A to Z Valentine’s Day Date Ideas You Have to Try at Least Once

Who said Valentine’s Day has to be all about hearts and chocolates? These A to Z Valentine’s Day date ideas mix the classics with something fresh and unexpected. At least one of them is bound to be a hit, no matter your relationship status, budget, or level of interest in this lovely relationship holiday.

Try one, or if you’re feeling adventurous, take on the whole list!

What to Do for Valentine’s Day? A Quick Checklist for the Non-Adventurous

Some people treat Valentine’s Day like the most important day of the year for their relationship. Others… not so much. If you’re in the second camp (or just dread the fuss), here’s a quick list of things you can do without overcomplicating it.

And who knows, maybe next year you’ll feel adventurous enough to try something from our A to Z list below.

• Spend quality time together (the non-negotiable)
• Exchange gifts, whether big or small. If you’re indecisive, check out our gift guide for her, a few suggestions of gifts for him, and the best long distance relationship presents
• Declare your love for one another, privately or publicly
• Celebrate your journey as a couple, especially in long-term relationships
• Take the next step together. Become official, say “I love you” for the first time, propose. In fact, Valentine’s Day is the [second most popular day of the year for proposals]https://www.daviddouglas.com/blog/news/welcome-to-engagement-season-when-nearly-40-of-all-marriage-proposals-take-place. This day is perfect for these grand moments (and easy to remember for future anniversaries).

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas from A–Z

If you’re wondering what kind of Valentine’s Day date night ideas feel right for you, the answer is simple: anything that helps you connect and have fun. These activities create the perfect blend of the two for the best Valentine’s Day experience!

A: Art Night at Home

This challenge is not only for the undiscovered Picassos, but for anyone who loves paintings, drawing, or even sculpting or clay work. Gather your supplies, order your favorite food, pour some wine, and create art together while music plays in the background (smooth jazz, hard rock, ’80s disco, rap—whatever gets you in the mood).

If you want to make it more fun, add a few mini challenges:

• Draw each other (no erasing allowed)
• Take turns finishing the same painting
• Sculpt mugs for one another
• Try completing a Bob Ross painting tutorial without pausing the video

B: Boudoir Photoshoot

This kind of date is one of the sexiest Valentine's Day activities for adults, and for many couples, a major turn on. However, boudoir photoshoots mean more than just sexy lingerie and provocative poses. They’re an intimate gift you create specifically for your partner, showing that you have confidence in your own body.

You can make this work in two ways:

• Take turns being both the model and the photographer: One of you poses while the other shoots and gives direction. Then switch roles.
• Hire a professional photographer: Do the shoot before Valentine’s Day and gift your partner a printed album. Watching their reaction is part of the experience, and this is guaranteed to turn into some spicy activities later in the night!

C: Couple’s Questions Marathon

If you want a low-key Valentine’s Day, staying home and doing a couple’s questions marathon is hard to beat. This activity brings you closer by uncovering new things about your partner. And yes, even long-term relationships can benefit from a night like this, as you never really have enough time to learn everything about someone.

And while the internet is full of questions for couples, finding the best ones is a chore in it itself. That’s why couples apps, such as Couple Joy, are handy: they put thousands of questions at your fingertips.

Couple Joy, for example, has over 3,000 questions across hundreds of topics (some lighthearted, some more serious) in fun formats such as:

• Never Have I Ever
• Would You Rather
• This or That
• Strongly Agree/Disagree
• Who’s Most Likely to?

The best part? At the end of a quiz, you can see how many answers you matched with your partner in percentages. So, how many of the 3,000 questions can you get through in one night?

Relationship App

Play games, answer couple questions, create your couple journal and have fun with widgets - all in a single app.

D: Dance Lessons

They say, “Tango is a vertical expression of a horizontal desire.” For centuries, love and dancing have shared a connected path: bodies touch, eyes meet, hearts race, desire heightens, and connection deepens.

Dance lessons are your chance to step into that rhythm together. Here’s how to make it work:

• Pick a style: Tango, salsa, samba, waltz, or even swing.
• Ideally, take a class led by a professional instructor. If you prefer the comfort of your home, online tutorials work perfectly fine
• If you choose to stay at home, dim the lights and light some candles

E: Escape Room

An escape room is one of those great Valentine's Day date ideas that people often overlook because it seems like too much work. In reality though, an escape room gives you the perfect opportunity to test your teamwork as a couple, polish your detective skills, and most importantly, have lots of fun.

