Unusual first date ideas you should definitely try out

Almost all relationships start with a first date. A first date is crucial because it can be a signpost for the direction in which your current relationship will develop. From the first date, you'll know if you have chemistry and a lot in common – or if it's better to keep it a friendship (or friendship plus).

If you've just had an unhappy date and don't quite know where the fault lay, you've come to the right place! This article gives you ideas and suggestions for your first date – whatever your intentions are. It doesn't matter anymore who

make the first move and ask for a first meeting – men are no longer expected to be active first. Today's women are open and confident – they know what they want and take the initiative to achieve their goals.

Regardless of your gender or your current status in the world, you're sure to find the best first date ideas in this article!

Ideas for an unforgettable first date – suitable for any occasion!

Of course, how you plan for the first date will depend on your date's interests and preferences. Of course, no one should be bored on a first date – so you should plan something that both of you will enjoy.

Also, your plan should be to make as much as possible out of your first date – this is the only way to get to know your date well and get an idea of whether it could develop into a committed relationship. Of course, the question of how much money you want to spend is also not entirely unimportant.

Below you'll find 20 different first date ideas – categorized by the character you want for your first get-together!

Romance and relaxation: these ideas will rob your date of his senses!

1. A picnic

Before you decide to go on a picnic, be sure to check the weather forecast. If rain is announced, it's best to reschedule or at least prepare an alternative. If the forecast promises good weather, the next step is to find a suitable location – a small park or the bank of a nearby river.

Then go to a supermarket or delicatessen and buy all the ingredients you need to prepare the delicacies you have planned. A picnic is a great idea for a first date because it's not too expensive, but it's also a great way to get to know your date

does not seem cheap. In the casual atmosphere of a picnic, you can effortlessly get to know each other better. Don't forget to bring a good bottle of wine – including the appropriate glasses, of course – so you can loosen up a bit and start your first date less tense. By the way: no, you don't necessarily need a classic picnic basket – as long as you can safely transport the things in it, it doesn't matter what kind of bag you use.

Extra tip: Give the picnic a special, characterful touch. For example, you can arrange with your date to wear an unusual style or color of clothing – between all the "normal" people around you, this will bring you together on the first date and make it fun!

2. Sightseeing and Viewpoints

Especially if you live in a city that has special viewpoints within easy reach, a sightseeing tour is a great way to get to know someone better. Not only will you have plenty of time to talk on a city tour, you'll automatically become quiet and thoughtful as you enjoy a view. The peaceful feelings that come from looking at a skyline or landscape open the heart far more than a first date otherwise can – perhaps resulting in a deeper look into the other person's soul than might have been expected.

After sightseeing, end the evening with a romantic dinner and a nice glass of wine before heading home again.

3. Wellness and relaxation

This may seem unusual for a first date, but if you and your date like to spend time at the spa, a visit to a wellness studio is a great idea!

Most spas offer special deals for couples, promising romantic hours for two. Usually, both partners then have treatments or massages in the same room at the same time, which leads to an intimate atmosphere where you can have a great conversation.

There are only two ways a first date can develop at the spa: Either it will bring you closer together – or the intimacy will create awkwardness between you. Whichever variant is created – the following steps should be clear then.

4. The flea market

On weekends, a good idea for a first date is to stroll through a flea market together. Flea markets have a casual, informal atmosphere full of inspiration – and you might find an unexpected bargain!

To make it a little more exciting, you can prepare a scavenger hunt. Make a list of crazy things to do, plan a small budget, and compete with each other to see who can have the most success in the hunt.

5. Stargazing at the planetarium

Take your first date to a nearby planetarium, preferably one where you can view the night sky for free. It doesn't matter if you know all the constellations – just admire the beauty of the stars together. Looking at the starry sky is just as romantic as watching a sunset.

Excitement and adventure: ideas for a first date full of adrenaline!

1. Roller coaster rides at the amusement park

Spectacular roller coaster rides are always a fun affair, especially if one of you might be a little afraid of loops. Fast-paced descents give the perfect positive thrill – good vibes included!

Enjoy overcoming your fears together! Be prepared for a roller coaster ride – and have tissues handy in case someone does throw up afterwards!

2. Play tourist in your own city

Create a typical itinerary to your city's top tourist attractions. If you are not so familiar with it, read on the Internet what is recommended for sightseeing. You can also rent a bike for your first date and plan a round trip to themed attractions.

This idea is not only fun and exciting, of course, but it gives you and your date the opportunity to discover new hotspots and historical facts – maybe you'll see your home in a whole new light afterwards!

3. A walking tour

If you both like to be active outdoors, ask your date if you'd like to go for a fun hike around the local area. For a successful first date, however, it is important that you both have sufficient hiking experience – beginners quickly overestimate themselves.

It's best to find a prominent fixed point first, so you don't need an additional local guide. Plan your hike where at least one of you has already been for hiking. Nothing is more romantic than sitting next to each other in the wilderness and watching the sunrise.

4. Be a kid again in the indoor adventure park

The experience of competing like a clueless kid again will make your first date a top-notch success – plan a visit to an indoor adventure park! Try a variety of games – whether you're dodging ghosts with Pac-man or shooting hoops in basketball – have fun!

You can keep score of the games and record who finishes your first date as the overall winner. For some extra excitement, you can place bets before the games and challenge each other with small consequences for the loser!

5. Drive into the unknown

If you're both spontaneous free spirits, why not jump in the car and go for a drive with no destination?! Sometimes an old-fashioned road trip with good music is the best way for a first date to get to know each other better. Spontaneity reveals a lot of a person's character – so you can quickly judge if you are a good match.

Crazy and funny: ideas for a first date with uncontrollable fits of laughter!

