Dates are very intimidating, especially if you’re going out with someone for the first time. You would want to make a good, lasting impression and avoid awkward pauses, which could all add to your anxiety.

To take some of the burdens off your shoulders, we made this guide just for you. Continue reading to get date ideas in Hong Kong from locals, including what to do and where to go.

Where should you bring your date in Hong Kong?

Ideally, you should take your date somewhere in Hong Kong where you can get to know each other better while also being yourself. 

Places that allow for plenty of opportunity to talk with each other in a fairly casual, low-pressure environment are perfect, especially for first dates.

This would mean that museums, parks, bookstores, and other locations where you can explore and talk about each other’s interests are prime dating spots. Add a spice of creativity and adventure, and you are on your way to having a fun, memorable, and successful date.

You may want to avoid places like the movies since they are unnecessarily and overwhelmingly intimate, awkward, and not a good place for sparking conversations. Let’s discuss better, more exciting options in greater detail.

Casual Date Ideas

Informal dates are a great opportunity to know each other’s genuine selves. You and your date can relax, exchange points of view, and see whether or not you are a good match for each other since there is no need to put up a facade or wear fancy clothes.

This doesn’t mean you can’t dress up or wear jewellery, though, especially if it would help boost your confidence.

1. Take a stroll around a park

Best for:

• Low-commitment dates and first dates
• People looking for date ideas with minimal planning, effort, and budget
• Starting off a date, as parks are usually close to other establishments

Parks and other peaceful places with lush greenery are not only romantic but also calm and quiet enough for you to speak without having to raise your voice.

Parks also offer a variety of advantages to couples. 

Not only are these places usually free to enter, but parks are also usually close to restaurants and other interesting sites where you can continue your date. 

Alternatively, you can decide to hold a picnic! You could decide to bring unique food, go to the nearest shop together and put up a meal together, or call a dessert and cake delivery service.

The possibilities are endless.

Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden

Website	http://en.chilin.org/
Address	3 Chi Lin Drive, Diamond Hill, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Opening Hours	Chi Lin Nunnery: Daily: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Nan Lian Garden: Daily: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Admission Fee	Free

The Chi Lin Nunnery and the Nan Lian Garden are great examples of places for calm conversation, especially if you both like traditional architecture, ponds, and plants. You can tour the complex while also talking about your views on spirituality and nature or just enjoy the views. 

There are also souvenir shops and a vegetarian restaurant within the temple, so you can get your date something to commemorate your trip while also getting quick refreshments and meals before you continue with your day.

You might also want to consider going to the Nan Lian Garden at night because they will be opening the lovely light installations. 

If you’re lucky enough to have a clear sky on your visit, the vibrant lights, beautiful plants and wooden fixtures, and the starlit skies will make for one romantic sight to behold.

2. Visit a museum or gallery

Best for:

• First dates
• Exploring and discussing each other’s interests

Museums are much like parks in a way since they offer plenty of time and opportunity for conversation. Only this time, you don’t have to think as hard about what to say because the displays and exhibitions will provide you with enough topics.

Not only do museums offer countless things to talk about, but they also provide you with a chance to show off your knowledge. You get plus points if you and your date share the same interests and have the chance to geek out about the things you love.

Another advantage of museums and galleries is affordability. They rarely cost a fortune to enter, and souvenirs aren’t that expensive either. 

All things considered, you can have a fun and memorable day without going over the budget just by taking a trip to the nearest gallery or exhibit.

The Hong Kong Space Museum

Website	https://hk.space.museum/
Address	10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Opening Hours	Monday, Wednesday to Friday: 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Admission Fee	General Public: $10 but free on Wednesdays

The Hong Kong Space Museum is a splendid example of one of the museums you can visit, especially if you and your date enjoy technology and space. 

The Space Museum gives you plenty to talk about. There are numerous displays where you can get a glimpse of all the technology astronauts use, see how it feels to be in space, and other interesting sights. 

You can also watch shows in the Space Theatre and virtually explore the cosmos.

Once you’re done exploring the Space Museum, you can visit the Hong Kong Museum of History next door. Victoria Harbour and other interesting places are also close by, so you can continue your date after your tour.

3. Join a class together

Best for:

• First dates
• People who want to explore their creative sides
• People who want to give gifts to their date

Taking a class with your date is the perfect time to express your creativity while also learning something new. Cooking classes, art lessons, or pottery sessions are brilliant ways to spend time with your date, especially if this is your second meet-up.

