Ah, first dates and young love…. I remember what it was like not too long ago where there are equal parts of excitement and butterflies in your stomach.
You are looking for fun, light-hearted and something memorable to do on your first date.
But where do you even begin?
Well, girlfriend, I have your back!
I came up with 43 first-date ideas designed to make the sparks fly but also keep the pressure low. After all, you do not want to scare him away!
Plus, I have included some dos and don’ts on your first date, big red flags you want to avoid in conversations, and some green ones!
All to make you leave the best impression with your date.
So, let’s get to it!
Creative and Fun First Date Ideas
First dates can be jarring and extremely nerve-wracking but it never has to be.
Perhaps you should consider some creative pursuits. It helps to slowly break the ice and allows you to learn about each other’s quirky personalities.
All within a confined safe space.
Sounds like a win-win, eh?
1. Paint and sip night – Who doesn’t like wine here? Time to unleash your inner artist while sipping on some alcohol.
If you are like me….a complete doofus when it comes to art, you will soon learn that the winner is not the one who has the best painting.
But it’s the one that knows how to relax and have a good time exploring something new.
Laughing at your so-called artwork together is part and parcel of the fun. Bonus if you can exchange paintings as keepsakes.
You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy this date, and laughing at your “masterpieces” is part of the fun! Bonus points if you swap paintings at the end as a keepsake.
2. Pottery class – Signing up for a pottery class can be strangely therapeutic and romantic.
3. Cooking class – Learning to make food together not only serves a practical purpose but is designed to invoke the 5 senses of touch, smell, sight, sound and taste!
4. Farmers’ market visit – This date idea is extremely inexpensive but can be as memorable as a high-end restaurant.
Walk through a local market, sample some fresh foods and maybe pick out flowers for each other.
It is the stuff of dreams!
5. Trivia night – This is one of my top date ideas.
Low pressure because you can invite your partner to join your group of friends to enjoy guessing the answer.
Be prepared for some extreme competition or unexpected laughs at how silly your answer is.
6. Board game café – Playing a classic/ more modern game puts you in a great setting to be calm and relaxed.
So, go on and challenge each other and discover a thing or two about one another.
7. Escape room – Looking to see how he/ she may thrive under pressure, well, try to “break out” of an escape room. I bet you will get the answer to that question.
8. Comedy club – Instead of worrying if you can make your partner laugh, why not get someone else to do it for you?
Enjoy a nice night out at the comedy club and see if you have a shared sense of humor!
9. Bookstore date – Browse through the aisles, pick out books for each other, and read the first lines out loud.
I remember doing this on my first date and reading a book on first dates on my first date. Haha.
How bizarre was that? But hey, that landed me the man of my dreams!
10. Chocolate-making workshop – Chocolates contain substances that border the feelings of euphoria when you are in love. So some might say it is an aphrodisiac!
Romantic First Date Ideas
Looking for something slightly more romantic, don’t worry, I have got you covered for these types of first date ideas.
11. Wine tasting tour – Visit a vineyard and sip on various wines. For all you know, you could discover something new together.
Remember how I mentioned getting your 5 senses to work with you on your date? This idea fully encompasses most of the 5!
12. Sunset picnic – Nothing beats the romance of a picnic at golden hour. Pack a cosy blanket, a bottle of rosé, and a homemade charcuterie board.
13. Stargazing – Download a stargazing app and impress them with some astronomy knowledge.
14. Dinner on a rooftop – Enjoy a scrumptious meal amidst a breathtaking backdrop.
15. Horseback riding – I will admit that this is expensive for a first date but it is memorable.
16. Boat ride – Whether it’s a sailboat or a paddleboat, being on the water makes everything feel more special and romantic.
17. Botanical garden visit – Stroll through some greenery to gain some peace to calm those first nerves during your first date
18. Drive-in movie – I say bring back the 80s romance. There is nothing but an old-school charm and the cosiness of watching a movie under the stars.
19. Love lock bridge – This is an inexpensive idea and might be slightly on the higher pressure date ideas but if you can find a bridge somewhere, it will be romantic to place a love lock there.
20. Acoustic café night – Heartfelt performances, live music and some soft lighting sets the stage for an unforgettable first date.
Adventurous First Date Ideas
If you are a thrill seeker like me, you will love these ideas!
21. Hiking a scenic trail – There is nothing like getting some fresh air and some stunning views that you both can enjoy together.
