How to Surprise Your Boyfriend on Valentine's Day: 45 Romantic Ideas

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you may be wondering how to surprise your boyfriend. Picking the right idea depends on how long you’ve been together, what his interests are and ideas you’ve already done in the past. We wanted to take some of the pressure off by rounding up the best ways to surprise your boyfriend this Valentine’s Day. Whether you’ve just started dating or are in a serious relationship, you’ll find the perfect Valentine’s idea for your boyfriend with our list below!

How to Surprise Your Boyfriend at Home

Stay in this Valentine’s Day if you want to avoid busy restaurants and enjoy an intimate night in. Surprising your boyfriend at home is best if you’ve been together for at least a couple of months. Whether you live together or not, you can make a night in very special.

1. Set a romantic scene

Create a romantic environment in his or your home as a surprise after a long day at work. Set the mood with candles, special lighting, music and anything else that he likes and get ready for a romantic night in.

2. Movie night in

Set up an in-home movie night by loading up the couch with soft blankets and plenty of pillows. If you want to go all out, use a projector and screen (a TV works just as well). Pop some popcorn, gather up his favorite candy, get cozy and enjoy a great film together.

3. Make art together

If he likes creating art, set up all the supplies and have his drink of choice waiting for him when he gets home. If you are an artist and he has expressed interest in learning before, set up a one-on-one lesson for him. He will love creating something with you that he can display and see every day.

4. Create a grand entrance

Surprise him right when he walks through the door with a grand entrance that leads him to a second surprise. Aside from the classic rose petal trail, you could decorate the foyer with balloons or streamers and a trail of photos of the two of you. You could even change things up with a trail of wrapped candy or a message spelled out letter by letter.

5. Give him a spa treatment

Although they may not admit it, men need pampering too. Help him de-stress by drawing him a bubble bath, giving him a manicure and pedicure or a relaxing massage. A possible gift idea to add could be a shaving kit or comfy bathrobe.

6. Music and dancing

Create your own intimate dance by mixing fast and slow songs in a personalized playlist. You should only do this if you already know that he loves to dance, otherwise he may feel too shy to bust a move with you.

How to Surprise Your Boyfriend Away from Home

If you and your boyfriend usually like to stay in, switch it up by taking him out for Valentine’s Day. Make sure that you make arrangements and reservations well in advance as places book up fast during the week of Valentine’s Day.

7. Plan an outdoor adventure

Take your boyfriend on a romantic outdoor adventure like a hike to a viewpoint, camping, kayaking or backpacking. Turn your phones off and enjoy each other’s company and nature’s beauty.

8. Take him out of town

Get a change of scenery and book a weekend trip getaway. The destination you choose should reflect his interests — some possible destinations include wineries, big cities, the countryside or the seaside.

9. Take him on a shopping spree

Has your boyfriend has been complaining about needing new clothes? If it’s too tricky to shop for his size or style on your own, surprise him with a shopping spree. He’ll love having you as his personal shopping assistant and getting your feedback because he’s really only trying to impress you anyway.

10. Wine or beer tasting tour

If your boyfriend is a wine snob or beer lover then take him on a local tasting tour. Scope out the best breweries and wine bars nearby and take him to taste the best your city has to offer. If you don’t want to drive or taxi around, handpick a selection and have the tasting at home.

11. Take him to a show or game

Look up some of his favorite music groups and teams and see if they’ll be in your area. This surprise is a date and a gift that he’ll love. It’s okay to pick a show or game that doesn’t fall close to Valentine’s Day, it will be a fun date to look forward to!

12. Drive-in movie date

The drive-ins are much more romantic than the movie theatres. Bring blankets, drinks and your favorite snacks and enjoy a movie under the stars without ever having to leave your car.

13. Indulge his adrenaline junkie side

If your boyfriend has an adrenaline junkie side, look into an activity he’s been impassioned about. Some of these activities might include outdoor and indoor skydiving, paragliding or parasailing. If he likes activities like motocross or mountain bike riding, look into bike accessories he needs.

14. Do a class together

Doing a class together is a great way to connect with your boyfriend in a fun new setting. Some class ideas include cooking, art, baking, dancing, mixology and massage. Couples who learn and grow together, stay together.

