9 interesting hobbies for couples to try together

There are so many different hobbies for couples, but one thing they all have in common is doing the hobby as a pair can help boost intimacy, develop a new skill set and have some fun in the process. By speaking to experts and couples who have benefited from learning something new together, we've compiled a list of fun, affordable and interesting hobbies for couples that will bring you closer together.

Popular hobbies for women and  men are one and the same these days and while it's important for everyone to have their own passions, finding common ground and doing a hobby together as a pair is a great way to create intimacy without sex and form a deeper bond. A study from the Pew Research Centre found that 64% of couples with shared interests believe that this helps their marriages to succeed.

These ideas for hobbies that can be done as a couple are all relatively easy to get started with. In fact, the hobbies on our list generally require little in the way of start-up costs and many can be done from the comfort of your own home. Whether you're looking to reignite the spark in your relationship with a shared passion or build on your interests as a couple, there are plenty of options to explore.

9 hobbies for couples to try together

1. Yoga

The benefits of yoga include increased flexibility and core strength - but most importantly it helps improve both your physical and mental health and is one of the best hobbies for relaxing. Yoga instructor Lauren Brady explains why it's a great hobby for couples. "Not only will you both benefit physically, but yoga is a way to connect with your spiritual side together and find new intimacy," she told us. 

Lauren advises starting with a beginner's class, particularly if one of you is more experienced. "Yoga can be intimidating at first. It's important to remember that your partner may not be able to move in the same way as you, particularly, if like mine, they're more of a runner and cyclist. Start with a class open to all levels, practice poses together at home and encourage your partner not to compare themselves to others. Yoga is more about connecting with yourself - and then you can connect with each other on a deeper level."

For Lauren, a yoga holiday was a great way to share the activity she's so passionate about. "Johnny and I now regularly go away on yoga holidays around the world. It means we have a common daily activity and we can burn off energy together in the morning and start the day feeling good. I find it attractive that he's willing to give it a go! That also makes me more willing to try things that he likes doing. And as a couple, it's definitely good to try new things together." Lauren also commented on that yoga led to her partner finding his own hobby, running, had improved - which isn't surprising due to the many benefits of yoga for running.

How to get started: Look into yoga studios near you that are geared to beginners and do your research - our guide to yoga for beginners offers a step-by-step guide on getting started.

If you're thinking of booking a yoga break, you could take a look at our guides to the most spiritual places in the world for some inspiration on which destinations to try. 

2. Podcasting

While podcasting may sound intimidating, it's an activity that anyone can try at home - all you need is a topic you're both passionate about, whether that's food, the best book club books, music, true crime, or relationships. It's a fun way to discuss something different, aside from the more mundane discussions that couples have in their day-to-day lives like whose turn it is to do the dishes or when the bills need to be paid. 

We've seen celebrities excel in this field, with Idris and Sabrina Elba's Coupledom podcast, which explores partnerships on love, business and activism, boasting a 4.8 rating on Audible. This is a great hobby for people in their 30s who may be just getting to know each other, but equally would work well for couples later down the line to reignite the spark by learning something new.

For Kimberley Kaye, a mutual interest in psychology led her and her partner to create their own podcast. "My partner and I do a dark history and psychology podcast together and it's brought us together by allowing us to learn new things through research. I never thought I'd be reading The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders with a romantic partner!"

How to get started: Start by researching existing podcasts that interest you (you could take a look at our list of podcasts by amazing women) and take note of the topics covered, structure and how the hosts interact with each other. 

In terms of the next steps, you'll need to create a website or RRS feed and set up an account with a podcast platform, such as Spotify. The Podcast Guide offers a step-by-step guide to getting set up, as well as information on courses you can take.

3. Massage

Learning the art of massage is a great skill to boost your wellbeing and will also bring you closer to your partner physically. There's a whole host of avenues you can explore when it comes to massage, whether that's exploring the best essential oils for relaxation, specialist massage such as Swedish or Thai, or going one step further and learning about erotic massage and tantric sex. 

