43 Unique Date Night Ideas For Every Couple From Outdoorsy To Artsy

You can get all those first-date questions out of the way and start planning for the next. Now that you know some good virtual date ideas, tell your partner you’ve been thinking about planning new dates. Ask when they’re free in the coming weeks, or check your shared calendar to find a free night.

Interactive Museums & Cultural Exploration

You’ll either learn more about each other or do hilarious things. It’s a great opportunity to step outside your comfort zone while spending time together over video chat. Use your shared playlist or a randomly generated one to play background music while on a late-night video call.

One of the biggest challenges when online dating is finally deciding to take the conversations off the app and meet in person. Dinner and drinks can get stale pretty quickly, not to mention it can be expensive. Consider a more engaging first date that reflects your interests and personality. Even if there isn’t a magic school—or a willing magician—nearby to teach you a few tricks, you can each look one up online (this is great if you’re looking for cheap first date ideas).

If you have a visit planned or a date when you’ll be back in each other’s physical space, craft a countdown calendar to get excited about the big day. We’re talking paper chains, sticker charts, repurposed Advent calendars, whatever suits your style. If you loved being read to as a kid as much as I did, you know it’s one of the most soothing feelings.

(It really takes playing 8 Ball on your phone up a notch.) Don’t be afraid to get a little competitive, and most importantly, have fun! Lots of pool halls also have food and drinks, so you can grab a quick bite to eat afterwards. Invite your date to explore your fave (or a new!) brewery with you. “Breweries usually allow you to order a flight of different beers, which can be a fun bonding experience,” says Fleming. Another perk of breweries is that the people-watching is usually great. Sometimes, the receipts from traditional dating keep couples from spending time doing fun things.

Make Each Other Playlists

Use your beach day to “let the other person into your world, and hopefully you share some of these interests together,” Cohen says. Regardless of how it ends, you’ll get a healthy dose of vitamin D. Instead of asking, “What’s amourfactoryreview.com your go-to karaoke song?” on a first date, why not show it? Cohen says performing in front of other people can get your heart beating fast, an experience that will bring you closer to your date.

• You could make a playlist with all your favorite artists and the decade’s biggest radio hits.
• If all goes well, you can upgrade to something a little more private for your second date.
• If there is some activity included, like going to the movies, it’s even better because you can simply pay for your ticket and popcorn.

Did you know there are millions of geocaches hidden around the world? This recreational activity is basically like a massive easter egg hunt where people use their phone to find containers hidden by other people. Take a good ol’ fashioned exercise class up a notch for your first date. If you and your potential partner are both into exercising, booking a fun boxing (or kickboxing class) is a great way to get your blood pumping and see if there’s any chemistry.

This one, too, might be a little too chummy for some people’s first-date threshold. But if you’re at least somewhat acquainted with the person and both like to cook, why not bypass the whole interviewing-each-other-at-an-overpriced-restaurant vibe entirely. A picnic is gold-star date material for a reason — even more so because you don’t have to put a ton of thought or effort into it for it to feel elevated from your standard movie date. Plus, if you’re one of the many who invested in better picnicking supplies during the pandemic, you’re kind of just pointblank required to suggest this. Having just thought of a sport that involves not a ball but a puck, this is going on the fun first dates list, too.

You could follow a meditation video to center yourself. Focus on the love you feel as you control your breathing together. You can always meditate together again and start a new shared hobby that’s good for your mental health. Dream together by checking out houses available for sale across the country.

With your first date looming, this is where the real nerves can kick in — but don’t fret, we’ve got you covered. Bond over a shared cause, walk dogs, serve meals, or clean a beach. Calm, cozy, and perfect for one-on-one chats without distractions. Nothing beats bonding over random facts or laughing at what you both don’t know. Grab a latte and browse through quirky books or vinyls together. For active daters, a light trail in the morning can be fun, casual  and just make sure it’s safe and agreed upon.

You may know your partner’s general routine pretty well if you’ve been dating for a while. When you know they’ll be home, order a surprise dinner delivery. You can order the same food for yourself from a local restaurant to treat your partner to a surprise dinner together. It’s one of the best virtual date night ideas because it’s easy to personalize the night with their favorite food.

The good news is that you don’t have to be in person to play together. Reflect on your partner’s favorite game to see if there’s an online version. If not, you could find a new activity with Board Game Arena.