Fun things to do in the winter: a plan by weather, time and energy

How to use this page

Ask three quick questions on the day:

1. What is the weather doing? Snow, cold and clear, wet and grey, or dark by late afternoon?
2. How much time do we have? One hour, an evening, a half day or a weekend?
3. How much energy do we have? Tired, middling or restless?

Match your answers to the sections below. Over a season you will probably end up with a handful of favourites that you repeat, which is a good outcome.

When it snows

Snow changes a place immediately. Even a short snowfall is worth stepping out for, because it may not last.

• Go for a first-snow walk. Go out as soon as it starts, even for twenty minutes. Take a hot drink in a flask.
• Build something. A snowman, a snow fort or a snow sculpture of an inside joke. Adults are allowed.
• Go sledding. If there is a hill nearby, bring a sled or a tray. Take turns being pushed.
• Have a snowball fight with rules. Agree on a number of rounds and a prize for the loser, such as making the hot chocolate.
• Take photos. Snow gives soft light. Take a photo of the two of you in the same spot and compare it with next year's.
• Make snow angels in the first clean patch. It looks silly and it is meant to.
• Come back to something warm. Plan the return before you go out: soup on the stove, a bath, dry socks on a radiator.

Dress properly for this one. Layers, gloves and a hat make the difference between a fun hour and a short miserable one.

When it is cold, dry and clear

Crisp winter days are good for being outside. The air is sharp, the light is low and gold, and people are quieter.

• Walk somewhere you only go in summer. A lake, a park or a beach looks entirely different in winter.
• Go ice skating. Many towns have a rink in winter. Hold hands, hold the rail, laugh at each other.
• Try a winter hike. Choose a short, well-known route. Tell someone where you are going and check the weather and daylight hours before you start.
• Watch the sunrise or sunset. In winter both come at hours you can reach without a huge effort.
• Go stargazing. Long nights and clear skies make it easier to see the stars. Bring a blanket and a thermos.
• Visit a winter market. Look at the stalls, share one snack, buy one small thing for each other.
• Have an outdoor picnic. Choose warm food: soup in a flask, sandwiches, a sweet baked item. It is odd, which is why it is memorable.
• Cycle or run together. If you both like it. Go slowly and keep it to a short loop.

When it is wet, grey and miserable

Rain and slush are the true test of a winter. This is the weather in which a plan matters most, because it removes the temptation to do nothing. For a longer list, see rainy day date ideas.

• Cook a project meal. Something that takes time: bread, dumplings, a slow stew or a dish from a country you would like to visit.
• Start a puzzle. A big one, left on the table so you can add pieces when you walk past.
• Visit a museum, gallery or library. Indoor, often cheap or free, and a good excuse to walk around and talk.
• Go to a cinema or a play. Choose something neither of you has seen, and talk about it afterwards over a drink.
• Take a long bath or a spa day at home. Candles, a face mask, a playlist.
• Have a board game afternoon. Keep score on paper and give the winner a small prize.
• Read to each other. A chapter at a time, on the sofa under a blanket.
• Do the tidy-up you keep putting off. Sort a drawer, a bookshelf or old photos together with music on. It sounds dull and often turns into the best part of the day.

When it is dark by late afternoon

Early darkness can make a perfectly ordinary Tuesday feel like midnight. Treat the dark as a feature. Light, warmth and food go a long way.

• Go for a lights walk. After dinner, walk through a neighbourhood or a town centre and look at the lit windows and decorations.
• Light candles for dinner. Even on a weeknight, with simple food. The change of light changes the mood.
• Have a fire evening. A real fire if you have one, or a candle-lit corner if you do not.
• Start a film series. One film each Friday, with a theme: classics, a director, a country.
• Plan a trip. Winter evenings are a good time to look at maps and plan a summer holiday or a weekend away. See couples bucket list for ideas.
• Make a playlist. One song each, then swap and listen. Our love songs for him has a few starting points.
• Have a no-screens hour. Put the phones in another room, light a candle and talk or play cards.

If you only have one hour

An hour is enough for a small shift in the mood of a week. Choose something with a clear beginning and end.

• A walk around the block with a hot drink and one question each.
• A quick bake: cookies, a loaf or a pan of something sticky.
• A round of a card game.
• A short film or a few episodes of something you both like.
• A phone-free dinner with one new rule, such as no talking about work.
• A slow stretch or a gentle yoga video together.
• A hot drink in a cafe you have not tried.

If you have an evening

• Cook a three-course meal at home. Divide the courses so each of you leads one.
• Do a themed film night. Pick a theme, make snacks to match and dress up a little if you like.
• Go out for a winter treat. Dessert and coffee somewhere with candles can be as good as a long dinner.
• Host a small game night. Invite another couple or two friends, or play just the two of you.
• Do a photo night. Look through the year's photos, choose twenty and order a small print or book.
• Try a home date. More ideas are in date night ideas at home.

