Free public tours take place every Wednesday at 1pm, Saturdays at 2pm and Sundays at 3pm. Suitable for individual visitors, families and small groups (under 5 participants), these informal tours provide a general introduction to Chester Beatty’s exhibitions. Tours last for approx. 1 hour are free of charge and delivered on first-come, first-served basis, limited to 20 participants.

Delve deeper into our galleries and collections with our series of scheduled tours focusing on a particular theme.

Free public tours in Arabic, Japanese and Mandarin are scheduled on a regular basis.

Private guided tours can be booked online, with a minimum of three week’s advance notice.

The Chester Beatty welcomes self-guided visits, however to make the experience enjoyable for all members of public we ask that the following guidelines are observed. It is essential that all self-guided visits are booked minimum three weeks in advance of the preferred date of visit to ensure entry, especially during busy periods.

Please announce the group upon arrival at the reception desk. The maximum group size is 15. If two groups were booked, please remember they must remain divided into separate sub-groups with designated leaders. Groups of more than 15 will not be permitted into the same gallery at one time.

If you plan to bring a large group that exceeds the booking capacity, please contact tours@cbl.ie and we will endeavour to accommodate you. A minimum of three weeks’ notice is required. Note for schools: the Chester Beatty does not provide space for eating lunches. There is a café within the museum for the general public.

Enjoy an afternoon of conversations on art and a tour of our beautiful collections on the first Tuesday of each month at 12 noon. These tours are designed for people living with dementia and their loved ones. Limited to 10 participants per tour. To book this type of tour, please contact (0)1 407 0766.