23 Free Museums Dublin offers that will blow your mind! (Updated 2024)

Save to Find It Later!

Are you looking for the best free museums Dublin offers? We’ve got you covered! From historical visits to fun couple activities, Dublin is a beautiful European city with lots to do.

Having lived in Ireland for over three years, we have had the opportunity to explore the city and find amazing Dublin museums that offer free visits. This list of museums in Dublin covers amazing free art galleries, historical and archeological museums, late night museums, and a couple of hidden gems that even locals don’t know about! Some are really good for romantic dates as well.

For each free museum, we have included the opening times, the location and what you can do in the area. We recommend checking out our 2 days in Dublin itinerary, which is a complete 2 days guide to see the main landmarks in the city, and incorporating the museums of your choice in it depending on your preferences! 

***Some of the links in this post are affiliate links meaning we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not change the fact that we only recommend products, stays, activities and attractions we are satisfied with and all opinions expressed here are our own.

1. IMMA, one of the best free museums Dublin offers

One of the best free Dublin museums is the Irish Museum of Modern Art, also known as the IMMA. The IMMA is located across from Phoenix Park, next to the Guinness Storehouse. It comprises one main building which is the former Royal Hospital Kilmainham dated back to the 17th century, a large paved courtyard, the IMMA gardens and large ground perfect for walking or cycling.

At the IMMA, you’ll find permanent and temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. The IMMA especially features contemporary Irish artists. There are several galleries available which all follow different themes and topics. From sculptures to paintings and photography, it is quite an eclectic museum. 

When we visited, the main exhibition was in relation to AIDS and its history. The art was really strong and a bit overwhelming at times, but that’s what art does to you, right? The other exhibition  was on Ireland’s civil war and featured lots of photographs from that time. We learned a lot about the relationship between Dublin and the UK. If you want to feel moved by art on certain topics, this is the on Dublin Ireland art museum you don’t want to miss. 

When visiting the IMMA, don’t forget to check out the building itself, which is quite impressive. We would recommend bringing a picnic with you so you can enjoy lunch in the gardens. On the weekends, there is sometimes a band that plays live music in the gardens which is really cool, especially on a nice day. this is not surprising as Dublin is one of the best music cities in Europe but is always nice to note. 

During May, June and July, the IMMA becomes one of the late night museums Dublin offers. It organises a series of night events that take place in the formal gardens and on the terrace. With a mix of poets, singers and storytellers, you’re guaranteed to spend a unique night filled with art! Be aware that the event takes place outdoors so bring warm clothes and comfortable shoes with you.

There is also a café on site in the courtyard where you can get coffee, hot chocolate and treats and a shop. 

To get to the IMMA form the city centre, we would recommend walking along the Liffey on the boardwalk on a nice day. However, the weather in Dublin being unstable, if you’re going on a rainy day, just hop on the red Luas and get off at Heuston station. The ride costs from €2 to €4 depending on how many zones you have to go through. 

The Irish Museum of Modern Art Dublin opening hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5:30pm except on Wednesdays where the museum opens at 11:30 and Sundays at 12pm. It is closed on Mondays excepts on Bank Holidays. Entrance is free but you need to book tickets in advance here.  This is a great museum to visit in Dublin in the winter as it is indoors but also has large grounds that are perfect for a crisp winter walk. Its Dublin postal code is D08 FW31 and you can use it to easily find it on Google Maps.

2. Phoenix Park Visitor Centre, one of the free outdoor activities Dublin offers

Beautiful Phoenix Park is to Dublin what Central Park is to New York, a statement and a breath of fresh air. As the home of both the President and hundreds of wild deer, Phoenix Park is a popular weekend spot for locals and visitors. 

But Phoenix Park also hosts some of the best free museums in Dublin as you’ll see below. One of them is the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. The Visitor Centre features and exhibition about the Park’s rich wildlife and history. In a separate room, you’ll find art exhibitions of various medias and crafts. 

