60 Inspiring Date Ideas to Keep Your Long-Distance Relationship Thriving

Keeping the spark alive in a long-distance relationship (LDR) can be challenging, but with the right mix of creativity, playfulness, and genuine connection, it can be deeply fulfilling and emotionally resonant. Here's a guide to inspire new ways of connecting, filled with inventive, accessible date ideas. Each idea is designed not only to bring you closer but also to create lasting memories and shared experiences that deepen your bond.

Top Date Ideas for Long-Distance Relationships

Maintaining a long-distance relationship can be both rewarding and challenging. Despite the physical distance, couples can find meaningful ways to connect and keep the spark alive. With a bit of creativity, shared activities, and commitment to each other, you can build closeness that transcends miles.

Virtual Dinner Date with a Twist

Pick a cuisine neither of you has tried before, cook or order from similar restaurants, and share the experience over a video call. Compare notes on the dishes, the spices, and whether you’d order it again in the future. You can even rate each course and pretend you’re at a five-star restaurant reviewing the chef’s work. If cooking, share funny stories about your kitchen mishaps, and if ordering, compete to see whose meal looks tastier. This shared culinary journey makes it feel like you’re out at dinner together, with the excitement of a new dining experience.

Memory Lane Movie Marathon

Re-watch movies that hold special meaning for your relationship, whether it’s the first film you watched together or one that reminds you of a shared memory. Pause at certain parts to discuss scenes that remind you of your own experiences. Share any funny or sentimental memories tied to the movie that your partner might not know. It’s a comforting way to reflect on your journey and relive happy moments, strengthening your connection by revisiting your history.

Travel Bucket List Planning Session

Create a shared Pinterest board or Google Doc of all the destinations you’d love to visit together. Choose some bucket list locations and dig into details like places to stay, things to do, and local food to try. As you research, you’ll learn about each other’s travel preferences, from the adventure-seeker to the beach lover. Not only does this date create anticipation, but it also provides fun material for your conversations about the future.

Read a Book Together

Pick a book, set reading goals, and have weekly “book club” discussions to share thoughts. Explore themes or favorite quotes that resonate with you and open up about why. Each chapter can reveal something new about each other’s perspectives, bringing depth to your relationship. Choose a mix of genres over time to keep it exciting—anything from romance to mystery to personal development.

Language Learning Date

Download a language app and learn basic phrases in each other’s native languages, or pick a third language to learn together. Practice phrases to use on each other, and laugh at the inevitable mispronunciations. Plan a “dream trip” where you’ll get to use the new language, even if it’s just hypothetical. Language learning bonds you by creating something entirely new between you and brings a touch of humor and shared challenge.

Create a Shared Spotify Playlist

Curate a playlist with songs that remind you of each other or express your feelings. Dedicate certain songs to specific memories or future dreams, like a wedding dance or road trip. You’ll be surprised how certain lyrics can prompt deep conversations about your relationship. Listening to it throughout the week will keep you in each other’s thoughts, creating little moments of connection across the distance.

VR Game Night

If you both have VR headsets, dive into a multiplayer VR game. Laugh as you try to navigate a virtual world together, sometimes accidentally bumping into “each other.” Whether it’s racing, painting, or a simple quest game, VR brings you into the same “space” in a way that feels real. Even if VR isn’t possible, a shared online game can create the same playful energy.

Virtual Museum Tour

Explore world-famous museums like the Louvre or MoMA together online. Pause at favorite exhibits to discuss what you love about each piece or share a bit of art history trivia. Find unique pieces that remind you of each other or ones you’d hang in your dream home together. This date helps you bond over shared learning, creating memories even while physically apart.

Customized Cocktail Creation

Each of you creates a signature cocktail for the other based on what you know they’ll love. Try adding personal touches, like naming the drinks after inside jokes or shared memories. You can compare ingredients over video call and discuss which cocktails match each other’s personalities. This creative process reminds you of all the little things you know about each other’s tastes.

