19+ Fantastic Free And Cheap First Date Ideas

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Coming up with good first date ideas can be quite the mission, especially when you are on a budget! Lucky for you, we have compiled the perfect list of great free and cheap first date ideas.

The post is all about cheap first date ideas. First dates are as exciting as they are nerve wracking! They’re the starting point of a potential new chapter in your life. The beauty of first dates is that they let you explore the exhilarating unknown, you get to meet someone new, and perhaps you find a soulmate in the process. These initial encounters open doors to endless possibilities. Sometimes they lead to forming a deep connection, and sometimes it’s just a fun memory being made. Embrace the jitters, throw on your best smile, and embark on your special first date. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with that all-important first step!

The Top 10 Best Cheap First Date Ideas:

1. Go To A Night Market

Night markets are a great place for a first date. Strolling around together under twinkling lights, having too much food for choice, and seeing the amazing stalls all contribute to a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

Sampling the treats from various stalls and browsing through the crafts and gifts sparks fun conversation while offering plenty of opportunities for laughter and getting know one another! With so much going on around you there will be natural ice breakers everywhere. So, you can feel relaxed and go along with having a plan for the night that’s not too restrictive.

Why settle for a regular café or bistro when you can embark on an adventure to your local night market? It’ll be a recipe for a memorable first date that will have you both wanting more.

2. Find A Board Game Café

Looking for slightly more unique cheap first date ideas? Invite your date to a boardgame café!

If you’re feeling a little nervous about the encounter, then this will be an ideal first date. Playing games together takes the pressure off of the both of you having to make small talk as you’ll be focusing on the games and the colourful atmosphere. This can help the conversation flow a bit more naturally and easily! What is also great about this as a first date idea is that you can learn something new together. Don’t stray away from trying a new game. Try out a board game that you haven’t played before and or change up the rules of an old classic.

For the cost of a cup of coffee you, can have countless hours of fun – how good!

3. Outdoor Movie Night

Looking for a romantic (and cheap) spin on the first date classic of a trip to the movies? Then you definitely need to treat your date to a romantic night under the stars at an outdoor movie night. Pack a picnic basket and bring along a blanket and some pillows or a set of cosy camping chairs and you’re all set! Kick back and relax with your date as you revisit an old classic or are entertained by something a bit more recent. Once the movie is over, you already have something to chat about with your date. The topic of movies is a fantastic icebreaker and can lead to all kinds of conversations, so if you’re feeling nervous, this might be a good place to start.

A romantic setting, fresh air, snacks, a comfy seat, and some good entertainment with an intriguing new person- what more could you want out of a first date?

4. Pick Out Books For Each Other

This is a unique first date idea for those book lovers out there. This can be a great way to get to know each other and learn about each other’s tastes in literature. Just because you are buying something does not mean that it has to be an expensive date. Make this a cheap first date by adventuring into a second-hand book store or scrummaging around a second-hand book stand at a market (you know how much book lovers enjoy the glorious smell of an old book).

Prompts for picking out books for each other:

Try to find your ultimate favourite book for them to read
Try to find a book that has a main character that is extremely similar to you (a good chance for them to get to know you)
Take up the challenge of finding a book you think the other person will enjoy
Shake things up a bit and try to find a book neither of you would normally read
Try to find two copies of the same book neither of you have read

The benefit of this date idea is that it gives you something to talk about after the date (and may even guarantee you a future date).

5. Be Tourists Together

Spend some time being a tourist in your own city with your date.

Check out the street art/graffiti in your local city

Plan yourself a route around your city where you and your date can check out the street art or graffiti decorating your local area. It’s a great way to up your step count and get to know your date and the area you live in a whole lot better. You may have passed some of these artworks countless times, but have you really stopped and properly admired them?

For last minute planning or if you don’t know much about the street art scene in your local city, try googling “street art walking tour (insert city name)” and play around with adding the words “map” or “route” to your search. You’re either going to be able to find a map that you can just follow, or you are going to find pictures and names of the street art you should check out (in which case DIY your own route on Google Maps). Bonus, of doing this research is that you might be able to pick up a few facts about the artwork that you can impress your date with.

Try out some of the cheap or free tourist activities

Time to explore your backyard together tourist style. Start researching all the free or cheap activities in your local area geared towards tourists (that you never have done before) and make a little list that you can suggest to your date. It’s also worth keeping in mind that a lot of cities offer locals discounts, so it is always worth asking about this if you plan do something a little more pricey.

