Have you met someone on an online dating app, but aren’t ready to meet them in person yet? Are you in a long-distance relationship? When you can’t (or don’t want to) meet in person, you need to get creative with virtual dates! If you can’t think of a single interesting thing to do other than wander your apartment on a video chat, don’t worry we’ve got you covered with this list of virtual date ideas sure to do the trick. Let it be known—effective virtual dating takes massive effort, probably more than in-person dating. This won’t be easy, but we assume the person on the other end of the line is worth it, so let’s put in the work!
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With Adventures From Scratch: Date Edition, you have 50+ scratch-off date challenges at your fingertips. Our dates are specially crafted with a creative approach to help you develop a closer connection. Though this book was intended for in-person dates, it can easily be adapted to virtual date nights. Our dating adventure book includes interesting conversation starters, “reasons I love you cards,” and scratch-off challenges to spice up your date nights. It’s a one-stop-shop for better dating, all year long!
Creating the Perfect Digital Date Environment
When creating a virtual date night, don’t be lazy! You should be putting in as much, or more, effort than you would if you were in person. Get dressed. Tidy up your space. Light some candles. Put on some mood music. Make sure the lighting is good so you can see one another. Most importantly, plan an actual date, not just a random video chat like you do every night. Date night is meant to be different and distinct, a set-aside time to focus on your partner and your romance. Make it special!
Romance in the Digital Age: Creative Ideas for Virtual Dates
Being a long-distance couple doesn’t have to be boring. Just because you’re apart doesn’t mean you can’t have fascinating and romantic date nights. There are a plethora of ways to spend quality time with your significant other online. Virtual date night ideas like online cooking classes, virtual museum tours, and even a Netflix party via platforms like Facetime and Zoom are easy to complete with a little planning. Let’s dig into the best virtual date ideas that you can use to freshen up your romance!
1. Online Bartender Lesson
Taking an online mixology class is a great long-distance date idea and a fun way to enjoy professional cocktails at home. You can either have a virtual bartender teach you how to make cocktails or try mixing them yourselves with YouTube instruction.
While you can choose your drinks ahead of time and purchase all the necessary items separately, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Class Bento offers over 40 mixology virtual classes with expert hosts, and they’ll send a box with all the ingredients to your doorstep. Happy hour has never been this fun.
2. Online Wine Tasting
Virtual wine tastings make for an elegant and enjoyable online date. You can do a DIY digital wine tasting and purchase the wines, making sure they are accessible to both you and your date. Consider buying single-serve sizes to keep costs down. To host your virtual wine tasting, prepare your bottles, schedule a Zoom meeting, and explore the different wines together.
Share your thoughts on each wine, discussing its appearance, aroma, flavor, and texture. If that seems a little too much to organize, no worries, many wineries offer virtual tasting experiences complete with kits you can purchase in advance. However, it’s important to note that some states may have restrictions on alcohol shipping.
Having some light snacks like cheese, crackers, and chocolate on hand is a great idea, as they can enhance the wine-tasting experience. If you and your date aren’t wine enthusiasts, you can always try virtual tastings with craft beer, whiskey, and vodka, as alternatives. It’s all about savoring the experience together.
3. Virtual Dance Party
Having a virtual dance party for an online date is a fun way to connect and share a memorable experience, even when separated by distance or dare we say it, a pandemic. With the right Spotify playlist and a video-share platform, you can groove to the music, show off your dance moves, and create a fun, energetic atmosphere together.
4. Virtual Movie Night
Movie nights rank among the top choices for virtual date nights, mainly because of the ease of setup. All you need to do is select a movie or TV show you both want to watch, and then stream it together. During the movie, you can text and express your reactions with emojis, or set up a Zoom or FaceTime call on a separate screen.
You can use a browser extension like Teleparty to sync Netflix or other streaming services, or for instance, Disney+ offers a group watch feature. This way, you can enjoy the movie together while sharing your thoughts and emotions in real time!
