16 Fun Date Ideas in Arlington, VA, to Spark Romance & Intrigue

Some of the nation’s most iconic attractions and museums are in Arlington, VA. So why defer to expected drinks and dinner for date ideas when you’re next to the nation’s capital? We enjoy dinner and a drink as much as the next person but expected ideas such as those take a backseat in our Arlington date ideas list. 

Instead, we have creative takes on things to do as a couple at various stages of dating, whether you need a fun date idea in Arlington for a first or hundredth date.

Disclosure: This is a paid partnership with Arlington Convention and Visitors Service. We may make a small commission from affiliate links in this post, but all opinions are ours. We bring you content with genuine facts, photos, thoughts, and recommendations. Always. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Fun Date Ideas in Arlington, Virginia

Here’s an overview of these fantastic — and unique — date ideas: 

  1. Take a Cooking Class at Cookology
  2. Feel the Exhilaration of Airplanes Landing Overhead at Gravelly Point
  3. Play Arcade Games at Punch Bowl Social 
  4. Travel Around the World through Arlington’s Culinary Destinations
  5. Hear Live Music 
  6. Listen to Poetry Read Aloud
  7. See a Play or a Musical 
  8. Visit Theodore Roosevelt Island 
  9. Smell the Roses at Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden 
  10. Sign Up for a Wine Tasting
  11. Pay Tribute to America’s Heroes at the Nation’s Most Iconic Cemetery 
  12. Double Date at Arlington’s Museums
  13. Get Sweets with Your Sweetie at Jeni’s Ice Cream
  14. Rock Climb in Crystal City
  15. Learn the Ropes
  16. Go for a Bike Ride

Arlington Date Ideas Map and Cheat Sheet

If you're a visual person like us, here is a map to help you understand where each date idea is within Arlington. Additionally, we have a handy cheat sheet for you to download so you can easily reference this information while you plan dates and other exciting things to do in Arlington as a couple.

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    Arlington Date Ideas for Various Stages of Dating

    1. Take a Cooking Class at Cookology 

    The couple that eats together…stays together! Okay, fine, that’s not a saying, but it could be, and it’s one that we support! We jumped at the chance for a cooking date night in Arlington. Luckily, the cuisine the nights we were in town was Thai food, bringing us back to one of our first international trips together to Thailand in 2016. 

    We had a blast for over two hours that evening in the Ballston area of Arlington, cooking alongside other participants, including two other couples. Cookology makes it really easy to learn some tips and tricks in the kitchen while having fun composing a delicious meal. They also provided wine, beer, and spritzers to enjoy while we crafted the meal, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere. 

    Our lead chef and teacher, John Michel, was patient, had a great sense of humor, and had years of experience as a chef nationwide. We loved asking him questions and learning more about his culinary exploits. 

    As soon as you know that you want to participate, book two spots for your Arlington date night because class space is limited. A small class allowed us – the students – to have the instructor's attention as needed. 

    Besides the teamwork needed to make a successful dinner together, the best part about a cooking class is that you can recreate the dish at home. They email you a copy of the recipes. If Thai food isn’t for you, there are a plethora of classes to choose from. Simply check their online calendar; next time, we’ll try a Modern French Cuisine class to add to our culinary repertoire. 

    2. Feel the Exhilaration of Airplanes Landing Overhead at Gravelly Point

    Couple kissing with an airplane in the sky overhead at Gravelly Point, a public park in Arlington, VA.

    We didn’t realize exactly how much fun we’d have at Gravelly Point until we were there. But man, did we ever! We didn’t want to leave. We kept saying to each other, “Okay, one more plane landing then we’ll go!” 

    The notion of watching airplanes land together immediately brought visions of a Disney movie. Dreaming of where the airplane was landing from and having fun looking them up in the Flightradar24 app was a blast. 

    The exhilaration of hearing massive airplanes roar above us as they descended from the air to land at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) a few hundred yards away, feeling the wind in our hair, was memorable. We enjoyed trying to guess when the next plane was going to come in for a landing and then exclaiming to each other, “Here it comes!” when we could first spot the next flight approaching from a distance. 

    We completely support kissing as the airplanes land for the perfect photo opportunity and memories made! Tip: learn how to use the self-timer on your phone camera or on your pro camera before you visit so you can time things perfectly.

    3. Play Games at Punch Bowl Social

    Couple standing by a pinball machine for a date idea in Arlington, VA at Punch Bowl Social.

