While the classic first date ideas of going for a nice meal together. Or watching a film in the cinema is timeless and does turn prospective partners into couples. There comes a point where you just need to spice up your first date options.
Especially if you feel you’ve found “the one” and want to see them outside of their comfort zone.
There is no better feeling than having a first date with a guy or girl and having them part ways with a smile on their face. You want the date to go down so well that a second date is sure to be guaranteed.
In these modern times with dating apps, and even apps that tell you how to act or look on a first date. It’s important to cut out the clutter and just go back to the basics. Be in the present moment with that special person you like, or potentially might fall in love with.
21 First Date Ideas That You’ll Both Love
First impressions are huge! This is why it’s understandable that many people worry about first dates. However, if you can surprise them right off the bat with a creative first date suggestion. You will be sure to grab their attention.
So let’s take a look at some of our first date ideas that are far from ordinary. They are sure to leave your prospective partner with a smile from ear to ear!
1. Take A Cooking Class Together
Food is often referred to as the route to anyone’s heart. So if you are planning your first date together then why not combine the two. Go to a cooking class for your first date.
You don’t have to be a master chef or even good at cooking. It’s simply a great way to spend time with your date. You will also learn some of their habits or likes and dislikes.
You can also learn a lot about how well you work together as a team. Also if you are compatible as a prospective couple. All this in an environment that takes the pressure off the conversation and just lets things flow.
2. Visit A Theme Park For The Adrenaline Rush
Theme parks are sure to be fun as a first-date idea. They have everything from roller coasters to carnival games to get your adrenaline and laughter going.
The haunted house ride is sure to get you clinging to each other for dear life. If all else fails you still can take a laid-back romantic ride on the Tunnel of Love.
With rides, games, food, and drink all in one location. It’s the perfect venue to host one of the best first dates possible.
Better still, if you’re both on a budget or don’t like stuffy fine dining experiences. It’s relatively inexpensive if you compare the time and fun you will spend together.
3. Take An Archery Or Axe Throwing Class
This might sound like something out of “Game of Thrones” but rest assured, it’s loads of fun. Invite your date to an archery or axe throwing class and it will be sure to throw them off guard and surprise them.
With first date ideas, you want them to be something that will stick in the memory or something that your date has never thought of doing before.
Archery and axe throwing is sure to be the answer and is a great way to see just how competitive your date really is.
It requires good hand/eye coordination but even if you feel like you might be bad at it and miss the mark. It may give a good excuse for your date to get close and lend a helping hand.
4. Escape Rooms
A first date idea that is growing in popularity is escape rooms. You get a time limit and a theme and have to escape the room before the time runs out.
You must help each other by exploring the room to discover clues, keys, and riddles that will aid your escape. They are a great test of brainpower and also your collaborations skills together.
If you successfully manage to survive and escape one together there’s a strong chance a second date is on the cards.
5. Dining In The Dark
Dining in the dark may not sound that appealing on the face of things. However, some daters swear by this first date suggestion.
You will be eating, drinking, and speaking in complete darkness while not being able to see each other. The thing that makes this so special is that it heightens your senses making it feel 100% more intimate with your date.
Your taste, smell, and touch will feel so much stronger than normal. Perhaps even touching your date’s hand across the dark table could send sparks flying in both directions?
It’s a great idea to prepare for a date in the dark by ensuring you apply your best perfume and this will be sure to make an impression on your prospective partner and bag a second date.
6. Get Tipsy On A Wine Tasting Trip
Known as the nectar of the gods, a good glass of wine is sure to loosen you both up and keep the conversation flowing.
While the wine might be delicious, it’s probably a good idea not to get too messy and drink in moderation with water and eat nibbles while exploring the vineyards.
One good tip is to plan ahead and look to meet up somewhere beforehand to get a taxi or Uber into the location so there is no need for a designated driver. That way you both have fewer worries about getting home in one piece!
7. Visit A Food Festival
Food festivals are loads of fun, especially if they are centered around a cultural celebration and showcase foods, drinks, and snacks you may have never tried before.
Walk and munch on food together as you explore some of the delicacies the festival has to offer. If you keep your dates stomach happy I’m sure they will thank you later for it with a second date.
Many food festivals are not just about what you can eat, but also include cultural music, bands, and some dancing. So be sure to prepare for every eventuality.
8. Go On A Bike Ride Together
With most cities around the world now having great cycling routes, it’s no wonder that going for a bike ride with your date is a great idea.
From riding along riverbanks to stopping in parks or for a bite to eat. The possibilities are endless on first-date ideas while cycling around town.
If for any reason one of you doesn’t feel confident enough on a bike, perhaps consider a tandem bike ride where you can simply ride in the back and pedal. It’ll get you closer and is sure to bring on fits of laughter.
9. Fine Dining Picnic
Simple, and ten times better than a restaurant if you can find a great location. A fine dining picnic next to a river or on a hilltop overlooking the wilderness is a great idea.
Fun, food, and romance, you can be sure the picnic hamper is not the only thing that will get your appetite going.
There is simply nothing more romantic than eating delicious food together, laying back, cuddling, and watching the world go by.
10. Boating Or Kayaking
If you are not afraid of getting wet then boating or kayaking on your first date together is crazy amounts of fun.
