Dublin · Georgian Dublin
National Gallery of Ireland
Irish and European painting from about 1300 to the present, with works by Vermeer, Caravaggio and Jack B Yeats. The permanent collection is free.
- 2 h
- Free
- Booking: not needed
- Georgian Dublin
Data checked on October 5, 2026
The gallery opened in 1864 and sits on the west side of Merrion Square. The collection runs from the Italian Renaissance through Dutch and Spanish painting to Irish artists of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Yeats Museum rooms hold the work of Jack B Yeats. The galleries are on several levels with a modern wing, so a visit of two hours covers the main rooms.
What to look for
- Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ
- The Vermeer, one of a small number in any collection
- The Yeats Museum rooms
- The Dutch and Spanish rooms
Opening hours
| Monday | 11:00 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:15 pm |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9:15 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:15 pm |
| Wednesday | 9:15 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:15 pm |
| Thursday | 9:15 am–8:30 pm | last entry 8:15 pm |
| Friday | 9:15 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:15 pm |
| Saturday | 9:15 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:15 pm |
| Sunday | 11:00 am–5:30 pm | last entry 5:15 pm |
Monday and Sunday 11:00 to 17:30. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9:15 to 17:30. Thursday 9:15 to 20:30. Entry stops 15 minutes before closing and the galleries start to close at 16:50 (19:50 on Thursdays). It is closed from 24 to 26 December and on Good Friday, and opens at 11:00 on 1 January.
Source: National Gallery of Ireland, checked October 5, 2026
Tickets and booking
Free. Admission to the permanent collection is free. Some temporary exhibitions carry a charge.
Getting there
Pearse station on the DART is about eight minutes on foot, and the St Stephen's Green Luas stop is about twelve minutes away.
Tip
Thursday evening is the quiet time, with the galleries open until 20:30. Free guided tours run at weekends.