or Dublin Pearse catch an Irish Rail train northbound to Laytown; the rail leg from Dublin to Laytown is about 40-50 minutes and fares typically sit around €5-€10 depending on advance purchase and ticket type.

Belfast / Regional airports: If arriving via Northern Ireland airports, travel times are longer and require intercity rail/bus connections through Dublin or Drogheda depending on routing.

By Train & Bus

Train: Laytown station is on the Dublin-Belfast line; commuter and some InterCity trains stop here. Journey to Dublin Connolly is roughly 40-50 minutes with single fares commonly €5-€10.

Bus: Local bus services and Bus Éireann routes serve Laytown and link to nearby Drogheda; local buses are useful for short hops and connections if train times don’t suit you. Single fares are inexpensive (typically a few euros).

How to Get Around Laytown #

Laytown is compact and easy to walk, with a local train station (Laytown) on the Dublin-Belfast line providing regular services to Drogheda and Dublin. Bus Éireann also serves the area; taxis are available but less frequent-book ahead in the evenings or off-peak.

Where to Stay in Laytown #

Budget

Laytown / Drogheda - €40-90/night

Laytown itself has limited hotels; budget travellers commonly stay in Drogheda nearby. Expect simple B&Bs and small hotels outside summer weekends.

Westcourt Hotel (Drogheda) - Comfortable budget option near Laytown
Carlton Hotel Drogheda - Affordable mid-budget with family rooms

Mid-Range

Drogheda - €90-150/night (10-15 min drive)

Mid-range options cluster in nearby Drogheda (10-15 minutes by car), with riverside hotels and easy access to Laytown beach and commuter links.

Battlebridge Hotel (Drogheda) - Riverfront mid-range hotel in Drogheda
Carlton Hotel Drogheda - Good family facilities, near town centre

Luxury

Drogheda luxury - €150+/night (10-20 min drive)

Luxury choices are limited locally; the best higher-end hotels are in Drogheda, offering bigger rooms and onsite amenities for beach day trips.

The Woodlands Hotel & Suites (Drogheda) - Upscale suites and leisure facilities
Drogheda Manor / boutique options - Boutique higher-end stays nearby

Where to Eat in Laytown #

Coastal Pubs & Casual Fare

Laytown's food scene is small and coastal - friendly pubs, fish-and-chip shops and nearby Drogheda's restaurants serve the majority of dining options.

Laytown pubs and bistros - Seafood chowders and pub meals.
Drogheda dining (nearby) - Wider range of eateries.
Local fish-and-chip shops - Classic Irish fried fish.

Seaside Treats & Cafés

Seafront cafés and seasonal market stalls offer simple seaside treats - ice cream, sandwiches and coffee are perfect after a walk along Laytown beach.

Seafront cafés - Coffee, scones and light bites.
Beach snack vendors - Ice cream and takeaway sandwiches.
Local market stalls - Seasonal produce and baked goods.

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Laytown's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Pizza

Chinese

Fish & Chips

Burger

Indian

Mexican

Thai

Curry

Donut

Irish

Chicken

Italian

American

European

Sandwich

Nightlife in Laytown #

Evening life in Laytown is low-key, with a handful of local pubs and seasonal beach crowds during summer. The annual Laytown races are a major social event that livens up the town for a short period.

Shopping in Laytown #

Shopping in Laytown is mostly small, local businesses and convenience stores suited to residents and beach visitors. For a larger selection of shops and supermarkets, nearby Drogheda is the closest option.