The Visitor Centre is open from 9:30am to one hour before sunset every day of the year. We recommend coupling your visit with the free Dublin museum of Ashtown Castle located right next to the Visitor Centre.

3. Chester Beatty Library, one of the best free museums Dublin City centre offers

The Chester Beatty Library is one of the best hidden free museums in Dublin but also one of the richest ones! Named after Alfred Chester Beatty, it is located in Dublin’s Castle gardens right behind the castle and next to the Garda. Alfred Chester Beatty was an American collector who was fascinated by minerals, Chinese snuff boxes and minerals. As his mining company expanded he grew his collection before donating it to Ireland when he settled in the country in 1950. Some of the objects featured in this museum can date back to 2700 BC!

This museum was quite a positive surprise to us. We had passed it dozens of times and finally decided to make time to go in. The building is quite nice with white rocks and an open roof. There are two floors to the museums with several different galleries. 

The first gallery is about the arts of books. As you will have guessed, here you’ll find hundreds of books and everything related to making, writing and illuminating books in different cultures and religions. From China to Iran, coloured powders to Egyptian papyrus texts, you’ll discover an amazing collections of traditional armours, manuscripts, and poems. The second gallery, called the Sacred traditions gallery, houses a great exhibitions on religions of the world including Buddhism, and Islam. The last gallery holds temporary exhibitions with a mix of paintings, vases, and more. 

This museum is gorgeous and can easily take up two to three hours of your time. When arriving you’ll find large doors with a cafe on the right. There are tables both inside and outside and the food looked delicious. The café is canteen style and the food homemade. If you decide to eat outside, you’ll enjoy the view on the gardens, fountains and on Dublin castle which is especially nice on a sunny day. 

The Chester Beatty Library also features a reading room, some reading spaces and creatives spaces where you can read, and colour some printed drawings. There are seats around the museums with books available for reading on site. 

The Museum also houses one of Dublin’s absolute hidden gems: its rooftop garden! Going all the way up the museum, you will find a door that takes you to this rooftop garden with benches and greenery. Although, the view is limited, it is a great place to relax and meditate, especially on a sunny day. We went on a warmish day and it was lovely! The Chester Beatty Library is honestly one of the free museums Dublin offers that you shouldn’t miss! 

Entrance to the Chester Beatty Library is free and booking is not necessary. Donations are encouraged but not mandatory. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9:45am to 5:30pm and on Wednesdays until 8pm. On Sundays, it opens at 12pm and closes at 5:30pm. Note that from November to February, it closes on Mondays. 

4. Museum of Geology, one of the free museums in Ireland Dublin

Whether you are a first time visitor, a returning visitor or living in Dublin, you will have heard of Trinity college and the gorgeous Book of Kells tour. But have you heard of the Geology Museum?

The Geology Museum is located on Trinity College Campus a few meters from the Campanile (aka the Bell Tower) and right on the other side of the Book of Kells. The magnificent building occupying part of the campus was built between 1853 and 1857 and was inspired by Venice, Spain and England. It was built in a Victorian style and features large wooden doors with lots of detailing on the windows. The architecture of the building is very unique for Dublin and contrasts with all other buildings. Inside the building, you’ll find columns made of Irish marble and beautiful designs on the ceiling. The ceiling also features two light wells enlightening the grand staircase leading to the several rooms of the building.

Although the building is now used for lectures and seminars, the hall is open to the public and is where the fun happens. Behind the heavy wooden doors, you will find a surprising tall skeleton, the skeleton of the iconic giant Irish deer with antlers. Facing this mammal skeleton, you will find the one of his female. 

On the sides, you will find windows displaying fossils of shells, fish from all over the world and dating back as far as the Jurassic. Other rocks displayed include zinc, white halite and other minerals. 

The Geology Hall is probably one of the smallest free museums Dublin Ireland has to offer but one that is worth visiting both for the collection it features and the majestic architecture of the building.  We pass this building often and just love how it makes you feel like you suddenly traveled to Spain! 