Explore the river on a warm summer’s day and take a pit stop on the riverbank for a picnic or snacks together.
One tip, be prepared to fully immerse yourself in the water in the event you drop an oar or paddle. While this may not sound like the perfect date for most people, it’s sure to show off your adventurous side.
11. Sightseeing And Exploring
Perhaps you’ve heard of a really nice walking trail, or live near hills, forests, or beaches that are worth exploring and sightseeing.
Exploring together is a great way to keep the conversation going. Walking is proven to keep your imagination and thinking at its peak, so there is no better way to get to know someone than exploring things like lakes, mountains, or woodland together.
Pro tip: Be prepared. Take food, drinks, and dress for exploration. Don’t be surprised if the weather takes a turn for the worst.
Also, be sure to let friends and family know your whereabouts in the event you get lost. However, getting lost with “the one” for a few hours might not always be a bad thing!
12. Visit A Dessert Bar
Who doesn’t like desserts!? Dessert bars are on trend right now as the go-to location to taste beautiful and delicious dessert creations you both are sure to love.
It’s the perfect opportunity to get close, and feed each other tasty morsels while trying not to laugh or drop any on their lap!
Sweet desserts like chocolate-covered strawberries are like an aphrodisiac for the romantic soul. So be sure to use these wisely to get more than just your date’s taste buds’ attention.
13. Paintball Skirmish
Paintball for first-date ideas is not for the faint of heart. If you are both highly competitive adrenaline junkies however this might be the perfect date to test your metal.
Most cities have a paintball venue nearby which can be anything from an empty warehouse to a woodland setting. Normally two teams will be selected that battle it out to capture flags of the opposing team.
It’s a good idea for first-timers to pick the same team as their date to collaborate and join forces in search of victory. Perhaps on the second date, you can go again and battle it out head to head.
14. Enjoy A Cat Café
If you both enjoy watching cats playing, climbing, or generally sleeping and looking cute. Then a date in a cat cafe is surely on the to-do list.
Order a tea or coffee and sit a relax while your feline companions make conversation with your date feel like it’s flying by one meow at a time.
Many cat cafes also allow you to donate to animal shelters, so it’s a really feel-good animal-friendly environment.
It’s recommended to ensure before you arrange the date that one of you is not allergic to cats. As the last thing you want is to find out halfway through your date is showing signs of cat allergies.
15. Get Lost In A Maze Together
Find out how devious your date really is by navigating your way through a large maze and getting lost together.
Many mazes are made from hedges, stone walls, and mirrors. The first two are probably preferred as mirror mazes can actually make you feel dizzy or freaked out at times.
Each turn you take will be full of laughter as you feel like your achieving something together while the end draws near.
Perhaps your date will show their cheeky side, and recommend you both climb under hedges together or play pranks on other maze-goers.
16. See Animals At The Zoo
If you’re still struggling to think up first date ideas then you really can’t go wrong visiting the Zoo.
Full with exotic animals there will be no end of fun as you explore and try to guess the names of animals together.
It’s a great idea when planning a first date at the zoo to book a special experience. Something like feeding the penguins or close-up lion encounters. These are sure to keep the excitement flowing and the hearts racing.
17. Visit A Museum Or Planetarium
Nothing tells a story better than the night sky, so go for a date at the planetarium and tell a few of your own. You’ll be sure to have a blast!
If you both love all things space and science it’s sure to pique your interest. You can share your knowledge about the planets, stars and perhaps build a history of your own together that is out of this world.
18. Go To A Trampoline Park
Trampoline parks are all the rage right now as a great and fun alternative for getting in shape. However, this doesn’t mean they won’t make a fun place to host the first date.
Go hopping mad bouncing around with your date, jumping into foam pits, and trying to learn trampoline tricks.
Many venues have places to eat and drink on the premises so you will have all you need for a date that’s sure to keep your heart happy and healthy.
19. How About A VR First Date
As modern gaming and technology improve, things like a Virtual Reality first date will become increasingly popular among singles looking for like-minded partners.
Right now in many cities have VR bars that allow you to go in have some drinks and enjoy a wide range of virtual reality games with your date.
While it’s still early days for this first date idea, soon you will be able to go on a full first date from home with someone within an hour of first talking online.
You could go on a virtual dining experience, or perhaps even take a virtual art or cooking class together. The possibilities will be endless.
20. Get Creeped Out Ghost Hunting
There will be nothing that will make you cling to your date more than a ghost hunting experience. While for the most part they are spooky and you never know what’s going to happen, they are however loads of fun!
Ghost hunting ranges from organized tours in old buildings seeking out paranormal beings to exploring graveyards or cursed woods in the pitch dark.
Be sure to have a flashlight handy if things become a bit too much, however. Many ghost hunting tours place you in a group of 5-10 people so don’t worry too much about being the only scared couple in a derelict building getting lost in the dark.
21. Reach The Heights With Indoor Climbing
If you’re both avid fitness lovers, then a first date indoor climbing might be the perfect idea you’ve been waiting for.
Scale the heights and help each other navigate the vertical walls in your pursuit of reaching the top. Or perhaps you’re competitive and want to challenge your date to a race to the top?
Indoor climbing venues are becoming increasingly popular right now, so you shouldn’t have far to travel with your date until you are chalking your hands and scaling the walls in search of love.