35 Best Things to Do on Valentine's Day for Everyone

Show Some Appreciation For Your Sweetheart

According to Ken Page, LCSW, relationship expert and host of the Deeper Dating Podcast, sharing some specifics about what you really love about your partner can be an incredibly romantic gesture.

"Think about times in your relationship when you felt a lot of love for your partner," Page says. "Think about one quality you love and value, that really makes you feel like they’re your home in the world, and describe it in detail in your Valentine's Day card. Or share the quality they have that you most admire. Just doing that changes the entire tenor of Valentine’s Day and your relationship."

Send Out Valentine's Messages to Loved Ones

"If you remember when you were little, you would send mini valentines to all the kids in the class," Page says. "There’s something really wise about that—the more you give, the better you feel inside." He suggests sending out Valentine's Day messages (via text, cards, or small gifts) to all the people you love in your life, to help make their day—and yours.  

Try Something New (and a Little Scary)

"Research shows that doing something that makes you both a little nervous and scared brings couples together," Page says. Whether that's taking a ballroom dancing class, trying a new cuisine together, hitting an escape room, or taking the stage for a karaoke duet, that excitement will spill over into the rest of your relationship,

Find Ways to Add a Little Positivity

If you're single and you don't want to be, Valentine's Day can be a tough day. But you can find ways to turn the holiday around. Perhaps you'll want to watch an anti-Valentine's Day movie or find a way to celebrate your bad relationships—like a bold woman who went on a doughnut shop crawl with a few friends to mark all of her bad relationships. "Find something you can do to transmute the negativity a little bit," Page says.

Let Someone Else Plan a Perfect Date Night

If you're short on time to plan something to do on Valentine's Day, leave it to the experts. There are a slew of great date box services out there that will plan an activity, a soundtrack, and something to eat or drink—like TheHappily.co and The Adventure Box. Or opt for activity boxes that suit a particular passion, whether it's true crime, cooking, or crafts. (Cratejoy is a good place to start your search.)

Host a Game Night

Go ahead and pull out some of your favorite board games for an epic game night with your significant other or your friend group. A game night provides cheap entertainment and is a great low-cost option for a night of fun. Be sure to serve up some snacks and refreshments.

Throw a Galetine's Event

Galentine's Day has been a recent entrant into the Valentine's Day celebration. Generally celebrated on February 13th, it's a day to focus on the female friendships in your life, as invented by Amy Poehler's character Leslie Knope on Parks and Recreation. (Try some of these fun Galentine's Day cocktails to spice up your day.)

Gather your gals for a fun night together, whether you opt to go out or stay in. It can be as simple as dessert and drinks to reduce the stress on you (without losing an ounce of fun). You can choose a fun activity to do, whether it's playing games, hiring a pro to entertain or teach (we're thinking a tarot card reader, a mixologist, or a yoga instructor would be cool), or planning a friends-centric binge fest. (Don't worry: We have a few suggestions if you're looking for the perfect movie for a girls-only movie night.)

Give Out Galentine's Day Gifts

Let your favorite ladies know you're thinking about them by sharing a little something that'll mark the occasion. Consider showering your gal pals with mini gifts, like their favorite drink, a handmade bouqet of flowers, a candle, or some cozy socks. (We have a few great Galentine's Day gift ideas if you're stumped.) You can also bake some sweet treats to share the love.

Reconnect With Old Friends

Valentine's Day is the perfect time to reconnect with friends you haven't seen or chatted with in a while. Take the time for a brief check-in with a favorite pal, or plan a Zoom call to connect your college roommates or your high school crew. (Even just a quick text to let them know you're thinking about them can really make their day.)

Plan a Spa Day

Valentine's Day is all about love, and showing yourself some love is important too. Get your friends on the action and enjoy a spa day together. Book a group or solo date to your local spa, hire a mobile masseuse, manicurist, or aesthetician to come to your place, or go ahead and whip up some all-natural homemade masks that you can apply for an at-home spa day.

Get Your Kids Involved

You don't have to leave your kids out of the lovey-dovey fun! While they are probably having a Valentine's Day celebration at school, you can find more ways to bring them joy (even if it's just celebrating the day with a small Valentine's Day gift). Look for activities that bring everyone a little closer together.

Let your kids DIY their valentines for friends at school and relatives (what grandparent wouldn't treasure a homemade valentine?), or work on a larger craft like a collage of all the people who are important in their life, Page says. "Find activities that invoke a feeling of love with your kids," Page says. "That could be doing volunteer work like working in a soup kitchen together, or writing letters to loved ones together."

Even if you're planning your own date night, you could do something special with them beforehand. Treat them to a favorite meal, have a Valentine's-themed dance party, or make a fun treat to enjoy together. (We adore these mini desserts!)

Unwind With a Paint and Wine Night

Get out your paints and brushes and pour out a glass of wine for you and your loved one. Set the scene by lighting a few candles and playing romantic music in the background. Prepare a board of charcuterie to snack on while you paint the night away. When it comes to painting, choose whatever you like or create a theme around what you decide to paint, such as something that reminds you of each other or a scene from one of your favorite dates. Then surprise each other at the end with the finished result. You can also easily do this idea with friends.

Make Personal Heart-Shaped Pizzas

Get all the toppings ready and create heart-shaped personal pizzas. Along the way, you'll get to laugh at how well the "heart" is turning out, discuss favorite toppings, and sip on a little bubbly. Use store-bought dough or make your own for the full experience.

