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.
- Drop-in Drawing with Roxana Manouchehri
WinterDrop-in Drawing with Roxana Manouchehri Drop-in Drawing with Roxana Manouchehri Learn drawing techniques, including line drawing, shading, perspective, and decoration during these relaxed and informal sessions with artist Roxana Manouchehri.
- Conversations on Art: Dementia-inclusive Tour
WinterConversations 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.
- Tracing Knowledge Transmission: Manuscript Notes in Arabic Literary Works at the Chester Beatty
WinterTracing Knowledge Transmission: Manuscript Notes in Arabic Literary Works at the Chester Beatty The notes added into Arabic literary manuscripts offer invaluable insights into the history of knowledge transmission in pre-modern Arabic and Islamic culture.
- Live Online Workshop for Adults: Christmas Watercolours with artist Jen O’Brien
WinterLive Online Workshop for Adults: Christmas Watercolours with artist Jen O’Brien Join us this festive season for an exciting workshop exploring the wonders of watercolours. . .
- Friends Talk: Being Pagan and Being Christian in Late Antique Ireland with Dr Elva Johnston
WinterFriends Talk: Being Pagan and Being Christian in Late Antique Ireland with Dr Elva Johnston Unravel the mysteries of the late 5th century in this exclusive Friends talk with Dr Elva Johnston of University College Dublin.
- Dementia-Friendly Tour: Live Online Conversations on Art: Angelic Art
WinterDementia-Friendly Tour: Live Online Conversations on Art: Angelic Art Join Heidi Campbell for a festive themed online event supported by images from the Chester Beatty collection
- DCC Culture Club Tour: Some Real Gems in the Chester Beatty
WinterDCC Culture Club Tour: Some Real Gems in the Chester Beatty Pearls, amethyst and jade are just three of the beautiful gems and precious stones used in the creation of some of the artworks in the Chester Beatty.
- Silk Worm Families Drop-in: Japanese Zodiac Collage
WinterSilk Worm Families Drop-in: Japanese Zodiac Collage To celebrate the opening of our new temporary exhibition Zodiac Netsuke: Animals of the Japanese Zodiac in Miniature, join us to create a beautiful collage using zodiac animals.
Enjoy a yoga or Qigong class on the lovely rooftop.