1. Land a hit at bowling

A first date at the bowling alley is nothing unusual – and it directly creates intimacy. Decide to play a game against each other and see who can knock down all the pins first!

Don't hesitate to give your date a friendly nudge or high-five if a throw went particularly well – you don't have to be embarrassed by the touch!

There are miniature golf courses in every city – for your first date they are a perfect solution. A few rounds of mini golf

are always fun, even if you don't have much experience with them. Miniature golf is very easy to learn, and when you try something you've never done before, it shows your intrepidity to new challenges.

But don't forget to arm yourself with a few conversation ideas and topics ahead of time to freshen up the conversation if need be.

3. Jumping at the trampoline park

A trampoline park is not just for kids. Adults like to bounce around just as much! Many indoor trampoline parks offer various classes and events for adults, and host parties in zero gravity, for example. Some even have real basketball or dodgeball tournaments!

Check out the calendar of events at your nearest trampoline park for your first date, then decide if you want to attend an event together or just do aerial jumps together!

4. Hang out on the climbing wall

Even if you've never climbed a climbing wall – climbing will be fun for both of you! You can compete to see who gets to the top first if you've both never climbed before.
Make the competition even more exciting by determining what the winner wins – or what the loser has to take care of!

5. Get together for a 50s breakfast

If you want to plan your first date away from all cliches – how about a breakfast including dress codes of the 1950s? Why not ask your date to meet you in the morning – the woman in a pastel petticoat dress, the man in a stand-up collar and bow tie.

Talk to each other in old-fashioned genteel ways – and if you're the woman, try to be as damselishly shy and adorable as possible. Maybe you even have a corner store nearby that also celebrates the 50s, and you can take perfect photos in front of the right backdrop as a souvenir of your first date!

Classy and hip: ideas that show you have money and an appreciation for culture

1. Dinner at a posh restaurant

An evening at a trendy and exclusive restaurant can be perfect – or the worst idea for a first date. Because some people don't like to be watched while they are eating. You will quickly feel uncomfortable and unsafe. But if you both have no problem with a romantic candlelight dinner for two, then a classy restaurant is an ideal place for a first date to get closer to each other.

Most really good restaurants have a long waiting list – so unless you have special connections, make reservations ahead of time.

2. Helicopter ride over the city

If you don't have your own helicopter, you can of course rent one for your first date. The bird's eye view of the city will leave your date in astonished delight! It's exciting and breathtaking – your date will be enraptured and will surely enjoy it. You will be happy when you see the enthusiasm and joy in his eyes or the happy smile on her lips!

3. Wine tasting in a wine cellar or at a winery

Going to a winery is a great idea for a first date. You can taste wines or take part in a wine tasting – you will find out which wine you like the most or reaffirm your preferences. Also, you may discover what wine might be a good basis for a second date – now you know what your date likes! Wine tasting is a great way to learn about wine – from how it's made to the different grape varieties. This is how you combine your first date with expanding your knowledge and spending quality time together!

4. Visit a museum or art gallery

If you want your first date to be culturally and intellectually sophisticated, take a tour of museums or art galleries and let the emotional statements of paintings sink in.

Especially if you are both interested in art and philosophy, you can already use a first date to share your knowledge and views about certain paintings with each other. By sharing intellectual topics, you'll quickly realize if you're floating on the same wavelength – and that's a fundamental building block of relationships.

5. Participate in a vernissage

There are few things more hip and extravagant than attending an exhibition opening! For such occasions you dress to impress – seeing and being seen matters, the free wine flows in streams. You'll meet the artists in person and maybe even purchase a piece or two of art you've been looking for.

Spending a first date at an art opening also ensures that you see how your date behaves in upscale society. This is an essential factor if you are in public yourself or often attend such events.

Chill and save: Ideas to keep your first date from tearing a hole in your wallet

1. Walk in the sunset

Choose a place for your first date where there is a light, cool breeze and the sunset brings soft light to your faces. Whether you're walking on the beach in the surf, or strolling along the harbor promenade, it won't cost you a dime. But the beautiful moments in the sunset are priceless!

2. Drinks by the sea (or lake)

You can combine this idea for a first date with a walk in the evening sunlight. Before you go for a walk along the water, you can make yourself comfortable on a beach mat and have some drinks.
Or you can go on a picnic on a riverbank. Then get a picnic blanket for your first date and bring ready-mixed cocktails in thermal mugs. If the temperature permits – why not go for a quick swim? And if just drinking sounds too boring, pack dice or cards and play some fun drinking games. But do not overdo it!

3. The botanical garden

In many towns there are botanical gardens, which are open to the public and invite everyone to spend time there. They usually also have meadows or other areas for picnicking, playgrounds or other activities, animals run free or are on display. And of course: flowers upon flowers! After a tour of the plant life, you can feed the animals or have a picnic lunch.

4. Across the country

There are many ways to combine a first date with a cross-country hike. Your

can follow coastal paths or quiet mountain trails. Often, such nature trails are already recorded online and the difficulty of the terrain can be determined in advance. Walking through almost untouched nature gives you intimate moments of silence with your date.

5. Visit to an antiquarian bookshop

Especially if you both love getting lost between the pages of good books, a first date in a used bookstore will be a romantic little sensation! Between the beautiful books, each pick one you want to buy and give it to each other when you leave the store.

Afterwards you can chat about your favorite books over a good hot cup of coffee.

A first date can be quite a stumbling block. As mentioned before – it can end the romance right away – or it beckons with a ticket for a second date! But don't be too nervous – remember that your date is just as excited as you are!
You can take it easy on a first date. If you need some good advice, just read the tips for the first meeting again – then nothing can go wrong!