By Andy, founder
Winter in Dublin can be cold, wet and dark early, but it has its own charm: frosty parks, lights on Grafton Street, a fire in a cosy pub and a warm welcome almost anywhere. If you've been waiting for the right moment to meet someone, the quieter months are a good time to start.
Out in the cold
Walk in Phoenix Park on a frosty morning
The bare trees and the deer on the open grassland look beautiful in winter light. Stick to the paths and be back before the light goes, as it gets dark early.
Wrap up for the sea
A walk along Sandymount Strand, the Howth pier or the Dún Laoghaire East Pier is bracing on a cold day, and it's easy to duck into a café when you've had enough. Check the forecast before you set off, and take care on wet and icy paths.
Warm and cosy
Find a cosy pub
Every part of Dublin has pubs with a quiet corner, and many have a fire in winter. For a first date, a weekday afternoon is ideal: calm, unhurried and easy to leave after one drink if you'd like to.
Visit a museum or gallery
The National Gallery, the National Museum, the Chester Beatty and the Irish Museum of Modern Art are free to enter and full of things to talk about. Check opening times and any charges for special exhibitions before you go.
Wander through a covered market
The Victorian Georges Street Arcade and other covered spaces are good for a wet day, with plenty to look at and places to sit. They get busy at weekends, so a weekday visit can be easier.
Festive and seasonal
Each winter Dublin often has Christmas lights on Grafton Street and around the city centre, festive markets and seasonal events. Check this year's dates, tickets and opening times before you plan around anything, because the crowds can be big. A stroll to see the lights, followed by a hot drink, is a lovely low pressure date.
A few winter tips
- Check opening times. Many places keep shorter hours in winter, so check before you go.
- Plan for the dark. It's dark by half past four in December, so a lunchtime date is often easier.
- Check the travel. Weather and works can disrupt the Dart, the Luas and the buses, so have a plan B.
- Dress for the weather. Nobody is at their best cold and soaked.
- Stay safe. Meet somewhere public and make your own way there. Our guide to dating safely has more.
Looking for more ideas? Our first date ideas in Dublin work all year round.
- date-ideas
- winter
- dublin
