20 fun and romantic date ideas in Dublin

Running out of ways to say ‘I love you’? A walk down this alley in Temple Bar will give you dozens of ideas. The walls of Love Lane are plastered with a combination of street art and pastel-coloured tiles, some of which bear quotes from poems and love songs, so you can tell your date just how you feel by borrowing the words of their favourite singers. One piece of advice, though – be sure your other half is a Father Ted fan before telling them you “want to shower [them] with sugar lumps”.      

Media captionTake a pic beside your favourite lyrics on Love Lane.

A bracing hike is a great and wholesome date idea, so get the DART to Dalkey or Killiney and make your way along the coast to the Killiney Hill pathway. There are a good few steps up to the top, but once you’re up there the trail is easy enough, and the views along the coast are epic. Pop into the Killiney Hill Tea Rooms afterwards for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake, or if you’re feeling brave, head back down to the sea for a quick dip at the Vico Bathing Place.  

Media captionReward yourselves with the views from Killiney Hill.

If want to pay homage to the patron saint of love, then why not visit the man himself? The remains of Saint Valentine came to Dublin in 1836 and are kept in an altar and shrine in Whitefriar Street Church on Aungier Street. You can visit them at any time of the year, but Valentine’s Day is a popular day for couples to attend a blessing ceremony.  

Media captionVisit the remains of St Valentine at Whitefriar Street Church.

Want to really amp up the romance? Rent a tandem from Phoenix Park Bikes and spend a couple of hours exploring the park on a bicycle made for two. Together you can explore the trails that weave through the woodlands, over the meadows and, hopefully, past the herd of fallow deer. Head up to the Ashtown Castle and Demesne and you can wander around the Victorian Walled Kitchen Garden, or cycle back towards the Phoenix Park Tea Rooms for a homemade scone or a wedge of Victoria sponge cake.  

Media captionPlan a romantic bike ride in the Phoenix Park.

There’s always a romantic vibe to a good sunset, and they look particularly dreamy at Howth Head. For the best views, either hike along the Cliff Path from the village or drive up to the car park and walk to the viewpoint by Baily Lighthouse. If you’re early risers, you can always switch it up and head there for sunrise, before hiking back towards Howth for breakfast in one of the harbourside coffee shops.  

Media captionSoak in the sunset at Howth Head.

A night at the movies is a classic date – and a screening at the Stella Cinema is even better. This 1920s art deco cinema has a luxurious feel, with plush burgundy armchairs and an ornately carved ceiling. If you really want to get cosy, book either the sofa or a bed, where you can snuggle up for the duration. You can even get cocktails or hot food delivered to your seat right before the movie begins.  

Media captionEnjoy a film and a cocktail at the Stella Cinema.

Did you know you can eat dinner on a boat as it drifts along the Grand Canal? La Peniche docks at Mespil Road, where you can hop on board for a floating lunch or dinner. But during their special cruising dinners you’ll enjoy a tour of Dublin from the water, as the barge navigates the 18th-century locks and bridges.   

Media captionHop aboard La Peniche for an intimate dinner.

You might want to set some relationship parameters before you suggest it, but if everyone is on the same page, then why not spend a date forging your own ring? At Silver Works, you can learn how to make your very own ring in just a couple of hours, leaving with a custom piece that you sawed, soldered and polished with your own two hands.  

Media captionMake a ring for your special someone at Silver Works.

Want to really impress your date? Take them to the National Gallery of Ireland on a Thursday at 11.30am or a Sunday at 2pm. These are the only times you can see one special watercolour, Hellelil and Hildebrand, the Meeting on the Turret Stairs, a painting usually hidden behind locked doors. It’s as romantic as it is elusive – Hellelil’s father disapproved of the relationship and ordered her brothers to kill the young prince, and the painting depicts the final moments of the couple before Hildebrand meets his end.  

Media captionSpend a few hours admiring the National Gallery's most romantic works of art.

An amble around the Iveagh Gardens is always a solid date idea, but if you’re around in the spring and summer, don’t miss the Rosarium near the Hatch Street entrance. With rose bushes dating back to pre-1865, this small garden smells heavenly when the flowers are in bloom, but is still pretty in the winter, when you can cosy up on the cast iron benches around its edge.  

Media captionStroll the manicured grounds of the Iveagh Gardens.

