Long-distance relationships (LDRs) are hard, and for any number of reasons, they are among the toughest things people can do when it comes to romance.
Of course, the biggest issue in these arrangements is that the involved parties simply aren’t around each other in the same way you would be if you lived in the same city or country.
However, distance is only a barrier if you allow it to be, and while there are many great ways to show your partner you care from afar, long-distance date ideas can be some of the most effective.
Planning a good date night is crucial for keeping your partner feeling special, understood, and, most importantly, appreciated.
No matter what’s going on in your lives, the things on this list are designed to help make you and your partner feel close and connected to each other, even if you’re not able to be physically close.
Date Planning Inspo For Long Distance Relationships
1. Virtual Movie Night – The Original Date Night Done Differently
A classic for a reason, going to the movies and enjoying a meal or snack while watching a show with your partner is one of the simplest, easiest, and most fun date ideas out there.
However, even this longstanding classic can be taken in new and fun directions with just a little extra thought and creativity, especially for a long-distance couple.
How to Make It Special
For one, virtual dates are great because they allow for a kind of togetherness that is otherwise difficult to create in an LDR. Choose a theme that you both are interested in and set a time to start watching and make it a date night, even if you’re apart.
Ideas for a Memorable Movie Date Night
-
Choose a Theme: Whether it’s a genre you both like (rom-coms, thrillers) or a theme around a shared memory (the first movie you saw together, a recent movie you talked about), make the night a special one.
-
Sync Up Your Movie Times: To make it feel more like you’re actually watching it together, time it so that you’re both starting and ending around the same time. There are apps like Teleparty (previously Netflix Party) that will allow you to stream Netflix simultaneously while video chatting.
-
Video Calls Pre- or Post-Movie: If you really want to feel like you’re spending time together, you could also do a video call before or after your movie to talk or catch up.
-
Movie Theater Vibes: If you’re missing the movie theater experience, make sure to have all the snacks you want. You could even surprise your partner with a package of popcorn or candy delivered to their door before the night starts.
-
Interactive Fun: Add some extra interactive fun by texting comments and jokes to each other as you watch, or setting up a video chat for when you watch. You could send emojis, photos, or gifs to each other in real-time that reference the movie, or just have some general banter. If you’re watching a movie you’ve both never seen, this can make the experience even more enjoyable, since you’ll be reacting to plot twists or events together in real-time.
Virtual movie nights are a great opportunity to maintain connection with your partner while also being physically distant, and can be a fun shared experience that you both get to have.
Related: 7 Creative Date Planning Ideas to Spark Romance
2. Virtual Dinner Date – Cooking (and Eating) Together
Food and eating are intimate parts of life, and we spend a lot of time sharing experiences with our partners by simply enjoying a meal or snack together, while talking and catching up. For those in a long-distance relationship, you can bring the same level of intimacy into your relationship by cooking together for a virtual dinner date.
How to Make It Special
-
Cook Together, Apart: Choose a recipe that you both want to try, and cook it at the same time, but separately. Thanks to modern technology, this can be done in real-time. Set up a video chat in your kitchen and get to work. Whether you’re making a fancy three-course meal, or just cooking up a homemade pizza, cooking together brings a level of partnership and intimacy to a dinner date even when you’re apart.
-
Food Pairing: Choose a wine or cocktail to pair with your meal, and have a toast over the video chat. You can both look up pairings or cocktails or make a signature drink together to enjoy.
-
Send Each Other Ingredients: Surprise your partner by sending a box of some of the ingredients for your recipe. It can be as simple as spices or specialty items they can’t get at home, or you could even send a complete surprise meal or snack kit for them to try.
-
Dress for the Occasion: You don’t have to sit around in sweatpants or pajamas just because you’re at home. Make it a point to wear your best and fanciest clothes for the date, as though you would if you were eating at a nice restaurant. Even from across the screen, it’s an easy way to take the experience up a notch and make it feel even more special.
-
Talk about the meal after you finish: Take some time to talk about the dish. Discuss how it turned out, if there’s anything you’d change, or just chat about anything fun that happened while you were cooking. It allows you both to enjoy the shared moment that made the meal unique.
Virtual dinner dates are another great opportunity to bring a level of intimacy to a long-distance relationship while having fun.
