If you are looking for a special way of celebrating St Valentine’s Day then a visit to the National Museum of Ireland is a must.
Here are some romantic ideas for you and your loved one to enjoy at the Museum this St Valentine’s Day. All our Museum sites in Dublin and Mayo are free and no booking is required.
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14:00 | Saturday, 14 & Sunday, 15 February | Adults & Families | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Discover love across the ages this Valentine’s weekend with Love, Then and Now: Stories from the National Museum’s Collection. This special tour invites visitors to explore how affection, connection and creativity have been expressed throughout Irish history, told through unique objects from the Museum’s collections. Expect everything from tiny sentimental tokens to bold, expressive artworks woven with sweet, quirky and charming love stories.
The weekend also includes a self-guided Rainbow Trail highlighting LGBTQIA+ histories and love stories represented in the museum’s galleries — from figures connected to the 1916 Easter Rising to modern equality activists. Trails can be picked up at reception.
14:00 - 15:00 | Saturday 14 February | Adults and Children 14+ | Booking required
National Musuem of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
The celebration of St Valentine’s Day is a modern construct, but love and marriage customs have traditionally played a significant role in Irish society. Join keeper of the Irish Folklife Collection, Clodagh Doyle, this St Valentine's Day (14 February) to find out about matchmaking, marriage and the traditions in between!
12:30 | Friday, 13 February | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This tour takes visitors on a journey from Stone Age megalithic art to early medieval craftsmanship — a lovely option for couples or friends looking for a culturally rich outing.
11:00 - 13:00 | Saturday, 14 February | No booking required
The Dead Zoo Lab, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
A fun, informal way to explore natural history in the newly opened Dead Zoo Lab — great for families or couples looking for something light, interactive, and different. The theme for St Valentine’s weekend is Animal Signs (furs, footprints and poo!)
During Musuem open hours
National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Explore treasured personal objects and powerful symbols from the last 150 years of Irish life, from suffrage banners to Mary Robinson’s inauguration suit, each reflecting the passions, values and connections that shape who we are. A thoughtful stop for couples interested in how love, identity and personal expression have helped transform modern Ireland.
14:00 & 15:30 | Saturday, 14 February | All Ages | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
Join a free guided tour exploring the museum galleries, Turlough Park House, and the surrounding gardens — a lovely way to spend an afternoon with loved ones.
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15:30 | Saturday, 14 February | All Ages | No booking required
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
This free guided tour brings visitors face‑to‑face with Ireland’s most iconic artefacts — from Mesolithic fish traps to Bronze Age gold and the beautiful Tara Brooch and Ardagh Chalice. It’s an inspiring journey through timeless craftsmanship and stories that have captured hearts for centuries, making it a perfect shared experience for Valentine’s weekend.
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During Museum opening hours
National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo
This self‑guided trail offers families an opportunity to reconnect with one another and with nature. The grounds of Turlough Park are home to lots of different habitats, including woodlands, gardens, and lakeside and riverside areas. Along the way, families are encouraged to use their senses and observational skills to complete a series of enjoyable nature challenges. It is a perfect, relaxed, and engaging way to spend quality time together over the St Valentine’s weekend.
15:30 | Sunday, 15 February | All Ages
Naitonal Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7
Visitors are invited to mark both St Valentine’s weekend and the Lunar New Year with a special bilingual (Mandarin and English) tour of A Dubliner’s Collection of Asian Art: The Albert Bender exhibition at Collins Barracks. Taking place on Sunday, 15 February at 15:30, this tour by experienced guide Evan Furlong, offers an insightful introduction to the remarkable story of Albert Bender and the works of Asian art he gifted to the National Museum of Ireland.
During Museum opening hours
National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
The Ancient Egypt exhibition at the National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, offers an opportunity to engage with one of history’s most enduring civilisations. See objects such as the gilt and painted cartonnage case of the mummy Tentdinebu from the 22nd Dynasty (c. 945–716 BC), the evocative mummy portraits of a woman and a young boy from Hawara (first–second century AD), and a finely crafted model of a wooden boat dating to the early 12th Dynasty (c. 1900 BC).
Other highlights to explore and enjoy across our Museum sites throughout the St Valentine's Weekend
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VISIT: Harry Clarke Stained Glass Exhibiiton | Collins Barracks
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VISIT: A Hand in Nature: Art Metalwork & Jewellery Exhibition | Collins Barracks