Sally Chamness, a trained massage therapist with Pheonix Health and Wellness, encourages couples to learn massage techniques together. "Massage is obviously great for boosting intimacy," she told us. "It's a fun skill that will benefit the body and mind for you both. 

"Perfecting massage techniques together involves good communication. Listen to your partner; if they say what you’re doing feels good, keep doing exactly whatever that is."

How to get started: Decide on a massage style together and do the research - and you could always attend a massage class together to learn some basic skills.

When you feel ready to get started, creating the right mood is key. "Low lighting, gentle music with no lyrics, and a comfortable location all set the scene for a good massage," Chamness suggests. 

4. Volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to spend time together while giving back to the community. According to a study published by Harvard Health, when people work together in a volunteer capacity, they have stronger relationships that are built on shared interests and values. It also gives couples a sense of purpose, which can boost their overall health (for example, this study from BioMed Science found that those who felt they had more purpose in life slept better at night). 

Flora Blathwayt, the owner of Washed Up Cards a business that creates greeting cards from plastic and rubbish collected during beach cleans, found that not only did her new venture boost her mental health, but it also helped her connect with her partner. 

"In September 2019, I went on a beach clean event and I realized the importance of communities coming together to bring positive change. Not only is it great for the environment, but it's also brilliant for my mental health and helps me to connect with nature. My husband gives me amazing support for the project. Sometimes we stay up making cards until three o'clock in the morning, but it brings us great joy!"

How to get started: Volunteering could mean anything from helping out a local soup kitchen, spending time with the elderly, or getting involved in a community clean-up project. Our guide to volunteering at Christmas should help if you want to get involved over the festive season.

There are plenty of online databases that will help you get started. Do-it.org is a database of volunteering opportunities in the UK, while AmeriCorps will help you find out where to volunteer in the US.

5. Craft beer

The popularity of craft beer continues to rise - research from the Brewers Association reported that craft brewer volume sales grew 8% in 2021, while retail sales of craft increased 21% - and with so many breweries and micro-breweries to discover across the US and the UK, it's an area that offers endless opportunities to learn more and have a fun day out in the process. 

For Hannah Wolstenholme, discovering the craft beer world was an enjoyable way to spend time with her partner. "We both always had a taste for craft beer, but this became more of a project when we started to learn more about the industry and take notes on the different beers we tried and visiting breweries in our area. The craft beer scene is really sociable and you'll find that when visiting a tap room or on a beer trail other enthusiasts are keen to share their recommendations, but it's much more fun to visit with a partner or a friend."

Beer pairings are also a great way to bring something different to your next dinner party. Something to consider when you're thinking about hosting Christmas parties!

How to get started: Much like wine tasting, discovering which craft beers you enjoy is very subjective and the best way to determine your preferences is to visit a tap room or micro-brewery. The Brewer's Association in the US has plenty of information on how to get started. In the UK, head to the Society of Independent Brewers. 

6. Quizzes

Your local pub quiz could be an easy and consistent date in the diary for spending time together as a couple, as well as discovering how your partner shapes up when it comes to general knowledge. Plus, if you win the quiz, that's an instant serotonin boost for you both. 

To create more intimacy, an app such as Paired offers daily quizzes, games and questions to answer with your partner. These quizzes are centered around learning more about your other half, developed by psychotherapists and academics with the aim of creating closeness. Couples can also engage in weekly quizzes, with expert tips and conversation starters to help couples compare and discuss their answers. A study conducted by Paired found that having a daily prompt to ask each other questions increased relationship quality by 36% over time.

How to get started: Research a pub or bar in your local area that has a regular quiz and set a recurring date in the diary. Having a consistent plan in place for spending time together, even if it's just for a few hours, builds closeness and allows you to unwind together. 

Or, why not host a quiz at home with friends and family using our Royal Family quiz questions, or a Christmas food and drink quiz over the festive season? 