By attending a class together, you build a stronger connection and leave a better impression. Not everyone thinks of attending classes for a date, too, making sure your time would be more memorable than the usual movie or dinner get-together.

Plus, these classes often leave you with an end product, such as paintings or pots. You can give what you make to your date, and they’d have something to remember this day for a long time.

Artjamming

Website	https://artjamming.com/
Address	4D Yally Industrial Building, 6 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
Opening Hours	Tuesday to Sunday: 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Admission Fee	Minimum of $400

Artjamming is an art studio that offers a unique artistic experience for both artists and non-artists. Here, you and your date can unleash your inner Picasso.

The studio offers 2 to 4-hour sessions where you and your date could paint on tote bags, heavy cotton bags, or canvases. Albeit a more expensive option, at least you could get to show off your painting skills and impress your date.

You will also get to keep the canvas or bag, which you could exchange with your partner as a remembrance.

Exhilarating Date Ideas

If you want something more creative and memorable but without getting too formal or too expensive, you might want to try date ideas that get your blood pumping. 

Whether it’s going on a hike or visiting an amusement park, you are sure to have a fun and memorable time if you and your date do one of the following.

1. Visit the amusement park

Best for: 

• Subsequent dates
• Couples who are willing to spend hours together

Amusement parks are a common date idea anywhere you go. There’s no shortage of activities to do, ensuring hours of fun. 

However, you might want to avoid the amusement park if it’s your first date. 

Since the tickets and souvenirs are usually expensive, you would have to devote a huge chunk of your day to your date to get the most out of what you paid for. If things don’t go as planned, you’d have to choose between sticking with a bad date or losing money.

Amusement parks are also very noisy, leaving little room for conversation. However, amusement parks are great for subsequent dates, especially if you and your date enjoy rides.

Hong Kong Disneyland

Website	https://www.hongkongdisneyland.com/
Opening Hours	10:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Admission Fee	$639 for adults

If you’re thinking of going to an amusement park in Hong Kong, it’s impossible not to think about the “happiest place on Earth.” Although the tickets are highly expensive, you and your date are sure to have an amazing time together since there are so many things to do.

You can go on rides, watch shows, visit the various shops and get souvenirs. This place is also a splendid choice for big fans of cartoons.

2. Go on a hike

Best for:

• Nature lovers and active, sporty people
• Those who want to enjoy a beautiful natural view

Hiking is an incredible date idea, especially if you and your date are adventurous types. It’s unique, inexpensive, and has little to no distractions, which makes for a memorable experience where you can get to know each other better.

Hikes are also very romantic, especially if you reach the top of the hill or mountain you’re climbing. You get plus points if you catch a glimpse of the sunset or wait for the night sky.

Sunset Peak

Website	https://www.discoverhongkong.com/seasia/explore/great-outdoor/great-outdoors-hong-kong/sunset-peak.html
Address	Hike starts at Pak Kung Au

Sunset Peak is the third-highest peak in Hong Kong. The climb is no easy feat: the hike distance is around 9 km long and takes an average of 4.5 hours to accomplish.

However, you will be rewarded with seas of grass, breathtaking views of the mountains and beaches, old mountain huts and watch towers, and other natural and man-made beauties. 

After your hike, we’re sure you’d have a lot of mementoes together since every few steps offer a great opportunity to take a picture with your date.

3. Try a sport together

Best for: 

• Athletic and adventurous people

When you hear the word “sports,” you automatically think of exhausting activities. While it’s true that sports dates require a bit more energy and vitality, they don’t have to leave you breathless afterwards.

There are countless sports to choose from, too. You can go bowling, play laser tag, or ping pong for lighter exercises. If you’re feeling more daring and adventurous, you can try surfing or skating.

Big Wave Bay

Address

North of Shek O Village

The Big Wave Bay is one of the most popular beaches in Hong Kong. As the name implies, you can expect huge waves in this area due to the winds, making it perfect for a surf date.

The place is relatively accessible, with an MTR Station, cabs, and buses passing nearby. If you want a bit more adventure, you could start your day with a hike through the Dragon’s Back, with the trail ending right at the beach.

Fancy Date Ideas

Maybe you and your date are feeling a little more sophisticated, or you have a new dress or a tailor-made suit you want to show off. 

Regardless of your reasons, going on an expensive date at a high-end place is usually a good idea, especially for subsequent dates or for celebrating a milestone in your relationship.

