When we think of going on a date, it’s normally with someone else… right? Not always! Solo dates are rising in popularity and for very good reason. Going on a date with yourself might not be your first thought, but it’s a wonderful way to reconnect with yourself and take a well-deserved break.
Whether you’re totally new to the idea of going on a solo date, or you simply want some fresh ideas for your next self date, you’re in the right place. Today I’m sharing with you how to plan a solo date and my all-time favorite self date ideas for inspiration.
What is a solo date?
A solo date (also known as a self date) is like a regular date, except you’re by yourself! Think of a solo date as a dedicated time to spend time alone, doing something you enjoy, without care or worry. It’s a time to relax, rest, rejuvenate, and step away from the busyness of life.
You can head somewhere public that you’d visit on a regular date — like a museum, gallery, or restaurant. You could also take a skill class, or go for a walk. It’s also totally okay to spend your solo date time at home watching a movie or catching up with a TV series.
Solo dates are an amazing self care idea. What’s beautiful about them is you don’t need a lot of time or money, either. Relax with a book for a few hours or go on a photo walk — both are incredible ideas, and both don’t cost the earth.
How to plan and enjoy your self dates
Solo dates don’t require a lot of planning, unless you want to do something one-of-a-kind or really far outside your usual habits or interests. For most self dates, all you need is these three things.
1. Think of something you’d love to do
Before you enjoy your date, you first need to think about what to do. For some people this’ll be easy — you might know you want to enjoy a spa day, or go for a hike in the mountains. For other people it’s less obvious. Don’t worry though — I’ve got tons of great solo date ideas just below!
2. Book the time off
Solo dating is about making time for yourself. Make sure you book any required time off work, or block out your schedule so you don’t take freelance clients during that time. Say to loved ones or friends that you’re busy that day, and carve out some real “me time.”
3. Get prepared
For some solo dates you’ll want to do some planning and prep. For example, if you’re planning a staycation, book your hotel and a rough itinerary in advance. If you’re taking a class, make sure you have the supplies you need. Decide whether you want to share about your day in real-time on social media, share an update later, or never mention it at all. Get prepared now, so you can enjoy the experience fully in the moment.
My ultimate list of solo date ideas
Looking for a quick list you can copy and paste to your notes app or Notion database? Here are all my solo date ideas in one easy list:
- Go for a picnic
- Read a book
- Dine out at your favorite restaurant
- Watch the sunset
- Visit a museum or art gallery
- Go for a swim
- Enjoy a self care bath
- Get a spa treatment
- Take a cooking class
- Enjoy your staycation
- Go for a bike ride
- Book a photoshoot
- Go volunteering
- Join a flower arranging class
- Go for a hike or long walk
- Head to a coffee shop
- Go shopping
- Enjoy a wine tour
- Take an art class
- Visit a theme park
- Go for a drive
- Spend the day gardening
- Watch a movie
- Go skydiving
- Visit a book store
- Go for a photo walk
- Head to the ice-cream shop
- Take an outdoor sport or fitness class
- Go for a relaxing walk
- Visit a famers market
- Go to a concert or music festival
- Tackle a DIY project
- Watch a comedy show
- Have an at-home dance party
- Read a personal growth book
- Plan a road trip
- Go on a shopping spree
- Say positive affirmations
- Volunteer at an animal shelter
- Enjoy a self care day
- Visit a botanical garden
- Have a picnic in your local park
- Plan a DIY spa night
- Go rock climbing
- Have a movie night
- Go kayaking
- Take a dance class
- Visit a flea market
- Go stargazing
- Go to a workout class
- Go out for brunch
Want more detail or to understand why these things are on my list? Explore my in-depth guide below ⬇
51 of my all-time favorite solo date ideas explained
Ready to start thinking about your next solo date experience? Here are some of my favorite fun solo date ideas and options to give you some inspiration.
1. Go for a picnic
A fun way to enjoy your own company is with a beautiful view. Pack up a picnic, a blanket, and something tasty to drink and head to a scenic spot for a picnic.
2. Read a book
This one’s ideal for us introverts. Grab the a new book from your reading list and sit somewhere cozy to enjoy your new read. Add a coffee shop inspired playlist to add to the vibe.
3. Dine out at your favorite restaurant
Who says you can’t enjoy your favorite restaurant by yourself? Make a reservation or pop in for a delicious solo date night experience. Stick with one you know and love, or try a new restaurant.
4. Watch the sunset
Embrace the need for fresh air and combine it with a late night trip out to watch the sunset. Find a great spot away from the city lights and enjoy nature at its best.
