• John Wilson
• June 15,2022

If there’s any season that’s great for scheduling a low-key date night at home, it’s winter. But your date nights might look a little different this year — because of the pandemic, it’s a lot harder to find fun activities that are safe. While some people may miss the great outdoors and exploring new places, you can still have a romantic time with your partner while staying indoors.

Stumped on coming up with different, unique date ideas that are fresh and fun without being wildly expensive or dangerous for your health and the health of those around you? If you get creative and think outside the box, the possibilities are endless.

1. Go on a hike

Or a brisk walk! It’s a great way to explore your neighborhood or town and be active while also bonding and talking the entire time. It’s also a good way to get outside while staying socially distanced from others. Just remember to wear your masks, especially if you pass other people on the way.

2. Have an old-school movie night

Whether you’re in the mood for watching one movie or a marathon, create some ground rules or set a theme. Maybe you and your partner want to pick out your favorite movies from childhood and watch them together, or you both want to pick movies where the main character works in a certain field (“All The President’s Men” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” journalism double-feature, anyone?)

3. Throw a quiz night

For a group date, compile your best trivia and invite all your loved-up pals to Zoom, since everyone is technically already in default teams. Set a theme and send a fitting recipe or two ahead of time or keep it simple.

4. Take a pottery class online

Fire up the kiln (or your oven) and dive in with an at-home pottery class or simply purchase an air-dry clay kit and have fun crafting up bud vases and sculptures at home.

5. Visit a museum virtually

Since you can’t whisk yourselves away to The Met or the British Museum, why not visit virtually? Many museums now offer tours online so you can peruse and admire their galleries from afar, such as Museo Frida Kahlo, Museu de Arte de São Paulo, and the Louvre.

6. Bake something

Choose a new recipe or teach your partner a family classic. Either way, you end up with a sweet treat!

7. Start a mini book club

If both of you adore spending time with your noses in a novel, why not bond over the same one? Pick a book you both will enjoy, read at the same pace, then pick an evening to share some snacks and your thoughts.

8. Have a Scrabble tournament

May the best speller win.

9. Play a game that brings you closer

There are plenty of options out there now, and if you’d rather skip a classic board game, why not try one that’ll help you get emotionally closer? A good one that has recently received some rave reviews is We’re Not Really Strangers .

10. Make a cheese board

This date involves cheese, a trip to the grocery store, and a minimal amount of skill. Need I say more? If you’re really big cheese connoisseurs, might as well opt for a cheese subscription box so you don’t even need to leave the house and you have a monthly date set up.

11. Host a hot chocolate competition

Grab a bunch of ingredients and see who can make the best hot chocolate.

12. Swap your groutfit for fancy attire

While many of us aren’t really changing out of our PJs anyways these days, pick a night where you get all dressed up and share some hors d’oeuvres and fancy drinks. Don’t forget to turn on that jazz playlist!

13. Sign up for a charity challenge

Whether it’s a marathon, bike ride, or walk, charities have made it easier than ever to partake from home now. Not only will you be doing something fun together, but you’ll be giving back to a good cause, too.

14. Set a themed gift swap

Write up a handful of themes for a gift swap, such as a board game, something kitchen-inspired, and a joke gift. Then set a monetary limit and go wild online shopping for one another. See how well you know each other and award extra points for creativity.

15. Try out a new art form

When’s the last time you did some art together? Or art in general? Pick out a new art form you’ve never tried, whether that be painting, stamping, embroidery, or lino printing and learn the basics during a long weekend.

16. Go through old photo albums

Pull out the old photo albums and laugh with your partner about way back when.

17. Buy tickets to an online play or ballet

Everyone needs some culture every now and then and you can still enjoy this type of entertainment thanks to the power of the internet.

18. Take a yoga class together online

Nothing says romance like excessive sweating and flexibility from the comfort of your home.

19. Give each other a massage

Up the relaxation vibe of a typical back rub by hosting a spa night at home. It’s romantic, and a great way to step away from everyday stress and enjoy one another’s company.

20. Play video games or computer games

Whip out the Wii sitting in the cupboard or splurge on a new console and compete for the Mario Kart championship title. Just try not to get too mad if you don’t like the final score.

21. Take a virtual cooking class

Every company from Airbnb to private culinary schools are offering fun online courses that’ll teach you and your partner a few new dishes and tricks. For bonus points, learn to make something neither of you can cook at all.