Sign up for a Dancing Lesson

Always wanted to learn how to dance? Get out of your comfort zone and use this holiday as an excuse to get your groove on. Whether you decide to learn salsa, ballroom, or country two-step, you'll have a phenomenal time learning with your partner. It will definitely be a memory you cherish for years to come.

Make a Mixtape for Each Other

Spend some time creating a playlist for your sweetheart. Songs that remind you of them, are sentimental to your relationship or are fun to dance to are all great candidates for the playlist. Listen to the playlists throughout the day to create a romantic ambiance.

Go on a Hike

Getting out in nature is one of the best ways to spend Valentine's Day. Whether you're a half-mile trail kind of person or you're more of a mountain-climbing adventurer, simply stepping out into fresh air is a beautiful way to celebrate the day.

Go to a Restaurant You've Never Been to Before

If there's a restaurant you've always wanted to go to but never have ventured to, this is the perfect time to try it out. Trying something new can inspire new conversations and will create new memories. Whether you're going with friends or a sweetheart, you'll have a great time getting out there and experiencing something different.

Get Coffee at a Local Shop

There's no doubt conversation flows better when you have a cup of coffee in your hand, and if you're an avid coffee drinker, a date at a cafe probably sounds like the best idea ever. Go to your favorite coffee shop or try a new one. Make it fun by ordering for each other (and if it goes array, just switch drinks!) Try a new drink you haven't before. Just don't forget to order a pastry too!

Recreate a Special Date

If you've been in a relationship for a while, try thinking of the best date you've had or maybe one that was special to you. Recreating a memorable date relive and reminisce on some of the best moments in your relationship.

Bake a Delicious Treat

One of the best parts about Valentine's Day is undoubtedly all of the sugary sweets we get to indulge in guilt-free. But eating the confection feels even better when it is made at home (and with a sweetheart!) Whether you go for rich chocolate brownies, chocolate-dipped strawberries, or another romantic treat, we promise you'll enjoy the journey just as much as the destination.

Take a Pottery Class

Not sure how to spend V-Day? Sign up for a pottery class. Grab your Valentine, take a friend, or go solo. Any way you spin it, trying a new hobby is fun, and getting out of your comfort zone is always the start to experiencing life to its fullest.

Play a Game to Deepen Connection

To get closer to your Valentine, try out one of the many new card games aimed at couples. Page recommends working your way through the 36 questions for falling in love (even if you've already been in love for a while) to help you build a deeper bond.

Book a Local Rental Home

Get out of your house for the night, and book an Airbnb near you. There's nothing like a staycation to reignite some romance. Plan a night of watching movies together, cooking your favorite meal, reading together, or playing board games.

Go Stargazing

You don't have to have an observatory in your area to go stargazing. Simply step into your backyard, lay out a cozy blanket, and lay down. Point out familiar constellations and nearby planets. Do some research on less familiar constellations and find them in the sky.

Put Together a Puzzle

There's nothing that says a cozy night in quite like a puzzle night. Consider picking out a puzzle together beforehand to make it even more of an adventure. Puzzling is a great way to spark conversation and deepen relationships.

Prepare a Themed Meal

A themed meal is a fun challenge for those who enjoy cooking and baking. Outside of a Valentine's Day theme, think of things that are special to you, like a meal inspired by your favorite movies, restaurants, dates, places you've been to, and more. If you're doing this with friends or family, have everyone pick a course to make and present it.

Have Breakfast in Bed

Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey! Start your day off right with a delicious breakfast in bed. Stay in your pajamas and head to the kitchen to make your favorite breakfast spread. Then, climb back into bed and enjoy the rest of your morning with a coffee in hand.

Go to a Bookstore

If you and your s/o love reading, take a trip on over to your local bookstore. Make it an adventure by picking out books for one another based on the other's interests. Take some time to explain your selections to one another. Spend the afternoon reading away at a park, coffee shop, or all cozied up at home.

Put Together a Bouquet of Flowers

When you think of V-Day, flowers most likely come to mind. Instead of purchasing a pre-made bouquet, go get some flowers at your local grocery store and put together a bouquet yourself. You get to choose your favorite flowers and arrange them to your style.

Go to a Drive-in Movie Theater

Drive-in movie theaters are known for being romantic. However, one of the best parts about going to the drive-in is preparing your car for the double feature. Pack in all the pillows and blankets you can, pick up some takeout food and candy, and fill a cooler with drinks before arriving.

Paint Some Pottery Together

Depending on where you live, there might be a paint-your-own pottery studio near you. At these studios, you choose which piece of pottery (i.e. mugs, plates, pots, figurines) and spend an hour or two painting it. If you love to get artsy, this activity is for you. Make it a tradition, and collect souvenirs from every Valentine's Day together.

Get Crafty

There are so many ways to get crafty on Valentine's Day! Get sentimental and put together your own Valentine's cards to share with the ones you love. Spend time with your beloved putting together a scrapbook of your relationship's best moments.

Go on a Day Trip

Take Valentine's Day on the road this year and discover a town a little bit away from where you live. The change of scenery will make for a fun day of exploring and getting to know a new place.

Buy Tickets to a Show

Look up events in your area and purchase some tickets for a night out on the town. See a local band perform at a music venue or watch some stand-up comedy. You could also go see a movie or watch a play at your local theater. End the night by getting a drink together and talking about the show.

Have a Movie Marathon

If staying in on February 14th is your vibe, then you might already be planning a movie marathon with your partner or friends. Consider watching your favorite romantic movies, or watching each other's favorites to get to know one another a little better. Get all the snacks and blankets out and prepare for the sweetest night in.