20 free long-distance date ideas

Long-distance relationships can be expensive. Flights, train tickets and phone bills add up fast, and many couples are saving every bit they can for the next visit. The good news is that the best long-distance dates often cost nothing at all. Here are twenty free ideas that need only a phone or laptop and a bit of imagination.

1. Walk together

Take a walk at the same time, each in your own city, with a call running. Show each other what you see: the corner shop, a funny sign, the sunset. It feels surprisingly like walking side by side.

2. Watch the sunset (or sunrise)

If your time zones line up, watch the sky at the same time. If they don't, one of you can watch the sunrise while the other watches the sunset, which is lovely in its own way.

3. Stargaze

On a clear night, go outside and look up together. Free stargazing apps can help you find constellations. Try to spot the moon at the same time, even if you're on opposite sides of the world.

4. Have a picnic

Pack a small picnic, find a park and eat together on a call. Even sandwiches feel like a date when they're eaten outside.

5. Have a "parallel evening"

Keep a call on while you both cook, read, study or tidy up. You don't need to talk the whole time. Sharing quiet time is one of the most underrated ways to feel close.

6. Make a playlist together

Take turns adding songs to a shared playlist, each with a short story about why you chose it. Then listen to it together from start to finish.

7. Read the same book

Pick a free book from your local library or a public domain classic, read a chapter each week and talk about it. A two-person book club is a lovely ongoing date.

8. Read aloud

Take turns reading a story to each other before bed. It's especially lovely on nights when one of you can't sleep.

9. Do a workout together

Follow the same free workout video at the same time. Good for motivation, and watching each other struggle through the last minute is very funny.

10. Have a fashion show

Try on your best, worst and oldest outfits and model them for each other. Bonus points for outfits from school photos.

11. Draw each other

Set a timer and draw your partner from memory. Compare the results. Frame the worst one.

12. Write a story together

Take turns writing one sentence at a time. It will go somewhere strange very quickly.

13. Make a time capsule

Write letters to your future selves, to be opened in a year or on the day you finally live in the same place.

14. Learn something new

Pick a free online course, tutorial or language lesson and do it together. Learning a few words of each other's languages is a lovely gesture.

15. Plan your dream trip

Choose a place you'd both love to visit and plan an imaginary trip in detail: where you'd stay, what you'd eat, what you'd see. Some of these plans become real.

16. Plan your next visit

Make a list of everything you want to do next time you're together. Having it written down makes the countdown feel shorter.

17. Make a bucket list

Write a shared list of things you want to do together one day: big dreams and small ones. Tick them off over the years.

18. Visit a virtual museum

Many major museums and galleries offer free online tours and collections. Wander through together and pick your favourite piece.

19. Tour each other's neighbourhoods on a map

Use a street view map to show your partner the places you grew up, went to school or love to visit. Then swap.

20. Ask questions you've never asked

A good list of questions turns a normal call into a real date. Start with our 60 questions to ask your long-distance partner.

Try one new idea from this list each week, alongside your usual calls. After a couple of months, you'll know which ones you both love and can turn them into regular traditions.

What turns a call into a date is intention, not money. A few small touches help:

• Put it in the calendar. A planned date feels different from a call that just happens.
• Dress up a little. Even changing your top signals that this is a special evening.
• Put your phone on a stand so your hands are free and you can look at each other.
• Take a photo or strip at the end, so you'll remember it.

For more ideas, see our list of long-distance date ideas you can try tonight and our 15 games to play over video.