If you have a half day or a weekend

• Take a day trip. Pick a town, a coast or a forest you have not seen in winter. Check the opening hours and the daylight before you set off.
• Stay in a small place for a night. Even somewhere nearby counts. A change of room changes your mood.
• Visit a hot spring or a pool. Warm water in cold weather is a long-standing pleasure.
• Go to a seasonal event. A market, a light festival, a concert or a sports match.
• Have a cabin weekend at home. Switch off the notifications, stock up on food, light a fire or candles, and treat your own flat as a retreat.
• Do a winter workshop. Pottery, woodwork, dance or cooking, anything where you make something with your hands.

When you plan a long outing, decide on the first thing and the last thing, and leave the middle free. A day that is planned to the minute rarely feels like a day off.

If you are tired

Winter evenings often arrive with low energy. Here are things that give a lift without asking for much.

• A warm drink made carefully, with a biscuit, and five minutes of quiet.
• A film you have both already seen, so you do not need to concentrate.
• A shared blanket and a playlist.
• A foot rub or a back rub in turns.
• A very short walk, even five minutes, just to be outside.
• One kind message to your partner in the middle of the day. See compliments for your partner.

If you are tired for a long time, or your low mood does not lift, it is worth speaking to a doctor. Buffaly is an entertainment tool and not a medical service.

If you are restless

• Do something physical together. Skating, a swim, a long walk or a home workout.
• Take on a challenge. Learn a new recipe each week, or try a new route each Saturday.
• Re-arrange a room. Move the furniture, add a lamp, change the layout. It feels like a new place.
• Start a creative project. Paint, write, build or record something together.
• Dance. Put on music and move around the kitchen until you are laughing.

Winter projects to run all season

A project gives winter a shape. It works because it stretches across weeks and makes the boring evenings feel like part of something.

• A film list. Choose ten films and watch one a week.
• A recipe a week. Each of you picks a dish in turns.
• A jar of good moments. Write a short note about a good thing each day and open the jar in spring.
• A puzzle or model. A large one, built a little each evening.
• A walk of the month. One new route each month, with a photo.
• A letter exchange. One handwritten letter each week. See open when letters for prompts.
• A bucket list for spring. Plan what you want to do when it warms up. Write it down and keep it on the fridge.

A simple winter calendar

If you like to plan, use a light structure. This is only a suggestion, so change it to fit your region and your life.

• November. Start a season project. Plan one outing with a view, a hike or a park, before it gets too cold.
• December. Visit a market or a light display. Choose one festive tradition just for the two of you. See Christmas date ideas.
• January. The quiet month. Plan a cosy weekend and a few cheap evenings. See cheap date ideas.
• February. Plan something for the middle of the month: a short trip, a spa afternoon or a new restaurant.
• Late winter. Look ahead. Book a spring weekend, make a list of first-warm-day plans, and do a small clear-out together.

Mistakes to avoid

• Waiting for perfect weather. In winter, a good day may not come. Choose the best of what you get.
• Under-dressing. Being cold ends fun fast. Wear layers and bring dry socks.
• Over-planning. Short days need loose plans. One main activity is plenty.
• Ignoring safety. Check ice, roads and daylight before you go out, and let someone know where you are headed on a long walk.
• Letting every evening look the same. Even a tiny change, like a different meal or a candle, breaks the pattern.
• Skipping rest. Doing nothing together can be a perfectly good plan. Choose it on purpose.

Winter with a long-distance partner

Winter can feel longer when you live apart. A few small habits help.

• Watch the same film at the same time on a video call.
• Cook the same recipe in two kitchens and compare.
• Send a photo of the weather where you are and ask about theirs.
• Plan the next visit, even if it is months away, and put a date in both calendars.

More ideas are in long distance date ideas.

Where Buffaly fits

Winter makes it easy to cancel plans, and a shared heart is a reminder to make small ones instead. Buffaly is an iPhone app for couples who are already together. You connect with a 4-character code and share one heart. Compliment, Hug and Kiss each add 15 percentage points, a Conversation adds 25 and a Date adds 80. The heart slowly empties, so it helps you keep topping up closeness instead of waiting for a big moment. It is meant to make small moments easier to remember, and it will not make a relationship good by itself.

What Buffaly is not: it is not a quiz or content app, not a messaging app, and it does not share your location. It is an entertainment tool, not a medical, psychological or counselling service. The download is free. Using Buffaly needs a subscription, and one subscription covers both partners; the price is shown in the App Store in your own currency before you subscribe. It needs an iPhone with iOS 17 or later; there is no Android version yet.

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