5. Virtual Cooking Class
Sharing a meal together is a delightful experience IRL, but you can also experience it online. Take it up a notch by turning your dinner date into an online cooking class. To get started, pick a dish you both want to learn, like homemade pasta, curry, or sushi. Next, you can either join a live virtual cooking class or follow an online recipe tutorial.
In preparation, gather all the ingredients you need and do any required recipe prep. Schedule a time, hop on a Zoom call, and cook the meal together. Now that you know how to cook this dish, you can even plan to recreate it in person when you finally meet face-to-face.
6. Virtual Museum Tours
If you’re art and history enthusiasts, you and your date can check out renowned museums such as the Louvre and the Smithsonian museums, all from the comfort of your own homes on a virtual museum tour. Major museums, all over the world, offer self-guided, virtual tours using panoramic photos or virtual reality apps, while some offer live guided Zoom tours that you can book as individuals or as a group. You and your date can choose your preferred method or museum, then meet up on a video call, share screens, and immerse yourselves in another world.
7. Virtual Picnic
There’s just something romantic about going on a picnic, but if you’re in a long-distance relationship, or just dating online, try a virtual picnic. To share a delightful outdoor meal together, pack your favorite snacks in a picnic basket, pick a sunny day, and connect via video call using your mobile devices. Whether you’re in a local park, at the beach, or in your own backyard, make sure your partner can see the beautiful scenery around you. It’s a charming way to savor a meal together.
10. Online Jeopardy
Jeopardy, the classic game show, offers an entertaining and competitive virtual date option. There are several ways you and your partner can enjoy the game. The simplest approach is to go to the Jeopardy website or app and play. Alternatively, you can create your own game. This requires more work and research on your end. Each person selects a few categories and an extra one that you both are familiar with. Then, craft questions and quiz each other. This activity not only adds fun to your date but also helps you discover more about each other’s interests and expertise.
11. Online Dramatic Readings
Dramatic readings are a quirky and enjoyable idea for a virtual FaceTime date. To get started, search for amusing or passionate reviews or posts online, which can often be found on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and platforms like Amazon, and Google Reviews. After that, take turns reading these entertaining comments aloud, adding dramatic voices and expressions for an extra touch of humor and fun to your date.
12. Virtual Campfire
Sitting around a fire and engaging in great conversation is a staple in the South where I’m from. Some of my best dates and most important conversations in all relationships have occurred around the fire. Don’t let distance keep you from enjoying this fantastic bonding activity.
Set up a fire pit and grab your preferred beverage, music, and snacks, and Facetime each other for a relaxing night under the stars. If you can’t have an outdoor fire consider a digital campfire or candles for a charming alternative. If you can strum a few chords, don’t hesitate to grab an acoustic guitar for a sweet serenade as well.
13. Virtual Mad Libs
Mad Libs is a lighthearted game that can chase away the monotony of video calls or ease first-date nerves. One person requests specific types of words, and the other player offers words without knowing how they fit into the overall sentence. After all the blanks are filled, the first player reads the story aloud, typically resulting in amusing and unexpected outcomes. It’s a fun way to add some laughter and spontaneity to your conversation. You can find hundreds of Madlib templates online to make it easier.
14. Virtual Game Night
For a fun and competitive date, try engaging in a virtual game night. Enjoy an engaging evening together through Let’s Roam’s Virtual Game Night. Let’s Roam offers an extensive selection of trivia and virtual date games, with fresh ones added weekly. These games encompass geography challenges, pop culture quizzes, emoji decoding, Pictionary, and much more! It’s a fantastic way and easy virtual date night and works perfectly for double dates or group adventures.
15. Virtual Zoos and Animal Cams
Visiting a zoo is a fun date idea, but when a visit to the zoo isn’t possible, animal webcams offer a charming alternative to bring the zoo experience to your screens. Enjoying animal webcams together is one of the most adorable online date ideas. To get started, select a zoo and animal cam, and some zoos have virtual tours you can go on. y to bond while observing and admiring the fascinating world of animals from afar.