Find some “hidden gems” together

Another fun thing you can do with your date is check out some of the weird and wonderful things that exist in your city that you may never have even known about. It’s a chance to hop off the beaten track together and explore your city in a little more depth together. Atlas Obscura is a fantastic site to do this kind of research on (we used this many times when travelling and it was great!).

6. Get Creative Together

For you art lovers out there, you’re winning! Art dates make ideal cheap first dates!

Wander through an art museum together

Have some fun unleashing your inner art critic together as you admire the artistic work of others. If you’re both super into art, then this is an ideal cheap first date idea for you because art galleries are normally free and it allows you to both be in your element. You can spend the date learning about the different art history, artists, artistic styles or even art mediums that you are passionate about.

Even if you and your date are not knowledgeable about art it can still be a really fun date. Try challenging yourselves to pretend to be really posh art reviewers together and interpret and comment on the art together. It can seriously turn into a really flirty and fun way to get to know each other.

Go for an art adventure

Pack your art supplies (and maybe some snacks) and find a cute location for you and your date to unleash your creativity at. Then sit together and paint, draw, write, or craft the day away as you get to know each other. A picture-perfect moment to get you both inspired!

7. Have A Beach Day

A day at the beach is a nice idea for a cheap first date. The only thing to keep in mind is that it may be weather dependent, so it might be worth using another one of these ideas as a backup!

Dive headfirst into a sun-soaked day of fun and relaxation. You’ll have that laid-back vibe which will take the pressure off and let you both be yourselves. Whether you’re building sandcastles or playing beach volleyball together, there are endless activities to break the ice and create some unique first date memories. Plus, the sound of waves rolling in and the warmth of the sun is going to set the perfect romantic scene. If you’re not so keen on doing hands-on activities, you can just sit and chat for hours. Maybe also sip on some refreshing drinks. Also, if you’re feeling up to it, you could even suggest catching a stunning sunset together. That will definitely give you a romantic edge. So, grab your sunscreen and shades, and get ready for your day at the beach!

8. Go op-shopping/thrift shopping

Find your favourite thrift store/s, set a budget, and then take your date on a shopping spree! This can be an incredibly entertaining first date and it’s good for the planet and your wallet. Plus, you might come away from it with a new wardrobe item to love as well (winning). You can even spice the date up further by adding a challenge into the mix. For example, you could challenge your date to create the best/worst/classiest outfit for you, create an outfit that fits a particular decade or try to recreate their favourite tv or movie characters outfit. You could seriously get creative with this date and make it into a first date to remember!

A little tip for this date: Make sure to wear an outfit and shoes that you don’t mind changing in and out of (trust me, it gets tiring and a little frustrating otherwise).

9. Go For A Stroll In The Botanical Gardens

It’s time to stop and smell some roses. Start things off a little slower with this first date idea by taking your date for a stroll through your city’s botanical gardens. This is a great cheap first date idea for all seasons! In spring and summer, you can admire the gorgeous sea of blooming flowers and be taken away by their radiant colours and unique smells. In autumn, you can stroll through a wonderland of dazzling oranges, reds and yellows together as leaves fall all around you. Also potentially have a cute candid moment with your date by starting a leaf fight. In winter, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can always rug up and adventure into the cold for a stroll together and if there is snow maybe do some snow angels or have a snowball fight together.

10. Go for a bike ride

Give your heart a different reason to start beating wildly by taking your date on a bike ride. If the two of you are a little bit more athletically motivated, then this is the perfect first date idea for you. You can either map out a nice scenic route to enjoy or simply see where the road takes you! The great thing is that if you both have bikes, this date is completely free. Unless you want to level it up that is, by cycling to a little café or packing a wee picnic to enjoy at some point along your route.

Other Excellent Cheap First Date Ideas For You To Try

Here are some other great cheap first date ideas that didn’t quite make the top 10 list but are definitely worth considering:

Go for a day walk or day hike together
Catch a sunrise or sunset together
Do some geocaching
Go for a picnic
Take them to dinner (but use a discount)
Coffee date
Go dancing
Keep an eye out for local events
Visit a local farmers market
Go to an open mic comedy night
Attend a local theatre performance
Take part in a pub quiz

As proven by this post there are so many cheap first date ideas out there for you to choose from, so don’t let a tighter budget stop you from having a wonderful first date! You don’t have to go fancy and expensive to impress your date and have a fun time getting to know them – dating can be done on any budget. So get out there and go have some fun creating a new connection and potential new relationship.