Whether you literally thrive on the novelty and excitement of exploring the dating landscape or would much rather fast-forward to the blissfully cuffed and cuddling together on the couch instead of going out phase of courtship, I think we can all agree that a first date can be a little, shall we say, nerve-wracking. First dates have a reputation for being both hit-or-miss and make-or-break—you could meet the love of your life or be stuck making small talk with a stranger with whom you have exactly zero chemistry. And if you are lucky enough to score a date with a new, potentially special someone you’re genuinely into, then the pressure’s kinda on. (Not to stress you out or anything!)

Fortunately, we’re here to ease some that date number-one anxiety. How? By helping you plan, courtesy of this expert-curated list of first date ideas. (Hi, it’s us, we’re the experts.) No, you can’t guarantee there will be chemistry or your date won’t turn out to be a loud chewer or a mouth breather. But you can set yourself up for success by planning the perfect date spot/activity.

Of course, one person’s dream date is another’s dating nightmare. While there are some general first date tips you may want to keep in mind while planning (like, you’ll probably want to avoid places and activities that involve super loud music so you can actually hear each other), there are really no rules. Some people prefer to keep it chill, and some would rather pull out all the stops in the interest of making a good first impression. The good news is, whatever vibe you’re going for—whether casual, romantic, or totally over-the-top—you’ve got options. So without further ado, here are 50 (yes 50) of the very best first date ideas we could think of. Good luck and happy dating!

Chill First Dates

1.Go for a stroll in the park. It’s low-pressure, costs zero dollars, and gives you time to chat and get to know each other while getting your steps in for the day. Win-win-win.

2. Have a coffee date. It's super casual, there’s no pressure to drink, and it’s the kinda date you can easily schedule during the daytime if you’re someone who doesn’t tend to have a ton of free evenings or is trying out that whole stack dating thing.

3. Grab drinks at a bar. Okay, yes, this has been THE first-date staple since the beginning of time. But look, it’s a classic for a reason, okay?

4. Get lunch. It’s basically your classic dinner date, but it’s lunch, which makes it inherently lower-pressure.

5. Get brunch. See above, but add mimosas.

6. Go to a friend’s party together. Asking someone to be your plus-one at an already 6. established event is an ideal way to ask them out without like, Asking Them Out, you know? The only thing to think about is whether or not this is a person who you’re, like, actually ready to introduce to your friends—cause you know they’re gonna have questions!

7. Make it a double date. Speaking of your friends, sometimes there’s less pressure if you can turn a first-date with a crush into more of a group-hang kinda thing.

8. Get thyselves to the mall. Channel your inner ’90s teen and hit up the mall for a day of soft pretzels, slushies, and reminiscing on getting into fights with your mom in Hollister. Awh!

9. Go to a comedy show. You get to share some laughs and you’ll leave with something to talk about (and or text about) after.

10. Go to the movies. Yes, it’s one of the most standard first-date dates of all time, but there’s a damn reason, okay? It’s relatively inexpensive and low-pressure, but still has plenty of makeout potential if things go well.

Cute First Dates

11. Have a picnic in the park. Pack some drinks and snacks, put on your cutest lil sundress, and literally just chill in the park.

12. Watch the sunset. It’s low-key romantic and you’ll get plenty of good material for your Insta story.

13. Go apple picking. Fall. Vibes.

14. Go to a pumpkin patch. Fall Vibes, but somehow even cozier.

15. Go to a vineyard and/or do a wine tasting together. Sipping wine with someone you may be kinda sorta into is always a good time.

16. Go the beach! The beach is just good vibes. Just be aware that this one tends to involve a bit less clothing than your standard first date. 👀

17. Hit up a touristy spot in your city. It’s not cringe if you go together.

18. Go to the bookstore together. And each pick out a book for the other one to read.

19. Play Never Have I Ever. You’re about to get to know each other real well.

20. Get ice cream. Convinced sharing an ice cream cone is the cutest thing you can do with a new fling. Prove me wrong.

21. Hit up an amusement park! It’s totally chill with a strong chance of making out on the ferris wheel.

22. Go to the library together. Libraries are romantic, okay?

23. Hit up an old-school diner. Bonus points if you order one milkshake with two straws à la the horny teens in Grease.

Active First Dates

24. Go on a hiking date. But only if you’re both into that!

25. Play a pickup game of whatever sport you both played in high school. Bust out the old lacrosse sticks and hit the park!

26. Take a pickleball lesson. Haven’t you heard; everyone’s doing it!

27. Go for a run together. Again, if you’re both into that kinda thing.

28. Go roller-blading. It’s kinda retro-cute, no?

29. Go ice skating. It’s kinda Hallmark Christmas-movie cute, no?

30. Go mini-golfing. Okay, so you’re not exactly getting a workout, but it’s active-lite for sure. Plus, mini-golf is like, peak first-date cuteness.

31. Take a cute little bike ride together. Ideally somewhere, you know, aesthetically pleasing.

Over-the-Top First Dates

32. Go ahead, just go out for a fancy dinner. Look, a lot of people will tell you that a first-date shouldn’t be a dinner date. And while there are some valid points to be made there, you’re an adult; you can do whatever you want. And if you’re willing to invest time and money on sharing a full meal out with a relative stranger, then go forth and live your fanciest life!

33. Go to the ballet. You know, if you’re cultured like that.

34. Go to the opera. Oh, so you’re fancy-fancy.

35. Go to a burlesque show. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Live entertainment featuring partial nudity is a great date. It just is.

36. Go to a strip club. Look, hear me out—if you’re down to get a little adventurous, then there is no flex like going to a strip club on a first date. Also, you get to find out what kind of tipper your date is, which is, you know, always good info to have upfront!

37. Hit up a jazz club. It’s swanky but not, like, too swanky.

38. Hit up a club-club. You know, like a nightclub. Dancing, your hottest outfits, bottle service (if ya got it like that). Literally why not party on your first date?

Creative First Dates

39. Take a cooking class together. And if all goes well, date number two can involve cooking dinner together in a more ~private~ locale.

40. Hit up a museum. You get to stroll around and look at things! And learn about things! And then talk about the things you learned!

41. Have your tarot cards read together. Having trouble reading the vibe? Let a psychic do it for you.

42. Compare birth charts. Honestly, this should just be standard first-date practice.

43. Paint and sip! Head to your local Sip N’ Paint and enjoy some wine while you show off your creative skillz.

44. Go ax-throwing together. Yep, that’s a thing you can do, so go do it!

45. Do that fun TikTok date trend. You know the one.

46. Take a mixology class. Why just “grab drinks” when you could make your own?

47. Go to an improv show. You’re pretty much guaranteed to have something to talk about afterwards.

48. Take an improv class together. You know, if that’s your thing.

49. Go to Ikea: Everyone loves Ikea. Plus, this is where, like, 62 percent of couple fights go down, so it can be a fun preview of what kind of couple you DON’T wanna be. Also, meatballs!

50. Hit up a Renaissance fair. Literally just because you can.

Headshot of Kayla Kibbe
Kayla Kibbe
Associate Sex & Relationships Editor

Kayla Kibbe (she/her) is the Associate Sex and Relationships Editor at Cosmopolitan US, where she covers all things sex, love, dating and relationships. She lives in Astoria, Queens and probably won’t stop talking about how great it is if you bring it up. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.