16. Virtual Coffee Date
Grabbing a coffee with your date is a staple in most relationships. Virtual coffee breaks serve as wonderful midday or lunchtime dates, especially for couples with busy schedules. Set a designated time to connect via video call, and prepare a cup of coffee or head to the nearest cafe to enjoy while you chat. For an added touch of uniqueness, consider creating custom mugs, cups, or coffee sleeves and shipping them to your boo before your date. It’s a charming way to make your virtual coffee breaks feel extra special and personal.
If the relationship is new, and chatting isn’t easy for you, consider using these “Conversation Starters for Couples: Help Deepen Your Bond“
17. Virtual Mystery Dinner
Mystery dinners offer an exciting twist to long-distance virtual date nights. Each person arranges for a meal to be delivered to their partner at their date time. Once the meals arrive, hop on a video call and enjoy the dinner you bought each other. To make sure the experience is good for both of you, get to know what each other likes and doesn’t like, along with any dietary restrictions or food allergies. Additionally, exchange delivery addresses and ensure you’re familiar with any specific delivery instructions.
Please note that this activity is best suited for couples in long-term relationships. Sharing home locations with strangers online can be unsafe, so it’s important to exercise caution and prioritize safety.
18. Virtual Question and Answer Time
Engaging in meaningful conversation is a cornerstone of successful dating, and employing personal questions can provide a helpful framework for these interactions. Yet, coming up with these questions can sometimes be a daunting task. To alleviate the burden of brainstorming conversation topics, consider utilizing “The Best Questions to Ask to Get to Know People” to help get things started.
Just access the list, then take turns sharing your responses to these questions. This activity not only serves as an effective means of getting to know someone on a first date but can also be a fun way to discover fresh insights about a long-term partner.
19. Virtual Truth-or-Dare
Playing truth or dare on a virtual date adds a dash of intrigue to your online hangout. In this digital adventure, you take turns asking questions or daring each other to do something fun. Whether it’s revealing your most embarrassing moment or attempting a quirky dance move, it’s a surefire way to break the ice and get to know each other better.
If you don’t know where to start or need some questions to use, look at the “200 Truth-or-Dare Questions for Adults” for some inspiration.
20. Online Photo Album Sharing
An uncomplicated, yet charming, idea for a remote date involves jointly exploring online photo collections. Just initiate a video call, bring up a photo album, and screen-share your selected images. You have a range of options, from social media platforms like Instagram, TicTok, Snap Chat, and Facebook to cloud-based photo albums such as Photobucket and iCloud. Alternatively, you can employ file-sharing tools or send each other photo files through chat. Remember to engage in conversation and share stories about the pictures you come across. It’s a unique way to connect and learn more about each other.
21. Virtual Language Learning
Want to learn French? Is your Spanish getting rusty? Freshen up your language skills, and get in a few good laughs while you’re at it, by taking a language class together. Lingoda has live classes 24/7, and you can easily hop on together. This is an especially good date idea for long-term partners, especially if you have a dream vacation destination in mind. By the time you book that trip to Paris, you’ll be able to order your pan-chocolate and favorite coffee in the local language!
If you don’t want to devote time to a proper class, you can always do a free promo with Duolingo or another language-learning app. Try it out on a few platforms, across a couple of dates. Then, if you love it, move on to a paid course that you like.
22. Music Sharing
Crafting music mixes is a timeless romantic move. Back in the day, it meant recording a cassette or burning a CD, but now, it’s as simple as whipping up a Spotify or Pandora playlist. Just pick your favorite songs, ones that scream “us,” or tunes you think your crush will groove to. You can enjoy the beats together on the date or give them a listen solo and then chat about what you think.
