The most romantic day of the year is just around the corner, but coming up with creative Valentine’s Day activities every year can feel a little overwhelming.
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While traditional things like giving chocolates and flowers or going to dinner still hold their ground, it’s a great idea to spice up the relationship with unique activities that you can do together as a couple. Indulging in romantic and exciting activities together doubles up the fun and is a great way to get intimate with your partner.
We’ve compiled our very own guide to 20 creative things to do on Valentine’s Day with additional planning tips so you can stress less and enjoy more time with your Valentine.
1. Baking Sweets
Chocolates are an iconic must-have on this amorous celebration, and what better way to go the extra mile than to make them together? If fresh handcrafted chocolate feels a bit too advanced, opt in for simpler recipes with store-bought chocolate such as chocolate chip cookies or chocolate mousse. The greatest advantage to this activity is that it can be done from the comfort and intimacy of your own home!
- Price: Budget-friendly.
- Planning time: Less than a day.
2. Paint and Sip
An activity that is slowly rising in trend is paint and sip experiences. You can find a local workshop that offers an all-inclusive session with all the tools and the drinks, or organize the activity on your own whenever and wherever you feel like. It’s a relaxing and mindful activity that might open up new thoughts, feelings or talents you didn’t know about each other.
- Price: Budget-friendly to moderate
- Planning time: Usually takes from a couple of weeks to days in order to grab a booking.
3. Karaoke Night
Karaoke night is a perfect minimal-planning and even last minute Valentine’s date idea. Serenade your lover with a romantic classic, or sing your hearts out along a long-time shared favorite. Most of the time it’s easy to just walk into a karaoke bar, however we’d recommend booking ahead of big holidays like Valentine’s as they may be fully booked or have long waiting times.
- Price: Budget-friendly
- Planning time: Requires little to no planning, can be last minute however we recommend booking at least one day ahead.
4. Watch Movies At An Outdoor Cinema
Hitting the movies is an obvious no-brainer, but you can make it extra special by visiting an outdoor cinema. Enjoy a breezy night under the stars watching a classic romance or a hit blockbuster that you both love. One big thing to note is that you should check the weather around the time you’re planning to go to avoid extreme heat or rain that may make it uncomfortable to sit outside.
- Price: Budget-friendly
- Planning time: Requires little to no planning, can be last minute however we’d say to prepare at least one day ahead.
5. Get A Couple’s Massage
What if you’re a busy couple who’ve been smashing out goals and are too tired to commit to something big? Opt for a relaxing day at the spa and enjoy a couple’s massage to unwind together. It’s not necessary to always do something active when you have free time.
- Price: Moderate to luxury
- Planning: Usually a couple of days, but you can choose to walk in the last minute.
6. Presentation Night
This is an idea that is becoming quite the trend on TikTok, and it’s perfect for couples who want to show appreciation for each other on this special occasion (and have a bit of a laugh while they’re at it). Simply put together a presentation talking about a topic that interests you two or about something that you share – whether that be trivial things like the things your S/O does that tingles your heart, or a recap of your relationship journey so far with the memorable highlights.
- Price: Budget-friendly
- Planning: A couple of days, as this tends to come with visual slideshows.
7. Volunteer Together
This is a meaningful way to spend a special day together and give back to the community. There are different kinds of one-off volunteer opportunities depending on your location, such as rubbish collecting, fundraising for charity, guiding free city tours etc. Longer term activities can include pet fostering, helping out at an aged care facility or even volunteering abroad!
- Price: Budget-friendly
- Planning: Usually takes a couple of months to weeks, depending on the role you may also need permits and/or paperwork done.
8. Explore The Great Outdoors
There’s a wide spectrum of activities you can choose from for this category. Regular options like walking and hiking are popular and easy to commit to, but if you’re looking for more novel or adrenaline-pumping action, consider kayaking, paddling, jet skiing and more!
- Price: Budget-friendly to moderate
- Planning: Usually takes a week to a couple of days, can be last minute depending on type of activity and location.
9. Go On A Glamping Trip
Glamping, simply put, is a fancier, safer and less risky version of traditional camping. You can choose to prepare and pack your own amenities, or go all out on an all-inclusive package if budget is not a concern. It might take some time to find good accommodation though, depending on the location you intend to visit. For those wanting to experience the outdoors but aren’t quite ready to give up creature comforts, this is the way to go!
- Price: Moderate to luxury
- Planning: Usually takes a couple of months to weeks.
10. Visit The Arcade
This activity will surely bring many couples down the nostalgia lane of their first date. Traditionally there are video games, crane games, photo booths etc. But larger arcades may also include bowling alleys, laser tag and escape rooms which are excellent options if you want to try out something physically active and competitive. It’s an entertaining option to unleash your inner child.
- Price: Moderate.
