10 Terrible First Date Ideas No Men Should Ever Use

When you’re single, it’s all too easy to joke about the multitude of disasters that await you when you go on a date.

Of course, in reality, no one wants to be stood up by their blind date in the pub they chose because it was “cheap and close to the station,” or witness their date eyeing up every male insight, or go on a date only to find it’s the same night as their ex’s birthday.

It’s all funny in theory, but when you’re single and desperate for some company, even the best of us can become susceptible to lousy date ideas or just crummy dates.

So here are 10 of the absolute worst possible first date places:

A Concert.

Many people enjoy going out to concerts when they are trying to impress someone new. The problem with this idea is that it can be very dull for both people involved on the date if you aren’t into music.

You could be stuck standing there for hours, not being able to talk to your date or hear each other properly, and if it’s a seated concert, you’ll be spending the whole time with your knees up to your chin.

This is a bad idea because it’s expensive, not a conversation starter, and not very intimate.

You want a date that will be interesting and engaging for both of you, not one that will have you counting the minutes until it’s over.

As far as first date ideas go, this one is a big no-no.

Karaoke.

Karaoke is always a fun night out, but it’s not the ideal date activity, especially if you’re trying to make a good impression.

It’s tough to look cool and sophisticated when you’re up on stage in front of a room full of people, belting out your favorite song with all the grace of a drunken kangaroo.

Not to mention the fact that if your date isn’t into singing, they’re going to be bored out of their mind.

It can be pretty difficult to have an intimate conversation when you’re both screaming into a microphone, and there’s the potential for things to get a little bit out of hand if alcohol is involved.

It’s also very likely that one or both of you will be terrible at karaoke, so it could be a pretty embarrassing experience overall. Save the karaoke for your friends and find something else to do on your first date.

Museums.

If your date knows nothing about art, history, or culture, taking them to a museum for the first date is just asking for trouble.

On paper, this sounds like a wonderful idea. What better way to break the ice than with some culture?

The reality, however, can be slightly different. If you are on a date with a girl who has no interest in art or history, they will spend their entire time complaining about how bored they are and probably not bother listening to anything you have to say about it either.

If both parties are interested in what’s around them, then this type of cultural activity could work, but if one person doesn’t know anything about it, then it can be very dull indeed.

If she is the one that is interested in culture and you are not, you may be very tempted to pretend that you like something, anything, in an attempt to make them think you’re intelligent and cultured.

Again though, this is probably not a great idea. You’ll find yourself standing in front of a Monet painting, desperately trying to think of things to say about this piece of artwork, and the more you fail, the more she will doubt your intelligence.

Trust us on this one; it won’t go well for either party involved.

Going on a hike.

You will sweat, it will be tiring, and you will kill each other with boredom before the trail’s even halfway along. It’ll feel like a date to prison rather than romance.

This is probably one of the worst date ideas we have ever heard. Not only will you be out of breath and sweating by the time you finish the hike, but it’s also pretty damn dull to have a chat with a woman when both of you are gasping for air.

Hikes require a level of fitness that very few people have, and most dates don’t need that much exercise. It’s about enjoying each other’s company, and this is pretty difficult to do when you’re both exhausted.

Unless you and your date are both into hiking, this is not a great way to spend an afternoon or evening.

You’ll find yourselves walking in silence most of the time, and if there’s an argument, there’s nowhere to go except down the side of a mountain.

Not exactly the ideal setting for a first date!

A Sporting Event.

Watching a sporting event can be fun with friends, but it’s not the best idea for a first date.

For one, it’s very noisy, so it’s difficult to hear each other talking and, secondly, it can be quite a competitive atmosphere.

Unless you and your date are both huge sports fans, this is not the best way to spend your date night.

You’ll find yourselves arguing about the teams, the players, and the refereeing decisions, and, at the end of it all, you’ll be no closer to getting to know each other.

You’ll probably have a lot of hostility towards each other that you’ll need to work through before you can even think about beginning a romantic relationship with your date.

This is not the best start to any relationship, let alone one that you’ve just started with a woman you hardly know.

A Day Out at a Theme Park.

