Another year, another birthday celebration to think about. Whether you’re organising the festivities for yourself, a friend or a special someone, it’s not always easy to mark the milestone in a way that’s different to previous years. To lend a helping hand with the planning, we’ve come up with the best birthday ideas in Dublin to help the star of the show blow out their candles in style this year.
Sure, you could opt for the standard dinner date with your mates, but where’s the fun in that? There’s loads of unique and exciting things to do in the city to usher in another year of life that don’t just involve a bang-average meal at the local Italian restaurant. From drinking afternoon tea on a guided bus tour to throwing axes to your heart’s content, these fun birthday ideas in Dublin truly put the more typical birthday festivities to shame.
1. Have a spot of tea on this guided bus tour of Dublin
If you’re struggling with the thought of turning a year older, then why not turn back the clock and experience this vintage tea trip taking place on a double-decker bus that looks like it was taken straight from a 1950s automobile magazine? Take in some of the city’s most iconic monuments and load up on fun facts about Dublin’s history while sipping on a cuppa and indulging in the dainty sandwiches and sweet treats on offer. You won’t be needing a slice of birthday cake once you’ve set your eyes on their impressive selection of scones, cakes and other delicious pastries.
Learn more about Vintage Tea Trip: Afternoon Experience here.
2. Spend your special day throwing axes
Not only is planning a birthday celebration time-consuming, but it can be pretty stressful, too. Luckily for the anxiety-ridden birthday organisers among us, this axe throwing experience at Axe Club is the perfect way to release stress and try your hand at something new. For €27 per person, you’ll have one hour to throw as many axes as you can at multiple targets and enjoy a bit of friendly competition between mates before crowning your friendship group’s axe throwing champion. All you have to do is relax your shoulders, unclench your jaw and let the art of axe throwing do the rest.
Book your experience at Axe Club here.
3. Have a bev and sing your heart out on a musical pub crawl
This list wouldn’t be complete without a boozy pub crawl being included. Musical Pub Crawl takes you on a journey to some of Dublin’s most iconic pubs and bars to experience the city’s beloved music scene while you have a few pints along the way. Guided by two musicians, you’ll hear traditional Irish music, enjoy some Irish dancing and learn all there is to know about the country’s rich music history. A ticket will cost you €19 and the tour starts at Ha’penny Bridge Inn at 7:30 pm every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Grab your tickets to the musical pub crawl here.
4. Take your birthday celebrations to new and improved heights at a rooftop bar
Nothing beats a tipple with a view, and when your birthday comes around, there’s all the more reason to sip on a delicious cocktail or cold beer while taking in Dublin’s impressive skyline. From Fitzsimons Roof Garden to Sophie’s Rooftop, the city has a fair amount of rooftop bars offering funky tunes, good grub and a superb selection of beer, wine and other heavenly concoctions to guzzle down. Take the obligatory birthday pic for Instagram in one of Dublin’s remarkable rooftop bars boasting stunning views of the city that you’d struggle to get back down on ground level.
5. Feel all the feels at a magical Candlelight concert
Swap out the birthday candles for the enchanting flicker of candlelight at these spellbinding tribute concerts that are paying homage to music’s classical and contemporary greats. Iconic hits from the likes of Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Radiohead and many more legendary artists are performed by brilliant musicians at these captivating Candlelight concerts. Sit back and soak in the soothing ambience created by the flickering candles and breathtaking live music and enjoy this magical experience that you won’t forget anytime soon.
Experience the magic of these spectacular Candlelight concerts.
6. Have a laugh at a goggle football match
Goggle football is just like a typical five a side game with just one small difference – players have to wear visually-impairing goggles on the pitch. These goggles make the ball feel a lot closer or a lot further than it actually is, so you’ll see a lot of random kicks in the air and hear lots of laughs throughout the game. Imagine having six pints of Guinness with your mates before playing footy and this is probably what that game would look like. Great craic, bemused faces and lots of laughter make this a brilliant idea for a hilarious birthday event.
Find out more about goggle football matches in Dublin here.
7. Relax at We Call It Ballet
Celebrate your special day at We Call It Ballet, a glowing take on Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty. The costumes are fitted with LED costumes, the story is powerful, and the venue is perfect. Go with a group of friends, family, or someone special, or even choose to disconnect with some alone time. After about an hour of elegant ballet, you should be left feeling moved and ready for an adventurous year ahead.
8. Channel your inner artist at Neon Brush
Light up your birthday ideas in Dublin with the luminous Neon Brush experience. Whether you’re celebrating the big day with your friends or partner, these glowing sip and paint sessions are a unique way to have some fluoro fun while brushing up on your art skills. Grab your paintbrush, sip on a drink (beer, spirit, or soft drink) and toast to another year around the sun at this creative extravaganza featuring neon paints that glow under UV lights.
Grab your tickets to Neon Brush in Dublin here.
9. Work against the clock with friends at a Dublin escape room
With so many dotted around the city, escape rooms seem to be all the rage nowadays. Escape Dublin and Incognito Escape Room are some of the coolest adventure spots where you can go with your friends to work together and escape from different rooms before time runs out. From spooky laboratories to creepy crime scenes, these rooms take on an array of unique themes that make the experience all the more exciting. You’ll need creativity, patience, teamwork and a lot of brain power to crack the codes, escape the room and manage to blow out your birthday candles before your special day comes to an end.
10. Make a toast to another year of life at a whiskey tasting tour
It wouldn’t be right to celebrate your special day in Dublin without a glass of whiskey in hand. At this whiskey tasting tour, you’ll sip on five premium Irish whiskeys and have the chance to ask all your burning questions to a liquor connoisseur. Ever wondered how whiskey is made or what the difference is between Irish and Scotch? Well, thanks to this unbeatable tasting tour, you’ll have all your questions answered by a whiskey expert while sipping on a glass of Teeling or Jameson. We’ll cheers to that!
Get your tickets to Whiskey Tasting Tour of Dublin here.
11. Get your dancing shoes on for a silent disco tour
Shimmy through the streets of Dublin and kick off the birthday celebrations with zero inhibitions at this sensational silent disco dancing tour. On arrival, you’ll be provided with a set of wireless earphones so only you and your friends can hear the banging tunes as you pirouette down the streets. No dancing experience is necessary, of course, just come with a smile on your face and don’t be afraid to get some strange looks from concerned passersby. Not many b-day celebrations sound more amusing than taking in the city’s landmarks and having a giggle with your mates as you dance away to classic floor fillers down the streets of Ireland’s capital.