Pick an escape room that excites you both:

• Famous stories and universes: Harry Potter, the Marvel Universe, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, DCU
• Historical settings: Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, medieval castles, the Wild West, Victorian era, samurai period
• Horror-inspired: Hunt vampires, escape a haunted house, summon the dead

You’ll problem-solve together, communicate under pressure, and probably laugh a lot along the way.

F: Fancy Restaurant

We had to include a restaurant in this list because it’s a Valentine’s Day classic. But why settle for ordinary when you can go all out? For a truly memorable night, aim for a very fancy restaurant—the kind of place that leaves you talking about it for months.

Some ideas to elevate your experience:

• Themed tasting menus with around 15 small dishes (including 3–4 desserts) with unexpected flavors, textures, and wine or cocktail pairings that surprise and delight.
• Special Valentine’s menus with indulgent ingredients like lobster, prawns, beef, foie gras, and exquisite desserts. Restaurants that celebrate love through sensual scents, soothing music, interesting food textures, and impeccable service.

G: Games for Couples Night

One of the best cheap Valentine’s Day date ideas for couples who want to relax at home is a games night. You can play:

• Board games for two such as Patchwork, Fox in the Forest, or 7 Wonders Duel
• Card games
• Question-based games, such as the 21 questions game
• Valentine's day games for adults such as Activity 18+ or cards with sex positions

Check out our list of games for couples for more examples. Some can be played online, but the physical versions are better for real-life connection, and they give you more chances to explore your competitive (and playful) sides as a couple.

H: Hotel Night

You don’t have to leave your city for this challenge. Booking a night at a five-star hotel nearby is just as perfect; the goal is to indulge in luxury for at least one night and forget about the outside world.

Here’s how to make it extra special:

• Order room service (a bottle of wine or champagne is a must!)
• Hit the pool or sauna if your hotel has one.
• Take a hot bath together. Add rose petals, bubbles, and sip your wine in well-deserved peace.
• Stay in your bathrobes all night, watch a movie, chat about life, or just enjoy each other’s company without any distractions.

I: Italian Cooking Night

What’s more romantic than Italian food? Cooking it together with your partner on Valentine’s Day with a glass of wine by your side, your favorite music in the background, and no phones to disturb you.

Make it special with a few simple touches:

• Plan a menu with appetizers, a first course, and dessert. Try authentic recipes from La Cucina Italiana
• Use fresh produce (Italian cooking is all about natural ingredients)
• Work as a team. One of you can handle the pasta, while the other prepares the meat for the first course.
• Make the pasta yourself, from scratch. Experiment with shapes, get messy, and have fun.

J: Jazz Night

There’s something about live jazz that makes everything effortlessly romantic. Add a sophisticated cocktail or some neat whiskey, a beautiful location (a bar or a restaurant), and the company of your partner and you have the perfect Valentine’s Day date: simple, but effective.

This date works because it’s sensual and makes you feel like you’re the only two people in the room, even when you’re surrounded by strangers.

K: Karaoke Night

Nothing says “fun and flirty” like grabbing a microphone and singing your heart out, especially on Valentine’s Day. Karaoke is the perfect mix of laughter and music and just the right amount of embarrassment to bring you closer.

Here’s how to make it a memorable date:

• Sing romantic duets: Pick classic love songs or guilty pleasures and sing together
• Challenge each other: Turn it into a friendly competition by scoring each other’s performances, or see who can pull off the most dramatic ballad.
• Go on a double (triple?) date at a karaoke bar: the more the merrier when it comes to karaoke! Go out and have fun with your friends and challenge each other to sign difficult, but fun songs.

L: Love Letter Writing

Writing love letters is one of the simplest and sweetest things to do on Valentine’s Day, and yes, even in the age of texts, they still make a big impact. For this challenge, we recommend using only paper and pen (or get creative with colored markers, paint, glitter—anything that makes the letter stand out).

