It’s easy to think there aren’t many things to do in a long distance relationship. But to be completely honest…
It’s far from the truth!
As long distance couples our interactions outside of talking can be limited and we tend to fall into a routine that may start to feel redundant.
Doing activities together, other than talking, is completely possible and a great way to connect with your partner on another level.
Genuinely Fun Things To Do In A Long Distance Relationship
There are many ways to keep the conversation going, but here are our top LDR activities you can set up for your next date night!
- Cook together
- Watch movies together
- Play games together
- Show & tell
- Visit a virtual museum
- Draw online together
- Plan your next visit
- Work, study or learn together
- Relationship quizzes
- Romantic dinner date
- Getting intimate
1. Cook your favorite meals together
Cooking together will require a bit of planning but it’s totally worth it!
This can be a lot of fun if you or your partner have a favorite recipe or cultural dish you want each other to try.
The bonus is you get to eat together afterwards!
Another cool option is to bake together. Not only will your place smell amazing, but you can also chat while everything is cooking.
Need inspiration? Check out this long distance couple that cooks together on a weekly basis. If they can do it, so can you!
2. Watch movies together online
We all have different tastes and interests. Watching movies together online is a great thing to do in long distance relationships for a couple of reasons.
- We get to learn about each others tastes and interests.
- It’s a great way to spend two hours relaxing in each others company.
If you’re unsure of what to watch, browse the web, read reviews, watch trailers and share which ones interest you. Or if you want to watch something relatable to your relationship, check out our article on LDR movies.
TIP: Use programs like Kast.gg (Web, desktop & mobile apps) and Netflix Party (Chrome browser extension) to watch movies in sync.
3. Play games together online
Who doesn’t love games? There are so many types that you’re bound to find something you can both enjoy.
Different games and websites we recommend to play together online include:
- Board Game Arena (175 board games to play for free online)
- Words With Friends (App you can play intermittently)
- Miniclip (Hundreds of Flash based games to play online)
There are also many games you can play that don’t need any materials!
- Truth or dare
- 21 questions
- Never have I ever
- Charades
4. Show & tell
Sounds simple right? Well it is!
Don’t be afraid to share interesting things with your partner. Whether you collect certain items or even if it’s a recent purchase, it can be fun to understand what makes each other ‘tick’.
Take it even further and explore things like:
- Your favorite books
- Projects you’re working on
- Photos you’ve taken etc.
5. Visit online museum exhibits
As the technology behind virtual reality and 3D mapping has become more affordable. We can now discover and explore places all over the world without leaving the house.
This is a perfect opportunity for long distance couples to take advantage of.
We really enjoy museums and historical exhibits because there is so many fascinating things to see and learn about.
Some worth checking out include:
- The Louvre (Where the Mona Lisa is kept)
- National Museum of Natural History
- NASA’s Glenn Research Center
6. Draw online together
Did you know: Studies have proven that creativity improves mental health and increases happiness.
So why not engage in creative activities together over video chat!
There are many tools available for freestyle drawing online. Some we recommend trying are:
7. Plan your next visit
There are many moving parts when it comes to planning a trip. Why not team up and plan your next visit together!
As the old saying goes:
Two heads are better than one.
Splitting tasks will not only speed up the process but you’ll likely look for different options and deals, giving you a lot more choice.
Sites we recommend to help your planning process:
- Google Flights (set up an email alert for prices around your dates)
- Secret Flying (great for finding amazing deals and error fares)
- Airbnb (vacationing together or wanting somewhere private to stay)
- iVisa (to check if you need a visa to travel)
- World Nomads Travel Insurance (make sure you’re covered)
8. Work or study together
Do you find yourselves just wanting to be in each others company? You may not want to talk but want to feel ‘close’.
Using this time for working or studying is a great option if you want to be in a calm and silent environment. There is also evidence from Stanford University researchers that working or studying together can boost motivation.
You can also bug each other for help, but not too much!
If you want to step it up a notch:
- Create a work/study music playlist together.
- Put yourself on mute if there is background noise.
- Schedule breaks to relax together.
9. Long distance relationship quizzes
While it can be fun to take a quiz to find out what kind of bread your are… why not use this time to learn about your relationship?
Completing this together will create some interesting discussion points and ways to work on yourselves and your relationship.
Relationship quizzes we recommend:
- How well do you know your partner? (The Gottman Institute)
- What is your love style? (The New York Times)
- Are you and your partner compatible? (Relate.org.uk)
10. Have a romantic dinner date
Light some candles, play a little background music and put on a nice outfit because it’s time to get ready for a romantic dinner date.
This is a great option if you’ve taken the initiative to cook together (our first LDR activity in this article) as most of the hard work is out of the way!
But it can also be a great idea to order your favorite takeout to give it a restaurant feel.
TIP: If you are going to order takeout, use a delivery service like Uber Eats because you can both select the same delivery time.
First time using Uber Eats? Get a $5 discount on your order by using the code ‘eats-vhva4‘ at checkout.
11. Getting intimate
First, let’s be clear, it’s important you both feel comfortable when it comes to getting intimate. Whether it is sexting, phone sex or being intimate online, make sure your partner is ok with the idea and always respect each other’s boundaries. This should be a fun and memorable experience for both for you.
Ready to take your relationship to the next level? Interactive couples toys are a great option.
Lovense are a company that specialises in adult devices for long distance couples. Their male (Max 2) and female (Nora) products connect to and control each other’s movements, creating an immersive experience.
What’s also awesome is that two male or two female devices can connect to each other!
You’re up!
If you’ve noticed recent video chats have become a little stale, it’s time to change things up!
Send this article to your partner and discuss what you’d both like to try.
Remember, you don’t have to do everything on this list. Pick one or two and see how it goes. From there you will likely find other things!
Final thoughts on things to do in a long distance relationship
Routine and predictability are two of the worst enemies a long distance relationship can have.
Teaming up and doing stuff together can make for great conversations, during and after those activities.
When you feel like you don’t have things to talk about, take the initiative and propose something to do together!
Livius founded Long Distance Lover in 2012 to bring straightforward and actionable advice to couples looking to strengthen their long distance relationships. He now acts as an advisor to the LDL team.
