Dublin is Ireland’s most romantic city according to data from FREENOW* released today (10.02.25). The findings show that Dubliners take the most taxi rides on Valentine’s Day, with couples heading to the theatre, restaurants and bars. The data also highlights Dublin’s top five date night locations, revealing where love is in the air.
While a cosy evening at home is the dream Valentine’s date for 24% of people, over a third of us (36%) are hoping for a classic candlelight dinner. Whatever your plans, Valentine’s Day is a busy day for travel with 56% more people travelling via FREENOW taxi in Dublin than a typical February weekday.
A night at the theatre is the most popular Valentine’s Day activity in Dublin with the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre topping the list of local date night locations. The Spencer Hotel is another busy spot with 12% of people saying they would love to celebrate by taking a short break with their partner. Dinner remains a Valentine’s Day staple with three of the top five locations being city centre restaurants.
Top Valentine’s Day date locations in Dublin:
- Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
- Spencer Hotel.
- Alfie’s Restaurant and Cocktail Bar.
- Fade Street Social.
- Mama Yo.
Taxi drivers might overhear some interesting stories about passengers’ love lives during their trips. Over a third of Irish people (38%) admit to discussing their romantic relationships with their taxi driver. The advice is taken in high regard with 75% of passengers considering it helpful. For the lucky few romance even sparks during the journey, with 46% of people sharing a kiss with a date in the back of a taxi.
Valentine’s Day is not just for couples, 45% of single people plan to spend the day with friends or family, while a third will embrace some alone time. The most popular celebration among singles is a night out on the town (37%), with one in five (22%) planning to go for dinner, and a further 25% are planning a cosy night in.
Danny O’Gorman, General Manager at FREENOW Ireland, said: “Our data clearly shows that people love to travel by taxi to celebrate Valentine’s Day, highlighting how customers trust FREENOW partner drivers to take them swiftly and safely to their dates, solo plans or group activities.”
With 68% of those celebrating Valentine’s Day planning to travel by taxi, and 7pm being the busiest time for trips across the country, FREENOW advises passengers travelling to a date night or Galentine’s celebration to consider pre-booking their taxi or try to leave earlier or later in the evening.
About FREENOW
FREENOW is Europe’s multi-mobility app with taxi offering at its core, available in 9 European markets and over 150 cities. FREENOW users can access various mobility services within a single app, including taxis, PHV, carsharing, car rental, eScooters, eBikes, eMopeds and public transport. FREENOW partners with numerous mobility brands and aggregates their offering with the ambition to make urban mobility more efficient and sustainable without adding new vehicles on the street. The Germany-based company is backed by the BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Mobility. FREENOW is led by CEO Thomas Zimmermann.
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