10 Fun Date Night Ideas for Couples

When you’re in a relationship for some time and have built up routines, one of the hardest things to do is break out of those routines and do fun and spontaneous things together. For many married couples, date night is a hallowed weekly institution, and for good reason. Date night gives you time apart from the kids, away from the daily grind, and into each other’s heads and hearts.

Having a regular date night allows a couple to connect and reconnect, sharing themselves to keep their emotional intimacy vibrant. The potential problem with the regular date night is that it’s way too easy to settle into a set pattern where you do the same thing every week. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing but changing things up can help a couple connect with themselves and each other in new ways.

If you’re looking for a few fun ideas for date night that can spice up your existing date night or get you started with having date nights, this article can help you.

The date night ideas for couples below won’t all necessarily appeal to you, and that’s okay. We all come from different walks of life, so something like a late-night walk on the beach might not be for you. Some date night ideas might be a bit pricey, and so perhaps they would work better for an occasion such as an anniversary. Some ideas will stretch you and take you out of your comfort zone, which may be just what you need.

The heart behind this list is that you and your spouse have fun as you try new and different things to deepen and enrich your relationship. There’s nothing quite so delightful as discovering a brand-new thing together that brings you both immense joy. Try out some of the things or some variations of the ideas below, and see what works best for you.

Fun date night ideas for couples.

Date night seems to imply doing something together for a portion of the day, typically in the evening when adults go out for dinner and a movie. However, your situation may allow you a whole day during the week, or perhaps breakfast and lunchtime work best for you. Some people go away for a weekend once a month or so and use that time to connect. Take and adapt the following in whatever way works best for you.

1. Take a class.

Go to a pottery, art, or cooking class. You can open YouTube for a tutorial or subscribe to MasterClass to get expert guidance on art or cooking while sitting on your couch. However, there’s something about going out together and doing something practical with your significant other.

Not only are you learning a new skill (or brushing up on an old one) but you’re doing so together, sharing the experience. This is a great way to discover new passions that you can implement when you’re at home.

2. Go for a picnic.

There’s a reason this one is a reliable go-to in the romance bag of tricks. A picnic allows you to put a spin on eating and hanging out together. You can be in a park, by the beach, or in whatever other location you find appealing. Not only that, but you can picnic at any time of year; in those frigid winter months, you can picnic in your home, and in the summer, you have options galore.

The nice thing about picnics is that you can scale them according to your budget. You can make your picnic fare as fancy as you’d like, and that flexibility is great for keeping things interesting.

3. Thrifting, antiquing, or bookshop hopping.

There are some low-cost but fun ways to see a bit of your city while browsing for interesting knick-knacks. If you’re into books and want to help keep the physical bookshop experience alive, you can hop around various bookshops and see what you find. Thrifting and antiquing are also interesting activities where you never know what you’ll find.

Even if you don’t end up buying anything, you’re sure to find a few pieces that inspire conversation. In addition to these, look around your area and see if they have any all-night flea markets.

4. Take a short hike.

There’s nothing quite like beautiful vistas and a bit of exercise to get the endorphins going. The beauty about going for a hike is that it can be as long or as short as you want it to be, and with a variety of options for trails you can take in state and national parks you can tailor your hike to your needs.

You can combine a short hike with something else like camping overnight or a picnic. Doing something like a hike or going for a drive along the coast is great because you don’t have to do a lot of talking if you don’t want to. You can take in the views and enjoy each other’s company.

5. Get on the water.

If you and your significant other love the water, there are several options available to you, including taking a boat out on a lake, kayaking, paddle boarding, kite surfing, boogie boarding, or just going for a swim. Whatever catches your fancy and gets you in the water can be great.

Going out on the water will help you both take some time out from your daily grind for a while. Taking a boat out is great for enjoying the views, each other’s company, and some quiet conversation.

6. Dinner and a movie.

Classics are classics for a reason. Dinner and a movie give you a chance to eat a meal without having to prepare it, and with no clean-up afterward. For couples with kids, this is a huge blessing, and it gives you a decent period to just unwind and enjoy being together without needing to meet the needs of others. Whatever your favorite hangout spot, go for it and make the best of it.

If you want to make it different or special, go to a place with proper table linen and full service, but remember that the point is to enjoy yourselves. If you’re feeling stressed the whole time about the bill, it might not be a fun date night after all. Go for a place that will allow you to talk, and where you’ll both feel comfortable. Add a movie and you both will have time to relax and enjoy something new together.

7. Go watch a show.

Comedy is usually a winner but there are many possibilities such as the ballet, a music concert, boxing matches, and dance performances. Ideally, you and your spouse will have similar tastes. If you and your spouse have very divergent tastes, you can take turns to go to different things or look for something out of both your comfort zones to try and enjoy together.

8. Bowling, trampoline parks, and other activities.

If you’re feeling a little competitive or young at heart, you can try bowling or trampolining. Both are great ways to do something physical without too much strain. If you enjoy other types of games or quizzes, you can invite other couples to come out with you and make a night of it in community with others. Perhaps you can try your hand at a trivia night or solving a mystery room with some friends.

9. Fruit picking or a local farmer’s market.

When fruit is in season and you can take a long drive to a farm, why not go fruit picking? It’s a great activity to bond over. If you have a local farmer’s market, browse the offerings at a leisurely pace. It’s a great way to sample what local growers offer and discover new tastes.

10. Stargaze.

This one might take some planning if you hope to see something special, but thankfully there are many apps available that you can use to track stellar and other astronomical events easily. You can do this in your backyard, or you can drive to a spot to do some stargazing. It’s up to you how involved you make it.

There are many other date night ideas for couples you can implement. Whatever you choose to do, let it be something you both enjoy and that creates space for you to connect and deepen your bond.

Strengthening your relationship through couples counseling.

With busy lives and the many strains upon couples, finding the time and energy to connect can be difficult. These date night ideas for couples are just one of many tools you can make use of to help your relationship flourish. Another tool you can make use of is couples counseling.

Couples counseling can help you address issues such as poor communication, uncontrolled anger, struggles with intimacy, overcoming trust issues, and much more. Your counselor will create a confidential and safe space in which to explore the dynamics of your relationship.

A counselor will help you discover the tools you need such as conflict resolution and problem-solving to overcome whatever challenges you’re facing. If you want to find out more about couples counseling, what it addresses, and how it can help your relationship thrive, reach out to a counselor, and make an appointment.