Chester Beatty

Chester Beatty
  • Free to visit
  • Rainy days
  • Hidden gem
Situated in the heart of Dublin City centre, the Chester Beatty exhibitions open a window on the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world - Asia, Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

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.

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