50 Unusual First Date Ideas You Should Definitely Try

Dating has changed. It doesn’t matter who made the first move—what matters is making that first date count. No matter your gender or lifestyle, you’ll find a first date idea here that fits you.

Unique First Date Ideas for Any Occasion

How you plan your first date depends on you and your date’s interests. Of course, you wouldn’t want a boring first date—you should plan a date that both of you would enjoy.

Likewise, you should get the most out of the date activity that you plan. You should get to know the other person on your first date to see if there’s potential for a relationship. Lastly, your date will depend on how much you’re willing to spend.

Here are 65 unique first date ideas that are categorized depending on how you want your first date to be:

• Ice Skating in the Park: If it’s winter, ice skating is a great active date. Find a scenic park and skate together, which is both fun and a bit of exercise.
• Botanical Garden Stroll: Take a leisurely walk in a botanical garden. It’s quiet, beautiful, and a good setting for a calm, intimate conversation.
• Sunset Kayaking: Paddle on a lake or river as the sun sets. It's peaceful on the water during sunset, making it a special moment to share.
• Outdoor Rock Climbing: Tackle a climbing wall together. It’s a good test of physical strength and teamwork.
• Star Gazing: Head out of town to watch the stars. It’s quiet and dark enough to have meaningful conversations under the night sky.

• Casual Coffee Walk: Grab a coffee and wander through a nearby park or interesting neighborhood. It’s an easygoing option that allows for good conversation without a big time commitment.
• Horseback Riding: Ride horses along trails. It’s a fun way to see scenic views and enjoy time together outdoors.
• Bike Tour: Bike through your city or countryside. It’s a healthy and active way to explore new areas together.
• Amusement Park Thrills: Spend a day at an amusement park. Enjoy rides, games, and snack on carnival treats.
• Safari Park Drive: Drive through a safari park. You can see animals living more freely, which can be both thrilling and educational.
• Fruit Picking: Visit an orchard or berry farm. Pick and taste fresh fruit, an enjoyable and tasty activity to do together.

• Cooking Class: Join a cooking class to learn new recipes and cooking methods. It's a fun way to spend time together and enjoy a meal you've both prepared.
• Homemade Pizza Night: Make your own pizzas. Roll out the dough, choose your toppings, and bake your creations for a personalized dinner.
• Sushi Making at Home: Roll sushi together. Choose your favorite fillings, master the art of sushi rolling, and enjoy your creations.
• International Cuisine Night: Cook dishes from a specific country. Choose a cuisine you both are interested in and prepare a meal that feels like a culinary journey abroad.
• Dessert Baking: Bake and decorate desserts. A sweet activity where you can bake cakes or cookies and then decorate them together.
• Wine and Cheese Pairing: Try different wines and cheeses. Learn about and enjoy the pairing of various wines and cheeses for a sophisticated date.
• Meal Prep Date: Prepare meals for the week together. It's a practical way to spend time together and ensure you both have tasty meals for the upcoming days.
• Chocolate Making: Make your own gourmet chocolates. Experiment with melting, molding, and adding custom flavors to your homemade chocolates.
• Farmers Market Challenge: Create a meal from market finds. Pick up random ingredients from a farmers market and challenge yourselves to make a meal out of them.

• Breakfast for Dinner: Enjoy breakfast at night. Cook up your morning favorites like pancakes, eggs, and bacon for a comforting evening meal.

• Comedy Club: Laugh together at a stand-up show. Lighten up your evening with some humor and enjoy live performances that are sure to keep you both entertained.
• Jazz Night: Listen to live jazz at a cozy venue. Relax in a laid-back setting and enjoy the spontaneous and smooth sounds of live jazz.
• Opera Visit: Experience the high arts with a night at the opera. Immerse yourselves in the dramatic and powerful performances that combine stunning vocals with captivating storytelling.
• Film Screening: Attend a film festival or special movie showing. Discover indie films or foreign classics not typically shown in mainstream cinemas.
• Poetry Reading: Enjoy spoken word at a local café. Get inspired by poets sharing their work, perhaps sparking deep conversations between you and your date.
• Cultural Festival: Explore different cultures through their festivals. Experience the music, dance, food, and traditions from around the world, all in one vibrant and festive setting.
• DIY Pottery Class: Get messy with clay. Have fun shaping and painting pottery, creating both art and memories in a hands-on class.
• Street Art Tour: Discover urban art in your city. Walk through your city's streets and alleyways, exploring colorful murals and hidden artworks.
• Historical Tour: Learn about the history of your town. Take a guided tour to learn the rich past of your locale, understanding more about the place you live.

