About Chester Beatty Library
A 15-minute wander from Grafton Street through Dublin Castle's Clock Tower gardens brings you to the Chester Beatty Library, a world-class repository of Eastern art. American mining magnate Alfred Chester Beatty gifted his collection in 1950; today, it's Ireland's top for illuminated manuscripts, rare Qur'ans, and Japanese woodblocks. Free, with rotating exhibitions in airy pavilions amid manicured lawns, cherry blossoms in spring are magic. One of the best museums near Grafton Street for global culture.
What to Expect
Marvel at 9th-century Egyptian papyri, Ming Dynasty scrolls, and Persian miniatures bursting with jewel tones. Interactive vitrines zoom into details; silk road scents imagined. Café serves sublime matcha overlooking the Dubh Loch.
Insider Tips
Enter via Castle (from Grafton via Dame St); Sundays free tours. Book workshops. Foodies: silk road lunch menu. Hidden gem: rooftop views. Essential for art pilgrims.
Oriental elegance in Dublin heart.