DK Eyewitness Ireland

Eyewitness Travel Guides

by D.K. Eyewitness Travel

Small but spectacular, the Emerald Isle dazzles from coast to coast.

Whether you're seeking the surreal beauty of the Giant's Causeway, the historic halls of Trinity College, or the perfect pub to enjoy a pint of Guinness, your DK Eyewitness travel guide makes sure you experience all that Ireland has to offer.

Beloved by Hollywood filmmakers, Ireland's dramatic beauty will no doubt be recognizable to visitors as the backdrop of Star Wars and Game of Thrones. The cities, meanwhile, beckon with the promise of cosy pubs and charming locals. And with Belfast and Dublin offering their own unique identities and rich histories, Ireland's two capitals are sure not to disappoint.

Our annually updated guide brings Ireland to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights and advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the island's iconic buildings and neighbourhoods.

You'll discover:
- our pick of Ireland's must-sees, top experiences, and hidden gems
- the best spots to eat, drink, shop, and stay
- detailed maps and walks which make navigating the country easy
- easy-to-follow itineraries
- expert advice: get ready, get around, and stay safe
- colour-coded chapters to every part of Ireland, from Donegal to Dublin, Cork to Kilkenny
- our new lightweight format, so you can take your guide with you wherever you go

Planning a city break? Try our pocket-friendly DK Eyewitness Top 10 Dublin.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Ireland, Reference, Irish Literature, History, Guides

722 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 1996

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a number of years ago before visiting Ireland, then reread many parts of it while in Ireland. And just this morning I felt like a brief visit to Ireland, so I read through numerous articles again. I love the slick magazine-like pages, the maps, all the great information. I can't vouch that every work is true, but I can say that DK produces my favorite travel books. I say forget picture and postcards, (except maybe a few photos with friends, the best of which will be stumbling around in bars on St. Patrick's Day)) and buy a DK travel book for extensive memories.

[Roy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a guidebook. A good one. I like the visual presentation of the Eyewitness series, particularly for thinking through and planning a trip; less so for actual use in the trip. In this case I was considering a trip to Ireland in August. This did a good job of helping me think through the trip.

[Liz]

I read this ahead of a holiday around the United Kingdom and Ireland. As I only looked at Belfast and Waterford, the latter not having much information unfortunately, it’s not fair to rate it.

[carl theaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

With thoughts of visiting Ireland this year I purchased
"Frommer's Ireland" 2012 and picked up from the library
"Eyewitness Travel Ireland" and "Rick Steves' Ireland"
to compare and glean extra helpful hints.

I've always liked the Frommer's guides. They seem geared for
a range of middle-class budgets, adventures and sensibilities.
"Fodors Guides" appear to be for the higher price range, and
I've graduated from the college angled "Let's Go" and eat the
leftovers from a cafeteria tray and sleep in a hostel.

The Frommer's title template was previously
"Europe (or Ireland or where ever) on $25 a day".
Those days are so long gone that they gave up putting a price
on the cover as folks would probably shy away from
"... on $279 a day, if you are lucky."

All these guides give you good general information on the
major sights to see, while that's great, I've never visited Ireland
so I like a little handholding on the important day-to-day things,
like what's the best way of getting around, a hint of how late the
buses or subways run, and whether or not it would be about as cheap
to take a taxi when you have 2 or more people. The "Frommer's"
and "Steves'" try to tend to the day-to-day information more so
than the "Eyewitness". Though it's a difficult task,
there's always another detail you want to know.

"Frommer's" includes most cities and sights figuring where ever
your journey takes you, they'll cover it. They try not to make
many judgements on whether it's a worthy spot. You figure that out
on your own by reading their 'Best of' lists.

"Rick Steve's" comes across as downright travel snooty at times,
which to me isn't necessarily bad. You may not agree with him, but
you the weigh the reasoning and you can go from there. For example,
he figures you'd be a real twit to spend time in Killarney, the tour
bus capital of Ireland, so he gives the basic info and directs you to
his idea of an itinerary.

"Steves'" doesn't try to cover every spot in Ireland, it focuses on the
travels they think are best, for example if you want to go to Limerick
you won't find anything here. "Frommer's" gives the Limmerick highlights
and warns you of its high crime rate, which may well be why "Steves'"
doesn't spend any time with it.

