Finding a hobby together as a couple is a really neat way to create an endless stream of intentional time together. But, not every hobby is created equally, especially when it comes to a hobby for couples.
Today, we want to look at a few facets of the topic. First, we want to look at what makes a hobby great (and not great) for couples. Then, we want to share a bunch of ideas that you can try together. Lastly, we’ll share some tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your hobby time together.
Let’s get into it!
Here’s the best way to try out new hobbies.
Diving head first into a hobby you’ve never done before (or never done together before) isn’t always the best idea. Often, this can be too expensive, too daunting, and can leave you in a weird spot if one of you doesn’t like the hobby.
The best way to try out new hobbies for couples is to test them out on date nights! Dip your proverbial toes into the hobby (or at least an aspect of it) and see what you think. This allows you to save considerably on any supplies or gear you need. It also gives you each the chance to decide if you like the hobby or not without being so “into it” that you might feel bad saying you don’t like it.
If you’re interested in date night ideas that can help lead you to great hobbies for couples, we’d encourage you to check out LoveTrack. It’s a 100% free date night planner for couples that is chalked full of date night ideas that are perfect lead-ins to testing new hobbies.
And the best part? It is legit free and the key to your next great hobby together!
Here’s what makes a hobby great for couples.
Now, we’ve already alluded to the fact that not all hobbies are great for couples. Let’s talk more specifically about what does and does not make a hobby a great option here.
It easily facilitates interaction.
If a hobby is something you do completely solo and isn’t conducive to conversation and connection, it’s not a great fit. For example, diving is fun but the whole time you’re doing it, you can’t talk to each other or really connect. Yes, you do spend time together on the boat and do experience things in the water together (visually), but this probably falls under the “there are better options” category.
Something like bowling may be a lot better because even though you roll the ball yourself, you can talk and engage the entire time together.
It fits into your budget.
Some hobbies can be really expensive. If you have a lot of disposable income and can “take a chance” on something you might not like, go for it. However, if you’re like the rest of us, look for a hobby that you can at least get into for a lower and more affordable price point.
Often, this means hobbies where you can rent equipment or go somewhere to try it out once for an experience. Or you can always just pick a hobby that is inexpensive altogether!
It doesn’t require an intense amount of skill to get started.
Note that we aren’t saying don’t choose something you could get really good at. What we’re saying is choose something that you can dip your toes into and enjoy recreationally. For example, driving race cars could be fun, but it requires an immense amount of skill to even get started (let alone it also doesn’t facilitate much interaction).
One of you isn’t way better than the other.
This is one that you may be able to work around, but it all depends on your personalities. If one of you has been doing something for years and is incredibly good at it, you may find frustrations bringing your partner in who is brand new and not as good as you.
If you’re incredibly patient, ignore this! However, if you can see yourself getting frustrated not being able to do your hobby at the full potential, choose something else.
Here are some unique hobbies for couples you might like.
With that all said, let’s look at a bunch of hobbies that we think are great for couples. For your convenience, we’ve broken them up into categories.
Creative hobbies
- Painting or drawing together
- Cooking new recipes
- DIY home projects
- Pottery or ceramics
- Scrapbooking or memory journaling
- Dance lessons (salsa, swing, ballroom, etc.)
- Photography
- Baking (cookies, cakes, bread, etc.)
- Quilting or crotchet
Outdoor hobbies
- Hiking or nature walks
- Camping or glamping
- Bike riding
- Gardening or planting vegetables and herbs
- Running or jogging together
- Kayaking or paddleboarding
- Fishing
- Birdwatching
- Stargazing
Playful and competitive hobbies
- Board games or card games
- Trivia nights
- Bowling
- Weightlifting
- Video games (co-op or versus)
- Escape rooms
- Mini golf
- Sports (pickleball, tennis, softball, etc.)
- Puzzles
Relaxing hobbies
- Reading books side by side (or starting a two-person book club)
- Visiting farmers markets
- Listening to podcasts together
- Spa days at home
- Watching documentaries or shows with discussion after
- Collecting (vinyl records, antiques, art)
- Learning a new language
Adventurous hobbies
- Traveling (day trips or longer trips)
- Scuba diving or snorkeling
- Rock climbing
- Zip-lining
- Road trips
- Geocaching
- Skiing or snowboarding
- Horseback riding
- Surfing or kiteboarding
Some Tips to Enjoy Hobbies for Couples Together
Now that we’ve talked about the right hobby for your relationship, we want to share a few tips to maximize your fun and connection.
- Create an environment where it’s easy to say you’re not interested in something. – The worst thing that can happen is you both get heavy into a hobby that one of you doesn’t like. Create an environment where it’s easy to say you’re not interested without fear of comments like “We spent so much money on this already!” or “But you said you liked this before!”. Remember, interests can change, and that’s okay.
- Don’t let competition get in the way. – Remember, hobbies for couples are all about connecting, not being the best. This goes for internal competition (with each other) and competition with other people (if you’re part of a league or something like that). Remember what’s important here.
- Support each other. – It can be tough sometimes to balance trying to get better at something yourself and remembering to also support your partner who is going through the same thing. Be prepared for this and remember to focus on what is most important. Just in case it’s not totally clear, supporting your partner is more important!