25 Romantic Date Ideas For The Holiday Season

When the temperatures drop (or go up in my case), the days start to shorten, and twinkling lights begin to line the fronts of every home and shop, you know the holidays are almost here. As your schedule begins to fill with holiday parties and other obligations, don’t forget to make time for a romantic date night! The holiday season presents romantic opportunities for fun date nights everywhere you turn, so take your pick and make some memories together:

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1 – Cozy up next to a bonfire. Chop some wood, start a fire, and snuggle up! Night or day, spending time around a bonfire is a fun and romantic way to enjoy each other’s company.

2 -Snuggle up and watch your favorite Christmas movie together. Watching holiday classics can be a great tradition and a fun, nostalgic way to pass the time together when it’s too cold or snowy to go outside. You can even get this Movie 4 Pack or this 10 DVD set so you can binge watch all you want!  

3 – Bundle up and take a walk. If you live near a walkable part of town, put on your coat and boots and head outside for a romantic winter stroll. Use the cold as an excuse to hold your partner closer, and take advantage of the opportunity to warm up when you pass a spot to grab a coffee or hot cocoa.

4 – Or go snowshoeing. Feeling a little more adventurous? Find a trailhead, strap on some snowshoes, and explore! Guided tours are available in many areas if you’d rather not rely on your own navigation skills.

5 – Visit a Christmas market. If you can find a Christmas market in your area, make a date to check it out together. These festive markets are often filled with handmade crafts, glühwein (!!), great gift ideas, and plenty of opportunities for stolen kisses and picture-perfect photos.

6 – Decorate Christmas cookies together. Find a cookie recipe to tackle together, and once your cookies have baked and cooled, give them a little holiday flair with frosting, sprinkles, and other edible accessories. See who can design the prettiest cookie – or make the least mess! Get one of this cookie cutter and decoration packs and you’re all set!

As always, Pinterest is an amazing source of inspiration. You can even do a “before and after” and share them with your friends and family.

7 – Pick out a Christmas tree together… You can easily purchase a pre-cut tree from a tent in a parking lot, but for an even more romantic date experience, head into the woods and find a tree farm where you can cut your own tree. 

This is not really feasible here in Australia and we can even find fresh-cut Christmas trees in our local grocery store haha but I hope you get to do it and share some pics!

8 – … and decorate it! This holiday tradition can be a great way to bond and build a tradition together. Put on your favorite holiday tunes, pour yourselves a couple of Moscow Mules, and enjoy!

Some of my favorite places to find cute and affordable Christmas tree decorations are Walmart, Target, HomeGoods and Hobby Lobby. In Australia we have Kmart and Target but if you have any more recommendations, please let me know!

9 – Enjoy a special treat. The holiday season can be the perfect time to indulge in something delicious from your favorite bakery or cafe. Stop in around Christmas, snuggle up in a booth by the window, and people-watch as you split a sweet treat. 

If you are in Northwest Arkansas, go check out Markham & Fitz Chocolate in Bentonville. They have everything from spiced hot chocolate to chocolate inspired cocktails!

10 – Look at Christmas lights. An easy low-cost date night idea, do some research to see if you can find which neighborhoods are worth visiting. Bring some hot chocolate to sip in one of these amazing insulated tumblers as you cruise the streets in search of the best displays.

11 – Cook something new together. When it’s too cold to go out for dinner, look up an interesting recipe and try your hand at making something new together. Consider handmade pasta, a homemade pizza, or a fun new dessert (and now I’m hungry!). Again, Pinterest is your friend!

12 – Volunteer together. Giving back together can be a great way to grow closer and do good around Christmas. Spend a morning at a nearby food bank or clothing donation center, then grab some lunch afterward. 

13 -Sneak away for a romantic evening. Find a scenic Airbnb or book a room at a nearby bed and breakfast and escape for a night. Go out for a romantic dinner on the town before retiring, or order takeout to devour in your room – whatever suits your mood!

14 – Or rent a rustic cabin in the mountains. If you live near mountains, renting a cabin for a quick getaway is another romantic way to spend an evening or two. With little cell phone reception in most mountain areas, you’ll be forced to focus on spending time with one another, which isn’t a bad thing. 

Don’t forget some cute and cozy matching pj’s! 

15 – Find the biggest hill you can and go sledding. Channel your inner child, grab your sled, and see who can make it to the bottom first. After you’ve determined who’s quickest, take turns recording each other with your smart phone’s slow motion feature for some hilarious laughs later on.

18 – Grab a cool drink at an ice bar… See if you can find an ice bar in your area. Quite a few of them pop up around Christmas for a month or two. Putting on a huge coat and sipping an adult beverage served at a literal ice bar is way more fun than it should be, and you’ll both enjoy the experience.

19 – …or taste the seasonal beers at a local brewery. If the idea of spending time out in the cold doesn’t excite you, head indoors and seek refuge at a nearby brewery. Many breweries offer tours and tastings, making them a fun and interactive option for a date.

20 – Have some fun with a winter photo shoot. Hire a photographer to capture some memories with a winter photo shoot. If you live somewhere scenic, find an outdoor location to use as your backdrop – the snowier, the better!

You can also hire a local photographer from Flytographer to document your holidays and hey, give me a call if you visit Sydney. I’ll be happy to take you for coffee and do a cool photoshoot together!

21 – Decorate a gingerbread house. Head to the store together to purchase all the icing, candy canes, and gumdrops you’ll need to transform your plain old gingerbread house into an edible work of art, then challenge each other to see whose turns out best. Get a cute kit like this one to make things easier!

22 – Attend a concert together. Whether you want to watch a local choir sing your favorite carols or catch a well-loved band passing through town, it’s hard not to have fun when you’re at a show.

23 – Go ugly sweater shopping. With ugly sweater parties becoming more and more popular, you might as well go ahead and invest in one. Head to a nearby thrift store and see who can find the ugliest sweater hidden among the racks or get one of these DIY kits if you want to get creative!

24 – Go ice skating. Ice skating at an indoor rink is a fun date idea you can enjoy year-round, but there’s something special about gliding across the frozen ice in the open air. Fortunately, many cities host an outdoor ice rink during the cold winter months. After you’re done skating, warm up in a nearby bar or cafe.

25 – Have a snowball fight. For some old-school fun, take advantage of a good snowfall and challenge each other to a snowball fight. You’ll have a blast taking aim at one another, and when you’re done, you’ll have just as much fun warming up together.

From outdoor adventures to cozy nights in, there are plenty of romantic date opportunities to enjoy with your partner this winter! What’s your favorite holiday date night idea? Leave a comment and let me know!