5. Visit a museum or art gallery
Noticed an exciting new art exhibition poster? Plan a self date night to go and see the new exhibit, or head to your favorite museum or art gallery for a wander around instead.
6. Go for a swim
Swimming is such a relaxing activity, which makes it ideal for a solo date idea. Grab your favorite swimwear, towel, and supplies and head to your local swimming pool for a few hours.
7. Enjoy a self care bath
There’s nothing better than slipping into a cozy, warm bath. Take the experience to the next level by planning a self care bath that feels extra indulgent.
8. Get a spa treatment
If you love visiting the spa, this is the perfect self date idea! Book an appointment at your favorite spa or try somewhere new and enjoy a face mask, massage, or a dip in the pool.
9. Take a cooking class
Push yourself outside your comfort zone and learn some new skills by taking a cooking class. This is a great solo date idea, and you have the bonus of maybe making some new friends too.
10. Enjoy a staycation
Pretend like you’re a tourist in your hometown by enjoying a staycation in the place you live or close by. Visit locations you’ve never been, try a highly recommended restaurant, and soak up the atmosphere of the place you call home.
11. Go for a bike ride
If you have a bicycle that’s been collecting dust, now is the time to dust it off and head out for a cycle. Don’t have one? See if you can hire one nearby and go on an adventure.
12. Book a photoshoot
Most of us don’t take part in many photoshoots, but this an opportunity to change that. Book a photoshoot with a great photographer and get some new professional headshots, sweet photos with your dog, or something else!
13. Go volunteering
Another great self date idea is to go volunteering. There’s always causes out there that could do with an extra pair of hands or a great mind, and you could use your solo time to help out.
14. Join a flower arranging class
Flower arranging is still going strong as a hobby, and if it’s something you’re interested in then see if there’s somewhere close by you can join for a session or two.
15. Go for a hike or a long walk
If getting outside is your idea of the perfect alone time, then head out for a hike. Try a new trail or one of your old favorites and take in the views.
16. Head to a coffee shop
Maybe you don’t want to go hiking but still want to get outside for a bit. Take a walk to a local coffee shop and just sit there with a delicious drink and watch the world go by.
17. Go shopping
Shopping can be a great form of self care, especially if you haven’t always treated yourselves to the things you’d love. Give yourself a budget and head to a few stores to see what you can find.
18. Enjoy a wine tour
A wine tour might not spring to mind as an obvious solo trip, but wine tasting can be a great self date idea. Join a wine tour at a local vineyard and experience the delicious flavors.
19. Take an art class
If you love the idea of getting creative, take an art class the next time you have some free time. It’s a good way to pick up some new skills and explore your creative side.
20. Visit a theme park
For those of you lucky enough to have a theme park like Disney close by, consider this a reminder that these places make wonderful solo date locations. Queue up, enjoy all your favorite rides, and take home some good memories.
21. Go for a drive
Sometimes a long drive can be a calming experience, especially if there’s nobody by your side trying to change the song or decide where you go. Head off with a destination or without one and see where the road takes you.
22. Spend the day gardening
Whether you have a luscious garden or are just starting out with some herbs in your kitchen, gardening makes a great self date idea. Take care of your plants and enjoy the feel-good vibe they bring.
23. Watch a movie
Sometimes the best dates are the simplest. Get comfy on the sofa, load up Netflix, and choose a movie to watch. Want to head out instead? Visit the movie theater and see a new release for the ultimate self care movie date.
24. Go skydiving
If skydiving is on your bucket list, maybe this is the perfect moment to make it happen. Book a skydiving session and turn one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities into a happy memory.
25. Visit a book store
Buying books online is easy, but sometimes it takes a visit to the store to discover something you never would have seen. Head to your local book store, browse what’s new, ask for advice, and come away with a great new read.
26. Go for a photo walk
Spending time walking is an incredible self care idea, and turning it into a photo walk helps you bring some some visual memories too. Snap photos of seasonal leaves and plants, scenic views, cute dogs, or whatever catches your eye.
27. Head to the ice-cream shop
When was the last time you ordered your favorite flavor? Visit the ice-cream store and get a cone or tub of your favorites, or pick up a sundae or thick shake instead.
28. Take an outdoor sport or fitness class
Walking or hiking is great, but sometimes an organized sport like soccer, netball, or tennis is what you need. Even if you’re a beginner, this can be a great way to get outside and have some fun.
29. Go for a relaxing walk
Going for a walk and people watching is one of the most relaxing solo date ideas out there. Take a walk around your neighborhood or explore somewhere new, and see what you can find.
