Do you want your first tinder date to go well & be memorable?
I bet you do!
Therefore, I'll walk you through 10 amazing first tinder date ideas so that you don't mess it up!
But, before that…
First of all, let’s lay down the ground rules for good and bad dates.
- You must have an exit plan.
- Better avoid extreme situations.
- Make sure you have the ability to get to know each other.
- Do something that brings you natural topics for conversation.
Having an exit plan means you don’t tie yourself into a five-hour tinder date before you know you want to be on one. That means you avoid dates that would take five hours.
You can also say something like “I might meet up with some friends later, we haven’t decided yet.” Voila, there’s your exit plan for the first tinder date.
That doesn’t mean you can’t have a five-hour date — it just means you only commit to 30-60 minutes. If the date goes well, you can just do something else later.
Meeting at a place like Starbucks, unless it’s one that’s filled with strange people, leaves you very few conversation openers.
You want to be at a place or doing something, that leads to natural topics for conversation.
However, you might be surprised by the fact that Starbucks is among the most popular places for a first date.
Extreme situations can be fun, and adrenaline kicks actually make people fall in love more easily, but…do you really want to be in an extreme situation with a person you don’t know?
You don’t know how they’ll react, so probably not.
Ever tried meeting someone for the first time in a very loud, very busy bar?
You don’t hear what they’re saying, you’re distracted by everything happening around you and chances are you’ll end up more frustrated than attracted/in love.
Best Tinder first date ideas
1. Go For The Wine Tasting
Something like a wine tasting, cheese, and wine pairing, or beer tasting, is a great way to spend an hour together, while also having other people to interact with.
You just don’t want a full-day tour of a vineyard — stick to an event that’s maxed out an hour, or so.
2. Meet for Dessert
An after-dinner dessert (or late afternoon one), can be really fun for the first Tinder date.
You go to a place with lots of choices, so you can talk about your favorite desserts. You get to oh-and-ah about how good it is.
You get a sugar rush. It’s sweet. In more ways than one.
3. Go for a Walk
A walk gives you something to do.
Buying takeaway coffees, or some ice cream, and then going for a walk in the park, or on the beach (choose somewhere with plenty of people around as it will give you topics of conversation and help you both relax as no one fears getting kidnapped).
You can always bring a frisbee, paper to make boats for the pond, that kind of thing, and then use it if, and only if, you feel your Tinder date is kind to appreciate it.
4. Go to a Quirky Bar or Café
While it may seem like an ordinary suggestion, going for coffee on a first date actually has several advantages. For starters, it's a non-threatening and safe option as you can meet in a public place and leave whenever you want without any pressure to continue the date.
Moreover, opting for coffee conveys that you're interested in getting to know the person without any other expectations or pressure. When you go to an oddball place, you have something to talk about naturally. Whether it’s the super cool decor or the funky drinks menu.
I agree that it may not be the most creative or exciting option, but a coffee date is an excellent choice if you're feeling unsure or hesitant about a first date.
5. Coin Toss Dates — The Penny Date!
We actually got this idea from the guys over at Kirby, but it’s so good that I (the author), for one, am going to try it out!
Basically, you walk around the city and at each street corner, you toss a coin. Heads you go right, tails left.
Of course, you can also have a goal.
Such as stopping at the coolest bar you see (maybe you need to walk far enough to find two so you can make a choice, esp. if you find the first one after one minute of walking…), or having dessert somewhere.
6. Events in Your City
While concerts, plays, and movies are a terrible idea as you can’t really talk to one another, farmers markets, Christmas markets, Renaissance fairs, art fairs, and the rest, are excellent first dates.
You can walk around, looking at different stalls, so you have something to talk about and it won’t take all day. And the bonus is you might actually get to see something new in the city!
7. Engage in a Shared Pursuit
Go for outdoor activities: Ice Skating, Rollerblading, Billiards, Ping-Pong, Mini-Golf, Bowling, etc.
OK, so if you, or your date, are prone to breaking your bones (or being scared of being seen looking like Bambi on ice), don’t do this.
If not, it’s a pretty epic way to spend an hour together.
You can laugh (especially if you’re a beginner) and after some fun exercising, you can stop for a coffee, ice cream, or hot chocolate.
Also, you get to hold hands and touch each other trying to help each other.
And, for other activities, granted neither one of you are prone to hit people with golf clubs/bowling balls or feel totally humiliated by how bad you are at the pool, playing a game together can relieve a lot of tension.
Granted neither is a bad loser, either.
8. Hang out with Your Friends
This is a bit of a hit or miss. For it to work your friends have to…..
- Be a nice bunch that will respect your date, whether s/he is super interesting or deathly boring
- You have to be able to pay attention to your date and ensure they don’t feel left out
- It needs to be something where s/he can leave after 30-60 minutes if you don’t have chemistry (such as you’re all preparing to go to the next bar and they can join/go home, or you can choose to go with them somewhere else or leave yourself).
While hanging with friends is low-key and a great way to get to know someone without much pressure, it’s usually better for first dates with people you already met in person.
So you know if they’ll gel with you/your friends.
9. Exhibitions and Museums
This is similar to a fair — you walk around and check something out. It helps if you’re both into whatever is being exhibited, but if you both hate it, it can also lead to a good laugh.
Just bear in mind that if you’re a science geek and they’re an arty fart…unless you can make the science exhibit fun for them, or they the art exhibit fun for you, it’s not a good idea.
You need to find common ground or something that’s new to the both of you, or something one can explain to the other to make it interesting. We all know what it feels like to go to a boring exhibition and that is a total killjoy.
10. Go to an Aquarium, Seriously!
Going to an aquarium as a first date idea may seem unconventional, but according to several Reddit users, it can be a fantastic experience. One user shared that he took a girl to an aquarium, and they both loved it, even walking through the entire place twice.
Another user mentioned that many girls enjoy aquariums, as it's not something they get to see often, and they're pretty cool for people of all ages. Additionally, one user confirmed that going to an aquarium for a first anniversary was an amazing experience.
Overall, going to an aquarium can make for a unique and exciting first date.
Takeaway:
In conclusion, first Tinder dates can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. However, with the right approach and some creative ideas (going for outdoor activities like Ice skating and aquarium), you can turn your first date into a memorable experience that sets the foundation for a potential relationship. And, remember to communicate openly with your match and choose a date idea that fits both of your interests. With these tips and ideas in mind, you're sure to have a great time on your first Tinder date. So go out there and have fun!