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Date spot in Belfast

Botanic Gardens and the Palm House

Wander the lawns and rose beds of the Botanic Gardens, then step inside the curved iron and glass of the Victorian Palm House and the steamy Tropical Ravine nearby.

The Palm House's white iron and glass dome and wings behind a lawn with bright flower beds, under a blue sky

Botanic Gardens, Queen's Quarter

College Park, Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1LP
  • Outdoors
  • Free

Why it's a good date: A free afternoon that works in any weather: stroll when it's dry, and warm up among the palms when it isn't. The Ulster Museum is at the other end of the gardens.

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Photo: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

More from our Belfast guide

  • The Ulster Museum's pale stone front with tall columns, joined to a blocky modern extension, behind a wide flight of steps

    Ulster Museum

    Botanic Gardens, Stranmillis Road

    Botanic Gardens, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AB
    • Culture
    • Rain-proof ☔
    • Free

    Browse art, natural history and the story of Ireland's north under one roof, from fossils and an Egyptian mummy to Irish painting and the history of the Troubles.

    Why it's a good date: It's free, it's got a bit of everything, and it's easy to split up and meet again at whatever you each liked best. Pair it with the Palm House for a whole afternoon in the gardens.

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    Photo: Bazonka, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped and resized)

  • Inside the Crown, a row of carved wooden snugs with stained glass panels down one side of a long bar under a patterned ceiling

    The Crown Liquor Saloon

    Great Victoria Street, city centre

    46 Great Victoria Street, Belfast BT2 7BA
    • Bar
    • Rain-proof ☔
    • Cosy

    Squeeze into a carved wooden snug at Belfast's famous Victorian gin palace, all coloured tiles, stained glass and gas lamps, and ring the bell for a drink.

    Why it's a good date: A snug to yourselves in a room this beautiful is about as romantic as a pint gets. It's busy, so go early in the day or the evening to get one, and the Grand Opera House is just across the road.

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    Photo: Suzanne Mischyshyn, CC BY-SA 2.0 (resized)

  • St George's Market's red-brick front on May Street, with a tall arched entrance and green iron gates

    St George's Market

    May Street, city centre

    12-20 East Bridge Street, Belfast BT1 3NQ
    • Restaurant
    • Rain-proof ☔
    • Foodie

    Graze your way round the stalls in the Victorian covered market, from local cheese and fresh fish to street food and baking, often with live music playing.

    Why it's a good date: Each of you picks a stall and you share. It's at its liveliest on a weekend morning, so go hungry and take a bag for whatever you end up carrying home.

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    Photo: Ardfern, CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)

From our guide to date ideas in Belfast

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