Trust Mother Nature to carry most of the load for you!
22. Indoor skydiving – Get the adrenaline rush of skydiving—without the terrifying freefall
23. Go-kart racing – Feel the need for speed? A little friendly competition never hurts!
24. Rock climbing – This is another physical date that is designed to put your trust in your partner as they belay you.
25. Amusement park visit – Rides, funnel cakes, and stuffed animal prizes—do I need to say more?
26. Kayaking or paddleboarding – Enjoy a fun, scenic date on the water (and maybe a splash or two!).
27. Axe throwing – Surprisingly satisfying and will stay in the mind of your date for the days/ months to come.
28. Scuba diving or snorkelling – Dive deep into adventure with a breathtaking underwater experience.
29. Zip-lining – Interested to get the adrenaline pumping? Consider soaring through the trees to get your heart pumping like crazy.
30. Hot air balloon ride – I will admit this is a pricey date so I hope your date is worth it!
31. Surfing lesson – This sounds like such a great idea to see who can stay on the board the longest as you ride the waves together.
32. Ice skating – This is such a sweet idea and it will force you and your date to hold hands and you balance your way on thin ice!
33. Haunted house tour – This first date idea is not for the faint-hearted but hey, if you like spooky thrills, this might be perfect for you.
34. White-water rafting – Thrill seeking indeed. I will admit that this would scare the bejeezus out of me if my date suggested this.
But hey, this might be someone’s cup of tea.
Casual and Low-Key First Date Ideas
Consider keeping things lightweight and fuss-free. This allows you to be you and your partner to be themselves.
And you do not want to fall for someone that is inauthentic.
35. Visit IKEA or any other department store – This is what my boyfriend planned for us on our first date.
Checking out furniture together allows you to open up in a more relaxed setting.
You could also use this opportunity to ask questions like “What would our dream house together look like” and start to build an imaginary one.
35. Coffee shop date – The usual classic date idea…not to be confused with boring. You can use this list of questions to prompt conversation.
36. Watch the sunrise together – If you are an early bird like me, you will enjoy this fun first date.
37. Play a game in the arcade – Be a kid again but with your date. Bring out your competitive side and see who will win the most prizes.
38. Visit a museum – Again, this forces you to distract yourself with other objects/ things on display rather than having awkward “what is your favourite color” conversations.
39. Go on a road trip with no destination in mind – Make a playlist of your and your date’s potential favorite tracks and blast it away
40. Go bowling – It’s not too physically straining but enough to get your blood flowing.
41. Food truck hopping – This is a unique idea that allows you to sample out different food whilst enjoying each other’s company.
42. Volunteer – Focus on helping another person in need. Examples can range from working in a soup kitchen or helping to raise funds for an NGO.
43. Sign for a dance class – I have two left feet so when my partner suggested this for one of our date nights, I was mortified.
But hey, I ended up laughing my head off misstepping all the way and enjoying the exchange of oxytocins.
Topics to Avoid On Your First Date
Remember, I shared a list of questions to connect with your partner.
Well, there are some topics that I think you should steer away from until you have formed a deeper connection.
- – Politics – Given the divisive nature of it, I would strongly recommend avoiding this topic, especially on a first date.
- – Exes – No one wants to hear you put down another partner that YOU choose.
- –Finances – It is simply too soon for you to be going over how one spends on make-up or cars. Let’s avoid judgment here.
- – Marriage and kids – Whoa, talk about putting pressure on someone. This will be enough for your date to run away.
- – Religion – This is a tricky topic. You will want to know if they believe in God but maybe not in their actual daily practises. It is too much at this point.
First Date Dos and Don’ts
DO:
- Be authentic
- Mirror your date
- Actively listen
- Display attentiveness
- Stick to light-hearted topics
DON’T:
- Use your phone unless it is an emergency
- Overshare your insecurities/ past experiences
- Talk about yourself too much
- Expect the date to flow smoothly (remember, it takes two to tango)
- Physical intimacy
Last Thoughts
I hope the list of first-date ideas above has somewhat calmed you down. Remember that it doesn’t have to be stressful or predictable.
Focus on the experience of meeting new people and indulging in an exchange of ideas rather than whether you are impressing the person or not.
At the of the day, life will still go on so don’t sweat the small stuff.
Hope you have a fun date!
Related Posts