15. Museum or gallery trip

Is your boyfriend a history buff or art lover? He’ll have a blast exploring and learning with you in a grand museum or trendy art gallery. Pro tip, buy him a copy of his favorite print as an extra Valentine’s Day gift or a future birthday gift.

16. Blindfolded surprise date

Take any surprise date idea to the next level by blindfolding and “kidnapping” your boyfriend. He will have no clue where you’re taking him, making the surprise much more fun. Pro tip, blindfold him with a new tie that he gets to keep as a gift.

How to Surprise Your Boyfriend on a Budget

These romantic ideas are thoughtful, budget-friendly and include ideas that work for new or long-term relationships. They’re also perfect for couples that aren’t into gifting or prefer more low key Valentine’s Day celebrations.

17. Do his favorite activity with him

An easy and thoughtful way to show your affection is with a date where you do his favorite activity with him. Some ideas include video gaming, listening to his favorite podcast or music or playing his favorite sport, just to name a few. It’s simple but will mean a lot to him to know that you want to learn or participate in things that he loves to do.

18. Take him on a picnic

Surprise him with a picnic under the stars or a day picnic at the beach or a viewpoint. Bring along some of his favorite food, drinks, some blankets, dishware and maybe a portable speaker to play some of his favorite tunes.

19. Write him a letter or poem

In a digitally dominated world, a handwritten letter from the heart is one of the most personal and thoughtful gifts you could give. If you have a way with words, consider writing poetry and reading it aloud for him. If you don’t know what to write on the front of the card or letter, try using a romantic Valentine’s Day quote.

20. Make him a video, slideshow or framed photo

Gather up some of your best photos and videos that you have together and use a program to create a video or slideshow of your best moments. If you don’t have enough content or it’s just not your style, consider surprising your boyfriend with a framed photo of the two of you.

21. Do charity work together

If your boyfriend does charity work or is passionate about a certain cause, show him you care by working alongside him. Donating your time is not only a great thing to do on its own, but it will help you see another side of each other that you may have never seen before.

22. Make him a punny and personal card

Show of your witty, funny side with a cute punny and personalized card. Handmade and unconventional cards are so much better than a basic store bought card. For an extra gift, pair the punny card with a small plant.

23. Surprise him with flirty photos

Surprise your boyfriend with cute and flirty photos of yourself. Get a friend who has a good eye for photography to help you out or take them yourself with a timer. Some cute ideas include wearing his favorite team’s jersey, cosplay from his favorite movies and shows, his work clothes or something else that represents his interests.

24. DIY projects

DIY projects are a great way to show your creativity and create something that he’ll really enjoy. Try making a chocolate bar with his favorite flavors and dress it up with a cute DIY sleeve or put together a personalized planter with his favorite plants.

25. Take him to see a local show or art gallery

If your guy loves art or music, supporting a local artist could be a great alternative to an expensive concert or exposition. These gatherings also tend to be more intimate and not as crowded, which is much better for a romantic date.   

How to Surprise Your Boyfriend with Food

You may have heard that the quickest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. If you are looking to go the food route this year, try one of these delicious ideas out.

26. Deliver his favorite chocolate or treats

For a sweet surprise, have deluxe chocolate, dried fruit or another delicacy sent to his home or work. Try writing a cute message to go with it or a note to remind him of your plans later.

27. Breakfast or brunch in bed

Get his day off to a great start by serving him breakfast or brunch in bed. Heart shaped pancakes, eggs and potatoes are sure to put a smile on his face, try serving it up with a pink or red smoothie or a refreshing mimosa.

28. Deliver lunch to him at work or school

Deliver a sweet Valentine’s Day lunch to him and spend a little time with him during his lunch break. Try making homemade pizza with heart-shaped pepperoni and bringing it in a cute box. Plus, seeing you in the middle of the day would definitely be a mood booster for him.

29. Charcuterie board with wine

For a refined evening in, grab a nice bottle of wine and the meats, cheeses, fruits, crackers, bread and veggies that you want to include. A smaller charcuterie board works great as an appetizer or you can load up your board with goodies and make it the main course.

30. Make him his favorite food

Whip up your boyfriend’s favorite meal and watch his face light up when you serve it to him. To take it one step further, ask his parents what his favorite meal was growing up and surprise him with a delicious blast from his past.