Related: 50 Romantic Date Planning Inspo
3. Online Games and Virtual Hangouts – Playful and Fun
Games can be a wonderful way to connect with your partner and to get some light-hearted competition and laughs in, especially when you’re apart. Whether you’re competitive or just want to spend time with each other without the pressure of heavy conversation, playing games is a great way to bond with your partner in an LDR.
How to Make It Special
-
Find Games You Both Love: Choose games that you both enjoy and that you can learn together. This could be a traditional board game like Monopoly, video games, trivia apps, or even word games like Words with Friends. There’s a lot of great options, so choose something that you both will enjoy playing and will be able to pick up the basics of relatively quickly.
-
Create Challenges: You can also take things up a notch by creating some fun challenges or stakes for the winner. It could be as simple as choosing the next virtual date or movie night film, or maybe the loser has to make the other one their favorite cocktail over the next call.
-
Hangout with Friends: If you want to take things to the next level, why not bring some friends along with you for virtual multiplayer games? You can create a group video chat and have a whole get-together to play games and hang out while you both compete, or you could play with just each other and include friends in a group chat that way.
-
Co-Op Games: If you’re more the cooperative type, consider some co-op games that will have you working together as a team towards a goal. There are a number of great co-op games available online, whether it’s a puzzle game, an action game, or something else entirely.
Playing games with your partner is a great way to make each other laugh and have some silly fun, even from a distance.
Related; 9 Essential Things a Guy Wants in a Long Distance Relationship
4. Surprise Care Packages – Thoughtful and Meaningful
Sending a surprise care package is a great way to let your partner know you’re thinking about them, and it allows you to send a small token of your love to your partner when you can’t be there in person. Whether it’s a box of their favorite snacks or a thoughtful gift you made yourself, there are some great ways to make the care package special.
How to Make It Special
-
Personalize It: Make sure the items you send are your partner’s favorites. Include snacks they like, or send them a gift or keepsake with personal meaning. You could send them a framed photo of the two of you, a book that you both wanted to read together, or a handwritten letter with everything that you love about them.
-
Package with a Theme: Care packages can be themed to make them even more special. You can send a self-care box with bath bombs, candles, and relaxing tea, or a movie night box with popcorn, snacks, and a list of movies and shows you can watch together. You could also send cooking ingredients or a cooking kit if you both love to cook together.
-
Experiences as Gifts: Care packages can also include experiences as well. You can order online classes or subscriptions that both of you can enjoy, like online workout programs or streaming services for example.
-
Extras for Good Measure: Try to add in some unexpected, fun extras. Surprise them with a funny T-shirt, a plushie, or a little gadget they mentioned wanting. Personal details like these can go a long way and show that you’re paying attention to your partner.
Care packages are a great way to make your partner feel closer to you and provide a little something special they can open and enjoy.
5. Future Planning Date – Focusing on the Future
Planning the future is one of the most fun aspects of being in a long-distance relationship, and it can give you both plenty to look forward to. Whether it’s planning your next visit with each other or talking about future life goals and things you both want to experience, talking about the future can be a great bonding exercise.
How to Make It Special
-
Plan Your Next Visit: If you’re able to, start planning your next visit together. Pick a date and a location and start talking about things you want to do, where you’re going to stay, and what you’re most looking forward to when you’re together.
-
Create a Bucket List: Write a bucket list with things you both want to do together in the future. It can be anything from a road trip or a vacation to a concert or a play, or you could have some more specific goals, like opening a business together or traveling to a specific place. Whatever it is, making a list to look forward to is a good idea.
-
Talk About Goals: Talk about your long-term goals for your relationship and where you both see it going in the next few years. It’s a good way to bond and make sure you’re both on the same page, but it’s also a good reminder about why you’re doing what you’re doing now.
Planning for the future can be both fun and give you both plenty to look forward to, and that’s especially true if you’re in a long-distance relationship. Start thinking about what you both want and how to make it happen.
Conclusion
As we’ve seen, long-distance relationships can be tough, but they don’t have to be lonely or isolating. By taking the time to plan special, thoughtful dates with your partner, you can help create a relationship that will stay strong even in the face of great distance.
Whether it’s a movie night, a cooking session, or just talking and dreaming about the future, the ideas on this list are a great way to make sure your partner feels understood, appreciated, and close to you. So, plan your next virtual date and start planning your future together today.
Save the pin for later
- How To Journal For Therapy At Home - 02/10/2025
- 7 Sneaky Things Narcissists Say - 01/10/2025
- How To Reboot Your Brain - 29/09/2025