- Planning: Requires little to no planning, perfect for last minute.
11. Take A Dance Lesson
Couple dances decrease physical proximity which is perfect for an intimate Valentine’s Day. For people with zero dancing backgrounds, we recommend starting out with foundational ballroom dances like Rumba, Swing or Waltz. Who knows, you might even reuse these moves in your future wedding reception!
- Price: Moderate to luxury.
- Planning: Usually takes a couple of weeks to days.
12. Attend A Pottery Workshop
If you’ve seen the sexy pottery scene on Ghost (1990), you know what’s up. Real pottery workshops aren’t usually that steamy, but they can still be a fun and intimate session to do with your S/O. You can sign up to a one-day workshop or a class, or just buy your own clay and DIY at home. Your ceramic creation can also double as a personal gift for your partner.
- Price: Budget-friendly to moderate
- Planning: Usually takes a week to a couple of days.
13. Record Memories Together
There are multiple routes you can go down for this activity. Film and polaroid photography are making a comeback and are perfect if you’re looking to keep physical photos – you can even go as far as crafting them into a cute and decorated scrapbook. If you’re more of a high-tech and trendy person, why not try making TikTok videos together? Who knows, you might become the next TikTok-famous power couple!
- Price: Budget-friendly to moderate
- Planning: Requires little to no planning, depending on available equipment it may be possible to do last minute.
14. Play A Board Game
Now this is an option that caters to all kinds of couples, including those with kids. There are fancy board game cafes popping up in cities all over that you can visit, but playing at home is no less fun, and is more budget-friendly overall. Just try to not get too heated about the competition! If you’re planning an adults-only session, try PG-rated (and above) games like Cards Against Humanity or What Do You Meme which are tailored to adult humor.
- Price: Budget-friendly to moderate
- Planning: Requires little to no planning, perfect for last minute.
15. Write Love Poems For Each Other
Unleash your inner romantic poet with rhymes and verses addressed to your one and only. You can go freestyle or select a traditional format to follow. There are many works you can draw inspiration from, including classic authors you know from high school or contemporary poets. We recommend reading it out loud or writing it down as a neat letter to them to show sincerity, but deliver it however suits your thoughts and feelings the best!
- Price: Budget-friendly
- Planning: Usually takes a week to a couple of days, can be done last minute.
16. Get A Professional Photoshoot Done
You don’t always have to wait until you get married to get a professional couple’s photoshoot done. Regular portraits or outdoor shots are fine, but if you want to get creative, consider building a refined concept and invest in hiring costumes. Some inspiration to get you started include traditional clothes from your culture, favorite characters from a movie or TV show, or a recreation of a retro/vintage look from your parents or grandparents’ days.
- Price: Luxury
- Planning: Usually takes a couple of months to weeks.
17. Go On A Double Date
Some of us couldn’t have made it this far into our current relationship without reliable advice and support from our BFFs. To strengthen the friendship even further, why not invite your bestie and their partner on a double date with you and your S/O?
- Price: Budget-friendly to luxury
- Planning: Depends on the activity you choose, but we recommend a couple days.
18. Go On A Picnic
A classic option that is versatile and effective. There’s literally so many ways you can go about this activity, whether that is organizing it in your home garden or in a park, making your own snacks and treats or buying a full set picnic hamper, going last minute or booking a special decorated space in advance. Picnics can also easily be incorporated with other options on this list to utilize time for extra fun!
- Price: Budget-friendly to luxury
- Planning: Usually takes a couple of weeks to days, but can be done last minute.
19. Cook A Family Recipe
If you have a family cookbook or recipe that’s been passed down, this is a great time to pull it off the shelf and get to it. Not only is cooking an intimate activity that shows you care, your S/O will also greatly appreciate you sharing such a sentimental piece of family history with them, and feel more welcomed as a new member of your family. If you’re comfortable enough with your cooking skills, consider inviting family and friends over to taste out the recreated version!
- Price: Budget-friendly to moderate
- Planning: A couple days, but can be done last minute.
20. Gardening
Our last activity on this list takes some hard labor to complete, but the results may well be worth it in the end. You can choose to plant colorful and beautiful flowers, or useful and tasty vegetables for future family meals. Gardening takes a lot of planning and consideration, and isn’t always doable all year round depending on your location; but with time and appropriate care, your blossoms will last for a long time and stand as proof for your shared love and efforts.
- Price: Budget-friendly
- Planning: Usually takes a couple of weeks to days, but can be done last minute.
Those were our top 20 recommendations for creative things to do on Valentine’s Day – how many do you think you’ll check off the list for this year? Don’t forget, this is only a starting point and there are plenty of other Valentine’s Day activities you can do with your partner – what matters the most is that the experience focuses on what both of you can enjoy together, as it takes two to tango!