    You don’t have to act like an adult just because of your age. Get flirty with each other as you have fun playing arcade games like pinball and assorted video games at Punch Bowl Social. They also have Skee-Ball, which Dan and I love playing. 

    This playful destination is located in Arlington’s Ballston Quarter shopping mall on Level 1; there is an entrance on the exterior or interior of the building. They also have two bowling lanes if you fancy a little innocent competition. 

    They have a full bar and dining menu if you want to extend your date beyond game time. 

    4. Travel Around the World through Arlington’s Culinary Destinations 

    Did you know that Arlington is one of the most culturally diverse destinations in the United States? This melting pot of a city has wonderful restaurants to satisfy every culinary desire and then some. If you’ve ever wondered what Baltic cuisine tastes like, for example, this is the place to try it. We tried it at Ambar’s Baltic menu; we loved it! 

    How about meals around the world for your Arlington date ideas over the course of a few weeks? Create a series of date nights where you travel worldwide, all in Arlington. 

    For example, one month tackle Asian restaurants and try Thai food one week, Chinese food the next, Indian food the third week, and Japanese food the last week of the month. We enjoyed a lunch date at Kanji Izakaya where we reminisced about our time in Japan. We also had dinner at NiHao and enjoyed small plates of a bunch of Chinese food items. 

    Table filled with Japanese food on black plates.

    Or pretend you’re in Europe for the summer! Enjoy Italian food, Spanish, French, and Portuguese each of the four weeks of the month. We loved the handmade pasta at Sfoglina, which reminded us of our time visiting Italy and eating Italian food around the country. 


    Stay Arlington makes it incredibly convenient to look up restaurants by cuisine and by neighborhood. 

    5. Hear Live Music

    People sitting on a lawn looking at a rainbow decorated stage on ground level for jazz in Met Park, a date idea in Arlington, VA.

    There’s nothing quite like live music. Luckily, when we visited Arlington, we enjoyed free live jazz in Met Park, where Amazon’s campus is. It’s open to the public and is a beautiful place to walk around or sit for a while to enjoy an event. (If there isn’t an event when you want to visit, it’s a lovely place to have a date night picnic on the open lawn in the park. You can even pick up picnic items at the Whole Foods just two blocks away.)

    If you miss summer jazz at Met Park, Arlington’s Rosslyn neighborhood has an annual jazz festival in September. Alternatively, there are additional live music events at various bars and restaurants throughout the city on a weekly basis.  

    6. Listen to Poetry Read Aloud

    Interior of the mixed us space of Busboys and Poets in Arlington for a great date idea.

    Busboys and Poets is a famous cafe, established in Washington, DC. Due to its popularity, multiple locations across the DC Metro Area exist. Visit the Arlington location in the Village at Shirlington for a date night during an open mic night. 

    7. See a Play or a Musical

    Mikkel grew up seeing Broadway shows in NYC, living in nearby Long Island. That’s partially why we always look for live theater wherever we go. Thankfully, traveling shows mean you can see Broadway acts nationwide, including at Arlington’s Signature Theater. Plays are also popular here. The theater’s online calendar shows if ticket stock is low or not, helping you plan accordingly for your date night.  

    8. Visit Theodore Roosevelt Island 

    Theodore Roosevelt Island is an oasis where you’ll feel quickly transported to Virginia’s countryside. It’s just a bike ride or walk away from the city’s urban center, though if you want to drive there, there’s a parking lot before the pedestrian-only bridge to cross the water to get onto the island. Most of the island is a natural oasis where three different integrated trails allow visitors to safely navigate the landscape. But there is also an area with a towering statue of the nation’s former President, surrounded by a plaza and two water features. 

    Take a snack to enjoy together when you reach the Theodore Roosevelt sculpture and something to hydrate.  

    9. Smell the Roses at Bon Air Memorial Rose Garden 

    We visited this breathtaking public garden during the peak time for roses in June. The colorful blossoms were as mesmerizing as the sweet scent of the roses was intoxicating. The colorful roses were everywhere. This is also a great place to propose if you’re feeling like you want to take the next step in your relationship and get married!

    Though seasonal, roses are fairly resilient in Virginia and last for many weeks during late spring into summer. Take books to read stories to each other on one of the benches in the garden, take a picnic lunch, and make sure there’s room on your camera. You’ll surely want to take photos of the roses here. It’s also an ideal location to take photos of each other or together as a couple.  

    10. Sign Up for a Wine Tasting

    Outdoor table with several wine glasses for a wine tasting date idea in Arlington.

