Best Arts and Culture Places in Dublin

"The gallery, which was established in 1864, houses an extensive collection of Irish, Italian Baroque, and Dutch masters paintings. During normal times, a good way to see the gallery is to take a free guided “Highlights Tour,” which includes highlights of the gallery’s permanent collection. It is normally offered six times a week, on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., on Saturdays at 12:30 p.m."

"Located in the centre of Dublin, the National Gallery of Ireland displays over 2,500 paintings and roughly 10,000 art works in other mediums. The National Gallery also includes a Yeats archive where a prestigious collection is held, a small part of which includes Jack. B Yeats’ sketchbooks for over fifty years."

"The National Gallery of Ireland has recently been restored by the Office for Public Works, in collaboration with Heneghan Peng. Opened in June 2017, the scheme forms part of a four-stage masterplan by Heneghan Peng, seeking to address the original 19th-century building’s lack of natural light and level access."

"The Chester Beatty Library is a popular reading hub across the globe and was rendered not only the best museum in Ireland, but also the whole of Europe. The library was also the only one to win the 'European Museum of the Year' award. Right behind the Dublin castle is this beautiful building which houses the Chester Beatty Library that features lovely exhibits, illuminated manuscripts, religiou...Read more"

"Bibliophile Alfred Chester Beatty’s marvellous collection of ancient books, scrolls and other objets d’art is spread across two floors of this wonderful museum and is free to explore, as are the regular mindful mornings of yoga and meditation (book ahead and bring a yoga mat). In summer there are free Qi Gong sessions in the rooftop garden. You might also like: Best day trips from Dublin"

"Within the Dublin Castle complex are also the Garda Museum (Irish Police museum) and the Chester Beatty Library museum. Both of these are free and worth visiting, especially the library museum, if you have time."

"Situated within the imposing 17th-century Royal Hospital Kilmainham, IMMA is an impressive setting for modern art, one with a cobblestoned courtyard, gardens, and pretty benches overlooking the grounds. The collection itself consists of more than 3,500 pieces, with about 250 works on display at any given time. Although IMMA is a bit outside the city center—about a 30-minute walk from Dame Street—you can combine it with a visit to the Kilmainham Gaol, which is 15 minutes away by foot."

"Next up is the Irish Museum of Modern Art (also known as IMMA). You’ll find this place nestled in 48 acres in the heart of Dublin 8 (there are some nice walks nearby!). You can join one of the guided tours for free and get to known IMMA and the exhibitions in more detail via the words of an experienced guide."

"The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland’s leading institution for the collection of modern and contemporary art. The Irish Museum of Modern Art building in Dublin. Photo courtesy of Tourism Ireland."

"Of all Dublin’s free museums and galleries, the National Museum of Ireland is by far the largest, encompassing four separate museums. They include the National Museum of Archaeology on Kildare Street, the Decorative Arts & History Museum at Collins Barracks, and the Natural History Museum at Merrion Square, as well as the Country Life Museum located in Turlough, Co."

"The tour of the museum actually starts before you enter, this is due to the fact that the exhibitions are located in a beautiful Victorian building. The Natural History Museum is one of children’s favourite attractions. It allows them to see up close animals they would not be able to see otherwise."

"The National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, also known as the Dead Zoo, houses a large collection of animals from abroad and from Ireland."

"Ireland's most important cultural institution was established in 1877 as the primary repository of the nation’s archaeological treasures. These include the most famous of Ireland's crafted artefacts, the Ardagh Chalice and the Tara Brooch, dating from the 12th and 8th centuries respectively. They are part of the Treasury, itself part of Europe's finest collection of Bronze and Iron Age gold artefacts, and the most complete assemblage of medieval Celtic metalwork in the world."

"Once the world’s largest military barracks, this splendid early neoclassical grey-stone building on the Liffey’s northern banks was completed in 1704 according to the design of Thomas Burgh (he of Trinity... Top ChoiceBrewery in Kilmainham & the Liberties"

"The National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology houses everything from gold to Viking artefacts|© Chon Kit Leong / Alamy Stock Photo"

"Located in Temple Bar, the Project Arts Centre has become a leader in contemporary artistic practice in Dublin and in Ireland. It also hosts local and international festivals like the Dublin Writers Festival, the Dublin Theatre Festival or the Dublin Fringe Festival."

"Tucked away in the historic cobbled streets of Temple Bar is Project Arts Centre, Dublin's best kept secret, a venue packed full of surprises."

"Gallery Zozimus, art gallery, in the centre of Dublin’s Arts and Antiques Quarter of Francis Street, is ideally situated in the centre of a triangle…"

"Hosting exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year, Duke Street Gallery is housed in one of Dublin city’s oldest Georgian buildings. Duke Street Gallery specialises in a wide range of different styles & trends in Irish painting."

"Temple Bar Gallery and Studios was first founded in 1983 as one of the country’s first artist-led arts organisations. A non-profit funded by the Irish Arts Council, today it consists of a contemporaryexhibition space and 30 visual artists’ studios, located at the epicentre of Dublin’s Cultural Quarter. As well as exhibitions, they run regular talks, masterclasses and events for aspiring artists."

"Featuring installations and performance art as well as sculpture and video, the Temple Bar Gallery works hand in hand with Artists Studios. It’s a really interesting and engaging concept and it puts you right into the heart of the artist’s community here in Dublin. Past exhibitions included Declan Clarke, Amie Siegel and Barbara Knezevic."

"At the beginning in 1983 the Temple Bar Gallery + Studios was the first DIY artist-centred initiative in Ireland, they started in a shirt factory and this is now a big gallery. Thanks to the fame of Temple Bar the gallery became notorious but it still supports upcoming artists."

"Located in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, Bloomfields Shopping Centre is bright and busy, with shops, supermarket and cafe. Parking is available."

"If you’re in central Dublin and feel like walking off your pints of Guinness, cheese toasties or oysters, there are few better places to stretch your legs than St Stephen’s Green (another public space donated by the Guinness family, when Sir Arthur Edward Guinness bought, landscaped and opened up the park). Its 3.5km of paths take you past a bird-filled ornamental lake and several leafy places to take shelter from the very occasional rain showers you might experience in the city. In the summer, lunchtime concerts are the perfect outdoor accompaniment to a picnic."

"St Stephen’s Green lies in the heart of Dublin|© John Bradshaw / Alamy Stock Photo. This delightful urban park was once a marshy patch of land. After its conversion to a public park in 1663, St Stephen’s Green became a fashionable place for high society to meet, take a stroll and indulge in a bit of gossip."

"Right at the top of Grafton St , in the shadow of St. Stephen's Green's Arch, stands this striking iron and glass shopping mecca. Always abuzz with locals and …"