You have options beyond a fancy dinner reservation.
No matter what type of relationship you’re in or how you feel about the holiday, you’re probably aware that Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. (If not, pls take note.) Since many folks consider this to be the Most Romantic Day of the Year, having a plan in place (even if it’s a simple one!) is sort of key to making your partner feel loved on February 14. That said, finding Valentine’s Day ideas that work for you and your relationship can feel a bit overwhelming.
The good news is you can celebrate V-Day however you’d like (or skip it if it’s not your thing). Whether you’re in a long-term relationship or you’re in the midst of a more casual situationship, it’s a good idea to chat about what your ideal Valentine’s Day would look like together. Communication is essential to ensure no one feels let down if the day passes without a giant bouquet of roses or a romantic dinner.
If you’re here, though, that likely means you want to do something special with someone special for the occasion. Adventurous types—or those on a budget—might like an outdoorsy Valentine’s Day date such as hiking or camping, while folks looking to get a lil luxe might want to book a romantic staycation or go on a couples getaway somewhere special. Honestly, with a little planning, you can even have an awesome date night at home that rivals a crowded restaurant (and doesn’t require pants).
Since every bond is different, we’ve come up with the perfect Valentine’s Day ideas for pretty much any budget, relationship, and interest you can think of. And the absolute best part is that even if you’re riding solo, you can still celebrate! February 14 is the day to honor all kinds of love, not just the romantic kind, which means platonic hangs or self-love dates are totally allowed. So, whatever your current relationship status is, read on for our favorite ways to celebrate love this year.
1. Re-Create Your First Date
Bring it back to where it all began! Head to wherever you went on your first date (or simply re-create the ~vibe~ if you’ve since moved away) and reminisce about how far you’ve come since that first night full of sweaty palms and jittery small talk.
2. Go to the Movies
I know it might seem basic, but dinner and a movie is a classic for a reason. Besides, when was the last time you actually got off the couch to see something in theaters? Try hitting up one of those bougie places that serve alcohol and fancy snacks to make the experience seem even more elevated.
3. Take a Sex Workshop Together
Learn a few new sex moves or discover a kink on the day dedicated to doing the dirty. There are courses for pretty much every type of sex or interest. Plus, you can find classes in person or online depending on how ~hands-on~ you want the instruction to be.
4. Hit Up a Comedy Show
Humor is one of the sexiest qualities in a person, so what better way to celebrate your love than laughing together all night? Hit up a stand-up or improv show to get those giggle-induced endorphins flowing.
5. Have a Karaoke Night
There are just about a zillion love songs out there, so make your celebration musical by going to a bar where you can serenade your partner in the presence of drunk strangers. If you’d rather sing privately, you could always buy some karaoke mics to belt it out at home. Either way, cheesy duets are highly encouraged.
6. Walk Dogs at an Animal Shelter
Is this a secret ploy to get you to leave with a furry new BFF? Maybe. But even if you don’t adopt, giving some sweet doggos a bit of affection and attention will make you feel all the puppy love.
7. Volunteer Together
If your heart (or self-control) can’t handle playing with adoptable pups, there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities to consider. Whether it’s building houses, serving food at a soup kitchen, or picking up trash on the side of the road, nothing is better than giving back to your community. (Plus, you know how hot it is to see your partner get their hero cape on and do some good.)
8. Have an At-Home Spa Night With DIY Face Masks
Create your own mini spa experience at home by mixing up a double batch of DIY face masks. Will it feel kind of goofy slathering this on your partner’s face? Yes, but that’s basically the point. Plus, you’ll both have soft, glowy skin afterward. Win-win.
9. Go to a Botanical Garden
Summer is a great time to visit your city or town’s botanical gardens, but you might be surprised. Many botanical garden centers offer activities like lightscapes, art installations, etc.
10. Treat Yourself to a Staycation
Play tourist in your own city/town by getting a hotel room for Valentine’s Day. You can order room service, watch movies, play games, have hotel sex—you get the idea. This idea is a bit pricier, but you can always check to see if you can snag a discounted rate.
11. Enjoy Some Romantic Stargazing
Is there anything more romantic than looking at the stars together? Pack blankets and a thermos of hot cocoa so you stay nice and toasty.
12. Go Rock Climbing
If there’s a rock climbing gym near you, you and your partner can get the adrenaline pumping by scaling a rock wall. Who knows? It may become your new couple activity.
13. Go to a Yoga Class
Whether you go to a yoga studio, stream a virtual class, or pull up a YouTube video, doing a yoga class together is a v cute, underrated date idea. You can laugh at each other’s awkward attempts at difficult poses, and it actually might help warm you up for subsequent Valentine’s Day ~activities~.