On the side of the building, there is a small garden with benches where you can sit and admire the architecture. 

The museum is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Entrance is free and booking is not required. 

5. Custom House, one of the free museums in Dublin City on Ireland’s history

The Custom House is often overlooked by tourists although in our experience, it’s one of Dublin best museums, especially for first time visitors to Dublin who want to learn more about Ireland. The Custom House is located on the banks of the Liffey between O’Connell Street and the EPIC Museum. Part of the building is still in use by the Department of the Environment.

Dated back to 1791 and built in a neoclassic style, the Custom House is one of Dublin’s most beautiful landmarks recognizable by its green dome. From the columns to the carvings and a model of the building, the museum will teach you all about the architecture of the building and his architect, James Gandon. It is one of the best museums in Dublin for free to learn about the architecture of one of its most important landmarks. 

Inside the museum, you will learn everything about Ireland’s history and how it became and independent state. With videos, models and several galleries, you will learn about 200 years of history including when Dublin’s Liffey was a major trade route and the most turbulent political times that led to independence. It also tells the story of how the building burnt down and was restored. 

To get to the Custom House from the city centre, you can either walk on the Liffey boardwalk or take the red Luas and get off at Busaras for a couple of euros. 

The museum takes about one hour to visit, possibly two hours if you read everything. It is one of the museums open in Dublin daily from 10am to 5:30pm. Entrance is free and the staff is very helpful if you have questions. The visitor centre also offers guided tours at a small fee. 

6. Áras an Uachtaráin

Similarly to visiting the White House in the USA, it is possible to visit the Irish President’s home but as one of the free museums Ireland offers. Known as Áras an Uachtaráin, the President’s private and official home is located in Phoenix Park, the largest and most popular park in Dublin. Touring the house is one of the top things to do in Phoenix Park with observing the wild deer. You can tour the house all year round but the gardens are only open for guided tours from June to October. During your visit you’ll be able to view the main reception room and the state rooms.

There are guided tours every Saturday of the year except when official business takes place at 10am, 11:15am, 12:30pm, 1:45pm and 3pm.  The tour takes about and hour and fifteen minutes. You can get tickets on the day at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre. As this is an official building, you will need to bring a photo ID to be able to retrieve tickets. If you’re searching for museum Dublin free entry, this is one of the best free things to do in Dublin! 

We recommend pairing the visit with a visit of Phoenix Park and of Ashtown Castle which is also free (see below). 

7. James Joyce Tower and Museum, one of the free museums near Dublin

Although not located in Dublin City Centre, the James Joyce Tower and Museum is worth a visit, especially for literature fans. Although the tower itself doesn’t look anything special, the history around it is actually quite captivating and will for sure, trigger your curiosity. 

Located in Sandycove, near Dun Laoghaire (pronounced Dun Leery), this is a Martello Tower that contains a museum dedicated to James Joyce. The Irish writer James Joyce is specifically famous for writing his Ulysses novel. In 1904, James Joyce spent six nights in the tower which he used as the first scene of the famous novel. 

Inside the museum, you will find some of his belonging and items related to Ulysses. The space has been arranged to look like the space where the writer stayed at then. 

This is one of the free museums open in Dublin all year round from 10am to 6pm in the summer and to 4pm in the winter. To reach the museum, you will need to get on the DART which is the local train and get off in Sandycove. 

If you are looking for museum free Dublin and want to get out of the city centre, this is a great option that will make you want to pick a book once you return home! 

8. The Hugh Lane Gallery

The Hugh Lane Gallery is located on the North side of Dublin by the Garden of Remembrance, a few meters away from the top of O’Connell Street. Founded by Sir Hugh Lane in 1908, the gallery is recognised as one of the best Dublin free museums for modern art and as one of the best public gallery in the world. It has since been the place of numerous donations which has allowed the collections and exhibitions to expand. 

