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The long, cold nights got you down? Need to freshen up your relationship with something new and exciting? We’ve got you covered, with these 25 romantic and fun winter date ideas!
While the winter season lends itself perfectly to at home date night ideas like snuggling by the fire and cozying up watching movies and drinking hot cocoa, there are countless ways inside and out to find the romance of winter with your partner.
So shake off those winter blues, grab your sweetheart, and get planning. These 25+ winter dates are ready for you.
Playing in the Snow
If you live somewhere that gets snow, you might be feeling sick of the constant “white stuff.” The best antidote for those winter blahs is to get out and play in the snow!
Be like kids again! Build a snowman, make snow angels, fly down a hill on tubes or sleds, and generally get up close and personal with the snow. I guarantee you’ll have a great time. PS: Don’t forget your snow pants!
Have a snowball fight
What says winter better than a snowball fight? A one-on-one is great fun, but feel free to invite friends over for an epic snow attack. If you are a couple with kids, make it a family winter bucket list item!
The Great Couple Bake-Off
Baking is the perfect wintry date! In this version, you’re not just going to bake cookies together, however, you’re going to turn it into a great kitchen competition!
Come up with rules for yourselves; see who can make the best brownies, see who can make the best cake without using a recipe. When it’s all done, you get to eat the desserts and declare a winner.
Explore a Museum Together
You can visit a museum at any time of year, but in the winter, it’s the perfect excuse to stay indoors.
We love art and history museums, but sometimes the quirkier the museum, the better! There are lots of unique ones out there. Check out Atlas Obscura to find the strangest attractions in your area.
Build an Indoor Blanket Fort
Who doesn’t love a good blanket and pillow fort? I don’t care how old you are, this is a great date idea for winter. Rustle up all the covers in your house, grab some chairs and couches for the foundation and get to work.
Once your fort is complete, you can cuddle up inside it and read books together.
Go Ice Skating
One of the most classic and fun winter activities for couples is ice skating! Even if you can’t skate on an outdoor pond, your town probably has an indoor ice skating rink. Check their website for open skate hours, grab your darling, and hit the rink.
When you get home, you can warm up with some delicious hot cocoa.
Tackle a DIY Project
Building something together is incredibly rewarding. Why not browse Pinterest and find a super-cool DIY craft idea you can attempt together? Even if your finished product turns out…less than stellar…you’ll have a great time laughing and bonding while you create.
Weekend Getaway to a Log Cabin
Winter romance calls for a weekend spent “snowed in” at a woodsy cabin. If you’re looking for an adventure, book a cozy cabin somewhere within a day’s drive.
Spend the Day at the Movies
On a particularly cold winter day, head over to your local movie theatre. Catch their earliest matinee (usually an 11am show in most theatres) and then stick around and watch movies for the rest of the day.
This is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime epic day event. Can you two handle it? You can subsist on popcorn and nachos for sustenance.
Learn a New Skill Together
Don’t get bored this winter; consider learning a new skill together.
There are truly SO many things you could learn and for many of them, you don’t even have to leave the house. Click over to YouTube and let your imagination run wild.
Alternately, sign up for a class you can take regularly throughout the winter. Not only will such a hobby help the cold months fly by, you’re sure to develop terrific skills over the season.
Build a bonfire
Winter is the time when fires burn bright and toasty.
If you have the option, enjoy a big, crackling bonfire. (Fire safety always, guys! Love, Your Mom) Otherwise, a small, intimate campfire totally gets the job done. Find the ideal spot, and don’t forget the soft blankets and the s’mores!
See a Hockey Game
Hockey is the sport of the season. If possible, check out a game near you, even if it’s a high school hockey game. Hockey is always entertaining.
Host a Wine and Cheese Night With Friends
Gather your couple friends for a date-night in. Invite your pals over for a night featuring cheese, wine, and conversation. Have everyone bring a bottle of wine so you can sample (cheap bottles are totally okay) and grab a bunch of different cheeses from the grocery store.
Toss a few crackers and some fresh fruit in the mix and you’ve got a great party that will make you feel very fancy.
If you truly want to impress, serve your fromages on a classy cheese board like this one.
Bundle up and go winter stargazing
Take advantage of those cold, clear skies with a bit of wintertime stargazing. This is something that you might typically do in the summer months, but winter offers shockingly clear skies with great opportunities to watch the stars. Plus, the sky is different in winter!
Bounce at an Indoor Trampoline Park
For our last anniversary, my husband and I went to an indoor trampoline park together—and it was amazing!
This is such a unique winter date, especially if you go on a weekday morning when the park is empty. We had an absolute blast running, bouncing, and landing in pits of foam. Word of warning: it’s a fairly intense workout!
Plan a Christmas movie marathon
This is one of those winter activities couples usually do without thinking. After all, who doesn’t love a good Netflix binge session?
Well, consider putting a spin on the classic movie marathon. Watch only movies neither of you has ever seen. Watch only black and white Christmas movies. Watch cartoons and kids’ Christmas shows only.
After the holidays are over, another type of movie marathon is great, too.
Go snowshoeing in the moonlight
Speaking of winter nights….here is a unique addition to this list of fun winter activities for couples: a midnight snowshoe trek. If you’ve never tried snowshoeing, it makes for a perfect outdoor winter activity, and a midnight guided tour can be super romantic and magical. (PS: Check out more late night date ideas).
If no night-time options are available near you, going out snowshoeing during the day is beautiful, too.