"Eyewitness" is the glossy guide with plenty of photos, their tact
is to 'show you what others only tell you'. All that is fine and good
and perhaps your flavor. I'm looking for info and while a pic helps
now and then it's not a big plus for me. They do give plenty of history
and diagrams on the items of interest, so it is a worthy companion,
even more of replacement if you do your traveling from the sofa.

"Eyewitness" places all their suggested hotels and eateries
in a chapter on their own, so you don't look in the Galway section
for places to stay there, you go to this chapter and look for
the correct addresses. To me, this is an awkward way to do things.
The "Frommers" & "Steves" place this information in with the town
info, which makes it easier to use.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my go-to series of books when it comes to travel guides. First, they're small & lightweight so easy to carry with you on you trip. They contain many easy to read maps of various towns & cities that show details of streets, attractions & bus/train routes to help with ground transfers.
I really enjoy the history & background provided for sites. When purchased prior to travelling, they help me decide what I want to see & how to plan the route for my trip. This one contains tons of hints & tips for everything you can think of: accommodations (with ratings), air travel, security, currency, local customs, history & suggestions for activities depending on what you are interested in.
Information is up to date & concise. The pictures are gorgeous & I ended up adding several stops I hadn't planned on after reading about them here. Especially helpful are all the web sites & contact details for booking ahead of time. Everything you need to know in one small package.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read through this years ago and was very impressed with this guide. DK Eyewitness Travel Guides are not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill travel books! Very high quality and informative.

[Mike Violano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a long time fan of the Eyewitness guides and have relied on many others for trips in the past. Although there is much travel information and blogs online I still enjoy a print travel guide for orientation before the trip. Eyewitness to Ireland did a great job in helping my initial planning for my nephews destination wedding. The suggestions and insights for the western Ireland landscapes was terrific as was the many "off the main highways and roads" stops worth a diversion. Also enjoy sitting back with pen and paper in hand to jot down interesting tidbits about the people, sights, and pubs along the way.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

DK really does hire the best graphic designers in the business. This is a beautiful travel guide--the photographs are perfect (Fodor should take note) and the illustrations are amazingly clear and precise. DK is a British company, so the text is written as if most travelers are coming from England.

I wish they included the current cost of tickets into the touristy places--other guidebooks do that and I appreciate it so that I can plan what I can afford to do.

I wouldn't use this guide for hotels--most of the ones listed are expensive. Rick Steves wins on that front.

[Vitani Days · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una guida turistica molto completa e aggiornata, mi riservo di aggiornare il commento fra un paio di settimane, quando sarò di ritorno dall'Irlanda e l'avrò provata sul campo!
EDIT: Sono tornata e come voto le darei un bell'8 pieno, anche se non regge il confronto con la Lonely Planet, molto più dettagliata.

[Jesse Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much detail and not enough big-picture. Tiny tiny text, and beautiful illustrations rendered useless by their smallness. Seems like it wouldn't be useful to plan a trip, but only for getting additional detail once you knew where you were going. In which case you could probably learn more via the internet anyway.

[Holly Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read large sections of other major guidebooks laying around in the AirBnbs I stayed at while in Ireland and found them largely more helpful than this one. The information in this is interesting, helpful on the sites specifically, but I’d maybe go with Lonely Planet for practical aspects, especially if driving.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never having been to Ireland, I can't vouch for every article, but the included maps, directories, and brief histories were just what I was looking to find. This makes a second book that I may have to purchase if I ever make a trek to Ireland.

[Željko Filipin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have recently visited Ireland. I have started reading it before the visit, but only managed to read half. I really liked it there so I have decided to read the rest of the book to see what I have missed.

[Laurie DelaCruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! More than just a travel guide, it gives you insight into the culture and the people, and gives you a somewhat detailed history of the country. Plus lots of pictures so you don't get bored. Lol!

[Katherine Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the photos and maps in these guides. Purchased for a trip we hoped to take it 2020, but COVID. Reading it now hoping that might happen next year. It seems like a thorough guide to help narrow the plans for such a trip, but I will be looking for a post-COVID guide before we actually travel.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview. Planning for next year. Love the copious illustrations.

[Miriam Jacobs · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Eyewitness Travel Guides are very useful for a first-timer to a new destination with excellent photos and cultural hints.

[Ray Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive view of Ireland. Outstanding visuals set it apart from other guides.

[Velvetea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful when learning all about your favorite country, especially when it’s your travel destination!