Creating these music mixes can be a great getting-to-know-you activity. You can build a playlist together by using playlist prompts like “fave road trip music,” “first concert attended,” “high school songs you liked,” or “music you’re into now.” You can even have your significant other build you a road trip playlist for your next in-person meetup!
23. Virtual Escape Room
Conflict resolution is important in relationships and virtual escape rooms are a great way to work on your problem-solving skills. These digital escape rooms are all about cracking themed puzzles against the clock. You will follow a choose-your-own-adventure format, and work together to find the correct answer in order to unlock riddles and win the escape challenge. With sites like Virtual Escaping, you can easily join in these fun challenges together.
24. Online Newlywed Game
Spice things up with The Newlywed Game in the virtual realm. This online game is all about putting your partner’s knowledge to the test, especially if you’ve been together for a while. Grab a whiteboard or some paper and create sections for your own answers and your partner’s guesses. Then, dive into these fun questions one by one, and spill the beans together. Each correct answer is worth a point!
Here are some Newlywed Game questions:
- When’s my birthday?
- What’s my biggest pet peeve?
- What school subject is my favorite?
- What’s my all-time jam?
- What do I steer clear of due to allergies?
- What’s my favorite food or meal?
- What did I dream of being when I grew up?
- Where’s my dream getaway?
- What is my favorite color?
- What’s my favorite movie?
- What am I afraid of?
Let the fun begin and see who knows who better!
25. Virtual Art Projects
Unleash your inner artist on a virtual date with arts and crafts! Start by signing up for an online art class or picking a cool project to tackle together. Whether it’s painting a canvas, customizing a pint glass, mastering origami, or crafting clay figurines, you’ve got options galore. Pick a project, gather your art supplies, hop on Zoom, and watch each other get creative. Wrap up the masterpiece when you’re done and mail it over to your date as a sweet surprise!
26. Virtual Book Club
Here’s a super cool online date idea—become book buddies and join an online book club together. It’s like a literary adventure you both embark on from the comfort of your living room. You pick a book, read it at your own pace, and then gather on a video chat and talk about the plot twists and favorite characters. By choosing books for each other, you’ll discover new genres and authors you both adore. It’s a fun way to bond over stories and share some laughs or deep thoughts along the way.
27. Online Scavenger Hunt
A fun virtual date idea is going on an online scavenger hunt! On this digital adventure, you and your date hunt for household items or complete fun challenges from your own space. You can create a list of items or tasks, set a timer, and then race to find or accomplish them, or use Let’s Roam In-home Scavenger Hunts: Couples Edition. You’ll share lots of laughs and get to know each other’s playful side. Scavenger hunts infuse a little friendly competition into your virtual date night.
28. Virtual TikTok Challenges
Why not spice up your online date with some TikTok challenges and dances? Pick a trending TikTok challenge or a funky dance routine, and give it your best shot. You’ll have a blast mimicking the moves and giggling at each other’s dancefloor finesse (or lack thereof). It’s all about having fun and enjoying the rhythm of the moment. Who knows, you might just become the next viral sensation!
29. Real Life Care Packages
Send a care package box to your loved one. First, you both decide what goodies to tuck into the box. Think fave snacks, go-to drinks, something in their preferred color, and an item that screams “you.” Next, mail these boxes of joy to each other. Don’t peek until the date night arrives! When it’s time, dig into the treasures and take turns explaining the story behind each choice. Everyone loves a gift, but it’s even better when it comes in the mail!
30. Virtual Love Language Test
Looking to dive deeper into your connection? Try this fun online date idea. The Love Language Test is a quiz to discover how you and your date express and feel love. You’ll answer some questions and find out if you’re all about words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, or physical touch. It’s not just revealing; it’s also a fantastic conversation starter. Plus, you’ll get to know each other even better, and who knows, you might uncover some sweet surprises along the way!
