30+ Fun Ideas for Dates In The Winter
I have grown to love the winter season and try to make the most of it, even when it comes to fun ideas for dates in the winter. There’s something about how peaceful it is when the streets and yards are coated in snow and the sky is sparkling. And even when it’s gloomy, it’s just a good reason to stay inside and be cozy and cuddly.
So, in honor of making the most of the cold, here’s a roundup of fun date ideas to try during winter!
30+ Fun Ideas For Dates In The Winter
First Date Ideas for the Winter
These date ideas are perfect for a first time date during the winter! Get cozy and get to know each other with these casual ideas.
Warm Drinks and Trivia Night at the Bar
Check out your local pubs to see which ones host a trivia night and make plans to arrive early and get settled in for some fun. Order hot toddies or another warm drink for extra cozy vibes.
Fondue Dinner
A great winter date idea is fondue! Nothing warms you up more than melted cheese and melted chocolate. Yum! Plus, it’s a bit more interactive than your average dinner date which can help reduce awkward moments on first dates.
Hot Chocolate and Holiday Lights
If it’s the holiday season, make a plan to grab some indulgent hot chocolates from your local coffee shop or cafe and walk around to see all the holiday lights and Christmas decor. If you’re in NYC, the Upper East Side is a great spot for sightseeing Christmas lights.
Arcade Bar
An arcade bar is so fun for a first date or really any date. You can play games versus each other or as a team.
Go Axe Throwing
Another fun activity to try that I’ve seen in many cities is axe throwing.
Inexpensive Date Ideas for Winter
These date ideas are affordable because a big budget isn’t necessary to have some fun together. And there are even some free date ideas too!
Indoor picnic
One of the best warm weather date ideas is to have a picnic at the park. So you can bring that inside during the winter months! You don’t technically need a picnic basket, but set up blankets on the floor along with pillows and prepare your favorite picnicky snacks like a cheese plate with crackers and jam.
Themed dinner and a movie at home
Take a typical night at home and kick it up a notch with a simple theme! Pick a movie to watch, whether it’s new or a favorite of yours and plan a menu to follow the theme.
Some theme food drinks ideas:
- Ratatouille for Ratatouille
- Beef Sandwiches for The Bear
- Candy spaghetti for Elf
- Butterbeer for Harry Potter
Video game night
Pick your favorite video games and battle it out for a video game night. We love Mario Party and Mario Kart. And you could even finish with the The Super Mario Bros. Movie!
Board game night
Similar to the above, except it’s screen-free! Choose a few board games to play for a cozy evening in. Some of my favorite two-person board games include: Jenga, Azul, Connect Four, Checkers and Undaunted: Stalingrad.
Vision board night
This is a really fun one! Start the new year together planning your manifestations for the year ahead. Gather some magazines, markers and glue sticks or go digital and make vision boards together. You can just focus on individual goals or, even better, things you hope to do together, like more date nights, travel plans, a wedding, etc.!
Over-the-top hot cocoa
Get in the kitchen and go super indulgent with an over-the-top hot cocoa recipe. Pick up some high quality chocolate chips and cocoa to make it from scratch. And top it with homemade whipped cream, chocolate shavings, peppermint sticks or whatever your heart desires!
Wander your local museum
Many museums offer discounted or free admission dates for their local community. Do some research for the ones in your neighborhood and go get cultured together! A museum is a really relaxing date that, in my opinion, helps everyone unwind after a long week.
Romantic Date Ideas for Winter
Ice skating
Bundle up and head to your nearest ice skating rink! Here in NYC, we have countless options. If you’re inexperienced skaters, I’d recommend going on a weeknight when it’s less busy. Either way, give yourself some grace to warm up to it and have fun!
Scavenger Hunt
This one takes more planning, but you can do a scavenger hunt together! There are different ways you could plan a scavenger hunt, but one of the cutest would be to plan one based on your first date. So you’d tell your partner the first stop is the restaurant where you went for your first date and they have to remember where that was, etc.
Couples Massage
A soothing date idea for the winter is to get a couples massage.
Spa Day
And if you want to go a step above just a massage, make it a full spa day with facials or pedicures.
Bathhouse
I also love a date spent at a bathhouse. The Bathhouse in NYC (locations in Flatiron and Williamsburg, Brooklyn) is so relaxing and cool. You can spend hours visiting their saunas, hot baths and cold plunges. It really feels like an oasis.
Staycation at a Romantic Hotel
For a special date if you’re celebrating an anniversary or are a long term couple, make a plan for a staycation at a romantic hotel. If you’re local to NYC like me, I’d recommend finding one upstate so you can enjoy the snow and get cozy by the fireplace.
Make Soup from Scratch
A romantic and sweet idea for date night is to cook together. And nothing beats a soup or stew in the winter. Pick out a recipe together on Pinterest and plan out your menu. I recommend a tomato soup from scratch with a four-cheese grilled cheese sandwich!
More Date Ideas for Winter
Here’s some more fun winter date ideas, including some more active ones to get you all warmed up! Plus, some class ideas and more.
Indoor rock climbing
It’s been awhile since I’ve tried this, but I’ve always had fun. Go check out your local indoor rock climbing space and see how high up you can get.
Roller skating
Head to the roller rink to get out of the cold weather and have some fun. Most rinks have an adults only night so you could plan for that to avoid the kiddos and go have a blast.
Bowling
Bowling is another classic date night idea that never gets old. You could also try duckpin or feather bowling.
Sledding or Snow Tubing
If there’s a snow day, you have to take advantage of it with sledding or snow tubing at your local park! One of my best memories in recent years was when a group of us spent an afternoon sledding in Central Park in the snow. Afterwards we had drinks and pizza. It was perfect. Bonus points if you can sneak in a snowball fight in between sledding!
Skiing
Skiing is the ultimate winter activity! Even if you’re a newbie, most places offer daily intro classes and bunny slopes so you can learn something new together.
Visit a Distillery and Try Whiskey Flights
An easy way to stay warm is to have some drinks! Visit a local distillery and try a whiskey flight. Plan on enjoying some snacks there too and whatever entertainment they offer. Most places have games or live music to enjoy too.
TikTok Shopping Trend
This is inspired by the TikTok trend. But go to your local Walmart or Target and do the shopping challenge where you pick out items for each other within a set budget and theme.
The theme can be something like:
- Grab a drink they’d like
- Get something in their favorite color
- Pick a snack they’d love
- Choose something that reminds you of them
- Pick something you can do together
Choose your theme and budget beforehand, then go your separate ways inside the store. Surprise each other after you’ve finished shopping and enjoy your gifts together.
Take a Hot Yoga Class
A hot yoga class feels so indulgent in the winter. It’s a rejuvenating way to spend some time together and afterwards you might feel more reflective so head to your favorite cafe to chat and sip some warm drinks.
Comedy Club or Sketch Comedy Show
I find that the stand-up and sketch comedy places have great lineups over the winter. Sometimes just laughing your butt off is one of the best ways to spend time together.
I hope these date ideas for winter are helpful! You can also check out these date night at home ideas and if you’re local to New York, here’s what to wear in NYC in winter to stay cozy on these date ideas.
