Being single in a global health crisis can feel like trying to learn a dance while the music keeps changing – the rhythm of everyday life is different, and the familiar steps of meeting someone new have shifted. Yet connection is still possible, and it can be meaningful, creative, and safe. If you’ve matched with someone or reconnected with a crush, you can ease into getting to know each other by adapting your plans and expectations. The right approach turns limitations into opportunities, and these thoughtful date ideas during COVID help you keep the spark alive without ignoring common-sense precautions.

It helps to set expectations early: talk openly about comfort levels, distancing, and timing. You don’t need to rush into a face-to-face meeting; you can build chemistry through conversation, shared activities, and playful challenges first. When you do decide the moment is right to meet, take it step by step – start outdoors, keep it brief, and bring your sense of humor. With a little creativity, the best date ideas during COVID can make room for romance while also keeping safety front and center.

Connection first – then pick the plan that fits

The most successful dates begin with curiosity. Ask questions, swap stories, and find the overlap in your interests. Whether you both love competitive games, mellow playlists, or long walks, there’s a way to shape those interests into date ideas during COVID that feel natural rather than forced. Use the list below as a menu: mix and match elements, repeat favorites, and make them your own.

1. Backyard cinema, reimagined

   If you have access to a yard or a spacious terrace, transform it into an open-air theater. String lights for ambiance, drape a sheet or use a portable screen, and cue up a film you both haven’t seen. Sit with comfortable space between you – blankets folded into separate nests do the trick – and trade reactions in whispers. Add a pre-show ritual: each of you brings one snack and one short trailer to “pitch.” This relaxed, cozy setup embodies the spirit of date ideas during COVID by balancing intimacy and caution.

2. Picnic in the park with a personal twist

   Choose a scenic spot and build a picnic that’s easy to portion individually. Think single-serve treats, two thermoses, and a sprawling blanket with a visible middle line for a playful “you stay on your side” vibe. Conversation starters can come from your surroundings – birds overhead, clouds you name together, or a silly rating system for passing dogs. The joy is simple and low-pressure, which is exactly what makes these date ideas during COVID feel sustainable when the world is stressful.

3. Virtual tasting night for curious palates

   Host a tasting flight on video: the classic route is wine, but you can swap in teas, chocolates, craft sodas, or non-alcoholic spirits. Pick three to four small portions each, compare notes, and invent your own tasting descriptors. Does that tea taste like a rainy library afternoon? Does the chocolate have campfire energy? Being playful lowers nerves and builds shared language, which is exactly why this format sits so comfortably among the gentler date ideas during COVID.

   

4. Game night with purpose

   Video chat can be more than a talking head. Play structured prompts that deepen connection: collaborative word games, drawing guesses with a timer, or “build a story” rounds where you each add a sentence. Mix in question decks that spark reflection – hopes for the next season, a meal you’ll never forget, a tiny habit you’re proud of. When you treat the call like an event rather than filler, you’ll feel the momentum that makes date ideas during COVID work.

5. Distanced sports for friendly rivals

   Not all movement puts you in close quarters. Choose a sport that naturally spaces players out – tennis, badminton, or volleyball in a lightly used public court. Keep score if you love competition, or ignore it if laughter matters more. Warm up together, add a goofy victory dance, and finish with a cool-down walk. Physical activity releases tension and gives you shared wins, proving that active date ideas during COVID can be safe, energizing, and undeniably flirty.

6. Show-and-tell room tours

   Turn video into a guided tour. Each of you picks five objects with a story: a dog-eared book, a plant that refuses to die, a postcard from a trip, a childhood photo, a kitchen gadget that changed your mornings. Rotate through reveals, sharing why each item matters. The goal isn’t to impress – it’s to offer context. This gentle vulnerability is the heartbeat of excellent date ideas during COVID because it creates closeness without physical proximity.

   

7. The errand date that’s secretly delightful

   Grocery runs and pharmacy trips are part of life, and doing them together – masked and mindful – weaves everyday compatibility into your connection. Walk the aisles, compare favorite snacks, and dare each other to pick one mystery item to try later on your respective video calls. Practical plans often remove the pressure of grand gestures, making this one of the most surprisingly fun date ideas during COVID.

8. Two-person book club

   Pick a short novel, memoir, or a collection of essays that meets in the middle of your tastes. Set milestones and schedule cozy check-ins to discuss characters, themes, and lines that lingered. Trade reading aloud for a page or two – stumbling over words together can be adorable. Rituals like this lend structure, which is a secret ingredient in many date ideas during COVID: the plan carries you when energy dips.