Again, this might seem like an excellent first-date idea, but it’s not. It might seem like a great idea because you get to spend time together, have fun and do something physical, which is good for breaking the ice between two people who don’t know each other that well yet.

Well, this could quite possibly be your worst first date idea ever.

First, theme parks are noisy, crowded places full of crying children, long lines, and screaming teenagers on rollercoasters. If you’re a man that enjoys peace and quiet or hates big crowds, then this will probably irritate you pretty quickly.

Secondly, it’s a physical activity. If you’re not the active type, then you’ll quickly get tired and be desperate to leave. You’ll also be sweating and feeling a bit grubby by the end of the day. Not exactly the impression you want to give a girl on your first date.

Theme parks are also incredibly predictable. You know what will happen from beginning to end, and there’s minimal opportunity for conversation or getting to know each other better.

It’s much better to do something a bit different on your first date – something that will help you get to know each other better in a relaxed and informal setting.

Dinner at a Nice Restaurant.

This might seem like a great date idea, but if you’re on a budget, it can be costly. Going out for dinner also means that you have to worry about ordering the right thing, making sure your table manners are perfect, and that you don’t drink too much and make a fool of yourself.

It’s also quite formal and can be daunting for people who are not used to going on dates.

You want your first date to be easy and not too nerve-wracking, which is why it’s probably a bad idea to take someone out to a nice, formal restaurant. You’ll be spending most of your time worrying about what you’re saying and whether or not you’re doing it right.

Going to a nice restaurant for your first date is also risky because the bill can be costly, and it’s not very fair if you end up paying for the whole thing.

If you go out for dinner at a nice restaurant, there’s a chance that she’ll think you’re trying to show her that you’re wealthier than she is, and this can be off-putting for many people.

It’s also worth noting that it can be challenging to order something suitable for a first date if you are not familiar with the menu. For example, it can be awkward if you are on a date with a vegetarian and you pick somewhere that specializes in meat dishes.

There are much better first date ideas out there than dinner at a nice restaurant.

Why not try something a bit less stuffy and save the nice restaurants for when you know each other better?

The Zoo.

This is another idea that might be good for people who have children, but it can be pretty disastrous as a first date. It’s difficult to have any conversation when you’re surrounded by animals making noise, and there’s always the possibility that one of you might get lost in the crowds.

It’s also not a very romantic setting. If you’re hoping to get to know your date a bit better and maybe kiss her at the end of it, then you’re going to have a tough time in the zoo.

Zoos are also quite dirty places, and you’re likely to end up with animal fur or droppings on you if you go. Not exactly the look you’re going for on a first date.

The mall.

It’s another crowded place filled with people, and you don’t have much opportunity to chat.

In addition, it can be incredibly dull doing the same thing at the mall over and over again – riding up and down on elevators, looking in shop windows, pretending to like clothes that you wouldn’t normally wear.

It’s also too predictable for first dates – they’ll know almost exactly what you’re going to do before you even start doing it.

It might seem like a good idea because there are plenty of things for both of you to do, but honestly, if you want your date to go well, then it’s best not to choose somewhere like the mall where there are unlimited distractions.

Bowling.

Another predictable and boring first-date idea. There’s a good chance that you’ll both be terrible at it and end up getting frustrated with each other because you can’t manage to knock down all the pins. In addition, it’s a great place for couples to get competitive, and you can quickly end up having a massive row with your date.

It might be better if you’re going out with a girl that you have known for a while but not on a first date.

You need to get to know each other well before this kind of activity will do anything positive for your relationship.

Conclusion.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t go out to any of these places with your date, but maybe it’s best not to do it on the first date.

Look for somewhere that is more informal, relaxed, and interactive – somewhere that gets you talking to each other rather than staring at cages or watching teenagers take selfies.

Some of these ideas can be fine for second or third dates, but they’re definitely not ideal for your first meeting.

Remember, the key to a good first date isn’t where you go but what you do. Make it fun and casual, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Have a great time!

To see a list of fun and interactive first date ideas, please visit Where to go on your first date: 10 Best places.

What are your favorite first date ideas? Let me know about it in the comments below!