Take a journey across continents, countries and peoples, as you discover treasures of rare quality and beauty from across the globe. This world renowned, award winning museum showcases rich and diverse exhibitions of miniature paintings, decorative arts, manuscripts, prints and drawings, from Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. All pieces were donated to the Irish nation by American mining magnate and philanthropist, Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968).
Described by Lonely Planet as ‘not just the best museum in Ireland but one of the best in Europe’, and the only Irish museum to ever win European Museum of the Year, the Chester Beatty’s extraordinary collections span centuries, continents and cultures and offer visitors a fascinating view of global artistic heritage.
An engaging and welcoming space, visitors from Ireland and overseas can enjoy thought-provoking exhibitions, browse in the Gift Shop, or take a rest-stop in the Silk Road Café serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine.
No pre-booking is required to visit Chester Beatty. Visitors can download a free audio tour in 13 languages (English, Irish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Turkish and Dutch) to self-guide through their visit. Free guided tours are available on select dates and need to be pre-booked.
- Silk Worm Families Workshop: Fact & Folklore
Family funSilk Worm Families Workshop: Fact & Folklore Join zoologist Catherine McGuinness in the Zodiac Netsuke exhibition for a captivating show and tell about animals in Irish folklore, followed by an art workshop with artist Andrzej Mazur.
- In Focus Tour: Costumes Parisiens and La Belle Époque
Free things to doIn Focus Tour: Costumes Parisiens and La Belle Époque Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the cultural and artistic richness of La Belle Époque through the lens of one of its most celebrated fashion publications – The Journal des Dames et des Modes.
- Silk Road Families Drop-in: Felt Animal Badges
Family funSilk Road Families Drop-in: Felt Animal Badges Let your creativity come alive at Chester Beatty's Zodiac Netsuke-inspired animal badge workshop for families.
- Turais i nGaeilge (Highlights tour in Irish) at Chester Beatty
Free things to doTurais i nGaeilge (Highlights tour in Irish) at Chester Beatty Join Chester Beatty for a free tour exploring some of the highlights and stories in their collection.
- In Focus Tour: Ramadan and the Holy Qur’an
Free things to doIn Focus Tour: Ramadan and the Holy Qur’an Join an In Focus Tour at Chester Beatty, Dublin on Ramadan and the Holy Qur'an, with expert Tasneem Filaih.
- An Evening of Irish Music with Edel Meade
Family funAn Evening of Irish Music with Edel Meade Celebrate Seachtain na Gaeilge and International Women’s Day with an unforgettable evening of Irish music featuring Edel Meade, noted for her stunning voice and mesmerising live performances.
- Conversations on Art: Dementia-inclusive Tour
Free things to doConversations on Art: Dementia-inclusive Tour Enjoy an afternoon of conversations on art and a tour of our beautiful collections designed for people living with dementia and their loved ones.
- Audio-Descriptive Tour: Arts of the Book
Free things to doAudio-Descriptive Tour: Arts of the Book Join Chester Beatty for a special audio-descriptive tour of selected objects in the Arts of the Book gallery.
Enjoy a yoga or Qigong class on the lovely rooftop.