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.
- Lanterns for a Happy New Year
Family funLanterns for a Happy New Year A free drop-in family activity at Chester Beatty for the Dublin Lunar New Year celebrations this February.
- Drop-in Drawing with Roxana Manouchehri
Free things to doDrop-in Drawing with Roxana Manouchehri Join this free drop-in art activity at Chester Beatty with artist Roxana Manouchehri for adults and teenagers.
- Traditional Music Instruments Ensemble
Family funTraditional Music Instruments Ensemble To welcome the Lunar New Year of the Dragon, the Chester Beatty, in association with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, is proud to present Traditional Chinese Instruments Ensemble.
- Creative Lab for Teens: Relief Art Workshop
Family funCreative Lab for Teens: Relief Art Workshop Join a free Creative Lab for Teens workshop at Chester Beatty and learn how to make a relief art work.
- Silk Worm Families: Paper Dragon Hand Puppet
Family funSilk Worm Families: Paper Dragon Hand Puppet Join this free Silk Worm Families workshop at Chester Beatty to create your own Paper Dragon Hand Puppet.
- Creative Lab for Teens: Dragon Planner
Family funCreative Lab for Teens: Dragon Planner Celebrate Lunar New Year by creating a personalised planner at a Creative Lab for Teens workshop at Chester Beatty.
- Talk: Edith Beatty as a Collector
Free things to doTalk: Edith Beatty as a Collector Join Dr Jill Unkel, Curator of Western Collection at Chester Beatty for a free lecture in person or online this February.
Enjoy a yoga or Qigong class on the lovely rooftop.