At the gallery, you will find both a temporary and a permanent exhibitions featuring Irish and European artists. One room you won’t want to miss is the Stained Glass Room!

One of the main attractions of the gallery is the Francis Bacon Studio. Francis Bacon was an Irish artists who died in his studio in London. When he passed away, his studio was brought back to his home, Dublin and reassembled here. This took a massive effort in tagging and marking spaces to ensure that the studio would look exactly the same in Dublin. At the studio, you’ll find all Francis Bacon’s painting tools, paintings and more. The move even required the intervention of archeologists to ensure the elevation of the studio was right. The museum also includes an exhibition of Bacon’s books that were retrieved from his house and studio, books who are said to have inspired some of his work.

To get there, you can take the green Luas up O’Connell Street and get off at the Dominick stop. From there, it’s a short walk to the museum. 

This Dublin museum of art is open Tuesday to Thursday from 9:45am to 6pm, Fridays from 9:45am to 5pm, Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 11am to 5pm. It is closed on Mondays. This is one of the museums in Dublin free of charge. You can easily spend a couple of hours at this free museum Dublin offers. 

9. National Museum of Ireland, one of the free natural history museums in Dublin

The National Museum of Ireland Dublin, also known as the Natural history Museum, is what locals commonly refer to as the “Dead Zoo”. It is one of the fun museums in Dublin and is located right in the city centre by Merrion Square Park.

The museum offers two permanent exhibitions. The first one focuses on the Irish Fauna with foxes, rabbits and foxes, while the second focuses on the Mammals of the world including hippos, giraffes and elephants. The museum only displays about 10 000 specimens while the entire collection is estimated to hold about two million scientific specimens. 

When visiting the museum, you’ll be taken to several floors so you can admire the animals from different perspectives. Don’t forget to look up to see the amazing whales skeletons hanging from the ceiling! 

The Dead Zoo Dublin opening times are Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday to Monday from 1pm to 5pm. Though the museum underwent some restoration in 2021, it has now reopened. If you prefer, the museum’s website offers a 3D free virtual tour. This is one of the best free museums Dublin offers so hopefully, you can visit soon! 

10. National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology

The Archeology branch of the National Museum of Ireland is located in Dublin City centre by Merrion Square. It is one of the best museums in Dublin and perfect if you are looking for free things to do in Dublin in the rain!

The museum is quite large and offers several permanent and temporary exhibitions. The first permanent exhibition focuses on Ancient Egypt and displays about 3000 objects acquired in Egypt between the 1890s and the 1920s. One of the major display of the collection is the gilt and painted car tonnage case of the Tentdinebu mummy. 

The second permanent exhibition focuses on Glendalough, which is one of Ireland’s major monastic sites. We highly recommend visiting Glendalough in Wicklow as it is a beautiful site and very popular in the summer on a sunny day! 

The third permanent exhibition focuses on the Viking Age in Ireland and displays objects from Viking graves from the 9th to the 12th centuries. You can also  visit this exhibition through a 3D virtual tour on the museum’s website. 

This museum also offers a number of temporary exhibitions such as Colmcille which focuses on sacred objects of one of Ireland’s patron saints. 

This is one of the most complete Dublin museums and galleries and cool museums in Dublin and we highly recommend it! 

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm, Thursdays from 10am to 8pm only in the summer months and from Sunday to Monday from 1pm to 5pm. 

11. National Library of Ireland, one of the top museums in Dublin

The National Library of Ireland is one of the best museums in Dublin and is located right next Merrion Square Park and St Stephen’s Green Park. It comprises a wide representation of the history and heritage of the country of Ireland. It is one of the most eclectic free museums Dublin Ireland features and holds diverse collections including manuscripts, archives from newspaper, books, digital displays, maps, photographs and more. 

The museums displays several exhibitions that change regularly. The Library also organises smaller exhibitions in addition to the current ones. Exhibitions can include photographs illustrating Ireland’s history of television, displays about famous characters and people who have marked Ireland’s history. 

