15 Fun Things to Do in a Long-Distance Relationship

Because Miles Apart Doesn't Mean Worlds Apart

Long-distance relationships are hard — there's no sugarcoating that. But they can also be surprisingly creative, deeply intentional, and genuinely fun when you commit to making the distance work for you instead of against you. The couples who thrive aren't the ones who wait out the miles; they're the ones who find new ways to connect, laugh, and grow together even when they can't be in the same room.

The good news? There are more tools, apps, and ideas available to long-distance couples today than ever before. Whether you're separated by a few states or several time zones, you can build rituals, share experiences, and create memories that feel just as real as anything you'd do in person. Some of the most meaningful relationship moments happen when you have to be a little more intentional about them.

This list is packed with 15 genuinely fun things to do together — some silly, some sweet, some surprisingly deep. Pick a few that sound like you two, and watch the distance feel a whole lot smaller.

1. Find a Special Nickname Together ⭐

Why it's great: A nickname is one of the most intimate things a couple can share — it's a little private language that belongs only to the two of you. In a long-distance relationship, having a special name for each other adds warmth to every text, every voice note, and every video call. It's a small thing that carries a lot of love. Head over to Name Your Babe and explore together — you can browse cute, funny, romantic, or spicy options until something clicks. Make it a date: pull it up on your next video call and laugh your way to a favorite.

2. Play Never Have I Ever on Video Call

Why it's great: You probably think you know everything about your partner — but Never Have I Ever has a way of surfacing stories you've never heard. It's equal parts hilarious and revealing, and it's one of the best games for keeping conversation fresh no matter how long you've been together. Never Have I Ever Online gives you a free, ready-to-go game you can play right in the browser — no downloads, no setup. Just open it on your next call and take turns. Bonus: keep a running tally of who's done the most outrageous things.

3. Play Would You Rather on Video Call

Why it's great: Would You Rather is a perfect LDR game because it sparks real conversation. Every question forces both of you to think, choose, and explain — and those explanations are where you learn the most interesting things about each other. Would You Rather Online has hundreds of questions ranging from lighthearted to genuinely thought-provoking, so you'll never run out of material. Set a timer, make it competitive, or just let the conversation flow wherever it goes. Either way, you'll hang up knowing each other a little better.

4. Watch a Movie Together (Teleparty)

Why it's great: Movie nights don't have to stop just because you're apart. Teleparty (formerly Netflix Party) syncs your streams so you're watching at exactly the same moment, with a side chat so you can react in real time. Set the mood — make popcorn, get cozy, pick something you've both been wanting to see. You can even do a full series marathon over several weeks and treat each episode as a mini date night. The ritual of it matters as much as the film.

5. Cook the Same Recipe Simultaneously on Video Call

Why it's great: There's something wonderfully chaotic and sweet about cooking together from opposite ends of the country (or world). Pick a recipe you've never made before, shop for the same ingredients, and cook side by side on video. You'll make mistakes together, improvise together, and sit down to eat the same meal at the same time — which feels surprisingly romantic. Start simple (pasta, tacos, a stir-fry) and work your way up to more ambitious dishes as you get comfortable.

6. Send Surprise Care Packages

Why it's great: A physical package arriving in the mail is one of the most tangible ways to close the distance. The act of choosing items — snacks they love, a handwritten note, something silly that reminded you of them — is itself an act of love. And the surprise is half the magic. You don't need to spend a lot; it's the thoughtfulness that counts. Try themed boxes ("things that are blue," "stuff from our city," "self-care Sunday") to make it feel curated rather than random.

7. Play Online Games Together

Why it's great: Gaming is a surprisingly powerful bonding activity, even for couples who don't consider themselves "gamers." There are dozens of free or low-cost multiplayer options that are easy to jump into: Words With Friends, Skribbl.io, Jackbox Party Pack games, Stardew Valley, or Among Us. Playing together creates shared stakes, inside jokes, and a healthy dose of friendly competition. Pick something at your shared skill level so it stays fun rather than frustrating.

8. Read the Same Book and Discuss

Why it's great: A shared book gives you an ongoing conversation topic that lives between your calls — you'll be texting each other reactions at odd hours, flagging passages, and debating characters. Choose something neither of you has read before so the discoveries are mutual. Set a loose pace (a chapter or two a week) and schedule a standing "book club call" to talk it through. It's intellectual, it's cozy, and it gives the relationship a sense of forward momentum.