• Beach Yoga: Practice yoga on the beach at sunrise or sunset. Enjoy the serene setting and the calming effects of yoga with a picturesque backdrop.
• Herbal Workshop: Attend an herbal workshop. Learn about different herbs and their applications in cooking, healing, and wellness.
• Mindfulness Workshop: Participate in a mindfulness workshop. Together, learn practical techniques to enhance awareness and connection in your daily lives.
• Zen Garden Visit: Visit a Zen garden. Take a peaceful walk through beautifully maintained gardens designed for quiet contemplation.
• Health and Wellness Fair: Explore a health and wellness fair. Discover new health practices, try out nutritious foods, and check out wellness products to inspire a healthier lifestyle.
• Tea Tasting: Experience a tea tasting ceremony. Learn about the art and ritual of tea making, savoring the flavors and the peaceful process involved.

• Video Game Marathon: Have a video game marathon. Play your favorite games together, whether you’re teaming up or facing off in everything from thrilling adventures to strategic games.
• Puzzle Solving: Tackle a complex jigsaw puzzle. Enjoy a calm evening working together on a challenging puzzle, which can spark great conversations and team-building.
• Card Games: Play card games like poker or bridge. Enjoy a night of shuffling, dealing, and strategizing, whether you’re betting in poker or planning in bridge.
• Ping Pong Match: Play a round of ping pong. It’s a fun and energetic way to get a little competitive and active together.
• Mini Golf: Go mini-golfing. Enjoy a laid-back round of putt-putt, navigating through courses with quirky obstacles and themes.
• Bowling: Have a bowling night. Put on your bowling shoes, roll some strikes (or gutter balls), and enjoy a classic date night with snacks and smiles.
• Pool Hall: Play pool in a laid-back setting. Enjoy a game of billiards at a pool hall, perfect for a relaxed date with plenty of opportunities for casual conversation.
• Laser Tag: Engage in a game of laser tag. Have a blast running around an arena, dodging and aiming in this high-energy and fun-filled activity, whether you team up or compete against each other.

Being miles apart doesn't mean you can't have a great first date. Check out these simple and fun long-distance date ideas to help you get to know each other better and have a good time, even when you're far apart.

• Virtual Dinner Date: Each of you can cook the same meal or order similar style food, then set up a video call to eat together as if you were dining at the same table.
• Virtual Coffee Breaks: If your schedules allow, having a quick coffee over a video call can be a nice way to catch up and spend a little time together without committing to a long activity.
• Plan Your Future Dates: Use your video call time to plan out what you’ll do and where you’ll go on future dates when you’re together. It’s a fun way to dream and set goals for future meetups.

• Extreme Sports (like skydiving or bungee jumping): These can be too intense for a first date, especially if one person is not comfortable with extreme activities.
• Karaoke Bar: Singing in front of a crowd can be daunting if one or both of you are shy, which might lead to an uncomfortable situation.
• Clubbing: Loud music and a crowded space might make it hard to have a conversation, which is essential for connecting on a first date.
• A Full Day Road Trip: Spending several hours together in a car can be too much of a commitment for a first date and might create an awkward situation if you don’t click.
• A Lecture or Seminar: Similar to a movie, this setting requires silence and attention to the speaker, leaving no room for personal interaction.
• Shopping for Personal Items: Activities like shopping for clothes can be too personal and might make one person uncomfortable.
• Intense Workout Together: Unless both parties are fitness enthusiasts, a vigorous workout could be intimidating and might not leave either feeling their best.
• High-Stakes Gambling: A casino might be an unusual and risky environment that could add unnecessary tension to a first encounter.

Planning your first date is important. But not to the extent that all your moves are rigidly calculated. You should be open to spontaneity and improvisation when suddenly, something goes out of the way of your plan. 

Of course, you should also be confident and prepare yourself for things that you may need to have like conversation starters just in case the good old awkward silence decides to pay a visit to your date. Read up on our first date tips to make sure you’re prepped and ready.

If you don’t have a date yet, but you’re really excited to have one, why not try signing up for Dating Sites? Maybe your lucky date is just waiting for that one click!