The museums also have some travelling exhibitions that are in a pull up banner format and contain information on the Library exhibitions. Some exhibitions are also available and accessible online here. 

If you are looking for some information on your family background, the museum allows access to census and civil records and also offers a free genealogy service.

12. National Gallery of Ireland, one of the best free museums in Dublin City centre

Before we even go into what you can find at the National Gallery of Ireland, let’s talk about the gorgeous building that houses one of the best art galleries in Dublin Ireland. Located beside Leinster House (which also offers free tours – see below) and Merrion Square Park, the building was completed in 1864 after 10 years of planning and its facade was built in three stages. The facade stands out with its four columns and three large windows that seem to come out of the building. One thing you’ll notice is the blind windows and niches on the top floor. On the facade, you’ll notice the names Phidias, Apelles, Myron and Ictinus, who are ancient Greek architects, painters and sculptors. 

The National Gallery of Ireland is the one national gallery of art Dublin offers that you shouldn’t miss. In this Dublin City gallery, you’ll find an extensive collection of Irish, Italian, Dutch and European paintings, sculptures, prints and more. 

What makes it one of the best art museums in Dublin is that it houses some of the work of renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Picasso and Monet. The museum offers several themed guided tours including a theme LGBTQIA+ tour exploring the history of sexual identity and gender. It also features some free events such as practising yoga at the Gallery for an hour or attending talks delivered by artists whose pieces are exhibited at the museum. 

This is also one of the only free art museums in Dublin Ireland that offers guided tours of some of the highlights of the collection which is perfect if you are not too familiar with art and would like to know more about the main pieces. 

This is also one of the famous museums in Dublin that offers free virtual tours on their website allowing you to check out the art without having to go anywhere. 

Your visit of Dublin free museums and galleries would not be complete without stopping at this gorgeous art museum Dublin Ireland offers free of charge.

The National Gallery Dublin opening times are Monday and Sunday  from 11am to 5:30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9:15am to 5:30pm, Thursday from 9:15am to 8:30pm. As you see, this is one of the late night museums Dublin offers on Thursdays. 

13. House of Lords chamber at Bank of Ireland, one of Dublin museums free of charge

Until 1801, the building which now houses Bank of Ireland, housed the Irish Parliament House, which is now in Leinster House. The small chamber which is the former House of Lords has remained untouched since this time and is a beautiful historical room to visit.

In the room, you will notice the crystal chandelier and the original tapestries on the walls. The rounded ceilings, the woodwork and the parliament clock are also worth noticing. 

This is a free museum in Dublin that takes a short amount of time to visit but is worth it nonetheless. 

The House of Lords chamber is open to visitors during the regular opening hours of Bank of Ireland. 

14. Dublin City Hall

Located on Dame Street, Dublin City Hall, in all its Georgian architecture is unmissable. Located right in the city centre, only a few minutes from Temple Bar and Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin City Hall is known for its gorgeous dome, beautiful murals, statues and marbles.

The City Hall was build between 1769 and 1779 by the Guild of Merchants in a Georgian architecture style. The Rotunda, which sits in the centre right under the dome, is one of the main areas of the building. This is where merchants used to talk business. When standing in the Rotunda, you can admire the colourful murals, columns and statues. If you look up, you’ll see the dome owned by round windows bringing the light in the centre of the room.

The City Hall is open Monday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm, except when weddings or other events are taking place in the building. There is no need to book your Dublin museum free entry online. 

15. Leinster House, one of the open museums Dublin offers

Leinster House is located between Merrion Square Park and St Stephen’s Green Park and is one of the best free museums in Dublin. 

The house, with its numerous large windows, four columns on the facade and triangular roof used to be the home of the Duke of Leinster and Earl of Kildare, James Fitzgerald. It is now the home of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament composed of the Dáil Éireann (House of representatives) and Seanad (Senate). While the building was erected in 1745, the floor plan, actually inspired the American White House.

