What a year it’s turning out to be! It’s been a while since we shared a blog post with you, and you won’t be surprised to know why (Hi there, Covid-19). Just like so many couples, suppliers, venues, friends, and families, we’ve been waiting patiently to see when things might get back to some kind of, dare we say it, normality. We’ve recently reopened and are delighted to get back to some kind of business again.
While there is light at the end of the tunnel for couples who choose to have a more intimate wedding and can celebrate their nuptials this year, one thing that seems to be unlikely is the possibility of a honeymoon abroad.
Over the last 20 years, many couples have chosen to celebrate their honeymoon outside of Ireland. With travel under tight restrictions, and the recommendations being to avoid unnecessary trips and looking like they’re going to stay that way for the foreseeable future, we think now is the time to rediscover a Dublin honeymoon and all it has to offer to newlyweds.
While a lot of the couples who choose to get married at No. 25 are living in the Dublin area we’re sure that there are attractions that have either gone under the radar for them and haven’t been visited, or their busy lives haven’t allowed for much opportunity to explore the wealth of places within close reach.
From outdoor pursuits to galleries and restaurants there are some fantastic options for a romantic honeymoon in Dublin. The city is full of history and romance, we’re going to share some of our favourite city activities here and we hope you can take inspiration from them.
Dublin Honeymoon Ideas in the City Centre
Dublin has no shortage of cultural pursuits to engage with but when is the last time you got to take the time to wander at your leisure around one of the city’s galleries or museums? If you’re newlywed and looking for some romantic days out, you can’t beat strolling hand in hand through some of these Dublin spaces.
Dublin Castle
Located right in the heart of the city, Dublin Castle has historical significance but wasn’t always the oasis of calm it is today. Take a tour and learn how the building and its occupants helped to shape the city, from its time under British control to the 1916 Rising and right up to modern-day.
While you’re there, take a walk around the beautiful gardens or pay a visit to the Chester Beatty Library, home of manuscripts, rare books, and other treasures from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. It’s an engaging and welcoming space with a pretty roof garden that’s so hidden away most people don’t know about it, perfect for loved up couples.
National Gallery
The gallery holds one of Dublin’s oldest and largest collections of art. They have a wealth of artists work to explore so we recommend giving yourself plenty of time to wander through their rooms. If you haven’t seen The Meeting at the Turret Stairs before we definitely recommend taking that in as part of your visit. It was voted Ireland’s favourite painting in a public vote a few years back and can be seen on Thursdays between 11.30 am – 12.30 pm and on Sundays from 2 pm – 3 pm. It definitely gets our vote for the most romantic painting!
Moli
The Museum of Literature Ireland is still a relatively new addition to Dublin’s cultural scene. Located at 86 St Stephen’s Green it has had many literary associations over the years. The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins lived there during his time as Professor of Classics when the building was part of the catholic university of Ireland, and James Joyce was a student there in 1902. Other famous Irish writers to have studied at UCD Newman House, current home of MOLI, include Flann O’Brien, Kate O’Brien and Maeve Binchy. Take a tour of their exhibitions and then hop over to St Stephen’s Green for a romantic stroll through Dublin’s most central park.
The Little Museum of Dublin
Located across the park from MOLI, you could easily fit both museums into one day with a picnic in the park in between. The Little Museum’s goal is simply to remember the past, something they do with a fascinating range of objects that are tied in with the history of the city. We recommend pre-booking your tour as spaces are limited at the moment due to the necessary social distancing requirements.
14 Henrietta Street
If you haven’t taken a tour of this fascinating building and have an interest in the history of Dublin, we definitely think you should take some time to pay them a visit. Being a former tenement turned museum, they may not seem like the most romantic place for a newlywed date, but they show a side of Dublin that many of us living in the city today may not be familiar with. You might just leave with a greater appreciation of how our current struggles compare to those of Dubliners 100 years ago too.
IMMA
If modern art is more your cup of tea then we highly recommend taking a trip over to IMMA and checking out their collections, both permanent and temporary. There’s always something interesting to see in their galleries and you can take a walk around their grounds too. If you have time, take a stroll a little further and head over to the War Memorial Gardens where you can set up a picnic and take in some people watching, we really enjoy watching the rowing clubs practising as they travel up and down the Liffey.
Kayaking on the Liffey
If the sight of people taking to the water gets you interested in trying it for yourself, we definitely think you should check out City Kayaking. You can kayak right through the city centre on one of their trips and see Dublin from a whole new perspective. The sunset trip has the potential to be very romantic so we’d absolutely try that out.
Romantic Outdoor Ideas for Your Dublin Honeymoon
Phoenix Park
The largest city park in Europe is an idyllic place to spend a few romantic hours so pack a picnic for yourselves and spend the day exploring its 1752 acres. You can take in a trip to Dublin Zoo, try to find the herd of deer who roam through the park, hire a bike and cycle from one end to the other, or simply find an ice-cream seller and sit back with a 99. Don’t forget to dress for an Irish day, you could have rain, sun, clouds, wind and possibly all within an hour of each other so be prepared for anything.
Dollymount Beach
If you’re more of a water fan, take a trip out to Bull Island by crossing the iconic wooden bridge and taking a walk along the beach. Pack a picnic and some sunscreen, or a raincoat depending on the weather, and take in one of Dublin’s best spots for a relaxing few hours.
Arranging a wedding can be stressful so a few hours of fresh sea air is just the thing to blow the cobwebs away and reset yourselves after the planning and possibly re-planning of your wedding.
Those are just some of the days out that you can have in and around the city as part of your Dublin honeymoon, there are even more activities just outside the city centre and past the suburbs so stay tuned to our blog for more ideas.
We’d love to know if you have any hidden gems that we missed so leave a comment if there’s somewhere you think people should know about. We’re all for sharing the romance, especially if we can help to support our local businesses too!