14. Have ~Deep~ Conversations
There are tons of conversation card decks meant to help couples connect with each other. What’s more romantic than a long, sexy night of learning more about your favorite person?
15. Make Candles
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without lighting a zillion candles, so why not make some of your own together? Buy a kit or take a class (yup, there are actually places you can go to do this). The best part—IMO—is mixing your own oils to create a signature scent for your relationship. Cute, yes?
16. Do a Puzzle Together
I’ve been trying to convince my partner that a date night where we work on a puzzle and listen to music or a good audiobook would actually be awesome, because inside I am a 75-year-old woman. Anyway, this would be a cute V-Day date!
17. Go to a Drive-In
Drive-in movies have become more popular in recent years due to *ahem* recent events (read: the pandemic), and they’re honestly about as iconically romantic as it gets. You get to cuddle up and share popcorn. You get to pretend you’re in Grease and belt
“Sandy”
when you get bored. And don’t forget that hooking up under the blanket is kinda a prerequisite.
18. DIY Your Own Wine and Cheese Pairing Class
It’s easy: Stock up on a bunch of your fave wines from the sale rack, get your glasses ready, buy some of your favorite cheeses, and pretend you’re in Paris. (Alternative option: Take a wine and cheese pairing class because, well, easier.)
19. Play Masseuse and Give Your Partner a Massage
Light some candles, grab some fancy oils, and maybe read up on a few tips for a spa-worthy rubdown. And yes, this is a give and take kinda thing, so make sure your effort is reciprocated and get yourself a massage too.
20. Go Thrift Shopping
Want to try something totally different? Head to a thrift shop and pick out the wackiest outfits you can find for each other. Bonus points if you wear them to dinner or drinks afterward.
21. Go Camping
If you live in a climate where it’s not literally freezing in February (jealous!), you and your partner could go camping and celebrate your love with roasted marshmallows over the campfire.
22. Throw a Small Party
Valentine’s Day parties aren’t just reserved for elementary schools and luxe bars. Invite your closest pals over and throw a fiesta of your own with themed decorations, heart-shaped sugar cookies, and some heavily spiked punch. If you want to get ~sexy~ with it, you could always play some old-school games such as Spin the Bottle or Seven Minutes in Heaven for a nostalgic and naughty evening.
23. Throw a *Dinner* Party
If you’re looking to class things up a bit, invite your friends over for a fancy dinner party. Spend the day cooking and decorating with your S.O. before welcoming your guests in for a night of yummy food, good conversation, and lots of wine. Make it a potluck if your culinary skills are a lil rusty.
24. Have an At-Home Game Night
Whether you plan a classic board game or something sexier, game nights are honestly one of the most fun—and simple—date ideas. Grab your faves and complete the vibe with snacks and wine, ofc.
25. Play Paintball or Laser Tag
Hear me out, people. Remember that scene from 10 Things I Hate About You when Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles went paintballing and your 13-year-old self almost died because it was so cute? That could be you!
Not only will it get your heart rate up, but afterward, you’ll have to wash off all that paint, which means shower or bath sex is kinda a given. Don’t like paintball? Laser tag is basically the same thing, just without the mess.
26. Have a Spotify Date
Using Spotify’s Group Sessions feature, share your fave songs with your date (whether virtually or next to each other) in a playlist. Better yet, send each other prompts like
“Play a song that reminds you of college” and “Play a song that will always have a special place in your heart”
so you can understand your partner better. It’s, like, the easiest, best way to get to know someone without directly asking them questions.
27. Do That Fun TikTok Dining Trend
If you haven’t seen the TikTok trend, here’s how it works: Get in your car and play
“rock, paper, scissors”
with your date. Whoever wins gets to pick what drink you both get. Once you’ve driven to said place to get the drink, play another round of
“rock, paper, scissors.”
Then that winner gets to pick the appetizer.
Do it for a drink, appetizer, dinner, and dessert. (And obviously, document it so you can go viral on TikTok too.)
28. Speaking of TikTok, Make a TikTok Together
You can learn a dance and record the video together. You can prank your S.O. with a TikTok and record it. Or y’all can do those cute couples TikTok videos together and answer questions about each other.
29. Set Up a Pizza Tasting
Or taco tasting. Or burger tasting. Or sushi tasting. (You get the idea.) Go around your city and order takeout at as many restaurants as you can think of. Then rate each food item out of 10.