Take a Dance Class Together
There’s no time like the present to brush up on your dancing skills. You can take a ballroom dance class together that is more traditional, or even sign up for an adult dance class in another style. Always wanted to try hip hop? Give it a shot! If you end up being terrible, at least you’ll never forget the fun of seeing each other bust a move.
Go Bowling
Here’s a classic date night idea: bowling! Not much to say about this one. 🙂
Answer Intriguing Questions
Often, all you need for a great date night is some stimulating conversation. But what do you do when you run out of things to talk about? Our suggestion is to ask each other some fun, unique questions like these:
99 Conversation Starters For Couples: Questions to Ask Your Partner
These are guaranteed to get you talking on a variety of subjects both serious and silly. Have fun!
Volunteer Somewhere Together
I love including volunteering as a date idea for couples because it is something we all could and should do more of.
Being selfless and contributing positively to society is such a powerful gift, and it’s doubly so when you do it with the one you love.
Look for volunteer opportunities in your area or make your own. Since it’s winter, why not help out your elderly neighbors by shoveling their snowy driveways and sidewalks?
Go to a Trivia Night
Trivia nights are always a blast. Chances are good that a bar or restaurant near you has a weekly or regular trivia night. Now’s your chance to hop in as the smart duo you are and (hopefully) snag a prize! Even if you don’t win, you’ll enjoy some tasty drinks and some brain exercise.
Explore Your Own City
It’s no secret that we love to travel, and going on a big adventure is always fantastic for a couple. But if you’re limited by time, money, or whatever, it can be hard to get away.
That’s why we suggest becoming a tourist in your own city! Have the two of you ever explored your own backyard with the eyes of a visitor? It can be really interesting, and you’re likely to stumble across unique places. And when friends come to visit, you’ll be able to serve as the most knowledgeable tour guides around.
Make delicious Christmas cocktails
Cheers to the holidays! While you’re sitting indoors and getting cozy, sometimes regular hot cocoa just isn’t enough. Perhaps you’re in need of a wintry adult beverage? Get creative and work together to craft your signature winter cocktail, something you can traditionally enjoy together each season.
Create a Couples Bucket List
Have you heard the expression “half the fun is planning?” I totally agree with this statement. Planning something together is even more incredible. If you and your partner haven’t made a couples bucket list of your very own, a wintry afternoon just might be the perfect time. Add anything you want—the sky’s the limit.
Read Aloud to Each Other
Remember when people read aloud to each other? No? Well, I say we bring that tradition back.
Storytelling and reading are some of the oldest pastimes in human history and they are surprisingly intimate. Read a book together taking turns reading a chapter aloud. You’ll feel very vintage, for sure, but you’re also likely to reignite your love of a good story.
Have a Board Game Night
There’s nothing like a board game night! Gather all of your favorite games, tuck into your best pajamas, and prepare your snacks.
Tired of Monopoly?
If you need some ideas on fresh new games to try, we’ve got a whole list here that is perfect for date night: The Best Board Games for Couples.
Pamper Yourselves with a Spa Day
Getting spoiled side-by-side is a treat. Well, this winter is time to TREAT YO’SELF. Plan a spa day together. Head to a local spa if you can swing it, but if not, a homemade DIY version works pretty well, too.
You’ll need:
- cucumbers for your eyes
- soothing music (think Enya)
- candles
- good-smelling lotion
- massage oil
- hot tea
Cook a Two-Person Feast
Winter is for hibernating, am I right? Well, for this fun winter date idea, the two of you are going to prepare and enjoy an enormous feast. This can be a gourmet meal you cook yourselves or an array of snacks obtained at your local convenience store. Whatever you choose for this feast, totally just go for it. No guilt. No limits.
PS: We suggest stretchy pants.
Plan your dream tropical vacation (even if you don’t go)
Do this on the coldest day of the year. When you’re pining for palm trees and sunny skies, it can be so tempting to consider jetting off to an island in the Caribbean or a white sandy beach.
Well, go ahead and plan it together! To make it even more exciting, plan your DREAM vacation together. Splurge on everything you want. Even if this is a hypothetical trip, you’ll get lost in the fantasy together and feel warmer instantly! Psst! Check out our website for all the best couples travel ideas.
Do absolutely nothing together
This might seem like an unusual winter date idea, but personally, I think it’s an essential one.
Take a day and do NOTHING with your significant other. This is a day for completely slowing down and simply enjoying one another’s presence. This can be difficult for modern couples who are a bit screen-addicted (guilty as charged), but if you can unplug and focus on one another, it will do wonders for your relationship (and for your mental health!)
Check out an escape room
Have the two of you ever done an escape room? If you haven’t, winter is the perfect time to check this off of your bucket list. Escape rooms have grown in popularity in recent years and they are SO. MUCH. FUN.
This is a collaborative activity that will involve working together and communicating. Generally, most escape rooms are more fun and effective with groups larger than just two. So go with friends (or join with a random group of players) and enjoy cracking the puzzles and “escaping” from the room.
Are escape rooms your jam? You should check out these other nerdy date ideas that Nathan has put together.
Check out these other date ideas you’ll love!
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- 25+ Adorable Rainy Day Date Ideas for You
- 32 Christmas Date Ideas To Celebrate this Magical Season
- 15 Date Night Ideas for Married Couples that are Totally Adorable
- 25 Cute Outdoor Date Ideas for a Fabulously Fun Date
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.