So, you’ve met someone new and things are looking promising…
Great!
But what should you do on a fourth date?
How can you take things to that next level?
In this article, we discuss the best fourth date ideas for your exact situation.
Now, the first three dates are all about learning who each other are and whether there’s a connection or not. Now that the two of you are comfortable, it’s time to think about where your relationship may be heading.
This is what makes the 4th date so important. In fact, it can be the deciding date. Things are getting serious.
When it comes to choosing the best 4th date idea, always make sure to pick something your future partner will find interesting and fun.
After three successful dates, you may be getting ready for a committed relationship, so it’s also important to test whether the two of you “click” under different circumstances and in different situations.
If you’ve only been on formal dinner dates, then it may now be time to go for something more casual. Let’s jump in…
Table of Contents
1. Picnic
Cost: $10-$40
If your fourth date falls during the spring or summer months, then a picnic is a great choice. It allows you to enjoy the beautiful scenery while sharing laughs and some delicious food. You can prepare the food together or takeover the date by preparing the food and location by yourself.
Picnics have very few distractions, which means you can enjoy long conversations that have the potential to get deep and personal. This is a great fourth date idea if your previous dates have been full of action.
2. Take a Long Walk
Cost: FREE
If you would rather skip the food and drink, you can opt to go for a long walk or hike. This will allow you to share laughs while you enjoy and talk about the scenery.
3. Visit an Amusement Park
Cost: $40-$100
Are you more of a thrill-seeker? Then visiting an amusement park can be a better idea. Although you should now be somewhat comfortable with each other, an amusement park means that you’ll never run out of stuff to enjoy. This is almost a guaranteed way to enjoy the fourth date, well, as long as the rides don’t make you sick…
4. Take a Cooking Class
Cost: $40-100
Learning to cook with your date is a great bonding experience. There are cooking classes that allow you and your date to work together as a team, which allows the two of you to move forward as a couple.
And hey, if it goes wrong, then at least you have handful of excellent recipes to enjoy.
Or perhaps you can bake from home to keep things light and fluffy… and these 30 recipes you can make for your boyfriend at home are sure to be a big hit.
5. Bowling
Cost: $15-$30
There’s a good chance that you’ve already been bowling, but if not, now is the time to put your bowling shoes on. Bowling is a safe bet is you’re looking for a fun evening.
6. Arcade
Cost: $10-$40
Perhaps you want to skip the bowling and head straight for the arcade? This type of date will allow you two of you to enjoy competitive fun while reminiscing about your younger days.
If you both enjoy retro games and have a competitive side, then the arcade is a perfect fourth-date choice.
7. Escape Game
Cost: $40-$150
While we are on the topic of gaming, why not try a different one…
Escape rooms are taking the world by storm, and we can see why. They allow the two of you to work as a team to escape a room.
Helping each other to find clues is the perfect foundation for any relationship. They are also incredibly fun.
8. Visit the Zoo
Cost: $20-$60
What’s cuter than looking at a dozen cute penguins as they bask in the sun?
Not much.
Visiting the zoo is a great date for building memories that will last for years to come.
Who knows, next year your partner may be saying, “remember our fourth date at the zoo? That’s so special to me”.
The zoo is a no-brainer if the two of you are animal lovers. You can spend a whole day gazing at exotic animals from around the world. In fact, you could even feed some.
9. Concert
Cost: $0-$100
If you both enjoy the same music, going to a concert can be a great fourth date for fun and bonding. You can choose to let loose at a dance concert, or ramp-up the romance by watching Ed Sheeran.
And who wouldn’t fall in love listening to the most romantic songs of this generation?
10. At-Home Movie Night
Cost: $0-$20
If you have already been on a few adventurous dates, you may want to dim the lights and spend a relaxing night together.
Being alone in the dark is one of the most romantic things you can do with your date, so this can be a good date idea if you want to get closer physically.
Make the night even better by stocking up on a range of their favorite snacks and a huge bowl of popcorn.
11. Gaming Marathon
Cost: $0-$40
Are the two of you avid gamers?
If so, nothing beats staying in and having a night of gaming.
Remember, couples that game together stay together.
From Call of Duty to Overcooked, there are a number of cool co-op games that can be played for hours and hours. You can work together as a team, and then switch things up by going head-to-head. Loser pays for the fifth date 😉
12. Feed the Ducks
Cost: $0-$5
Here’s one you may not have expected to see on this list!