31. Two-Person Virtual Improv
Improv is the ultimate act of stepping out of your comfort zone for most people. While it’s typically a hit with groups, you and your date can totally team up for some improv fun. Fire up an improv generator for two-person prompts and give yourselves a scene time limit. Alternatively, take turns tossing out prompts and just go with the flow! It’s a great way to shake off those date jitters and discover each other’s sense of humor. This one takes some courage, but if they’re the right one for you, then it will be the first of a great many embarrassing moments together.
32. Virtual This or That?
This or That? is a fun question game that’s perfect for breaking the ice on a virtual first date. Just toss out prompts one by one and have your partner pick their faves. If an answer is interesting to you have them explain why they chose what they did. Here are some classic This or That? prompts:
- Comedy or drama?
- Messy or clean?
- Going out or staying in?
- Mountains or beach?
- Sport or arts?
- Cats or dogs?
- Junk food or health food?
- Morning or evening?
- Winter or summer?
- Sweet or savory?
- Phone call or text?
33. Virtual Goal Sharing
Sharing your goals and uncovering each other’s dreams and desires is a wonderful date idea that you can do virtually. This activity gives you a peek into your partner’s wish list, and it’s a fantastic way to bond. Both of you can create and share a vision board using a digital whiteboard app like Miro. To make the boards, just answer some fun prompts like:
- My dream car
- Something I want to treat myself to
- Where I’d love to live
- Career goals
- Dream travel destinations
- Something I’m eager to learn
- An adventure I’d like to embark on
Use pictures and visuals to bring your visions to life! After you’re done crafting your boards, share them with each other and chat about your choices. Feeling inspired? You can even create a couple’s board with bucket list goals, like must-try restaurants, dream vacations, and exciting new skills to conquer together. Let the dreams and inspiration flow!
34. Virtual Karaoke
How about a little web karaoke showdown with your date? Fire up YouTube, load up those lyric videos, and unleash your inner diva (or rock star). Share your screen and let the music play, as you both belt out the tunes together. You can go solo, team up for duets, or join voices in perfect harmony. Get those vocal cords warmed up and let the serenading begin for a date night duet to remember!
35. Virtual Trip Planning
The most intriguing part of a long-distance relationship is anticipating your next in-person meeting. Also, one of the most exciting parts of any trip is the research and trip planning stage. Get together and plan your next meetup to a romantic destination. Pick a city like Savannah or NYC. Research romantic bed and breakfasts. Look up the best restaurants and the must-try local foods. Find engaging sightseeing activities in the area. Fill out that spreadsheet. Get it all lined up, and then when the time is right, surprise your partner with tickets to your pre-planned romantic getaway.
Closing Thoughts
Long-distance relationships can be a real challenge, especially when those video calls start feeling monotonous. Normal dates aren’t an option because you’re living in separate cities, states, or even countries. If you’re willing to get creative and put in a little work, these unique virtual date ideas can break up the normal routine and allow you to build a stronger relationship.
These are also great for a first date. You can jump into the virtual date zone, from your comfy spot, and focus on each other without distractions or jitters. While video call dates can be weird and even boring, with a little thought and creativity, your online dates can be just as awesome as in-person options. When trying out virtual dates, some will be automatic successes. Others will be epic failures. That’s perfectly okay. Take a chance, and get your virtual romance on!
Frequently Asked Questions
Virtual date nights allow couples to hang out on platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype. Good virtual dates include game nights, scavenger hunts, and goal-sharing nights!
To set up a fun virtual date night, schedule a video chat date/time. Pick some cool stuff to do like taking an online bartender lesson, virtual game night, or virtual escape room.
Some good virtual first date ideas are online art classes, virtual photo album sharing, virtual coffee dates, and movie nights. For the first date, the simpler and more lighthearted, the better.
For some romantic virtual date ideas, consider an online wine tasting, virtual cooking class, creating a joint playlist, chatting around a virtual fire, or going on a virtual picnic.
Online scavenger hunts, virtual game nights, and TikTok challenges are entertaining virtual date ideas. You can also adapt the dates from Adventures From Scratch: Date Edition for virtual dates.