What to write in your love letter:

• Some romantic Valentine’s Day quotes
• Important moments you’ve shared and why they matter
• Inside jokes
• Why this relationship is special to you
• Promises for the future

M: Movie Marathon

A good romance movie is always a great idea for Valentine’s Day.

You can do a marathon at home, in your PJs, with some microwave popcorn, a bucket of ice cream, and hot chocolates.

OR

You can go to the cinema to reminisce about your first dates together when holding hands felt like a big deal. Some theaters host Valentine’s Day movie nights with classic romantic films, which is perfect if you want a bit of nostalgia.

N: Nostalgia Night

As we grow older, nostalgia tightens its grip, pulling us back to times that felt simpler. Lean into that feeling with a nostalgia date night, which is especially fit for couples who’ve been together for years.

Here is a list of unique ideas for Valentine's Day to celebrate time:

• Pick a decade or period of your life: the 2000s, the 2010s, your teens, your childhood, etc.
• Dress like you used to. This is the perfect opportunity to dig out old clothes you haven’t worn in years.
• Listen to music and watch TV series or movies from that era.
• Look through old photos, messages, or memories from when you first met

Tip: If you’ve been saving memories in Couple Joy’s journal, this is the perfect night to revisit them. The app lets you log everyday moments and milestones, such as anniversaries, trips, and special events, making nostalgia even sweeter.

O: Outdoor Challenge

If sitting still isn’t your thing, take Valentine’s Day outside and try some outdoor winter activities to enjoy the last days of snow and cold.

This includes:

• Going hiking in the mountains
• Try camping, even if it’s just a short overnight trip
• Go ice skating and laugh through the falls
• Race on the slopes either by skiing or snowboarding

P: Private Chef Dinner

Instead of spending the night in a crowded restaurant surrounded by strangers, hire a private chef and enjoy a restaurant-level experience at home.

Many private chefs work with set menus and will simply adjust for dietary restrictions, while others are happy to create something entirely custom. You can be as involved as you want, or not involved at all.

Either way, the result is the same: more time focused on each other and a delicious meal you get to enjoy together.

Q: Quality Time

For some people, spending quality time at home with their partner is enough for Valentine’s Day. This doesn’t require a plan—just going with the flow. The only thing that matters is that both of you are present, away from distractions.

So one simple rule applies: put aside your phones and enjoy each other’s presence. You can also:

• Enjoy a glass of wine over deep conversations about life. about life. Alcohol can help with challenging topics, especially ones we often avoid, like the future, unmet expectations, or fears.
• Meditate together
• Do yoga together
• Ask each other some [reflective questions]https://couplejoyapp.com/blog/reflective-questions-for-couples

R: Rooftop Dinner

If you’ve ever been to a rooftop restaurant or bar, you know how special it can be—especially for a date. You feel on top of the world (and you literally are!), watching the city lights sparkle and the streets buzz below as the night unfolds.

To make it even more memorable, book a rooftop dinner at a romantic destination like Paris or Rome. An intimate candlelit dinner atop the Eiffel Tower? Few things can top that.

S: Spa Day

Another classic for Valentine’s Day: a spa day for two. Some couples prefer gifting experiences over objects, and a day at the spa is one of the best ways to celebrate love together.

Many spas offer special Valentine’s Day packages, but even without one, make sure to include:

• Massages (together or separately)
• Saunas or steam rooms
• Dry needling
• Hot stone massage

T: Trivia Night

Another competitive date idea, which is particularly suited for those who love to celebrate Valentine’s Day out in the city with other people—whether they are in their group of friends or complete strangers.

Go to a trivia night at a local bar or restaurant and team up to win the grand prize. Or, if you’re really competitive, play against each other. This way, you will not only connect with each other, but also strengthen the relationship with your friends or your partner’s.

U: Urban Exploration

Even if you’ve lived in the same city for years, we can bet you haven’t explored every corner of it yet. Make Valentine’s Day the day to explore your city and see it with fresh eyes:

• Go to museums you haven’t seen before
• Visit landmarks that attract tourists and see what all the fuss is about
• Explore a new neighborhood in your city—the one you’ve heard about but never visited
• Walk hand in hand, buy some hot chocolate from a local coffee shop, and enjoy your city together

V: Vinyl Night

Here’s a date idea for music lovers and collectors of vinyl or music albums: a night solely dedicated to listening to your collection in the intimacy of your home, with your favorite person in the world.