30. Visit a farmers market
Farmers markets are wonderful places to find home grown produce and goods, and browsing them is also a fun experience. This is a great one to try on your next self date.
31. Go to a concert or music festival
Going to a concert or festival alone might sound intimidating, but it’s actually a lot of fun! Make plans to see the live music you want, whether you have a friend with you or not.
32. Tackle a DIY project
Okay, so tackling the DIY might not sound like a solo date idea but it totally can be! Make some plans, take some measurements, and take yourself along to the hardware or DIY store to pick up materials. Watch a video, make some progress, and share your creation with your loved ones.
33. Watch a comedy show
You don’t need to gather friends or family members to go and see your favorite comedian or a local act live. Head along to a comedy show by yourself for all the laughs without any of the hassle of entertaining others too.
34. Have an at-home dance party
It’s time to put together the ultimate party playlist and spend some time at home dancing along solo. I love the idea of a solo dance party or karaoke party — I think it’s such a fun way to unwind!
35. Read a personal growth book
Reading is something you can do any time, but most of us don’t carve out time in our busy schedules for much of it at all. Schedule some time that’s designated for you, a personal growth book, and a cozy cup of tea or coffee.
36. Plan a road trip
While actually taking the road trip is more of a solo vacation idea, the planning part makes for an ideal solo date idea. Plan a date night with your laptop and get planning your ultimate cross-country road trip.
37. Go on a shopping spree
Saving is great, but there’s also nothing wrong with a little spending every now and again. Set aside some time to go shopping at your favorite store or make some self care purchases online.
38. Say positive affirmations
Reading or saying affirmations out loud is a wonderful way to practice positive self talk and get motivated for what’s to come next. Schedule some time in to reflect on some affirmations by yourself. Not sure where to start? I have lots and lots of affirmations in my library!
39. Volunteer at an animal shelter
If you love animals and want to spend your solo date time doing something good for the world, this one of the best solo date ideas out there. Call your local animal shelter and ask how you can get involved.
40. Enjoy a self care day
Who said your solo date should only last an hour? How about a whole day? Sounds perfect! Put the focus on self care and wellness by planning and enjoying your very own self care day. If you want some ideas and inspiration, check out my guide on how to plan a self care day.
41. Visit a botanical garden
Botanical gardens are beautiful places to spend an hour or two, and a lovely idea if you want a relaxing solo date idea. Look up where your nearest botanical garden is and plan to visit when the weather’s good.
42. Have a picnic in your local park
You don’t have to venture far for a relaxing self date idea. Pack up some of your favorite snacks and drinks and head to your local park. Find a bench or set up a blanket near a scenic spot and enjoy lunch while you watch the world go by.
43. Plan a DIY spa night
Sometimes there’s nothing better than visiting a spa, but when you can’t make it you can always turn your home into one instead! Get some face masks and pampering goodies and spend the evening treating yourself to a luxurious manicure, pedicure, or spa treatment.
44. Go rock climbing
Relaxing isn’t for everyone. If you’re looking for the perfect solo date idea that’s also active, rock climbing is an ideal choice. Not only is it a fun thing to do but it’s something a lot of people already do solo — so a great place to start if you’re nervous.
45. Have a movie night
Your solo date doesn’t have to be complicated. Swap the evening out for an evening in, and queue up your favorite movie or a new release alongside your new BFFs — popcorn and candy!
46. Go kayaking
Always wanted to try out kayaking or canoeing but never found the perfect partner for it? Go yourself! Find a local class and make a reservation.
47. Take a dance class
Learn some new moves or rekindle your old love for ballet by joining a dance class. A one-off class is fun, but you could also turn this into a fun new hobby.
48. Visit a flea market
Shopping is a fun solo date activity idea, and visiting a flea market filled with treasures is one of the best. Enjoy the experience of wandering around and seeing what you can find, or set a budget and bring something home with you.
49. Go stargazing
Take a trip somewhere beyond the city lights and find a great spot to lie back and watch the stars. This is a super calming self date activity that I love!
50. Go to a workout class
As an introvert, sometimes the idea of this scares me! But attending a pilates, yoga, dance fitness, or other workout class is a great way to spend time alone or make new friends.
51. Go out for brunch
Who doesn’t love breakfast at all times of day? I know I do. Make a reservation or simply turn up to one of your favorite local brunch spots to enjoy a relaxed start to your day.
Embrace self love and self care with these solo date ideas
Solo dating doesn’t have to be scary, fancy, or expensive. Use these self date ideas to get excited about the concept and plan your first solo date or next self date experience.
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