Valentine’s Day can feel a little rude when you’re in a long-distance relationship. While everyone else is panic-booking dinner reservations and posting heart-eye selfies, you’re staring down FaceTime, time zones, and the very annoying reality of not being able to hug your person. But despite what romantic comedies (and Instagram) would have you believe, long distance Valentine’s Day ideas don’t have to feel like a downgrade—or a sad substitute for the “real” thing.
The truth is, celebrating Valentine’s Day from afar is way more doable than it sounds. You might not be together IRL, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be intentional, romantic, or even a little fun about it. And no, it doesn’t require a grand gesture, an expensive gift, or a perfectly coordinated virtual date. Some of the best long-distance Valentine’s Day moments come from simple plans that make you feel connected and enjoy some quality time together (even if you’re celebrating from separate couches—IYKYK).
Maybe this is your first Valentine’s Day long-distance, and you’re not totally sure what the expectations are. Maybe you’ve done this before and just want something that doesn’t feel repetitive or forced. Either way, the goal isn’t to recreate a flawless date night—it’s to show up for each other in a way that actually fits your relationship right TF now.
That’s where this list comes in. Below, you’ll find long distance Valentine’s Day ideas that range from cozy and low-effort to creative and slightly elevated, with options that work whether you’re planning ahead or pulling something together last-minute. No pressure, no guilt, no pretending it’s “just another day”—just solid ideas to help you celebrate, even when (ugh) too many miles are involved.
1. Have Someone Else Plan It
First suggestion: If you're really struggling with the idea of pulling together a cute V-Day plan (or if it's just not your thing), what if you enlist the help of someone else? Everyone loves a surprise, so give a pal a budget (+ your credit card) and have them figure out the deets. This way, you don't have to go back and forth debating *what* you should do, bc someone else (who really knows you!) will do it for you. Plus, it'll be a surprise for both of you. Win/win/win.
2. Read Something Together
It’s basically the old-fashioned version of listening to an audiobook. Pick a book (or series) you’re both interested in, grab copies for each of you, and take turns reading chapters aloud over FaceTime or Zoom. To make it extra cute, inscribe the book with a short note your partner can read when you start the story on Valentine’s Day. It’s equal parts intimate and low-pressure—the ultimate love note/book combo.
If you want to add a slightly mystical twist, pull out a tarot deck and take turns reading cards for each other afterward. Learning something new together—even something a little woo-woo—is an easy way to spark conversation and keep the night feeling special.
3. Have a Lil Spa Day
An actual spa day might be out of the question, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still unwind together. Send your partner a small package with face masks, aromatherapy, or other self-care treats, then hop on FaceTime and relax at the same time. It’s cozy, calming, and a nice break from the usual long-distance routine.
If you want to make it extra thoughtful, consider booking a professional massage for your partner earlier in the day so you can both wind down together afterward—even if you’re miles apart.
4. Start From the Beginning and Re-create Your First Date
Reminiscing about your relationship is a sweet way to celebrate your time together. Recreate your first date (with a few changes, since you're both virtual). Spend the evening on Zoom reflecting on the good memories you’ve had together, why you chose to be in a relationship, and what you’re looking forward to in the years to come. For good measure, order a similar cuisine, cocktail, or coffee to what you had on your first date!
5. Take Some Fun Personality Quizzes
Even if you feel like you already know everything about your partner, there’s always room to learn more. People grow and change constantly, so Valentine’s Day is a great excuse to dig a little deeper. Take a few personality quizzes together, compare results, and talk through what surprised you (or felt spot-on).
You can also borrow from the New York Times’ famous “36 Questions that Lead to Love," and spend the night asking each other prompts like, “What would your perfect day look like?” or “What’s something you’re really looking forward to right now?” It’s a simple way to spark meaningful conversation without it feeling like an interrogation.
6. Attend a Virtual Wine Tasting
Can’t make it to Italy this year? No problem. Escape your respective apartments via wine-tasting kits delivered straight to your doors. Some companies (like Voluptuary Wine) even offer guided virtual tastings with an expert, so you can sip, swirl, and compare notes together in real time. Want to make it extra cute? Afterward, send your partner a bottle of the wine they liked most as a little post-date surprise.
7. Craft a Date-Night Scavenger Hunt
You might not be able to cook together in the same kitchen, but you can turn dinner into a shared experience. Write up a grocery list for your partner without telling them what the final dish will be, then cook it together over FaceTime while they try to guess the recipe. Want to take it up a notch? Prepay for a dessert pickup at a local bakery near them to end the night on a sweet note.
8. Plan a Trip Together
Get on FaceTime, open a shared doc or spreadsheet, and plan a trip to somewhere neither of you has been before. One of you handles flights, the other looks into hotels, then brainstorm activities and logistics together. Even if you don’t book it right away, having something on the calendar to look forward to can make the distance feel a lot more manageable.