Venturing to your local pond to feed the wildlife is a cute way to spend a 4th date.
It’s also an incredibly cheap date, so is ideal for those who want to impress on a budget.
Simply grab a few tins of corn or grain, and then be on your way to meet your local wildlife.
13. Homemade Dinner
Cost: $5-$25
Here’s another 4th date idea that won’t burn a hole through your wallet!
Cooking for your date is a great way to mix things up, especially if you have only been to restaurants so far.
Having a date at your house is also a natural step in the process to becoming official as partners. It shows that you are comfortable with each other. Oh, and be sure to have something up your sleeve for after dinner, like a romantic comedy.
14. Sports Game
Cost: $0-$100
If you’re lucky enough to find someone who supports the same sports team as you, why not go to a game together?
This will be a turning point in the relationship, as you will have gone from dates where you’re getting to know each other, to do activities that you both find enjoyable.
A lively date like this always ensures there is something to talk about, so it’s a good idea for those who are worried about awkward silence.
15. Stargazing
Cost: $0-$20
If you live in an area with low light pollution, you may want to spend a night looking at the stars. As you can imagine, this can be one of the most romantic dates possible. It will be a real test to see if you can handle being alone together with zero distractions.
For the ultimate romantic-vibe, grab a bottle of your favorite wine and a few of their favorite nibbles.
Fourth Date Tips
Although you now have the perfect date idea, there are a few things to remember if you are to have a successful date. Please remember the following…
1. Have fun!
You should now be comfortable enough with each other to have a great time together. Well, without the need for copious amounts of alcohol. If things are still awkward, you may need to ask yourself why this is.
Date four should revolve around shared interests or something you talked about during your previous dates. There’s no need for an extravagant date, as you’re now well into the dating phase.
2. Be open
We open up at different times, but date four is generally where people start to open up and be more vulnerable. Hopefully, you’re now comfortable with this person. Obviously, there’s no need to share anything crazy, but try to bring those walls down a little. You’re going to have to at some point, right?!
3. Defining what you are
Date number four is usually where things start getting serious and you may want to define what your relationship is. Now, you don’t need to ask it yourself, but it’s important to be ready if your date does ask the big question.
If it’s you that wants to know where things are going, starting a conversation doesn’t have to be difficult or awkward. Simply tell your date how much you’re enjoying spending time with them, and then ask how they’re feeling about it.
4. Don’t talk about your ex
Generally, it’s best to avoid mentioning your ex at all. I’ve made this mistake many times myself. So when you’re talking about past events, try not to bring up your ex, or don’t do the worst thing possible by comparing your date to your ex! Should the topic of exes come up, it is okay to talk about why you ended and vice versa. In fact, it can be useful information to learn about why your date split with their ex.
5. Ask deeper questions
You have likely exhausted all possible first-meeting questions. Now it’s time to get deep. You’ll want to find out who they really are. What makes them tick? What is their life goal? Is there something you should know?
It’s a game of asking the right questions, but in a way that doesn’t cause offense or step over any line. Make the date about them by showing genuine interest and getting to know them on a deep level.
6. If you haven’t done it yet, perhaps make the move…
Now, this will vary depending on your own views and situation, but it may be time to take your date to the next stage of intimacy (if you haven’t already). If you’re thinking about it, you can bet your date is thinking about it too.
Even though you may be ready to go all the way, there’s a chance your fate is still not quite comfortable enough yet, and that’s okay. Never expect your date to do anything sexually, just because you’ve had four great dates. If they aren’t ready yet, reassure them that you aren’t just there for sex, and you are prepared to wait as long as it takes. Saying this will make your date feel comfortable and able to trust your actions.
Final Thoughts
So, there are a number of fourth-date ideas from you to choose from. The exact one you choose will depend on your interests, what you have already done, and your budget – amongst other things.
My biggest suggestion is to pick something that involves common interests. Not only will this mean both of you won’t be bored, but it should also keep building the bond between both of you.
You should use the knowledge gained during the first three dates. What did your crush enjoy? What type of date haven’t you been on yet? Do you want to get closer to your date?
Answering the above questions will allow you to gain a clearer picture of what to do on the fourth date. You should also think about what you want from the ‘relationship’ as things start getting serious around this time.
I just know you’re going to have a great time on your fourth date. The two of you are comfortable, you like each other, but the journey has only just begun. You’re about to discover if this person will become a much more permanent fixture in your life. Enjoy the experience!
