Best of Ireland Guidebook

In Rick Steves Best of Ireland you'll find essential Rick-tested information on the following top destinations, plus condensed coverage of several "Best of the Rest" cities and regions:

• Dublin
  • Nearby: Boyne Valley and Wicklow Mountains
• Kilkenny and the Rock of Cashel
• Kinsale
  • ​Nearby: Cobh and Blarney Castle
• Kenmare and the Ring of Kerry
• Dingle Town and Peninsula
  • ​Nearby: Blasket Islands and Tralee
• County Clare
  • ​Ennis
  • Cliffs of Moher
  • Doolin
  • The Burren
• Galway
• Aran Islands
  • Inishmore
  • Inisheer
• Belfast
  • ​Nearby: Bangor
• Portrush and the Antrim Coast
• Best of the Rest
  • Connemara
  • Derry
• Extras
  • Self-guided walks
  • Easy-to-follow color maps
  • Gorgeously illustrated destination overview
  • ​Trip planning: Pre-trip checklist, festivals and holidays, recommended two-week itinerary
  • City-specific advice on planning your time and avoiding lines
  • Transportation: Driving, buses, trains, and city transit
  • Irish history, culture, language, and cuisine
  • Advice on managing money, communicating, reserving rooms, handling emergencies, and other helpful hints

What's the difference between this Best of Ireland book and Rick's complete Ireland guidebook?

Rick Steves Ireland, the complete guide, offers more coverage of more destinations in a mostly black-and-white format.

The shorter Best of Ireland guidebook focuses on Ireland's top destinations and sights, is in full color, and is updated a little less frequently than the complete guide.

Both books are packed with hand-picked recommendations and Rick's travel advice and tips for saving time, money, and hassle.

Should I get the Snapshot: Dublin guide in addition to the Best of Ireland guidebook?

Probably not — Rick Steves Best of Ireland has nearly as much information on Dublin as the Snapshot guide. The Snapshot does provide some more detail on Dublin's day trips — if you'd like more comprehensive coverage of the Boyne Valley and Wicklow Mountains, the Snapshot guide is worthwhile.

Should I get the Snapshot: Northern Ireland guide in addition to the Best of Ireland guidebook?

That depends on how deeply you want to dive into the region. Rick Steves Best of Ireland includes lightly condensed coverage of our favorite stops in Northern Ireland — enough for a quick trip. If you'd like more comprehensive coverage of the region, the Snapshot guide is worthwhile.

Latest updates: When we learn of critical changes to the information in our guidebooks on Ireland, we post them. (Of course, it's still smart to reconfirm critical transportation and sightseeing details locally.) Armed with a Rick Steves guidebook and these late-breaking updates, you're set for a great trip!

Submit feedback: Once you've used this book in Europe, we'd love to hear your feedback — good or bad — about our advice on sights, hotels, restaurants, and travel tips. We're also interested in any tips or discoveries you made while in Europe. Your comments help us improve our guidebooks for future travelers.