Exercise Together Over Video Call

Follow a workout routine together on YouTube, whether it’s yoga or a HIIT workout. Motivate each other through tough sets and cheer on each other’s progress. You can even set up a friendly challenge, like who can hold a plank longer or do more push-ups. Exercising together releases endorphins and brings positive vibes, helping you stay healthy and connected.

Daily Journal Swap

Spend a week journaling about your days, and then swap your entries. Reading your partner’s journal gives insight into their daily thoughts and routines. Share your reactions, and ask questions about things that stood out to you. This exercise fosters a deep sense of intimacy, letting you experience a day in each other’s lives.

Host a Virtual Party with Friends

Bring mutual friends together for a virtual hangout. Play games like charades or trivia, which work well over video. You can even create team names or inside jokes, adding to the fun. Including friends strengthens your relationship’s social aspect, giving you shared connections and happy memories.

Create a Relationship Time Capsule

Collect meaningful items or notes and store them to revisit in a year. Items could include photos, favorite quotes, or even souvenirs from trips. Write letters to each other predicting what the next year will bring for your relationship. This future-oriented activity strengthens commitment and gives you something tangible to look forward to.

Midweek Surprise Postcards

Send each other surprise postcards, perhaps with a loving note or a funny memory. Personalize each card with sketches, doodles, or quotes that capture your mood. When the postcards arrive, it’ll bring an unexpected thrill to your week. Little surprises like this keep your relationship playful and warm.

Live-Stream Concert Together

Enjoy live-streamed concerts or music events in real time together. Sing along to favorite songs or dance around your living rooms, pretending you’re right next to each other. Share favorite moments or talk about the artist’s performance afterward. This shared energy creates a feeling of being “out together,” even if virtually.

Do a 5-Minute Gratitude Exercise for Each Other

Write down five things you’re grateful for about each other and share it. Take turns explaining why each thing means so much, deepening your understanding. Listening to your partner’s gratitude list can be surprisingly moving and affirming. This practice reinforces positive feelings and reminds you both of the qualities you admire in each other.

Plan a Scavenger Hunt in Each Other’s Cities (For Future Visits)

Research unique places in each other’s cities and create clues for a scavenger hunt you can do together. Share fun facts or quirky details about each place to make it feel personal. This thoughtful gesture shows how much you want to explore each other’s world. Anticipating the hunt makes the prospect of reuniting even more thrilling.

Monthly Date Swap

Take turns planning a surprise date each month and keep it secret until the day. Choose a creative theme for each date, like “Around the World” or “Throwback Thursday.” The anticipation and element of surprise bring excitement to each month. This tradition encourages both of you to keep the relationship fresh and special.

Surprise “Care Package” Date

Send a small package of goodies with a theme that you can enjoy together on a call. Think of items that trigger different senses, like a candle, a snack, or a soft scarf. Unwrapping each item makes it feel like a mini gift-giving ceremony. Knowing the effort that went into each package makes you feel cherished and loved.

Sunrise/Sunset Watching Together

Set a time to watch the sunrise or sunset “together” over video, even if it means one of you is adjusting your schedule. Describe the colors and patterns in the sky, pointing out similarities or differences. Knowing you’re watching the same view at the same time brings an intense sense of closeness. The natural beauty enhances the feeling of connectedness.

Online Board Game Night

Pick a classic board game online or through an app and play against each other. Turn on a video call so you can share laughter and competitive banter. Decide on a playful reward for the winner, like the loser sending a sweet note the next day. Playing games keeps your conversations light-hearted and fun.

Grocery Shopping Together

Take each other along virtually while shopping and pick out ingredients to make similar meals. Discuss meal ideas, favorite snacks, and the quirks of your local stores. You’ll learn about each other’s grocery habits and maybe even discover a new recipe to try together. This everyday activity is surprisingly intimate, making you feel like part of each other’s routine.

Virtual Karaoke Session

Take turns singing karaoke to each other over a call. Pick songs that remind you of each other or ones that make you laugh. You don’t have to be a good singer—being goofy together makes it memorable. This simple activity brings joy and a light-hearted energy into your relationship.

