Love is in the air as Valentine's Day celebrations descend over Belfast.
Forget the usual flowers, chocolates and heart-shaped jewellery and treat the one you love to a big night out in Belfast to avail of a number of the Valentine's Day events taking place.
Whether you want to fun partner activity, a fancy meal in a popular restaurant or a relaxing hotel stay and spa experience, Belfast has it all to make your celebrations that bit more special.
Read more: NI restaurant named as one of the 'most romantic' in UK
Here is a list of ideas of things to do in Belfast for Valentine's Day 2023:
Go for a meal
Belfast's hospitality scene is bursting at the seams with fantastic restaurants for all tastebuds that would make for a romantic date night with your partner.
A number of establishments are running special Valentine's menus for lovers to take full avail of including Deanes EIPIC, Waterman House and Shed Bistro.
If you fancy a 6-course tasting menu, tapas to share or a hearty steak - there is something for every couple to try in Belfast.
Love by design
Running until February 14, Craft NI Gallery in the Cathedral Quarter are holding its ‘Love by Design’ event.
Their Valentine's Day showcase offer fresh and contemporary gift ideas for those who celebrate it.
Gallery visitors will be able to choose from unique, handmade jewellery, hand-painted silk cards or clever paper decorations - the creativity of Northern Irish designer-makers is bound to impress.
Head out for Cocktails
Treat the love of your life to an exciting night on the town with a bar crawl of some of the city's finest bars and cocktail spots.
With so many to choose from, nothing says 'I Love You' like a cheers over an Espresso Martini or a lovebird special that many bars will be offering for the big day.
Angel & Two Bibles, Berts Jazz Bar and The Perch are only a handful of great cocktail bars across Belfast that will have you falling in love all over again.
Belfast Giants Valentine's Game Night
If you are not a fan of a traditional date night then the Stena Line Belfast Giants have a unique date experience for you.
On Sunday, February 11 when the Giants take on the Fife Flyers, the ice hockey team will hold their annual Valentine's themed night at the SSE Arena.
To mark the occasion, the Stena Line Belfast Giants will don Valentine's themed jerseys and love-themed intermission activities such as the Kiss Cam.
Visit a hotel and Spa
Why not make a full weekend out of your Valentine's celebrations?
Treat your special someone to an overnight trip at one of Belfast's fanciest hotels or - even better - book them into one with a spa and destress with a relaxing treatment.
Locations such as The Merchant and Culloden Estate and Spa would make for the perfect Valentine's surprise.
Have a Galentine's brunch
Valentine's doesn't just have to be for the lovers!
February 14 can often feel like a heart-shaped kick in the teeth to all those single bodies out there but that doesn't mean you can't avail of all the deals.
Grab a bunch of your best gals and celebrate friendship this year - Margot in Belfast City Centre is holding a bottomless brunch event on February 13 for this exact occasion.
Romeo and Juliet
Nobody ever quite did love like William Shakespeare.
At the Lyric until March 5, this contemporary setting of the story, with Shakespeare’s original text, takes audiences to Verona in the summer of 2022 in the world of Italian high fashion, with Lady Montague and Lady Capulet propelled to the forefront as the leading designers of two rival fashion houses.
The play has been adapted by dramaturg Dr Anne Bailie to create a fresh and modern version of this classic tale of two star-crossed lovers and their feuding families.
Candle Lit concert
A unique event happening this year in Belfast is a candlelight concert held in the Ulster Museum.
Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations never before used for this purpose in Belfast.
Listen to your favourite love songs played by a live string quartet at a night of magic on February 11.
Woo at the Zoo
Love is in the air at Belfast Zoo where can treat your ‘otter’ half to one of their adults-only sessions or bring your little monkeys along for their family-friendly workshops.
Enjoy chocolate treats at the zoo's animal-themed chocolate workshop and learn about Belfast Zoo’s love birds at a special animal meet and greet with their education team.
From February 12-14, look out for Belfast Zoo's Valentine's feeding times where you may spot some of their animals receiving some lovely Valentine's gifts.
READ NEXT:
Three Northern Irish restaurants gain Michelin Guide recognition
Four NI towns named in top 10 'most welcoming' places in the UK
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