22. Make pasta from scratch

Can’t go wrong with pasta.

23. Make pizza from scratch

… or pizza.

24. Do smart phone karaoke

Even if your singing chops aren’t quite there, if you pick an iconic duet (“Endless Love,” perhaps?), it just might be fun.

25. Have a fondue night

Cheese. Chocolate. Pointy metal sticks. You know the drill. Go wild.

26. Plan a duo exercise routine

Couples who love working out can plan a fun routine together or even partake in an obstacle course-style challenge that you can both get into. Turn your long run into a scavenger hunt by tasking one another to take photos of a list of items as you go — the person with the most snapshots wins.

27. Have happy hour at home

Get all the ingredients for your favorite cocktails or mocktails and build them together instead of going out. There are even plenty of online classes now for teaching you how to create artisanal beverages, with or without alcohol.

28. Learn how to brew something

Whether it’s coffee, beer, or kombucha, learn how to brew something together. Then sit back and admire the fabulous works of art you’ve created (or tried to).

29. Volunteer together from home

Volunteering is a bonding experience, but it also benefits others which is even better — especially at a time when many people are in need. In this day and age, there are still plenty of ways you can volunteer while keeping others safe, like dropping off groceries for those who are sheltering at home or volunteering with a crisis text line.

30. Have an electronic-free evening

Put away the laptops and phones and spend time getting to know each other without Netflix. Being at home 24/7 means we’ve been more plugged in than ever, so try something like painting or playing board games instead.

31. Have a bake-off

Pick a handful of recipes and get your “Great British Baking Show” on. Even better? After you’ve crowned a winner (and had a few nibbles) send them to loved ones for a sweet, unexpected surprise.

32. Marathon watch a competition show

There’s nothing more worthy of your Saturday attention than a reality competition show. So choose a weird one, get cozy, and spend the day trying to predict who wins.

33. Take a calligraphy class online

And then impress everyone on your holiday card list with very fancy writing.

34. Plan your dream trip

Make an evening of planning out your dream trip. Don’t just talk about it: Look into accommodation options, find cool spots and eateries, and bookmark it all so you can officially make it happen in the (hopefully) near future.

35. Make a mini bucket list

Sit down in the morning with your coffee and write a list of 10 (fun!) things you want to accomplish before the end of the day.

36. Try a brand new type of food

This is a great way to test your couple culinary skills, too — order a cookbook centered on a cuisine you both love but may not be the most adept at making in the kitchen, as well as any other supplies you might need for a DIY cooking night.

37. Switch places for a day

Does your partner usually go on a run in the mornings while you read? Try switching routines and then discussing it at the end of the day.

38. Organize important memories into a scrapbook

Dump out that cardboard box with every movie ticket stub you guys have ever kept and put them together in one space. If you get really into decorating the pages, you might want to display it somewhere special.

39. Make pancakes

Pancakes are always date-worthy. Make an entire morning of it and create a mini brunch spread for the two of you or deem one evening a breakfast-for-dinner event. Don’t forget the syrup and whipped cream!

40. Do a holiday-themed craft

Forget thinking that making snowflakes and ornaments are for children. This can be a fun activity for two people. Plus, your home can never have enough decorations.

41. Have an indoor campout

Sleeping outside is out of the question right now, so set up a tent or a sleeping bag and blankets indoors, turn on an outdoor sounds playlist, and enjoy the fun of camping sans the cold. Might as well make some indoor s’mores, too.

42. Marathon watch YouTube videos

Enter the world of YouTube and find channels that amuse you for a few hours.

43. Learn a dance

Whether it’s a TikTok dance or a YouTube tutorial — or hey, even Darren’s Dance Grooves — there are plenty of ways to learn a new step or two.

44. Take an actual online dance class

Want to learn how to dance in a more professional sense? There are plenty of studios offering lessons online now from salsa to merengue. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to whip out these moves on the dance floor the minute it’s safer to do so.

45. Have a board game night

Turn off your phones, and amp up your competitive edge with a few two-player board games. You’ll never want to stop playing Ticket to Ride, trust me.

46. Plan dates for the rest of the year

Use this list or come up with your own ideas for a dozen or so date ideas for the rest of the year. Schedule them now in your planners. It might actually help you and your partner stay close throughout the year.