Solve Puzzles Together Online

Tackle a complex online puzzle or escape room game together. Collaborate and talk through each step, honing your teamwork skills. Celebrate small victories, cheering each other on with each solved clue. Problem-solving together builds trust and a sense of partnership.

Take Personality Quizzes Together

Find some fun online quizzes, like “What’s Your Love Language?” or “Which Movie Couple Are You?” and compare your results. It’s a lighthearted way to spark conversations about your personality quirks and preferences. You might discover surprising similarities or laugh over wildly different results. Personality quizzes add an element of discovery, helping you understand each other on a deeper level.

Virtual Stargazing

Use an app to track constellations and identify stars together, even if you’re in different parts of the world. Describe what you see, or try to spot the same constellation. Talking about the vastness of the universe can bring up meaningful conversations about life, dreams, and your future together. Stargazing makes you feel connected in a peaceful, almost magical way.

Create Digital Scrapbooks

Use a shared online platform to create a scrapbook with photos, love notes, or screenshots from memorable moments. Add captions to each photo or note to share what it means to you. Scroll through the pages together on a video call, reminiscing about your favorite memories. This digital scrapbook becomes a cherished reminder of your journey together.

Try an Online Cooking Class

Sign up for an online cooking class and learn how to make a new dish side-by-side. Set up your video call near your kitchen so you can follow along together. Laugh at your mishaps and celebrate your culinary successes, sharing how each dish turns out. Cooking together, even virtually, brings a feeling of shared accomplishment and discovery.

Share a Guided Meditation

Find a short guided meditation on YouTube or a meditation app and listen together, focusing on being present. Take a few minutes after the meditation to share how you’re feeling and discuss the experience. This mindful activity brings a calming sense of presence, helping you both relax and connect. Meditation can be a gentle reminder to stay grounded in your relationship.

Make Art Together on a Video Call

Set up a mini art session where you both draw, paint, or even try digital art together. Pick a theme, like a favorite vacation spot or an imaginary date, and see each other’s interpretations. It doesn’t matter if you’re an artist or not—creating together is fun and meaningful. Once finished, show off your creations and discuss what inspired you.

Send Voice Notes Throughout the Day

Instead of texting, send voice notes to each other for a day. Hearing each other’s voices brings a comforting, personal touch that texts can’t match. Share funny stories, things you’re looking forward to, or little updates. These snippets make it feel like you’re spending the day together, even if you’re miles apart.

Take an Online Personality Test and Compare the Results

Take a personality test, like the Myers-Briggs, and discuss the results together. Each answer can spark conversations about your strengths, weaknesses, and shared traits. Laugh over any uncanny accuracy or surprising results. Understanding each other’s personalities can improve communication and help you support each other better.

Write a Short Story Together

Collaborate on a story, taking turns adding a sentence or paragraph and letting your creativity run wild. Don’t worry about it being perfect—the fun is in the unexpected twists and turns. You might even create characters based on each other or invent a fantasy world. This storytelling exercise is playful, letting you imagine a world you’ve created together.

Digital Puzzle Challenges

Play puzzle games online and see who can finish first or help each other solve tricky levels. Challenge each other to beat scores, and reward the winner with a little prize, like a cute note or a promise to sing their favorite song. Puzzle games offer a lighthearted competitive vibe that’s both stimulating and enjoyable.

Virtual Home Tours

Give each other a “tour” of your space, showing off your favorite spots or quirky items. Share stories about certain objects that hold special meaning, like gifts or souvenirs. You’ll feel like you’re stepping into each other’s worlds, even virtually. This glimpse into your partner’s space makes their daily life feel more familiar.

Online Course Date

Choose a short online course on a topic you both enjoy, like cooking, photography, or philosophy. Discuss what you’re learning and quiz each other on the material for fun. You’ll build a shared knowledge base and new conversation topics. Learning together gives you a sense of growth and achievement as a team.

