diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/account.py b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
index 875b097c..833a42fc 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/account.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
@@ -144,6 +144,22 @@ class Account(object):
         chat_id = lib.dc_create_chat_by_msg_id(self._dc_context, msg_id)
         return Chat(self._dc_context, chat_id)
 
+    def get_chats(self):
+        """ return list of chats.
+
+        :returns: a list of :class:`Chat` objects.
+        """
+        dc_chatlist = ffi.gc(
+            lib.dc_get_chatlist(self._dc_context, 0, ffi.NULL, 0),
+            lib.dc_chatlist_unref
+        )
+
+        chatlist = []
+        for i in range(0, lib.dc_chatlist_get_cnt(dc_chatlist)):
+            chat_id = lib.dc_chatlist_get_chat_id(dc_chatlist, i)
+            chatlist.append(Chat(self._dc_context, chat_id))
+        return chatlist
+
     def get_message_by_id(self, msg_id):
         """ return Message instance. """
         return Message(self._dc_context, msg_id)
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 51aa3933..51b5af01 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -54,6 +54,12 @@ class TestOfflineAccount:
         assert chat == chat2
         assert not (chat != chat2)
 
+        for ichat in ac1.get_chats():
+            if ichat.id == chat.id:
+                break
+        else:
+            pytest.fail("could not find chat")
+
     def test_message(self, acfactory):
         ac1 = acfactory.get_offline_account()
         contact1 = ac1.create_contact("some1@hello.com", name="some1")