9. Start a Shared Journal (Google Docs)

Why it's great: A shared Google Doc that you both write in is one of the most underrated LDR tools out there. Use it however feels right — daily highlights, things you're grateful for, questions for each other, future plans, funny observations, love letters. It becomes a living record of your relationship that you can scroll back through whenever you need a boost. Some couples use it as a way to process hard days; others keep it purely light and joyful. There's no wrong way to do it.

10. Do a Virtual Workout Together

Why it's great: Working out together — even virtually — creates a sense of shared accomplishment and keeps you both accountable. You could follow the same YouTube workout video simultaneously, run at the same time while on a voice call, or challenge each other to a step-count competition for the week. Exercising releases endorphins, which means you'll both end the session in a genuinely good mood. It also gives you something to talk about beyond "how was your day."

11. Take a Virtual Tour of a Museum

Why it's great: Many of the world's greatest museums — the Louvre, the British Museum, the Smithsonian, the Vatican Museums — offer free virtual tours online. Explore one together on a video call, pointing out what catches your eye and reading the descriptions aloud to each other. It's a low-key, cultured date that sparks real conversation, and it builds a wish list of places to visit in person someday. You can even make it a series: one museum per month, rotating who picks.

12. Plan Your Next Visit in Detail

Why it's great: Having something concrete to look forward to is one of the most powerful tools in a long-distance relationship. Don't just vaguely plan — go deep. Map out an itinerary, build a bucket list of things you want to do together, research restaurants, find a quirky local attraction neither of you has tried. The planning itself becomes a shared activity, and the countdown makes the distance feel finite. Even if plans shift, the act of building something together keeps you both invested.

13. Create a Shared Spotify Playlist

Why it's great: Music is one of the most emotionally direct forms of communication there is. Build a playlist together — add songs that remind you of each other, songs that describe how you're feeling, songs you want to play on your next visit. Spotify's collaborative playlist feature makes this easy. Over time, the playlist becomes a kind of sonic diary of your relationship. Listen to it when you miss them; add to it when words aren't quite enough.

14. Write Actual Letters and Postcards

Why it's great: In a world of instant messages, a handwritten letter is extraordinary. It takes time, intention, and a little vulnerability — and the person who receives it knows all of that. You don't have to write novels; even a postcard with three honest sentences means more than a hundred texts. Start a tradition of sending one piece of physical mail per month. Keep the ones you receive. Years from now, those letters will be among your most treasured possessions.

15. Do an Online Class Together

Why it's great: Learning something new together is one of the best ways to grow as a couple, and online platforms like Skillshare, Coursera, and MasterClass make it easy to do from separate cities. Pick a subject you're both curious about — photography, creative writing, a new language, cooking technique, illustration. Work through the lessons at your own pace and debrief on calls. It gives your relationship a shared project with a beginning, middle, and end — and you'll come out of it with a new skill and new things to talk about.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you keep a long-distance relationship fun and exciting?

Consistency and creativity are the keys. Build regular rituals — a weekly video date, a monthly care package, a shared playlist — so you always have something to look forward to. Then layer in spontaneous surprises to keep things fresh. The couples who thrive in LDRs treat connection as something they actively create, not something that just happens.

What are the best games to play with your long-distance partner?

Browser-based games that require no downloads work best for LDR couples because they're low-friction. Never Have I Ever Online and Would You Rather Online are great conversation starters. For more extended gaming sessions, Skribbl.io, Jackbox, Words With Friends, or cooperative video games like Stardew Valley or It Takes Two are popular favorites.

How often should long-distance couples talk?

There's no universal answer — it depends entirely on what works for both of you. Some couples thrive with daily check-in calls; others prefer longer, less frequent video dates. What matters most is that both people feel connected and neither feels overwhelmed. Talk about your communication needs openly and revisit the conversation as your schedules change.

Is it normal for long-distance relationships to feel boring sometimes?

Absolutely, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong. All relationships have slower stretches; long-distance ones just make those stretches feel more acute because you can't simply hang out in the same space. When things feel stale, that's a signal to try something new — a game, a class, a creative project. Boredom is usually just a prompt to be more intentional.

How do you make a long-distance partner feel special?

Small, consistent gestures add up more than grand ones. A voice note instead of a text. A care package for no reason. A nickname that's just for them. A letter in the mail. Remembering the small details they mention and bringing them up later. Making them feel seen in the ordinary moments — not just the big ones — is what keeps a long-distance relationship warm.

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