Ireland by Lonely Planet truly does cover the whole island within one book. Coasts, cities, and small towns all fit inside. Since 1973, Lonely Planet have published more than 150 million travel guides. The newest edition, sold as Ireland by Lonely Planet from Booktopia, covers maps and costs for 2026 trips. Ireland pulled in 1.3 million visitors in the first three months of 2026. A 24% jump. People are going back. The real question is whether this book gets a traveler ready. Not every guidebook earns its spot in a backpack.
What’s Actually Inside Ireland 17?
Ireland 17 covers all of the island – area by area, rather than just well-known locations. Dublin gets its own area, Kerry gets another one – and Donegal even scores a third spot. Maps have really detailed information – much more than just outlines of cities. That level of detail matters on a long road trip. Actually, it matters most once phone signal drops in rural Clare.
No guesswork needed.
Why Does This Edition Matter Right Now?
Old editions miss new prices, closed roads, and restaurants that don’t exist anymore. In December 2025, there were 524,100 foreign visitors to Ireland – a 34% increase over the previous year. That many travelers relying on outdated information causes real problems. Wrong prices, wrong hours, wasted days follow fast. Ireland’s wider travel and tourism market is on track for close to €2.74 billion in 2025, with steady growth forecast through 2029. A fresh edition fixes that information gap before it costs anyone a day of their trip.
Who Actually Makes This Guide?
Tony and Maureen Wheeler founded Lonely Planet in 1973 – after a grueling overland journey from London to Australia had left them with just 27 cents to their names. That trip became the first book, stapled together by hand at their kitchen table. Lonely Planet now stands as the world’s largest independent travel guidebook publisher, built from that one decision to write it all down. The main office still runs out of Melbourne, the same country where the whole idea started. That reputation sounds like marketing talk. Actually, it comes down to plain consistency, the same publisher returning to the same regions for over fifty years.
Ireland 17 At A Glance
Here are the basics on the current edition.
| What You Get | Details |
|---|---|
| Edition | Ireland 17 |
| ISBN | 9781838698065 |
| Price (AUD) | $39.99 |
| Price (USD) | $29.99 |
| Publisher | Lonely Planet |
| Coverage | Whole island, Republic and Northern Ireland |
Prices run close across currencies, which keeps budgeting simple.
What Else The Travel Numbers Show
December 2025 visitors alone spent €427 million in Ireland and stayed just under 4.8 million nights combined. That’s real money moving through small towns, not only Dublin hotels. A guidebook built for that kind of spread needs real regional detail, not a thin overview. Ireland 17 was built for exactly that kind of trip.
Who Does This Guide Actually Fit?
This guide fits travelers planning more than a quick city stop.
- First time visitors who want the whole island mapped out
- Road trippers who need region by region directions
- Slow travelers chasing small towns over big cities
- Anyone who wants real prices instead of guesses
A weekend trip to Dublin alone doesn’t need this much book. The full island loop does.