Here’s how to make it interesting:

• Set the mood with some candles, incense, or colored LED lights
• Each of you pick your favorite album(s) to listen to from top to bottom
• Discuss why it’s so important to you and the story behind it

Learning about your partner’s favorite music shows new sides of them. Music, after all, is an experience that is shaped by each person’s personal journey.

W: Weekend Trip

Extend your Valentine’s Day celebration to two days with a weekend trip somewhere away from home.

• You can choose a destination close by: a few hours’ drive, a mountain cabin, a new city in your country, or a place you love to visit regularly.
• If you want to go a step further, book a city break in another country. A short getaway like this can feel like a reset button for your relationship, giving you space to relax and make new memories together.

X: “X Marks the Spot” Treasure Hunt

This is the adapted escape room date idea for couples who don’t want to leave home on Valentine’s Day and prefer to create their own treasure hunt.

How to do it:

• Hide something in your home for your partner to find
• Leave notes with clues that lead to other clues, continuing until they reach the final hiding spot
• Then switch roles and let them hide something for you

Whoever finds the hidden object the fastest wins the game. You can also add “creativity points” for the partner who wrote the best clues.

Y: Your First Date Recreated

Go back to the beginning or recreate the feeling at home if revisiting the original spot isn’t possible. This date is about reliving those first butterflies and remembering why you chose each other.

How to do it:

• Recreate the meal: Order the same food, cook the same dishes, or make a home version of your original restaurant choice.
• Bring back the music: Play the songs from that day or a playlist that reminds you of the time you first met.
• Dress the part: Wear something similar to what you wore on your first date.
• Revisit memories: Share stories from that day such as your first impressions, awkward moments, or funny things that happened

Z: Zoom Date (for Long Distance Relationships)

Being apart doesn’t mean missing out on Valentine’s Day. A virtual date can still feel special if you put a little thought into it.

Here are some long-distance date ideas for Valentine’s Day you can do over Zoom:

• Cook together: Pick the same recipe and cook side by side over video. Bonus points for showing off your plating skills.
• Play games: Answer fun or flirty questions, do a trivia challenge, or even play online board games together.
• Share a movie night: Watch a romantic film“together” and share reactions over video.
• Virtual experiences: Take a virtual museum tour, a wine tasting, or watch an online concert together.

Valentine’s Day Date Ideas For Everyone

Valentine’s Day is all about connection and a little bit of fun, so why not try something new this year? We hope you’ll be completing as many of these A to Z Valentine’s Day date ideas as possible! And to make it even more special, use Couple Joy to answer couple’s questions and save your favorite memories in the app’s journal. After all, every date is better when it’s remembered.

TL;DR: Quick Answers for Your Valentine’s Day

1. What are the most common activities for couples on Valentine’s Day?

Spending quality time together, exchanging gifts, celebrating your journey as a couple, taking the next step together.

2. What to do on Valentine’s Day when you don’t want to plan too much?

Stay home and enjoy quality time together, meditate or do yoga side by side, share a glass of wine and dive into deep conversations

3. Where to go on Valentine’s Day?

Rooftop restaurants or bars for a cinematic night, jazz clubs for live music and intimate vibes, spas for relaxations, local trivia nights or escape rooms for interactive games, weekend trips: mountain cabins, nearby cities, or even international city breaks

4. What are some cheap Valentine’s Day date ideas?

Couple’s games night, movie marathon at home, art night or painting together, love letter writing, nostalgia night: revisit photos, music, and memories

5. What are some unique Valentine’s Day date ideas?

Boudoir photoshoot, dance lessons, outdoor challenges such as hiking, ice skating, or camping, private chef dinner at home, “X Marks the Spot” treasure hunt around your home, vinyl night: listening to favorite albums and sharing stories, recreate your first date, Zoom date for long distance couples

6. How to enjoy Valentine’s Day more?

Focus on connection over perfection, mix classic and creative activities, take photos, journal, or save memories along the way

And don’t forget: use Couple Joy to store your favorite memories, including trying out these Valentine’s Day date ideas, and make every date unforgettable