    Better than simply having wine together is learning about it. Then you can dream of destinations to go to test what you’ve learned, whether dreaming of a trip to Virginia’s nearby wine country or France’s Bordeaux or Burgundy regions. 

    Whino in Ballston regularly offers a “Wine 101” educational class including a tasting. It’s incredibly affordable at $30 per person. Punch Bowl Social is just steps away if you want to continue your date night fun with arcade games before or after! 

    We also enjoyed trying a flight of wines from Grand Cru Wine Bar and Bistro at our own pace, which you don’t need advance tickets for. They have some of the best flight options we’ve ever seen for bubbles, whites, and red. 

    Another great idea is to go to Ambar Restaurant for a Rakia tasting, which is a unique fruit brandy from the Balkans. 

    11. Pay Tribute to America’s Heroes at the Nation’s Most Iconic Cemetery

    Man looking at a monument of white marble at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

    This date idea may be a head-scratcher if you’ve never been to this iconic DC metro area destination. However, after visiting and hearing our thoughts, you’ll quickly realize it’s a solid Arlington date idea. 

    Here’s why we love this: 

    • There is nowhere else like it in the United States. If you’re local to the area, don’t discount this meaningful destination and place of remembrance just because it may be an expected destination. 
    • It will help facilitate conversations with your partner or date about life planning, and perhaps get a natural conversation going about relatives or personal experiences with the nation’s military. For example, Dan and I both have family that served in WWII, and it was the perfect reason to talk about our grandparents. When we visited Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s grave, it was also a moment to reflect on what was going on in our lives during her last few years on Earth because it was such an important part of the news cycle back then. 
    • It can spark conversation about future travel. We recalled our time visiting Normandy as we walked around, and it sparked a conversation about future travel plans. 

    This is also a great idea if you’re on a budget. Entrance to the cemetery is free though you can pay to ride the trolley to tour through the cemetery if you want. But all guests are welcome to walk around freely as well.

    Another idea is to book a guided walking tour of the cemetery. This two-hour tour hits all the highlights.

    12. Double Date at Arlington’s Museums

    Man looking at a display in Arlington at the DEA Museum.

    Arlington has many wonderful museums, many of which have complimentary admission. When the idea of going to one of Arlington’s museums for a date came across our radar, we first wondered, “Hmmm, is this a good date idea or bad?” 

    But we had a light bulb moment when we realized it was the perfect double date idea! Why? Because you don’t have to worry about the budget of the other couple joining the date, it’s an interesting and intriguing activity, and you can always extend the date afterward for lunch or dinner plans. 

    We visited Arlington’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Museum, which took us approximately one hour to explore (it’s small). We didn’t know anything about the history of the DEA or some key things they do before going there and we were happy to get educated about it. 

    If you visit, be sure to bring a driver’s license with you as a valid form of identification because they do a quick check on you for security purposes before you enter. If you want to extend your educational date, walk over to the nearby Pentagon Memorial.

    Alternatively, you can explore these great museums: 

    13. Get Sweets with Your Sweetie at Jeni’s Ice Cream

    Hand holding a bowl of ice cream with a slice of a waffle cone in it.

    The ice cream at Jeni’s is Mikkel’s absolute favorite! And sometimes we make sacrifices for our partners, don’t we? While Dan’s more of a vanilla or simple coffee ice cream kind of guy, Mikkel loves crazy flavors and twists on classics. Jeni’s high-quality ice cream is the perfect place for that.

    Try a scoop of Brambleberry Crisp or Salted Peanut Butter with Chocolate Flecks, Mikkel’s favorite! The Arlington location of Jeni’s Ice Cream is at the Village at Shirlington, where we recommend having a bite to eat before or after your ice cream. They have a bunch of great restaurants; we loved The Carlyle. 

    14. Rock Climb in Crystal City

    Movement Gym has an indoor rock climbing facility within Arlington’s Crystal City neighborhood. Various passes, including day passes, are available to purchase to use the facility. 

    Dan and I don’t rock climb often, but we truly enjoy the challenge and teamwork involved when we do. We’ve done it indoors at facilities just like Movement Gym, and outdoors in Thailand. And trust us when we say you can be a beginner and have a blast! We’re beginner climbers and never fail to have fun rock climbing. 

    If you don’t know anything about rock climbing, don’t let that intimidate you. The gym regularly has free classes to learn how to climb. If you look at their online schedule and find a class that works for both of you, call the gym to see if they have a code for a free class (hint, hint: they do). Otherwise, a class is $30 per person, which is incredibly affordable. 

