Presented by Shop Durham. Get the most out of Durham with your Shop Durham card. Get freebies and deals at hundreds of locally owned Durham businesses!


Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to spend a ton amount of money to impress your partner. Truth be told, there are a lot of places in Durham that make excellent choices for date night (or afternoon), and won’t break the bank. Here are 30 date ideas in Durham for $25 and under. (Truthfully, mostly free!)

 Cheers to love!

1. Cheer on the Durham Bulls (Tickets start at $8)

2. Take a behind the scenes tour of DPAC ($0)

3. Do a coffee tasting at Counter Culture ($0)

Trinity-Commons-Ad

4. Go on a walk or bike ride on American Tobacco Trail ($0)

Date Ideas Durham NC Paleteria La Monarca Michoacana
Paleteria La Monarca Michoacana © Photo: Katelyn Belch

5. Cool off with a frozen treat from Locopops or Paleteria La Monarca Michoacana

6. Learn more about our city at the Museum of Durham History ($0)

7. Take a hike at Eno River State Park ($0)

8. Grab some dinner at the famous King’s Sandwich Shop (prices vary, but very affordable)

9. Catch a free summer concert at American Tobacco Campus, Brightleaf Square, or Durham Central Park ($0)

10. Grab some beers at Clouds Brewing (And score a free bar bite with your Shop Durham card)

11. Spend a warm summer night with the Durham Symphony (They often host free concerts in the summertime, check their schedule)

12. Take in the art at 21c Museum ($0)

13. Attend a wine tasting at The Wine Feed

14. Indulge in some churros together at Cocoa Cinnamon

Date Ideas Durham NC Discovery Garden at Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Discovery Garden at Sarah P. Duke Gardens ©Katelyn Belch

15. Have a picnic and explore the discovery garden at Duke Gardens (Admission is free, parking rates are $1 per half hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

16. Check out a tuba museum, V & E Simonetti’s Historic Tuba Collection

17. Enjoy some blues music at the Bullpen every Friday and Saturday

18. Go on a Preservation Durham Tour ($0)

19. Go on a Pony Bike Ride that ends at Ponysaurus Brewing

20. Experience the Museum of Life and Science (Check out Durham County Residents Free day)

21. Discover some amazing art at Third Fridays

Date Ideas Durham NC Alley Twenty Six
Alley Twenty Six ©Katelyn Belch

22. Sip ‘Best of the Bull’ cocktails at Alley Twenty Six ($10 each, exclusive for Shop Durham cardholders)

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23. Rent a bike and ride through Downtown Durham (Prices vary but most are $1 for half an hour)

24. Scope out some of Durham’s murals together ($0)

25. Spend a Saturday Morning at the Durham Farmer’s Market and pick out some fresh veggies to cook together

26. Take a tour of the Durham Distillery ($14 each, or 50% off with your Shop Durham card)

27. Spend an afternoon at the Nasher Museum of Art (Free every Thursday)

28. Pack a picnic and go to the Satellite Park at the Duke Arts Annex

Date Ideas Durham NC The Durham Hotel
The Durham Hotel ©Katelyn Belch

29. Watch the sunset from rooftop of The Durham Hotel

30. Dip your toes in the Unscripted pool and sip some cocktails

31. Play retro video games at Quarter Horse Bar and Arcade

32. Explore the Museum of Life and Science on a Free Durham Community Day ($0)

La Vita Yoga Class Durham Hotel

33. Take a yoga class together at Bull City Ciderworks or the rooftop of the Durham Hotel ($12/ea includes a pint of cider, cidermosa, or kombucha after class)

34. Watch a movie together at the historic Carolina Theatre (Film tickets are usually around $7.50/each)

35. Visit Duke Chapel then grab lunch at the Brodhead Center afterwards

Presented by Shop Durham. Get the most out of Durham with your Shop Durham card. Get freebies and deals at hundreds of locally owned Durham businesses!


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