25 Fun Rainy Day Date Ideas for Every Budget

A drizzly day doesn't mean you have to cancel all your plans or remain stuck indoors twiddling your thumbs. On the contrary, it's the perfect opportunity to get creative and soak up time with your favorite person in the world (or get to know someone new). Rainy day date ideas encourage you to try something different, and there's also something ultra-romantic about cozying up with your cutie while the clouds let loose outdoors.

Whether you're looking for free or cheap adventures, an activity that really kindles the romance between you two, or simple and cute date ideas for rainy days, we've got plenty of inspiration ahead.

In this article:

• The Best Rainy Day Date Ideas
• Romantic Rainy Day Date Ideas
• Cute Rainy Day Date Ideas
• Cheap Rainy Day Date Ideas
• Free Rainy Day Date Ideas

The Best Rainy Day Date Ideas

For the crème de la crème of date ideas for a rainy day, consider one of these options.

Challenge Yourself With an Escape Room

If you're feeling up for the adventure and love a good challenge, set up a date at a local escape room. It'll test your smarts and firm up your communication skills. Plus, you'll feel super accomplished afterward and have a good reason to celebrate.

Hit the Bowling Alley

You can hear it now: The sound of squeaky shoes on a buffed alleyway and bowling pins clattering in the background? You can't go wrong with a classic bowling alley date. You'll get extra credit if you dress the part.

Visit a Local Museum

You visit as many museums as you can while traveling, but how many have you seen in your own city? Now's the perfect time to check out that local, must-see museum. Consider a science museum, art museum, local history museum or one of those small, offbeat museums that get a lot of hype.

FEATURED VIDEO FROM THE KNOT

Dare to Do Indoor Skydiving

Calling all adrenaline junkies! Indoor skydiving is a fun way to get your heart-pumping without worrying about rain drops. These sorts of high-energy activities are a great way to bond, too.

Compete at an Arcade

Hit up your local arcade for some friendly competition with each other. Whether you're into classic games like darts or pool, love a true arcade gaming experience or have wanted to try axe-throwing, a rainy day is a great time to dive in.

Romantic Rainy Day Date Ideas

Want to turn up the volume on romance while the rain pours outside? Consider one of these lovey-dovey ideas for a rainy day date.

Set Up an Indoor Picnic

There's no rule that says a picnic has to occur on a rolling green pasture under the sparkling sun. You can set up a delicious picnic at home with a cute blanket and your favorite music in the background. Make each other sandwiches, or consider putting together a butter board or charcuterie board.

Splurge on a Couple's Massage

If you've got some cash to spend and a desire to treat yourself, call up a nearby resort or spa and schedule a couple's massage. The rain pitter-pattering outside makes for an extra-soothing experience, and you'll both be in great moods with all those knots melted away.

Run a Bubble Bath

As an alternative, stay home and get a little steamy by running a warm and sudsy bubble bath that you can enjoy together. Candles and soft music make the experience more fun. The rest of the evening will plan itself from there…

Create a Couple's Bucket List

Talking about your goals and dreams is always fun, so why not make a date of it? Grab your favorite beverages and create a bucket list of things you want to do together. Create a list of short-term/simple activities along with dream activities for the future

Learn a New Dance

The world's your oyster with this one. Maybe you've always wanted to learn how to tango or two-step, or maybe you're the type to learn an entire dance routine and post it to TikTok. Whatever the case, YouTube can help you make your dreams come true with tutorials and guides.

Cute Rainy Day Date Ideas

Keep your time together low key and sweet with these cute date ideas for rainy days. And hey, they even work when the sun is shining.

Paint Portraits of Each Other

Get ready for deep belly laughter with this rainy day date idea. Grab a small canvas, easel, paint brushes and paint for each of you. Then sit across from each other (so you can't see the other's canvas) and paint a portrait of your partner. Unless one of you is a gifted painter, the results will be uproarious.

Whip Up a Tasty Dessert

Rainy days call for yummy food, and if it's a baked good even better! Try your hand at a family recipe for chocolate chip cookies, challenge yourself something complicated like macarons or crème brûlée or go for a classic like banana bread or chocolate cake.

Visit an Aquarium

The zoo's out on a rainy day, but the aquarium is definitely in. And by in, we mean indoors. Hold hands and mosey through tanks of exotic-looking fish, catch a dolphin show or mingle with sea turtles and stingrays.

Plan a Crafting Session

Rainy days and crafts go hand-in-hand, and there's no shortage of options to choose from. Rely on materials you've already got at home, or head to the craft store together and pick out a fun project. Maybe it's painting a wooden bird house, decorating a t-shirt or making candles.

Catch Live Entertainment

Unless it's completely outdoors, all the shows in town must go on. Get some laughs in at a comedy club, dress up and stroll into the symphony, grab some beer at a dive bar with live music or get inspired at a poetry slam.

Cheap Rainy Day Date Ideas

You don't have to drop a lot of cash to enjoy each other's company. These inexpensive date ideas for rainy days are proof of that.

Put a Puzzle Together

If you've already got a puzzle at home then this rainy day date idea is completely free. If not, you're an easy $5 away from a great time. Pick out a puzzle together and start putting all the pieces in their place. A nice cocktail or bottle of wine can take the date to the next level.

Choose Outfits at the Thrift Store

The thrift store is a great place to spend a rainy day. Add some intention to the trip by accepting the mission to choose an outfit for each other. You can set parameters to make it more interesting, like "must be green" or "must cost less than $10 total." Make sure to get the whole fit plus accessories.

Linger at a Local Coffee Shop

A cuppa coffee or tea is an easy $5, and it earns you permission to linger as long as you'd like. Bring a book to read or a game to play, or look for a spot with some live music you can enjoy together.

Grab Some Coloring Books

Coloring isn't just a child's activity—there are complex adult coloring books you can pick up, too. This relaxing activity even has some mental health benefits associated with calming your mind and soothing anxiety.

Read Each Other's Tarot Cards

Pick up a deck of tarot cards (if you don't already own one) and watch a quick tutorial on how to read them. Then, take turns pulling cards and reading them for each other. Whether you believe in the mystical or not, it's a fun way to spark conversation.

Free Rainy Day Date Ideas

Challenge yourself to see how much fun you can spend without spending a single dollar with these free and fun date ideas for a rainy day.

Bring Out the Board Games

No doubt you've got at least a few board games tucked away somewhere at home (maybe even collecting dust). Unbox one of them and spend an hour or two reminding yourself why you bought the game in the first place.

Snuggle Up With an Old Movie

A couch and movie date is a classic, and it's especially apropro on a rainy day. You can watch anything, of course, but there's something extra sweet about watching a familiar film. Maybe it's a vintage RomCom or a favorite comedy with lines that never get old.

Pick a New Book at the Library

The library is 100% free and filled with literal hours of entertainment. And if you don't already have a library card? Well, a rainy day's the perfect to get yourself one so you can take advantage of this free local resource moving forward.

Do Some Yoga

Bust out the yoga mats, lay them side-by-side and put on a free yoga class (YouTube is great for this). If you're new, opt for a beginner's yoga session to introduce yourself to the art. If you've done yoga before, consider picking an area of the body that really needs some work—like your back, feet or shoulders.

Take & Share Personality Tests

From Myers-Briggs to Enneagram to the DISC Test, there are countless free personality tests you can take online. Choose one or two to take together, then share and talk about your results after. You'll not only get to know yourself more, but will have a better understanding of each other, too.