[Massanutten Regional Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judy, North River staff, July 2019, 4 stars:

Very handy. I am going to Ireland next month.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of this series and have enjoyed many other DK Eyewitness Travel Guides over the years. This one didn’t disappoint.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plenty of photos , history,and travel tips from 2020. I have always wanted to go.

[Pooja Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful book

[Labyrns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great photos and cross-sectioned drawings of buildings.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

DK's Eyewitness Travel series is outstanding. Glossy and rich production, great pictures, good maps. Like most travel guides, the book has several segments. I am reviewing the 2011 version, by the way. It opens with background material on Ireland. Then, area by area, beginning with Dublin. Then the Southeast of the country, Cork and Kerry, the Lower Shannon, the west, northwest Ireland, the Midlands, and--finally--Northern Ireland. The book then considers travelers’ needs--where to stay, where to eat, shopping, and entertainment. Finally, the "survival guide."

A few observations. Where to stay? Nice discussion on this matter begins on page 288. One nice feature: Ireland's best hotels. For instance, Hunter's Hotel goes back to 1720! Talk about history. Or Waterford Castle, a 15th century structure, reachable only by a ferry. Then, the standard roster of hotels. Pages 294-298 feature Dublin-area hotels. There are some familiar names, such as Westin and Four Seasons. But many are homegrown.

Pages 320 onward focus on eateries. I just saw a Bobby Flay special on the Food Channel on restaurants in Ireland, so I was primed to enjoy the coverage! The restaurants are listed by region, so that one could, for example, see what Cork and Kerry offer. Interested in cool pubs? Pages 346-351 list several establishments that seem intriguing. For example, Corcoran’s Pub has been run by the same family for five generations (talk about tradition!) and features home-made food.

Another fine travel publication from DK and its "Eyewitness Travel" series. . . .

[Harold · Rating 5 out of 5]

DK travel guides are amazing, something like The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (the fictitious book-within-the-book, not the Douglas Adams book about it) and the Junior Woodchucks' Guide rolled into one. These slim volumes are crammed with information, hints, tips, maps, pictures - almost everything a traveler needs to navigate through a foreign land. My main experience was with the DK Ireland Travel Guide, which served as a road map, culinary guide, and even as a campus map at Trinity College in Dublin! Guides are revised frequently to keep up with a rapidly-changing world - on my three trips to Ireland I had two different versions of the Guide, and a third came out while I was there for the last time!

If you are traveling anywhere, a DK Travel Guide is an absolute must, and it should be read and bookmarked thoroughly before you even start making plans for your trip. As a bonus, the guide serves as a sort of souvenir program when your trip is over!

[Orion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well made paperback book, designed to be used by the vacationing traveler. It follows the standard format of the DK guide series. I did not read the whole book, but read the chapters with general information about the country and some of the area-specific chapters. As usual for DK, the graphics are very impressive and the content is interesting. "Ireland" describes most of the major sites but does not delve into the more obscure ones. I read the book as an easy way to better acquaint myself with Ireland, not because I was actually going there, and it does serve as a good introduction. But since it is a guide book the print is very small which made it hard to read for an extended length of time. I wish DK had a series of full-size, country-specific books addressing history, geography, and current economics because the quality of their books is so high.

[Kimberly Greenwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3/5 - This travel is needed for me because I wanted to learn more about Ireland and traveling there. I thought this novel was very informative with it discussed the cities and important locations. I would’ve liked to have a larger section on the history of Ireland because it is something I’m not very familiar with and important for someone moving there. I’m excited to see all the Catholic Church's because that is a major part to Ireland and my own religion, so I did like the previews of them and the images of them as well.

[Amanda Silvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I brought this book and Rick Steves' Ireland 2013 with me when my husband and I went to Ireland in May/June of this year to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. I loved this travel guide, with its glossy color pages and succinct descriptions of all the tourist sites. I used it multiple times a day and preferred it over Rick Steves' Ireland 2013 guidebook. Since we had rented a car, I didn't mind carrying two books around with us, since each one had its own strengths.

[Crystal]

I looked this one up to see if it was on here, surprised to see it is! So I’ve technically read it twice now, as our trip is officially less than a month away! A few other guides, too, but this is the only one I’ve borrowed from the library twice. Some sections I’ve absorbed and re-read more than others, but yes, I’ve read it cover to cover and will definitely let it count toward my reading goal. 👍🏻😁