9. Shared takeout, separate tables, same moment

   Place two orders from the same restaurant – or from different spots if you want to compare – and meet on video at plating time. Dress the table, light a candle, and offer each other a mock toast. Discuss textures and spices as if you’re critiquing a cooking show. Eating at the same time slows the conversation in a comforting way, and the ritual becomes one of those steady date ideas during COVID you’ll want to repeat.

10. Playlist exchange and deep listening

    Music can tell your story when words are shy. Swap curated playlists built around moods – “early morning optimism,” “late-night calm,” “songs I loved before I knew better.” Listen together and pause after a track to share why it earned a spot. If you’re brave, include a wildcard that makes you cringe a little; honesty beats perfection. This is one of the warmest date ideas during COVID because it bridges distance with sound.

11. Seasonal fruit picking with a side of wonder

    On a clear day, head to a u-pick farm or orchard with roomy rows and open air. Wear shoes that don’t mind dirt, bring a tote, and make a friendly contest out of the most photogenic find. While your hands are busy, conversation flows – future recipes, childhood summers, the best crumble topping. Fresh air and small adventures are anchors for many outdoor date ideas during COVID.

12. Handwritten letters that you’ll keep

    Slowing down can speed up connection. Write each other letters – not essays, just a page or two – and add a doodle or a pressed leaf. Talk about what you’re learning, what you’re missing, and what’s making you laugh lately. Then read them aloud on your next call, or save them for a later reveal. Tangible artifacts turn fleeting conversations into keepsakes, which is why this sits high among the most romantic date ideas during COVID.

13. Old-school phone call magic

    Video can be wonderful, but there’s a special charm in a voice-only call. It removes the self-conscious “how do I look?” loop and lets you focus on tone, timing, and the music of laughter. Take a walk while you chat – shared movement even in different neighborhoods knits your experiences together. Low-tech date ideas during COVID often feel the freshest because they simplify what matters.

14. Spa night for two, apart but together

    Create parallel relaxation. Pick a time, put on robes, and set up your spaces with candles, mellow playlists, and face masks. Compare textures, scents, and routines, then trade suggestions for a gentler evening ritual. Restoration can be connective – when you both exhale, conversation softens. Self-care doesn’t have to be solitary, and that’s the quiet genius of restorative date ideas during COVID.

15. Self-guided city wander

    Every city hides pockets you’ve never noticed: murals under bridges, side streets with quirky architecture, a community garden buzzing with bees. Map a short loop and stroll together at a comfortable distance, taking turns choosing the next turn. Snap photos of details that delight you and build a shared album afterward. Being tourists in your own town is one of those evergreen date ideas during COVID – light on planning, rich in conversation.

16. Sweat session with a flirty finish

    If movement is your love language, coordinate a workout you both enjoy. Meet for a distanced run, stream the same HIIT session, or follow a yoga flow while on call. Celebrate completion with a goofy medal ceremony – air high-fives included – and a promise to hydrate. Seeing each other persevere is attractive, and it’s yet another reason active date ideas during COVID can lift your mood.

17. Paint-and-sip creativity hour

    Gather simple supplies – canvases or thick paper, a few brushes, basic paints – and pick a theme you both attempt: favorite skyline, an abstract of your week, or a portrait of each other as fruit. Keep the stakes low and the laughter high. Pause halfway for a mini gallery walk on camera and offer the kindest critiques. Making something side by side reinforces the playful spirit that powers many artful date ideas during COVID.

Make safety part of the romance

Planning matters, but so does pacing. Before any in-person meetup, talk about your current routines and what feels safe. Plan outdoor spaces when possible, keep a comfortable buffer, and bring what you need – hand sanitizer, water, and layers if the weather shifts. Framing these choices as care rather than caution adds tenderness to your time together. That’s the heartbeat of thoughtful date ideas during COVID: you’re not ignoring reality; you’re honoring each other within it.

When connection grows, you’ll naturally look for the next layer – a longer walk, a recurring ritual, a cozy movie series. Let anticipation build and let humor be your co-pilot. Keep experimenting with the formats that bring out the best in both of you, and don’t be afraid to repeat the simple plans that work. The beauty of these date ideas during COVID is how they turn small moments into bright ones, proving that even in uncertain seasons, affection can bloom and a gentle spark can become something steady.