About us.

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 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, an on-site gift shop, the Silk Road Café serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, and a broad variety of public activities for all ages and backgrounds.

Admission is FREE, and no pre-booking is required.  Visitors can download a free audio tour in 13 languages (English, Irish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Arabic, Mandarin, Cantonese and Japanese) to self-guide through their visit and the Chester Beatty is open late until 8pm every Wednesday evening.