Date Ideas Dublin: 19 Fun And Different Things To Do On Dates In Dublin

If you’re in search of Dublin date ideas, you’ve landed in the right place.

Finding fun things to do in Dublin on a date can be an absolute pain, especially as the same aul suggestions come up over and over again (I’m looking at you, Dublin Zoo!).

However, there’s endless unique ways to go on dates in Dublin, once you know where to look (below… look below!).

In our Dublin date ideas guide, you’ll find everything from weird tours, chilled night time ideas (not involving alcohol!) and plenty more. Dive on in!

Easy to plan and slightly different Dublin date ideas (that don’t involve drinking!)

The first section of date ideas Dublin guide is packed with easily organised dates that don’t involve sitting in a pub all evening.

Note: If you book tour tickets below, we may make a tiny commission that we greatly appreciate (cheers if you do!).

1. Tackle an early morning ramble

There are some great Dublin walks to tackle and a ramble, especially on a first date, makes conversation flow naturally as you share the views and fresh air.

There are endless walks in the Dublin Mountains, from the Ticknock Walk to the Hell Fire Club. While these are fairly well known trails, there’s plenty of overlooked ones, too.

Cruagh Woods, Bohernabreena Reservoir, Carrickgollogan and Tibradden are all great walks. There’s also endless parks in Dublin if you fancy a handy walk on flat ground.

2. …Or catch the sunset from Killiney Hill (followed by dinner in Dalkey)

If you’re looking for romantic Dublin date ideas, head up the slopes of Killiney Hill to the 153m high summit. It’s a popular place for walkers with spectacular views of Dublin, the Irish Sea and the Wicklow Mountains on a clear evening.

You can park at the top of the hill and it’s a handy 10-minute ramble to the viewing point. If you arrive for sunset, expect views like the one above.

After working up an appetite, surprise your date with dinner at DeVille’s or one of the many other restaurants in Dalkey.

3. Try something different with the Fabulous Food Tasting Trail

If you’re looking for fun date ideas Dublin has plenty (especially if you’re a bit adventurous and want to doge cinemas and pubs!).

They say the way to someone’s heart is through their stomach! Combine a taste of culture and cuisine on a 2.5 hour gastronomic walking tour around Dublin’s best-known culinary hot spots.

Arrive hungry as you’ll be enjoying samples at 6-7 different establishments, each known for its Irish produce.

Meet the makers, learn about the products and discover hidden gems. Read more about whats involved here.

4. An afternoon of coffee, walks and food in Howth

If you’re looking for full-afternoon dates in Dublin, Howth is a great shout, with plenty on offer. Start your romantic date by grabbing a coffee in the village and heading out exploring.

Enjoy the Howth Cliff Walk if you/your date are dressed for it. The loop takes about two hours. Alternatively, opt for the much handier walk hand-in-hand around the charming harbour and out along the pier.

When you finish, there’s plenty of great restaurants in Howth to nip into (and there’s loads of pubs in Howth, too!).

5. Do the skyline tour in Croke Park (followed by lunch in Drumcondra)

So, this is arguably one of the more ‘out there’ Dublin date ideas, and it’s better suited for a third or forth date. It’s at Croke Park that you can tackle the excellent Skyline Tour.

You need to book in advance and make sure your date has an adventurous spirit (and is not fazed by heights!). This guided tour takes you up 17 stories and then out onto an open viewing platform – the highest in Dublin.

You’ll be suspending above the pitch itself. It’s a fantastic way to see Dublin and pick out the landmarks while learning about the city’s history. 

6. Build an afternoon around the Phoenix Park (food, bikes + walks)

Many successful dates in Dublin have taken place within the confines of the Phoenix Park. Covering 175 acres, the Phoenix Park will keep you occupied on a date that lasts all afternoon!

Head off on one of the many walking trails or rent bikes at the entrance and cover even more ground. It’s also home to Dublin Zoo and endless monuments!

Spot resident fallow deer, view the Papal Cross (marking the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1979) and spot the Wellington Monument (largest in Europe at 62m). Don’t miss the People’s Garden Pond and Furry Glen before resting tired feet at the Phoenix Cafe or Boathouse Restaurant.

7. Dublin Bay seal kayaking safari in Dalkey

Next up is another of the more unique date ideas Dublin has to offer – kayaking with seals in Dalkey…! This is another one that’s more suitable to third or fourth dates in Dublin!

This is a 3 hour tour that’ll set you back €78 (not cheap, I know!). Over the course of the tour, you’ll see the seals of Dublin Bay from the comfort of a kayak.

You’ll see Dalkey Island while also soaking up (hopefully not literally…) views of the coastline around Killiney.

8. Spend a night yapping at the bar that doesn’t serve alcohol

There’s endless pubs in Dublin. But there’s only one like this. If this is a first date, the Virgin Mary Bar on Dublin’s Capel Street is the perfect compromise.

It has the ambiance and trappings of a traditional city pub including an incredible cocktail menu, but all without a drop of alcohol.

Drinks are stylish and aromatic and include the famous Virgin Mary Cocktail, as well as beers, wines, ciders and other fruity concoctions. If you’re looking for indoor, drink-free dates in Dublin, this place is well worth considering.

Dates in Dublin for those that fancy a drink, but don’t fancy a normal pub setting

A lot of dates in Dublin involve whittling away hours in a pub. And, while there’s nothing wrong with that, it can get a bit repetitive.

If you’re looking for some of the more impressive date ideas Dublin has to offer, the section below should tickle your fancy.

1. Take cocktail classes at The Little Pig

How about breaking the ice with a date that includes a Cocktail Masterclass? The Little Pig of Wicklow Street offers an entertaining way to glean a little background history before learning how to mix and drink two different cocktails.