Do a Couple’s Workout Challenge

Set a joint fitness goal, like a 30-day plank or squat challenge, and keep each other accountable. Cheer each other on during workouts, motivating each other when it gets tough. Each milestone you reach together builds a sense of pride and encouragement. Fitness challenges strengthen your bond through shared goals and healthy habits.

Movie Commentary Over Video

Pick a quirky or new-to-you movie and watch it over video chat, providing commentary throughout. Pause occasionally to discuss funny or interesting moments, turning it into a shared experience. Movie nights like these let you relax together and enjoy each other’s reactions. It brings a sense of “normalcy” to your relationship, as if you’re truly watching side-by-side.

Pet Show-and-Tell

If one or both of you have pets, introduce them over video chat and show off their cutest tricks or quirks. Talk about your pet’s personality, likes, and dislikes, and let your partner virtually “pet” them through the screen. If you don’t have pets, show each other your dream pets or silly pet videos online. Pets add warmth to your call and a glimpse into each other’s lives.

Video Call Fashion Show

Try on outfits you’d like to wear on future dates and get each other’s opinions. Rate each look and give each other feedback, making it a playful “date night.” You could even pick out looks for each other to try, imagining a night out in different settings. Fashion show dates keep things lively and help you plan for future occasions together.

Have a Mock “Business Meeting” for Life Plans

Pretend you’re having a business meeting and discuss future goals, travel plans, or personal projects. This fun role-play can bring up serious topics in a lighthearted way. Use an agenda, take “minutes,” and come up with “action items” for each other. It’s a humorous way to envision a future together, feeling like a true partnership.

Do Each Other’s Astrology Chart

Look up each other’s astrology charts and read through the personality insights, even if you’re just doing it for fun. Share any parts that sound accurate and laugh at the overly dramatic or vague descriptions. You might discover something that sparks a meaningful conversation about your compatibility. Astrology chats let you explore each other’s inner traits with a touch of mystique.

Write a Poem for Each Other

Try your hand at poetry, even if it’s silly, and share your creations. The effort alone shows thoughtfulness, and you might be surprised by what you come up with. Poetry lets you express feelings in a unique way, capturing your love in words. It’s a tender, old-fashioned gesture that feels meaningful.

Take a Nature Walk “Together”

Go for a walk in nature while on a call, showing each other the scenery and describing your surroundings. Point out any interesting plants, animals, or sounds. Being outside adds a calming atmosphere to your conversation and gives you both a break from the indoors. Nature walks together help you feel grounded and refreshed.

Cooking Challenges

Set a time and each cook the same dish with a limited number of ingredients, sharing progress over a video call. Taste-test each other’s virtual dishes and rate them. Add some silly penalties or rewards to make it more competitive. Cooking challenges are lighthearted, bringing out your inner chef and adding playfulness.

Virtual Dance Party

Put on a shared playlist and dance as if you’re in the same room. Dance freely, laugh, and just enjoy the moment, letting loose together. If you’re feeling shy, start with some slow songs or dance off-camera for fun. Dance parties lift your spirits and make you feel like you’re sharing a spontaneous, joyous moment.

Create a Shared “Bucket List” for Your Relationship

Make a list of places, activities, or goals you want to achieve together. It could include dream vacations, trying new foods, or taking on personal growth challenges. Share stories about each goal to understand why it’s important to each of you. This list serves as a promise for future experiences, building excitement and commitment.

Stream a Sports Game Together

Pick a game you both enjoy, or try a new sport to learn together, and watch while chatting over video. Talk through the big plays, cheer for your team, and bond over the adrenaline. Share stories of favorite games you’ve attended or teams you grew up supporting. Watching sports together adds a layer of excitement and friendly competition.

Guess the Location on Google Earth

Take turns picking random spots on Google Earth and guessing where they are. Add clues or hints to make it easier or set a time limit for extra fun. Talk about which spots you’d love to visit one day together. This game satisfies your wanderlust and lets you explore the world together from home.