30. Do a DIY Couples Boudoir Shoot
With your iPhone or an old Polaroid camera you have hanging around, get dressed up (or down) with your partner and take turns taking sexy pictures of each other…for each other. (Just remember that consent should be discussed prior to taking the pictures, and make sure to have a conversation about what’s expected once the pictures are taken re: if they will be thrown away, kept, etc.)
31. Get Tickets for a Virtual Show
Since the pandemic, there are now a ton of virtual entertainment options, which means you don’t even have to leave your house to see amazing acts (bonus: it’s usually cheaper than going somewhere IRL). If you don’t want to fight the crowds, buy tickets to a virtual stand-up show, Broadway play, or anything else that piques your interest.
32. Go for a Little Hike or Walk Outside
Explore local trails and climb to the top for Insta-worthy views, or simply take a stroll around your neighborhood. Walking usually makes talking easier, so enjoy chatting about whatever comes up as you go for a leisurely (or intense, if you’re going the hiking route) walk.
33. Take a Day Trip
Pick a destination one to three hours away and hit the road for a one-day mini vacation. Don’t forget the road trip tunes and snacks!
34. Go on Vacation
If it’s been a while since your last romantic getaway, Valentine’s Day is the ideal time to take some PTO and see the world. Pack your swimsuit and go someplace tropical, or hit up a quaint B&B for some bonding and people-watching.
35. Go Skydiving
Or bungee jumping. Or white water rafting. Scuba diving! Parasailing! Do something that gets your adrenaline pumping because (a) it’ll make for great memories, (b) you’ll both be riding a natural high, and (c) you’ll have plenty to talk about at dinner.
36. Take a Cooking Class
Whether you opt for an IRL or virtual option, sign up for a class to learn how to make a new signature dish together, like homemade pasta or chicken piccata.
37. Hit Up a Carnival or Theme Park
Nothing brings couples closer together quite like screaming their heads off on a roller coaster. Hit up a local fair or head to a theme park (if you’re lucky enough to have one nearby) for a day of thrills, then end the night by sharing a steamy make-out sesh at the top of a Ferris wheel. *sigh*
38. Cook a Fancy Dinner Together
Write up the menu of your dreams and get all the ingredients you need. Food somehow always tastes a little bit better when you’ve spent hours making it.
39. Or Just Go All Out and Treat Yourselves
If you haven’t yet hit your spending budget for the holiday, head to a restaurant and order the prix fixe and a good bottle of wine. Just make sure to save room for dessert, whether it’s a chocolate lava cake or, like, *dessert* dessert.
40. Give Your S.O. a Burlesque Show or Striptease
If there’s ever a time to give a romantically lit, highly sexy lap dance, it’s Valentine’s Day.
41. Take a Brewery, Winery, or Distillery Tour
Getting slightly boozy as you sample a bunch of merlots or craft beers—what’s not to love? Just make sure to take an Uber so you don’t drink and drive, and yes, that means you have full range to make out in the back seat. Win-win.
42. Drink and Do Crafts
BYOB to a painting or ceramics class and make some art to (hopefully) hang in your apartment. If you don’t want strangers to see your lack of artistic ability, just have a crafty evening together in your kitchen. Will you ask your partner to draw you like a French girl while posing on the counter? I damn well hope so.
43. Get Your Tarot Read
Fortune-telling is a risky activity, but at its best, you can learn so much about each other. Head to a local shop, get it read virtually, or buy a pack of tarot cards and take turns looking into each other’s futures.
44. Take a Tango Class
This is probs one of those things you always wanted to do but felt it was too adult or too cheesy. It’s neither! It’s a cliché marriage saver in movies for a reason! The best part is you can either head to a local studio or watch a vid online to learn some moves from your living room.
45. Go to a Concert
Music is hella personal for lots of people, and seeing a band or musician perform live is an otherworldly experience…especially if you’re sharing the moment with someone special. Surprise your honey with tix to their favorite performer, or choose someone you both like for a night of beer and swaying to the tunes.
46. Go on a Double Date
Who says you can’t make it a group hang if you already do cute date nights all the time anyway? Grab your bestie and their boo to celebrate both romance and friendship.
47. Stroll Through a Museum
Find out if your art-browsing pace matches up to your partner’s. Also, yes, putting your hands in each other’s back pockets is absolutely required.
48. Go Ice-Skating
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean ice-skating is any less sweet and romantic! Plus, you can take turns rubbing each other’s cold toesies after gliding around the rink.
49. Play Mini Golf
It’s cute and nostalgic, and it gives you an excuse to get really close when showing your partner how to swing that club properly.
50.Do an Impossibly Cute Movie Night In
Set up string lights, make a blanket fort, and get cuddly, baby.
Adapted From: Cosmopolitan
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