31. Fun fondue date

Melt his heart with this fun date night idea. For an ooey-gooey treat, melt a couple of your favorite cheeses and pick out an assortment of meats, veggies and bread. For fun, try making him a “cheesy” Valentine’s Day card to go with the meal.

32. Candlelit dinner at home

You can’t go wrong with a classic candlelit dinner at home, surprise him and have the dinner at the table waiting for him when he gets home. If he loves to cook, gather all the ingredients you need and cook a beautiful meal together.

33. Classic dinner date at a restaurant

If neither of you feels like cooking this year, surprise him by treating him to a dinner date. This is especially thoughtful if he usually foots the bill when you two go out—make sure to book well in advance.

How to Surprise Your Long Distance Boyfriend

Being far away from your boyfriend is never easy, Valentine’s Day can be even harder with constant reminders that you’re apart. If you’re in a long distance relationship make the most of Valentine’s Day with these romantic ideas suitable for LDRs.

34. Send him a care package

A care package is a great gift because you can customize it to his specific interests and needs. Try including a combination of a sweet treat, something on his wishlist and a thoughtful DIY gift — something that reminds him of you, like a miniature of your city’s landmark.

35. Send him a plant or gift basket

Since mailing plants can be very tricky, let the pros deliver your boyfriend an impressive plant or a Valentine’s Day themed-gift basket. Plants are great for creating a soothing space and he will think of you every time he sees the plant.

36. Send him signature cologne or your perfume

The sense that jogs our memory the best is our sense of smell and the scent of someone we love is a great de-stressing agent. Send him a cozy sweater or blanket spritzed with your perfume and include a small bottle so that he can refresh the scent. To add to the gift send him nice cologne or create a signature scent or essential oil for him.

37. Deliver food to him

If you know his favorite local restaurant, call in or go online to have food delivered to your LDR boyfriend. Make sure to include a tip too so he doesn’t have to pay a dime.

38. Arrange a special virtual date

Sometimes the best you can give someone is your time, make sure to set aside time to hang out and video chat him. Try dressing up like you’re on a date and make some charming signs to hold up to him while you video chat.

39. Surprise visit

The ultimate gift you could give your LDR boyfriend is you! Make sure that you coordinate with his friends or roommates to make the surprise run smoothly. Depending on how far you are from each other this may take a lot of planning in advance, but his reaction when he sees you will be priceless.

Unique Ways to Surprise Your Boyfriend

Looking for ideas off the beaten path? These unique ideas are just as good as the classics. They will show off your creative side and be a big surprise him.

40. Scavenger Hunt

Use DIY trinkets and punny Valentine objects as clues to create a fun, interactive scavenger hunt that will send him on a journey to find a present, date or even you waiting for him at the end. Pro tip, try making each clue a small gift, like candy or a sports ball.

41. Give his room a facelift

If he has been wanting to redo a room in his house, surprise him by giving his room a makeover while he’s out of the house. This would take a lot of planning and you would have to know his style very well to give a room in his house a proper makeover.

42. Indulge his five senses

A five senses gift is a well-rounded gift that is comprised of an individual gift for each of the senses. An example gift could be his favorite candy for taste, a soft sweater or shirt for touch, a cool art print for sight, his favorite band’s CD for sound and cologne for smell.  

43. Gift for his pet

If your boyfriend puts his pet’s needs before his own, your devout dog or cat dad would definitely appreciate a gift for his fur baby. Try a personalized food bowl set or a DIY heart bandana.

44. Be his secret helper

Be his secret helper by completing various tasks that are on his to-do list. You could do other good deeds besides his chores by filling his car with gas or stocking his fridge with his favorite beer. When he finally realizes what you did you’ll be an angel savior in his eyes.

45. Relive your first date

Take it back to where it all started by reliving your first date. Try to make it as authentic as you can by wearing the outfit what you wore and ordering what you ordered if at a restaurant. It will a really fun way to reminisce and see how far you’ve come as a couple.

Some things to keep in mind when making Valentine’s Day plans are the duration of your relationship, past dates you’ve done and his interests. Try not to stress too much about your gift. You know him better than anyone, so trust your gut when planning your surprise date or gift. But if you’re still unsure about what to do for Valentine’s Day, take all the stress off and just leave it to the pros to deliver a fresh and quality surprise to your boyfriend this year!