It’s a classic date activity, and there are plenty of places around Dublin where you can get afternoon tea. For something more formal, try The Shelbourne or The Merrion, for artistic treats served in elegant, historic drawing rooms. For a bit of fun, board the Vintage Tea Trips bus and tuck into your scones as you move through the city. And if you’re vegan, there’s a special afternoon tea in Póg, with smoothie shots, falafel wraps and avocado toasts, with the option to make it a bottomless affair.  

Media captionEnjoy afternoon tea in elegant hotels or on the go.

It’s a bit of a thigh-burner, but a walk up the 259 steps of the Skyview Tower earns you 360-degree views over the city, from Smithfield Square directly below to the mountains beyond. Your ticket gets you a discount in the Generator Bar downstairs, so you can pop in for a drink when you get back down.  

Want to see the city (and the coast) from the water? On a trip with Dublin Bay Cruises you can sail between the city centre and either Howth, Dún Laoghaire or both. The trips depart from Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, so you get to start on the River Liffey before heading out into Dublin Bay and the Irish Sea, seeing the coastline along the way. They also do scenic tours of Dalkey Island and Killiney Bay, where you might spot some of the local dolphins.  

Media captionLook out for pods of dolphins with Dublin Bay Cruises.

If you want to work up a sweat, head to the Hot Box Sauna village in Inchicore, where there are five different saunas and three plunge pools set to different temperatures – so you can impress your date by jumping into the cold plunge. The Stillgarden Distillery is next door, where you can tour the facilities or do a gin tasting, and there’s also Rascals Brewing Company for the beer (and pizza) fans.  

It’s one thing going for a cocktail, but quite another to learn how to shake one up yourself. At the Jameson Distillery Bow Street, there’s a cocktail-making workshop where you’ll learn how to make three different whiskey cocktails – a whiskey sour, an old fashioned and a Jameson punch – all in the space of an hour.  

Media captionStop by for a whiskey flight or cocktail class at Jameson Distillery Bow Street.

If the way to your lover’s heart is through their stomach, then a cookery class is a winning date night formula. At Pinocchio in Temple Bar, you can learn how to make your own pasta, pizza and tiramisu in a fun, lively workshop in their restaurant, and you’ll get to eat it all at the end. Cookbook author Lily Ramirez-Foran also runs cookery classes in her Mexican pantry Picado, with workshops dedicated to making proper tortillas, enchiladas and tamales.  

What do penguins, wolves and gibbons have in common? They all mate for life – and you can also find them at Dublin Zoo. There are plenty of other romantic tidbits you can tell your date as you wander between the exhibits, like the fact that stick insects can mate for days or even weeks on end, or that elephants hold trunks like people hold hands. If you’re looking for a romantic winter activity, keep an eye out for Wild Lights, the evening illumination event that usually takes place from late October to January. 

Media captionSay hello to the animals on a date to Dublin Zoo.

It’s an ideal spot for a first date – so long as the comedians don’t know that’s what you’re doing. There’s live comedy on stage every night in The International Bar, with stand-up, visiting performers and Dublin Comedy Improv, who perform every Sunday. On Wednesdays, big names take to the stage for Comedy Cellar, the longest-running stand-up night in Ireland. 

This 4km loop is a bracing walk, which takes you along the length of the Great South Wall to Poolbeg Lighthouse, with great views of the coast and the sea as you go. There’s usually a coffee truck parked at the start of the wall, so you can get a cuppa to keep you warm, and if you time it right you can walk alongside the ferries as they come in and out of the port. If you want to do a longer walk, you can start by the beach in Sandymount and follow the trail for a stroll that’ll take around two hours.   

Media captionWalk all the way out to Poolbeg Lighthouse.

Fancy learning a few things while you discover a new favourite vintage? A wine tasting event is a bit more creative than simply going for a drink, and there are a few different options around the city. Neighbourhood Wine runs themed evenings, like a focus on French wines or Chardonnay, as well as an intensive wine workshop for the more dedicated oenophiles. Once a month, the Portobello wine shop Brindle hosts a food and wine pairing night, and there are frequent events held in Green Man Wines in Terenure, like Grower Champagne or Burgundy tastings.  

Dublin’s romantic restaurants 

Looking for a loved-up meal? Check out our guide to Dublin’s most romantic restaurants.