National Gallery of Ireland

Dublin is known for its inclement weather, and if a chilly drizzle starts raining down from the city’s notoriously gray skies, one of the best places to escape the rain is at the National Gallery of Ireland. This renowned national gallery of art began in 1864 with only 112 pieces, and has grown over 150 years to feature over 15,000 different pieces of Irish and European art. All sorts of mediums from painting to sculpture are on permanent public display, and pieces from the 13th-20th century are exquisitely represented. In addition to the world’s most comprehensive collection of original Irish art, standout pieces include those of Caravaggio, Monet, Rembrandt, and Van Gogh. There is a rotating schedule of various tours through different sections of the museum, with one of the most popular being the tour that features the work of William Turner—the English Romanticist landscape painter—whose 31 watercolors are only displayed in January since the light’s at its lowest level. 

Practical Info

The National Gallery of Ireland is open on Monday-Saturday from 9:30am-5:30pm, with the only exception being Thursdays which are open until 8:30pm. Sunday hours are from 11am-5:30pm, and there is no charge for admission. When visiting on foot, the National Gallery of Ireland is only a ten-minute walk from Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s Green, and buses numbers 4,7, and 8 drop off at Merrior Square North and Clare Street.