Make a Dream House Board on Pinterest

Create a shared Pinterest board for designing your “dream home” together. Add inspiration photos for every room and discuss each other’s style and preferences. Find unique ideas for a potential future home, even if just for fun. Designing your dream house gives you a sense of building something together, even from afar.

Mini Guided Tour of Your Neighborhood

Give each other a “live” virtual tour of your neighborhood, showing local spots you love or places with funny stories. Describe any unique landmarks or your favorite cafe. This tour gives your partner a peek into your daily life, making your surroundings feel more familiar. It’s like inviting them into your world, even through the screen.

Do a Virtual Puzzle Together

Pick a challenging jigsaw puzzle online and solve it together on a video call. Celebrate each piece you find, and enjoy the sense of teamwork as the picture comes together. Solving puzzles brings a sense of collaboration and patience, with a shared reward at the end. It’s a simple yet bonding activity, perfect for a quiet night together.

Complete an Art Therapy Session

Set aside time to do art together, even if it’s just doodling or trying a beginner’s painting tutorial. Talk about your day or share memories while you create. Art therapy is calming and a great way to express emotions together. You’ll feel like you’re side by side, creating something beautiful and meaningful.

Try a Wine or Coffee Tasting

Each of you buys a few new bottles of wine or types of coffee to taste-test. Compare notes on flavors, favorite picks, and your ideal drink pairings. You’ll get to know each other’s preferences in a unique way. Tasting dates feel sophisticated, bringing a new sensory experience to your relationship.

Online Trivia Night

Find an online trivia game and compete with each other or on the same team. Trivia night adds some friendly competition, perfect for a fun, low-pressure evening. Laugh over missed questions and celebrate wins together. Trivia lets you learn new facts, keeping the conversation interesting and light-hearted.

Mock Interview Each Other

Pretend you’re meeting for the first time and interview each other as if for the “perfect partner” role. Ask funny, quirky questions like “What’s your most embarrassing moment?” and “What’s your dream date?” This role-play encourages vulnerability and humor, helping you learn more about each other. It’s a fun twist on serious conversation topics.

Virtual Interior Design

Use apps or drawing tools to design each other’s dream room or even an entire house. Show off your designs and explain why you chose each feature. This lets you explore each other’s style and preferences, sparking conversations about your ideal home together. Virtual interior design keeps things playful and imaginative, building dreams for the future.

Share Your Old Photos

Take each other through childhood or family photos, telling stories behind the images. Share memories, special moments, or even the silly, awkward photos that make you laugh. These glimpses into each other’s past help you learn more about your partner’s life and experiences. Looking back together strengthens your bond, as you get to know each other’s journey in a personal way.

Write a Love Letter and Read It Aloud

Each of you takes the time to write a heartfelt letter expressing your feelings, dreams and hopes for the relationship. Then, schedule a call and read your letters to each other aloud. Hearing the words directly from each other’s voices adds a layer of intimacy, turning the written words into a shared experience. This thoughtful gesture deepens your emotional bond and allows you both to express yourselves in a meaningful way.

Host a Virtual “Paint and Sip” Night

Each of you gathers some painting supplies (even just paper and markers) and your favorite drink. Pick a simple image to recreate, like a sunset or a favorite cityscape, and paint together over a video call. Sip, chat, and laugh as you compare your masterpieces—no art skills required! This relaxed, creative date lets you have fun while expressing yourselves, and the finished artwork becomes a memory of the night.

The Power of Connection: Expert Tips

To keep your long-distance relationship thriving, a mix of emotional presence, intentional communication, and regular shared activities can make all the difference. Here are some expert tips to help you stay close, connected, and resilient across the miles:

1. Schedule regular “check-in” conversations
2. Prioritize quality over quantity
3. Create shared goals and rituals
4. Send small surprises
5. Communicate your love language
6. Incorporate playfulness and humor
7. Respect each other’s individual space
8. Set realistic expectations for reunions
9. Make future plans together
10. Lean on technology to feel closer
11. Stay positive and patient
12. Seek support from friends and family

By applying these tips and dedicating time to connect, you’ll create a relationship that not only survives the distance but thrives because of it.