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45 Valentine’s Day ideas to make the day extra special
Step away from the dinner reservation, there’s *so* much more you can do on the most romantic day of the year
ICYMI: Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and regardless of what kind of relationship you’re in (or if you’re a bit curmudgeon-y about the holiday), you might already be thinking about what plans to make. Many consider Valentine’s Day the most romantic day of the year, after all, and odds are your partner will totally appreciate you having a special plan in place, even if it’s a simple one.
And yet, figuring out what to do on February 14 tends to be a bit… overwhelming. The good news? How you spend Valentine’s Day is your choice. You can ignore all the Cupid-inspired marketing that pressures you into making this a big ~thing~ and just do what you feel is best. But if you’re a go-big-or-go-home type of person, that’s great too, and you have tonnes of options!
The key is to communicate with the person you’re spending V-Day with and make sure you’re on the same page about how you’d like this day to go, k? Whether you’re in a long-term relationship or a casual situationship, the last thing you’d want is for anyone to have hurt feelings if the day passes without at least a small romantic gesture. Not a roses and champagne kind of couple? No biggie. A sweet card and your SO’s fave treat can be just as special.
Because you’re here, though, odds are you’d like to do something special for Valentine’s Day and might not be able to decide what, exactly. But don’t stress. Whether you’re an adventurous type who enjoys an outdoorsy hike, a generous partner looking to go big on a sexy staycation or couples getaway, or an excited romantic who’s operating on a budget, you can rest easy knowing that there’s a date idea out there for you.
We’ve gathered the best Valentine’s Day ideas for almost any budget, relationship, and interest out there — including ideas for those riding solo or planning platonic hangs, too. Read on for our favourite ways to celebrate love in 2025.
Go on a scenic bike ride
Grab your bikes (or rent a pair for the afternoon) and map out a scenic route to ride along. Pick a beautiful spot to end near at dusk and then watch the sunset together. Bonus points: Pack a blanket to lie down on while you munch on a picnic, snacks, or sip on some drinks.
Make pottery together
Either buy an at-home sculpting kit or book an appointment at your favourite place to play on the pottery wheel and make special ceramics together. Creating a piece that you can keep forever is a great way to commemorate the holiday — and have fun doing it! (Plus, there’s just something kinda ~hot~ about working with your hands.)
Browse bookshelves
For the bookworms out there, here’s an idea: Go to your favourite bookstore together (or head to the library to make this #free) and each of you can pick out a book that you think the other will enjoy. Make this extra special by writing a sweet Valentine’s Day inscription or tucking a note inside.
Watch Valentine’s Day-themed TV episodes
If you’re committed to doing something a lil’ more chill, grab some popcorn and queue up the Valentine’s Day-themed episodes of all your favourite TV shows. Pro tip: Keep things interesting by incorporating a mix of humour and drama. (Like the blood drive episode of The Office followed by a tense day at the vineyard with Gilmore Girls.)
Shop for sex toys together
Re-create your first date
Bring it back to where it all began! Head to wherever you went on your first date (or simply re-create the vibe if you’ve since moved away) and reminisce about how far you’ve come since that first night full of sweaty palms and jittery small talk.
Go to the cinema
I know it might seem basic, but dinner and a movie is a classic for a reason. Besides, when was the last time you actually got off the sofa to see something in the cinema? Try hitting up one of those bougie places that serve alcohol and fancy snacks to make the experience seem even more elevated.
Take a sex workshop together
Learn a few new sex moves or discover a kink on the day dedicated to doing the dirty. There are courses for pretty much every type of sex or interest. Plus, you can find classes in person or online depending on how hands-on you want the instruction to be.
Hit up a comedy show
Humour is one of the sexiest qualities in a person, so what better way to celebrate your love than laughing together all night? Hit up a stand-up or improv show to get those giggle-induced endorphins flowing.
Have a karaoke night
There are just about a zillion love songs out there, so make your celebration musical by going to a bar where you can serenade your partner in the presence of drunk strangers. If you’d rather sing privately, you could always buy some karaoke mics on Amazon to belt it out at home. Either way, cheesy duets are highly encouraged.
Walk dogs at an animal shelter
Is this a secret ploy to get you to leave with a furry new BFF? Maybe. But even if you don’t adopt, giving some sweet doggos a bit of affection and attention will make you feel all the puppy love.
Volunteer together
If your heart (or self-control) can’t handle playing with adoptable pups, there are plenty of other volunteer opportunities to consider. Whether it’s building houses, serving food at a soup kitchen, or litter-picking, nothing is better than giving back to your community. (Plus, you know how hot it is to see your partner get their hero cape on and do some good.)
Have an at-home spa night with DIY face masks
Create your own mini spa experience at home by mixing up a double batch of DIY face masks. Will it feel kind of goofy slathering this on your partner’s face? Yes, but that’s basically the point. Plus, you’ll both have soft, glowy skin afterward. Win-win.
Go to a botanical garden
You probably don’t think winter is a great time to visit your city or town’s botanical gardens, but you might be surprised. Many botanical gardens offer activities like lightscapes, art installations, and winter-specific tours. Plus, it’s probably way less crowded in February than it will be in spring.
Treat yourself to a staycation
Play tourist in your own city/town by getting a hotel room for Valentine’s Day. You can order room service, watch movies, play games, have hotel sex — you get the idea. This idea is a bit pricier, but you can always check sites like Groupon or lastminute.com to see if you can snag a discounted rate.
Enjoy some romantic stargazing
Is there anything more romantic than looking at the stars together? Pack blankets and a thermos of hot cocoa so you stay nice and toasty.
Go rock climbing
If there’s a rock climbing gym near you, you and your partner can get the adrenaline pumping by scaling a rock wall. Who knows? It may become your new couple activity.
Go to a yoga class
Whether you go to a yoga studio, stream a virtual class, or pull up a YouTube video, doing a yoga class together is a v cute, underrated date idea. You can laugh at each other’s awkward attempts at difficult poses, and it actually might help warm you up for subsequent Valentine’s Day... activities.
Have ~deep~ conversations
There are tonnes of conversation card decks meant to help couples connect with each other. What’s more romantic than a long, sexy night of learning more about your favourite person?
Make candles
It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without lighting a zillion candles, so why not make some of your own together? Buy a kit online or take a class (yup, there are actually places you can go to do this). The best part — IMO — is mixing your own oils to create a signature scent for your relationship. Cute, yes?
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