During the tour, you will get to learn more about the functioning of the Parliament, the history behind these thick walls and you will visit both the Dáil and the Seanad. 

Leinster House is open Monday through Friday and entrance is made on Kildare Street. As this is an official building and although you can just walk in, visitors must bring a photo ID and avoid bringing large bags. 

If you are interested to visit the Parliament but don’t want to or cannot physically visit the site, the Oireachtas offers a 3D virtual tour on their website. 

This is probably one of the most interesting free museums Dublin City centre has to offer!

16. Garda Museum, one of the most unexpected of the best museums in Dublin Ireland

After over three years of living in Ireland, we have integrated that, in Irish, “Garda” or “An Garda Síochána” means police and it’s common practice to just use the word “Garda” or even to refer to police officials as “the guards”.  And guess what? There is a museum in the city centre that is dedicated to the Garda!

The Garda Museum is known as one of the coolest museums in Dublin. It is located in Dublin Castle’s Treasury Building. At the museum, you’ll find several exhibitions on the history of the Garda and policy events in Ireland covering times before Ireland became independent to our days.   The museum includes archives, photos, artefacts and memorabilia and is a great museum to learn more about the Irish police forces. 

The Garda Museum also offers a 360 degree virtual tour on their website. 

The Garda Museum is one of the free entry museum Dublin offers and is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm. At the moment, you will need to book a slot as the number of visitors is limited. You can book your slot on their website. 

17. Revenue Museum at chapel royal, one of the most interactive free museums in Dublin Ireland

Not far from the Garda Museum, you’ll find the Revenue Museum which is located in the crypt of the Chapel Royal of Dublin Castle. This is a small museum but also one of the top museums Dublin offers. As it is a small museum, we recommend coupling it with the Garda Museum or the Chester Beatty Museum which are all located around Dublin Castle.

At the Revenue Museum, you will learn more about the history of collecting taxes in Ireland and the activities of the Revenue Commissioners. The museum is well built with interactive displays, videos, games and video games. It also displays counterfeit objects and contraband to illustrate what can be ceased by Revenue inspectors. Some of the exhibits also include endangered species that were ceased at ports or airports. The museum also displays a stamp duty machines, and measuring instruments.

This free museum is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm. 

18. Ashtown Castle, one of the best free outdoor activities Dublin offers

Ashtown Castle is one of the cool museums in Dublin and is located in large Phoenix Park. It is a medieval castle composed of one tower house. The castle was discovered in the 1980s, when the Georgian house surrounding it was demolished. Around the castle, you can see a walled kitchen garden in a Victorian layout and lovely gardens and walking areas. 

The castle is open everyday from 9:30m to 6pm and the visit takes about one hour. This is one of the free things to do in Dublin this weekend as it is short but interesting and can easily be couples with a visit of Áras an Uachtaráin, Phoenix Park and the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre.

19. The Irish Architectural Archive, one of the free things to do in Dublin

The Irish Architectural Archive Architecture Gallery  is one of the free museums in Dublin that was established to collect and preserve documents that relate to the island of Ireland’s architecture. The museum is mainly composed of archives that are exhibited in the Architecture Gallery. There are also archive Reading Rooms accessible to visitors.  The collections at the Irish Architectural Archive comprise manuscripts, photographs, books and drawings. 

Several exhibitions are housed every year. At the moment, you’ll find The Ulysses Project in the Architecture Gallery.

This is one of the best Dublin museums if you are interested in architecture as you’ll have access to architectural drawings and related documents.

You can check what’s on and opening times here as they depend on the exhibitions. 

20. Royal Hibernian Academy, one of the best free art museums Dublin features

The Royal Hibernian Academy is a Dublin art museum located by Merrion Square Park. It is one of Dublin’s main public art galleries. Before even entering the building and discovering the art, the building itself stands out in contrast to the traditional Irish red brick buildings. The RHA is housed in a building built in the shape of a rectangle with a very sleek look. The humble style of the building allows for the art to be the main focus point.