Luxurious dates can be romantic if done right. However, it may not be ideal for first dates, since there is a pressure to perform and be desirable that may lead to awkward pauses and unnecessary anxiety.

1. Go to a fancy restaurant

Best for: 

• Subsequent dates
• Celebrations

At one point in everyone’s lives, we all have dreamed of going on a date to a 5-star restaurant. The great food, the elegant atmosphere, and the impeccable service all add up to quite a romantic experience. 

With this luxury comes a high cost, of course. As such, it might be a good idea to save these kinds of dates for something special, like a birthday or an anniversary.

The Skye

Website	https://www.parklane.com.hk/skye.html
Address	310 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Opening Hours	Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM – 1:00 AM

Skye is a roof bar and restaurant that offers a wide variety of food and drinks. As the place opens up in the afternoon, this might be the perfect place to take your date after a long day.

The food served at Skye hails from all over the globe. The meals can be pricey, but they cost as much as you would expect from a fancy restaurant.

Aside from the food, Skye is known for its outdoor rooftop bar overlooking the harbour. You can sip your cocktails as you talk and watch the sunset light up the sea below, making for quite a romantic experience. 

2. Have a spa date

Best for:

• Couples that need to destress
• People looking for a day of pampering
• Celebrating a milestone

A spa date isn’t that common, so it’s sure to be a memorable event. A spa date may just be the thing you need, especially if you and your date have been through a busy time in your lives.

The Peninsula Spa

Website	https://www.peninsula.com/en/hong-kong/wellness/luxury-hotel-spa
Address	Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
Opening Hours	Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Friday to Sunday: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

The Peninsula Spa is located inside the Peninsula, a 5-star hotel. Once you enter the premises, you will be greeted by an elegant fusion of traditional Chinese design and modern architecture.

Here, you can get a variety of treatments, facials, and massages, perfect for destressing. The spa also has multiple private rooms, where you and your date can relax in peace, away from other customers.

How do you ensure a successful date?

Understandably, you want to leave a strong first impression on your date and make it as fun and memorable as possible. Regardless of whether this is your first or second date, there is some general advice you can use to ensure your meet-up’s success.

1. Pick the right place

As we mentioned before, you should pick a location that is simple, comfortable and leaves a lot of room for conversation. This advice is especially true for people going on a first date. 

A park or a coffee shop is a good place to start since you could start telling each other stories. 

Parks and coffee shops are also near other interesting establishments, which could be ideal especially if you and your date decide to turn your quick coffee date into a dinner date.

2. Relax and watch your body language

While it is normal to feel stressed or anxious, you should still do your best to relax during your date. Stress and anxiety show through your body language, which could make you look or seem awkward, closed off, or uninterested.

When you start feeling negative emotions, you should try taking deep breaths as these can quickly calm anyone down. 

You should also remember that your first or second date shouldn’t be that too big of a deal. 

The purpose of the date isn’t to immediately look for a long-term commitment, but to know the person better and decide whether or not you want to take things further. 

So smile, relax, take a deep breath, and have a conversation.

3. Prepare for conversation

People are understandably afraid of a date going awkward after the first exchange of greetings and pleasantries. 

Even if small talk isn’t your thing, you should still try to think of conversation topics beforehand to ensure there will be little to no awkward silence during your date.

You could start with a thoughtful and genuine compliment, which could instantly brighten up your date’s day. Try not to overdo it, as giving too many compliments may sound insincere or overwhelming.

You should also try asking good open-ended questions that would be thought-provoking and allow your date to speak a lot. Ask about their day, the last book they’ve read, their favourite memories, common interests, and the like.

Most importantly, don’t forget to listen to your date when they speak. Give your date your full attention, respond to their stories, and inject your own experiences to ensure the flow of conversation does not stop.

4. Be yourself

You have heard this advice before, and it admittedly sounds cliche, but it is sound advice. You are understandably feeling self-conscious, but you shouldn’t mould yourself into something you aren’t just to please your date.

Remember, the goal of the date isn’t to make them fall head over heels for you, but to get to know your date and see if they’re someone you connect with enough to take things a step further.

5. Follow up after the date

If you and your date had fun and you feel that you sparked a connection, then you should follow up with them. You could try sending them a message saying how much fun you had and suggest another time and place for a second date.

If they want to move forward, that’s great! If you or they weren’t feeling it, it is best to be honest and courteous.