The bartender will share tips, techniques and flavour combinations before letting you loose behind the bar to try out your newfound knowledge. It could be the start of a whole new career!

2. Catch a flick and have a sip at the Stella Cinema

Named one of the world’s top 20 most beautiful cinemas, a date at the Stella Cinema will be unforgettable! After years of neglect, the art deco cinema was restored in 2017.

When it originally opened, it was the largest cinema in Ireland with 1283 seats, but now it’s a little cosier with leather armchairs, couches, snack tables and footstools.

Tickets even include a cashmere blanket for snuggling. End with drinks in the Stella Cocktail Bar for the ultimate date.

3. Try the whiskey and food tasting tour

Pair Irish whiskey with wonderfully prepared food and it’s a date night made in heaven! Unless you both hate the taste of whiskey, of course!

Over the course of the tour, you’ll try 5 whiskies, sample locally source food and visit a mix of whiskey bars and old-school pubs.

This tour includes sipping and appreciating five legendary whiskeys, Irish artisan cheese, soda bread and chocolate.

The two-hour guided tour takes place in Bowes Lounge (where you’ll get some of the best Guinness in Dublin!) and the Palace Bar.

4. Take a tasting tour at Teelings

Or how about booking a fully guided tour around the Teeling Distillery on Newmarket? This guided tour offers the opportunity to take part of the whiskey-making process with one of the Ambassadors.

Conclude this fun activity with tastings of their Small Batch and Handcrafted Whiskeys including a handcrafted whiskey cocktail.

There’s plenty of other whiskey distilleries in Dublin, from the Pearse Lyons Distillery and the Jameson Distillery to Roe and Co and more.

5. Tantalise your tastebuds

Now, although a bite-to-eat in a great restaurant is one of the more traditional date ideas Dublin has to offer, don’t write it off. There’s nothing wrong with the tired and tested.

Why do boring when there are so many amazing places to eat in Dublin, from cheap and tasty eats to Michelin star establishments?

Whether it’s a first date or a night out with your long-term partner, choose a place that offers cuisine that you both enjoy then dive in. Good food goes well with pleasant company and relaxed chatter. With a little research, it’s a safe choice for a great date night.  

6. Head for a walk in the Botanic Gardens and then step back in time at the Gravediggers

This is one of my favourite date ideas Dublin has to offer, as it mixes a longish walk with a visit to one of the oldest pubs in Dublin.

Dublin’s National Botanic Gardens are a fragrant, colour-filled setting for a wonderful walk arm-in-arm in all seasons. Admire the restored glasshouses, forerunners to the more famous ones in Kew Gardens.

The gardens are a tranquil oasis in the city with over 15,000 plant species. Skip the cafe and head instead to John Kavanagh, aka Gravediggers, a lovely old-school pub in Gasnevin where gravediggers once quenched their thirst.

Unique Dublin date ideas

If you’re looking for the quirkier date ideas Dublin has to offer, you’ll find plenty of them below. These are dates in Dublin that’ll hopefully be new to both of you!

Below, you’ll find everything from funky music nights and a ghost bus tour to boat trips, an escape room with a difference and more.

1. Head off on the music Under the Bridges Kayaking Tour

This is arguably one of the most unusual (and brilliant!) date ideas Dublin has to offer. If you want some live music on your date, book a place on this Kayak Tour.

Paddle down the River Liffey and you’ll come across some of Dublin’s best musicians playing in the sheltered setting beneath Dublin’s landmark bridges.

Glide along on this 2.5 hour tour marvelling at the city views and enjoying a private concert like no other! More info here.

2. Try the Gravedigger Ghost Bus 2-Hour Tour

Learn more about Dublin’ gravediggers on a two-hour bus tour with a difference. The specially adapted bus has a few surprises. Ghoulish guides play the part of notorious characters as they escort you around the city’s most haunted hideaways.

Listen to spine-chilling tales of the the city’s darker side before reaching the Gravediggers Pub, home of the best pint of Guinness in Ireland, so they say.

3. Hit the water on on a mini-boat trip

If you’re looking for the more unique date ideas Dublin has to offer, this should tickle your fancy. Head out on an award-winning mini cruise with your date, courtesy of Dublin Bay Cruises.

Sailings connect Dun Laoghaire with Howth, Dalkey Island and the city centre so pick your itinerary and then sit back and enjoy the views.

See the beautiful fishing harbour at Howth with its resident seals. There’s plenty of time to enjoy each other’s company on this laid back trip. 

4. Test your nerve at Escape Boats

Ramp up the excitement with the ultimate Escape Room Challenge aboard an Escape Boat. It’s like nothing else!

Moored at Grand Canal Docks, this top-rated adventure requires 2 to 10 players who must solve the mysteries, repair the boat and escape the perils of the Zorg Ella before it’s too late.

Choose SOS or Convicts game plans and prepare to succeed at your mission. What a great experience anytime!

Date ideas Dublin: Have your say

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant Dublin date ideas from the guide above.

If you have any ideas for dates in Dublin that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and I’ll check it out!

FAQs about fun things to do in Dublin on a date

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What are fun things to do on dates in Dublin?’ to ‘What are the best outdoor date ideas Dublin has to offer?’

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.

What Dublin date ideas are different, fun and unique?

If you’re after unique Dublin date ideas, the food tours above are worth a look. Or, the likes of the cruises are well worth checking out, too!

What are the best outdoor dates in Dublin?

If you’re looking for active dates in Dublin, try one of the walks mentioned above or give one of the kayak tours a bash.