9. Stream a Movie or Show at the Same Time Online
You’re dying to watch a new series that just dropped, but you want to experience it with your person. Fair! Pick a show or movie, press play at the same time, and keep a text thread or FaceTime open so you can react together in real time. Bonus points if you eat the same snacks to really sell the illusion. Want to make it easier? Teleparty is a Chrome extension that syncs your streams automatically, no countdown required.
10. Play a Not-Boring Card Game Together
Upgrade your usual video chat by adding a little friendly competition. Both of you can grab a game like Cards Against Humanity, Truth or Dare, or Taboo and play over video for an instant mood boost. If you want something more conversation-driven, try a couples card deck designed to spark deeper questions and keep things from slipping into awkward silence.
11. Get Crafty
Pull out whatever supplies you have on hand and make something together over video. Paint a canvas, sculpt with clay, decorate a scrapbook, or follow a simple DIY project you found on Pinterest. Not feeling the solo craft energy? Look up a virtual sip-and-paint or ceramics class and take it together. You’ll end the night with a keepsake and a shared memory.
12. Enjoy a Sunrise or Sunset Together
Coordinate a time to hop on FaceTime that lines up with the sun rising or setting where you are. Whether you’re watching from a beach, a rooftop, or your bedroom window, sharing a quiet moment like that feels surprisingly intimate. If time zones get in the way, send each other videos or photos of your view instead.
13. Gift Them a Spotify Playlist
Make a playlist filled with songs that remind you of your partner or moments you’ve shared together. Think road trip anthems, comfort songs, and tracks that instantly transport you back to a specific memory. Keep it private between the two of you and listen whenever the distance hits a little harder.
Alternative suggestion: Use Spotify’s Jam feature to listen together in real time or send each other prompts like “Play a song that reminds you of me” or “Play a song that feels like us.” It’s an easy way to feel connected without forcing a deep conversation.
14. Plan a Virtual Dinner Date (Cook Together or Order In)
Turn your usual FaceTime call into an actual date by eating together. You can cook your own meals and sit down at the same time, or take it up a notch with a virtual cooking class. Definitely don’t skip dessert—sending your partner their favorite sweet via delivery makes it feel extra thoughtful.
Not into cooking? Surprise them by ordering their go-to takeout and having it delivered during your call. You can even send a bottle of their favorite drink so you can toast together from afar.
15. Create Something Meaningful Together
Perfume is a classic romantic gift because scent is *strongly* connected to memory. Instead of gifting your SO a random bottle of spritz, order custom scent experience boxes from Olfactory NYC and create new perfumes together. Pull up FaceTime or Zoom and have a sniff sesh before submitting picks for each other. From then on, you’ll not only have a unique signature scent, but you’ll have the memory of making it with someone you love.
Think: coasters from bars, plane tickets from flying to see each other, football ticket stubs, photos, etc., and collage them on a canvas they can hang up in their room. Construct all this on Valentine’s Day together, or gift it to them and talk about all the memories via FaceTime.
16. Send a Video Message
Sometimes seeing and hearing your partner hits harder than anything written. Record a video where you read a love note out loud, talk about what you adore about them, or even sing along to your song. It’s intimate, personal, and something they can replay whenever the distance feels extra real.
17. Send Something Handmade
A gift doesn’t need to be expensive to mean something. A handmade card, photo album, or DIY project shows real effort and gives your partner something tangible to hold onto. Want to make it even sweeter? Send love letters or postcards in the mail leading up to Valentine’s Day. Getting mail that isn’t a bill or an Amazon box feels rare these days—and way more romantic.
18. Mail Them a Care Package
Fill a box with their favorite things, whether that’s snacks from your local shop, cozy socks, or a sweatshirt that smells like you. Little comforts go a long way in long-distance relationships. If you want to get sneaky, ship it to their roommate or friend and have them set everything up for a surprise reveal.
19. Give Them Words They Can Come Back to
Create something they can revisit whenever they’re missing you. Fill envelopes with notes labeled for different moods like “open when you’re sad” or “open when you can’t sleep.” You can also write a series of notes for them to open daily until you see each other again, or keep a short journal documenting your days, thoughts, and all the little things that remind you of them. It’s thoughtful, personal, and lasts way beyond Valentine’s Day.
20. Be the First Person They Hear in the Morning and the Last Person They Hear at Night
Start Valentine’s Day with a morning call they’re not expecting. End it by falling asleep on the phone together, even if you’re barely talking. It’s simple, but it makes the distance feel a little smaller.
21. Surprise Them In Person (or Meet Somewhere New)
If you can swing it, nothing beats showing up unexpectedly. Whether it’s a quick drive, a last-minute flight, or meeting somewhere new altogether, spending the day together IRL is hard to top. Even a short staycation or midpoint meetup can make Valentine’s Day feel extra special—and break up the usual back-and-forth routine.
