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Planning a date night with your significant other? We’ve compiled a list of date ideas 1000 strong. You will find some of the sweetest, most creative, and most romantic date ideas here! Whether you’re dating, married, or engaged, these 1000+ ideas will ensure you have a fantastic time with the one you love.
Studies show time and again how important regular date nights are for couples. These moments of quality time keep you connected, help engage the spark of romance, and overall help build a strong, meaningful relationship.
Date nights are great for new couples, but they’re also essential for those who are married or in long-term relationships. (Psst! See our post on the best relationship advice for couples).
You don’t even necessarily need to leave the cozy comfort of your humble abode to do something sweet with your partner. Check out the complete list of date ideas below:
PS: This post links out to all 1000 date ideas, so you’ll need to click through to get to all of them and check out the details on each date.
Food Related Date Ideas
Without a doubt, enjoying amazing meals or cooking side by side is one of the most classic activities for couples. There is no limit to what you can create in the kitchen. If you’re preparing something together, we recommend starting out with a simple recipe, especially if you’re not culinary pros, but you can also challenge yourself with something more difficult. You can also have fun setting a beautiful table and lighting candles for a small touch of romantic elegance.
- Create a fantastic meal together
- Order take out and eat it in your living room by candlelight
- Have a DIY wine tasting
- Have a DIY beer sampling
- Go on a local food tour
- Host a 2-person chef competition, using only what you have in the house
- Create a new recipe that’s all your own
- Make a build-your-own ice cream bar
- Have a backyard picnic
- Enjoy a picnic filled with gourmet goodies
- Restaurant hop, eating each course of your meal at a different spot
- Blindfolded taste-testing
- Go wine tasting or beer sampling in your town
- Take a cooking class together
- Brew your own beer at home
Need some delicious ideas for your foodie dates? Take a look at our collection of dinner recipes and dessert recipes, both designed for couples:
Romantic Dinner Recipes for Two
At-Home Date Ideas
When you’re not in the mood to go out, but still in the mood to enjoy a fabulous date night, stay at home dates are the answer! Check out some of our favorite ideas below, and the entire list of at home date night ideas here.
- Play your favorite board games
- Play strip Twister (or Monopoly) or any game you like
- Build a blanket fort
- At home stargazing
- Paint together
- Put together a craft
- Have a DIY spa and pamper yourselves
- Write down your bucket list
- Ask each other deep questions
- Learn a new skill from YouTube
More for Your At-Home Dates:
The Best Board Games for Couples
The Best Netflix and Chill Alternatives for Travelers
Affordable Date Ideas
Fun date ideas don’t have to break the bank. And hey, maybe you are two college students low on cash. No worries, friends! There are countless cheap and free date ideas to keep you busy and happy. A few of our top picks include:
- Go on a hike
- Read aloud to each other
- Play video games
- Tie-dye some old clothes
- Go to a museum on a “free” night
- Stay up late talking
- Go for a nighttime stroll in your neighborhood
- Dance in the rain
- Take a virtual tour of somewhere across the globe
- Invite friends over for a couples board game night
- Host a potluck dinner party
- Go bowling
You might also like these ideas:
45 Late Night Date Ideas for Couples
9 Cute Car Date Ideas for a Great Date
Sexy & Romantic Date Ideas
Sometimes, you’re looking for a date that will really wow your partner. Perhaps it is a special occasion, or you simply want to be especially romantic. Well, you definitely do not have to get fancy to have an incredible time with your partner. Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the very best. You can find both types of activities below and on our full list of Sexy Date Ideas.
- Stay in bed all day/all weekend
- Make your bedroom a romantic haven (candles, flowers, satin sheets, whatever you desire)
- Play a sexy game (board games or other ideas)
- Try out body paint (some varieties are edible)
- Meet at a local bar and pretend to be other people
- Try a spot of role-playing in the bedroom
- Create a romantic playlist and slow dance for awhile
- Watch a classic romantic movie (See our list of the best)
- Give one another a full body massage
- Visit an adult shop together and pick out a new toy
- Play truth or dare
- Take a dance class together
- Plan or go on a romantic getaway (or have a sexy staycation)
Outdoor, Adventurous Date Ideas
You’ll find many, many more of these, plus some couples trip ideas on our Couples Bucket List!
- Go fishing
- Rent a kayak
- Rent a tandem bike
- Go skydiving
- Go bungee jumping
- Tackle one of each of your fears
- Take a spontaneous road trip
- Go camping
- Go whitewater rafting
- Rent a romantic cabin in the woods
- Go to a theme park
- Play a sport together
- Do an outdoor yoga class
- Attend a music festival
- Plan a picnic
First Date Ideas
Sometimes you need some inspiration for a first date. These have a totally different vibe than a date night for a married couple or other long term relationship. We’ve got a few fun first date ideas, here, and many of the other ideas on various lists can be great for a first date, too!
- Chat at a coffee shop
- Explore a farmer’s market together
- Go to an art gallery
- Go bowling
- Visit a botanical garden
- Go mini-golfing
- Meet for brunch instead of dinner
- Take a walk in a nice area
- Have a simple picnic in the park
Rainy Day Date Ideas
When the skies are grey, the two of you can have an amazing time indoors. Check out a few of our favorite things to do together at home and some adorable rainy day date ideas.
- Movie marathon
- Tell ghost stories
- Bake homemade cookies
- Go to a live comedy show
- Visit a museum or gallery
- Go to the movies
- Play at an arcade
- Jump at an indoor trampoline park
- Go to a bar hosting trivia
- Do some karaoke
Seasonal Date Ideas
Seasonal dates are my absolute favorite! It’s a blast to celebrate the current time of year with a cozy, romantic date night. Check out our seasonal date ideas here, plus holiday date ideas.
50+ Fall Date Ideas
Married Couple Date Ideas
Date ideas for married couples may be a little different than other couples. But this also applies to those who have been together for a long time, or maybe just want to delve deeper into their relationship together. Check out all the rest of our top date night ideas for married couples.
- Recreate your first date
- Relive your wedding (through photos or video)
- Sink into a bubbly bathtub
- Plan a romantic weekend getaway
- Stay up all night talking
- Have a night that’s “all about them”
- Go for a drive
- Go camping in your own backyard
Quirky & Creative Date Ideas
- Start a garden
- Try a new type of cuisine you’ve never had
- Hit up a bunch of garage sales
- Try a new-to-you cuisine
- Have breakfast for dinner
- Explore your town like tourists
- Have an at-home wine tasting
- Host a fancy dinner party for friends
- Attend a free concert or lecture at a local college/university
- Fly a kite
- Pick berries
- Take turns planning a surprise date
- Create your own fancy cocktails
See also: 10+ Long Distance Date Ideas To Keep You Close Across the Miles
Amy Hartle is the author of Do You Love Me? How To Stop Seeking Reassurance in Relationships, a book on reassurance seeking and relationship anxiety. Both her book and this blog are born of personal experience; Amy shares expert relationship advice from the lessons learned during her own 10+ years with her husband, as well as couples travel tips and romantic getaway recommendations, all gleaned while traveling the world together.