    There are two types of climbing activities at the gym, which are typical of many indoor climbing facilities: top climbing, which you need a harness for, and simple wall climbing called bouldering, which you do not need a harness for. Shoes and hardnesses are available to rent at the gym. You need a harness for top climbing, or you can bring your own if you’re an experienced climber. 

    If you’re new to the sport and discover that you love it, you can proceed to book day passes or get weekly/monthly passes to climb together at the gym. If you don’t like it, it’s still great that you tried something new for a minimal cost in your quest to discover fun date ideas in Arlington and things to do as a couple.

    15. Learn the Ropes

    If you and your date crave adventure, Climb UPton is calling your name. This outdoor ropes course has three levels of fun that you’ll explore together during a 90-minute class, which includes a safety briefing. 

    You’ll navigate the course stepping across suspended walkways, zip lining, and freefalling. Book in advance online; make sure it’s for the Arlington location. 

    16. Go for a Bike Ride

    Man standing by rental bikes for the Capital Bikeshare program in Arlington, VA.

    How about a good old-fashioned bike ride through Arlington? You can combine a bike ride with another activity in this fun Arlington date ideas list, using Capital Bikeshare bicycles to travel between destinations. 

    This great Arlington program allows you to rent a bike for a set amount of time through an app. You simply download the Capital Bikeshare app, locate the best station for you, and rent. The app integrates with Lyft, so we signed up for the program within seconds because we already had Lyft accounts.

    You can rent manual or electric bicycles. It was a little bit harder to find an available electric bike to rent – they are in higher demand but lower supply than manual bikes. However, there were so many stations it wasn’t too hard to come by; we simply had to go to two stations two blocks away from one another so we each had one. 

    After renting the bikes and cycling a little through Arlington, we can only confidently recommend participating in this if you’re comfortable without a helmet in a busy metropolitan area (or can bring your own helmet) and can navigate the streets by memory. The law only mandates that children wear helmets in Virginia, but our safety-consciousness said to wear one. 

    Additional things to beware of if you want to ride bikes in Arlington is that not all streets have bike lanes, many streets are one-way, some streets are on an incline, and the electric bikes are surprisingly heavy. This comes into play when you need to walk a bike to face the other direction or find another street to go in the correct direction toward your destination.

    If you’re comfortable with riding a bike and know Arlington, however, this is a wonderful thing to do as a duo. 

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      Other Helpful Info for Date Ideas in Arlington

      Getting Around Arlington 

      This major metropolitan destination is easy to navigate in any number of ways: 

      • Metro
      • Rideshare
      • Walking
      • Bikeshare

      Metro in Arlington

      Start an account and load money into your cellular phone app for Transit Cards (SmarTrip is the DC Metro Area card) or simply buy passes in person at a ticket machine by the train you need to take. 

      The metro in this area is clean, enjoyable, and easy to navigate.

      Rideshare

      Lyft and Uber rideshare vehicles are plentiful around Arlington. We never had to wait more than 10 minutes for one during peak times. Off-peak waiting times were even less. 

      We took a rideshare to get from the DCA airport to our hotel around noon the day we arrived. It took less than 15 minutes total, including wait time and walking in the door at the hotel.   

      Walking Around Arlington, VA

      It's fairly walkable, depending on where you live or stay in Arlington. That said, Arlington covers a rather large area so it’s unlikely you’ll walk from one end of the city to the other end, which could take over an hour. However, walking is a viable option if you’re walking within a certain neighborhood or between two adjacent neighborhoods. 

      Where to Stay

      Bed, tv and a coffee table at a hotel room at the Hilton in Arlington, VA.

      If you’re making a vacation out of your time together exploring Arlington, we recommend staying in one of these three Arlington neighborhoods: National Landing/Crystal City, Ballston, or Rosslyn. They’re all within walking distance of restaurants, bars, and some attractions. 

      Though any one hotel won’t be within walking distance of everything, at least you’ll take advantage of the proximity of some of these things, and you can take public transportation or a rideshare to reach other destinations outside of walking distance. 

      We stayed at Hilton Arlington National Landing and thoroughly enjoyed it. We had a fabulous view of the Potomac River on the tenth floor in an incredibly spacious room with a king-size bed. We could see some of the planes taking off from nearby DCA airport. 

      Our go-to brand in any destination is usually Marriott, so we considered the Westin in Arlington’s exciting Ballston neighborhood and the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel close to the airport.

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