7. Wild swimming

Exercising together is a win-win situation, as you're doing something that will benefit your bodies and minds while spending time together. The benefits of cold-water swimming include sky-high endorphins after a dip in the wild, which creates shared feelings of happiness. Spending time in nature, such as trying out wild swimming or forest bathing, is also known as eco-therapy, which can also benefit you and your partner's emotional state, as wild swimmer Laura Greenwood found.

"Plunging your body into ridiculously cold water is one of the most full-on body and brain experiences I've ever had; it is a painfully, comfortingly, ridiculously all-encompassing moment – it totally controls all the senses and you cannot think about anything else during that time," says Laura. Overcoming this challenge as a couple creates a sense of accomplishment that will bring you closer together. 

Wild swimming can also help widen your social circle, as there's a real community aspect - it's likely there are numerous wild swimming groups in your local area. It could be a great opportunity to find a new social group with a shared interest. 

How to get started: It's very important to make you've researched cold-water swimming before braving the water and, if you're swimming during the winter months, have the right wild swimming gear - swim socks, gloves, a wetsuit and a warm hat. 

The Outdoor Swimming Society has plenty of resources and will help you find wild swimming spots in the UK, while cold-water swimming website openwaterswimming.com has a list of wild swimming spots in the US, as well as safety advice.

8. Camping

Travel in general is a great way to bond - whether that's a trip to one of the best spas in the UK, a stunning beach in Greece, or taking a trip on one of the best cruise lines for adults. In a study from the US Travel Association, 79% of survey respondents who traveled together believed it had a positive impact on their relationship.

There's something particularly special about camping as a couple, as it involves an inevitable amount of teamwork and sometimes problem-solving, with a back-to-basics approach. 

How to get started: First decide where you want to go camping. Take a look at campsites.co.uk for some ideas of where to go in the UK, or try pitchup.com for campsites in the US. 

Scotland has to be one of the most beautiful places to camp in the world, so take a look at our guide to wild camping in Scotland for some inspiration.

9. Wine tasting

Wine tasting is a great option for couples as it invites many more opportunities to spend time together developing your shared passion. "A great next step after learning the basics of wine tasting is to start learning about wine pairings and visit restaurants to try it in practice - if you're still not sure, the wine waiter or sommelier will be able to help," Jack Brennan, director and head buyer of Kent Wines, tells us. "From there, there are all sorts of avenues couples can explore, including online tasting experiences, vineyard visits and wine holidays."

How to get started: A wine-tasting evening, evolving around a specific grape, or an introduction to white, rose, red, sparkling, or orange wine, is a great place to start, where you can work out which types of wine you prefer. 

If you want to enroll on a course together for a more formal qualification Liquor.com have ranked the best online sommelier classes in the US. In the UK, head to the UK Sommelier Association to see where you can find a course near you. Prices are varied, ranging from $50/£50 to over $500/£500. 

If you'd rather just try out wine tasting at home together in an informal way, simply invite some friends and compare tasting notes on a selection of wines. Wine pairing during a dinner party is also a great way to impress your guests, and woman&home has plenty of recipe ideas from lunch ideas for entertaining friends to delicious dinner party dessert ideas.

How can doing hobbies as a couple strengthen your bond? 

It's clear that shared interests are important to us, with research from Healthy Framework reporting that 61% of daters use an online dating app to meet people that share common interests. But sharing hobbies together can also boost our relationships by encouraging healthy habits. 

"Hobbies add to our ability to create balance in our lives by shifting our attention from the things that weigh us down to the things that lift us up. In other words, they give us the opportunity to simultaneously unplug and recharge our batteries, which can be really beneficial to do as a couple," Mariel Witmond, life coach and founder of yoga and mindfulness website Mindful Sonder tells us. "In relationships, they add variety to what can be an otherwise monotonous life by providing us with new shared experiences and the chance to learn something new together."

According to Witmond, hobbies also help us gain perspective - which is vital for healthy relationships. "Hobbies give rise to creativity," she continued. "After spending our days focused on one job and direction, hobbies can help us tap into our own creativity and learn to think outside the box, offering new perspectives and skill sets that can then benefit us in our relationships."