15 Winter Date Ideas
There’s something magical about winter that sets the perfect backdrop for winter date ideas. Yes it can be cold and snowy, but twinkling lights, falling snow, flushed faces, and dark evenings add to the romantic and cozy atmosphere that winter can be.
While it can be hard to come up with winter date ideas (especially if you aren’t winters biggest fan), this list of 15 winter date ideas can inspire you!
This winter date idea list has a mix of cozy indoor activities and outdoor adventures so there’s something for everyone.
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15 Winter Date Ideas
1. Hot Chocolate bar night
Set up a hot chocolate bar and turn an ordinary evening into a cozy one. Pick your favorite hot cocoa mixes or try a new flavor like dark chocolate, peppermint, white chocolate, salted caramel, etc. Put out marshmallows, sprinkles, whipped cream, candy canes, chocolate or caramel drizzle, cookies, and other toppings that you both enjoy. This post shows how to set up a hot cocoa bar for a party but you can definitely scale it down for two!
Tip: Light candles, play music in the background, or have a holiday or favorite movie on in the background. Cozy up together under a blanket and enjoy an evening that feels a little extra special.
2. ice skating date
Romantic holiday movies always seem to have an ice skating scene and rightly so! Whether you’re both good at ice skating or beginners, it’s a great active winter activity that can bring out lots of laughter. Ice skating gives you a chance to hold hands while clinging to each other for balance. Bundle up, enjoy an ice skating date, and warm up after with hot chocolate!
Tip: Outdoor rinks definitely add some winter charm, like a Hallmark movie!
3. Snowy hike
Bundle up and head out on a winter hike. Winter transforms familiar trails and offers beautiful new views. Take your time together and notice how the world seems more hushed. Listen to the crunch of snow and ice under winter boots. Enjoy each others presence and take in the temporary winter wonderland.
Tip: Bring a thermos of hot chocolate, cider, or your favorite beverage with you to enjoy together after the hike.
4. Christmas Market or holiday festival
Outdoor markets and festivals are just as date worthy as ones during the other seasons! If it’s possible to find a Christmas market or a Christkindlmarket, definitely take the chance to plan the date. Enjoy wandering around hand-in-hand and browsing all of the trinkets, smelling the roasted nuts, buying gifts, and sharing food and drink.
5. Homemade candle light dinner
Instead of going to out to dinner, save some money and plan for an intimate dinner at home. Either cook for your date or plan to cook together (which can lots of fun!). Set up the table with a tablecloth, cloth napkins, candles, or some greenery to make a tablescape. Put on soft music in the background and keep the TV and phones off and away. This slower paced dinner at home is perfect for intimate conversations and changing it up instead of always going out to eat.
6. drive around to look at holiday lights
Fill a thermos with hot chocolate, grab a blanket, put on holiday music, and take a drive through neighborhoods that are known for their light displays. There are also more places nowadays that have holiday light shows that you can drive through but look out for a fee. Seeing twinkling lights is a fun winter activity that you can make into a yearly tradition! If you feel inspired, plan your next date to hang up lights together and decorate each others homes (unless you live together, then plan your home decorations!).
7. visit a cozy coffee shop
Meet up at a cute local coffee shop! Spend a slow morning chatting over warm drinks. If you want to feel the seasonal vibe, make sure to get a winter themed drink like a peppermint mocha, hot chocolate, or a gingerbread latte.
8. build a snowman
Bundle up in a warm coat, hat, scarf, and mittens and head outside together after snow has fallen. Building a snowman can be nostalgic and silly but makes for a great afternoon away from screens and phones. Finish the date with a warm drink and cozying up in front of a fireplace or a favorite movie.
9. Movie marathon
Decide on a theme or a movie series that you want to watch. Set up the room to be cozy by hanging up warm string lights, lighting candles, getting your favorite blankets, and turning the overhead lights low. Wear comfortable clothes or your favorite pajamas, and make sure to set up lots of snacks!
10. sledding
Grab sleds, bundle up, and head to a big hill thats perfect for sledding. Sled down the hill together or if you have more than one sled, race each other down. Sledding is a outdoor winter activity the doesn’t require you to be super active but let’s you enjoy the snow. If you’re not into sledding, some places offer snow tubing which is always so much fun! Places that I’ve went before have a moving platform to help you back up the hill, which means less of a workout than sledding. Either activity can be fun and lighthearted, with lots of chances to laugh and bond.
11. game night
Stay in and enjoy a night of playing board games, puzzles, or card games. Make sure to get your favorite snacks or order in food. If you have a fireplace, turn it on! If not, you can play a fireplace video on the TV or computer in the background.
12. bake together
A hands on activity is a nice way to enjoy a evening together, get closer to each other, and you can eat the baking treats after! Pick a baking recipe that you both want to try and help each other in the kitchen. Being present together in this space can help lead to conversation and laughter. Baking doesn’t have to be perfect!
Tip: Try making my red velvet crinkle cookies which are perfect for the holidays. You’ll have to roll the dough into balls and dip in sugar, which makes this a great recipe for two people to work on.
13. indoor picnic
Winter can feel long and for those of us who love being outside in the warm months, sometimes we feel unsure what to do while snow and ice cover the ground. Try having a picnic inside to change things up! Lay a picnic blanket on the floor of your living room or a table cloth across a table. Make a homemade charcuterie board, pour two glasses of wine, or make homemade sandwiches. Enjoy a movie or TV show, or just have a nice conversation while you watch the snow fall outside.
14. gingerbread house Decorating Date
Plan a gingerbread house decorating date. If you’re up for it, turn it into a lighthearted competition by seeing who can build it first or ask others to vote on whose is best. Buy a gingerbread house kit and both of your favorite candies. If you want to make the royal icing from scratch for gluing the gingerbread together, check out my easy 2 ingredient royal icing recipe.
15. pajama day all day
How a slow day spent in your comfiest winter pajamas. Make breakfast together, watch your favorite movies, take naps, playing video games or board games, and enjoy each others company. This season can be busy and the pressure to plan perfect dates can be high! Let this date be a cozy and relaxing day spent together.
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