Right when entering the building, you’ll be exposed to interesting pieces from sculptures to paintings and photographs. There are several exhibitions taking place at the RHA but the main one if the annual exhibition. The RHA has a yearly open submission process to which artists of all horizons can submit their art. The rest of the pieces come from Academicians and invited artists. The RHA plays a major role in the art field in Ireland as it allows very eclectic artists to access a scene and get exposure. At the RHA, you’ll find art from artists from Ireland and all over the world.

There are several galleries in the museum including a large main room on the first floor. You can easily spend three hours at the RHA, wandering around the artworks and letting yourself be transported by your imagination. The topics touched on by the art vary from mental health to the rat race and social media. The exhibitions are very varied and therefore keep triggering your curiosity. 

If you’re looking for art museum Dublin free, the RHA is a greta place to start. Bring your partner or a friend, and let yourself wander for a couple of hours. 

The RHA is open Monday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm and on Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Wednesdays are open from 11am to 6:30pm. You can find more information here.

21. Pearse Museum

Do you want to learn more about Irish people stories? Then the Pearse Museum is one of the free museums in Dublin Ireland that can do that for you. The Pearse Museum is located in St Enda’s National Historic Park in the south of Dublin. To get there, you will need to hop on Bus 15 to Woodbrook Park and then on Bus 75. An alternative is to take the Green Luas to Dundrum and walk about 20 minutes to the museum.

The Pearse Museum served as an innovative Irish-speaking school  between 1910 and 1916 which was founded by Patrick Pearse. The museum is based on Patrick and his brother’s story including how they came to be executed after participating in the 1916 rising. 

The museum is set in the park, with large grounds, flowers and wildlife, which is a popular place for photographers. In the park, you’ll also see follies, those rock constructions built for fun. There are lots of paths to walk around and there is a café in the park. 

The Pearse Museum is open everyday from 9:30am to 5:30pm. In the summer, from May to August, it benefits from extending opening hours from 9am to 9pm. You can find more information here.

22. Central Bank Visitor Centre, a small Dublin free museum

The Central Bank Visitor Centre is located in the Central Bank of Ireland in North Wall Quay by the Convention Centre. The Central Bank is the regulator of financial services in Ireland. The visitor Centre currently holds two exhibitions. The first teaches visitors about the story of the Central Bank and how it came around. From archive documents to videos, this is a very interesting exhibition for visitors wanting to learn more about the institution.The second exhibition takes visitors through the development of Irish currency through time.

This visitor centre is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm. 

23. General Post office

The General Post Office is located on O’Connell Street near the spire, in Dublin City centre. If you are searching GPO museums Dublin free, you’ll find that the GPO museum charges an entrance fee. Although that is correct, we wanted to include the building of the post office which is free to enter. We recommend heading to the GPO hall which you can enter for free. 

This is one of the quick free museums near me where you’ll be able to admire the beautiful architecture of the building both inside and outside. This is a beautiful building built traditionally with columns and original till areas inside. If you take a few steps back outside, and look at the top of the facade, you’ll be able to see some bullet holes dated back from the war! 

Where to stay in the city to visit the best free museums Dublin offers

The best area to stay in to have an easy access to the free museums in Dublin is the city centre. We have included some hotels and accommodations we would recommend in the centre below: 

1. This double bed studio is budget friendly and conveniently located right in the centre near all Dublin free museums and Dublin main landmarks.
2. Do you want to stay in a Georgian building in the city centre? With one restaurant, two bars, comfortable bedrooms and located in the city centre, this gorgeous hotel is for you. 
3. This luxurious hotel is a gorgeous place to spend a few days in the city centre close to all the visits. With a rooftop restaurant, a spa and an infinity pool, this is definitely the perfect place to spend a romantic weekend in Dublin!

Any questions on Dublin free museums? Drop them in the comments or on insta  and we will get back to you asap.