Museum Date Inspiration from Bumble

When you’re getting to know someone you’ve matched with, working out where you can go to spend some time together can be a challenge. Parks are nice, but what if it rains? Restaurants are great, but you can’t eat out all the time, right? That’s why dates at a museum are perfect.

They can take place during the daytime, which takes a lot of pressure off and gives a more chilled vibe to the date. They’re also a great way to show off how cultured you are - or at least you can both pretend to be cultured until you get to know each other better and accept that Friends is your shared idea of art.

Types of museums to explore?? Rules about what to wear to a museum date? Don’t worry, we’ll give you some hints and tips to have a great time. 

It’s quite possible that your only experience of a museum comes from school trips or the Night At The Museum movies, and that’s fine. It doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great date with your match.

Museums are generally more affordable than a cinema trip or a fancy meal out. making them less of a financial commitment for a first date. They’re also a great place where you can meet up during the daytime for an hour or two without the added pressure of a night outing.

It’s hard to be lost for words in a museum because there’s always something to talk about, even for the most awkward new couples. And you don’t need to be an expert in history or art (or the history OF art) to talk about what you’re looking at. Just be you.

They’re also a place where you can get a good idea if your match really isn’t the one for you, especially if they turn out to be know-it-alls (or, to flip it the other way, if they make fun of your favorite painting). You don’t want to find that out too late into the relationship!

So, what kind of museum should you go and visit for your museum date?. If you live in a big city like New York or Chicago, the options are almost endless, but small, rural towns might only have one or two museums or galleries. 

Ideally, your museum date should be somewhere that you’ve at least got some kind of interest. If you’re a film buff, a movie museum is a great place to share that passion. Equally, if you enjoy modern art, a gallery can give you the inspiration to spend a wonderful time exploring it together.

Science museums can be a great option for a fun date, especially if they have interactive exhibits that you can try out together, guaranteeing lots of laughs to break the ice. Just be careful not to go during school vacations, otherwise, your romantic date will soon become a noisy one.

If you’re lucky enough to have a beautiful museum or art gallery, all the better. Some museums are housed in stunning old buildings with architecture to take your breath away. Wandering these hand-in-hand can’t fail to set the romantic atmosphere, and then the rest is up to you.

Most museums also have a cafe, so if the date has gone well and you want to keep it going a bit longer, why not ask if they want to grab a coffee and share a slice of cake? This can be a relaxed way to end what has (hopefully) been a delightful experience, setting you up for many more dates to come.

What should your museum date outfit be? Should it be as dressy as if you were going for a meal at a nice restaurant, or as casual as if you were going to the cinema? 

Firstly, museums don’t usually have dress codes, unless you’re going to the opening of a new exhibition. However, you do want to make a good impression on your date as well as look like you belong there. So flip flops are out as well as anything too revealing.

The type of museum you’re visiting can also influence your choices. An art museum date outfit might be more adventurous and colourful than a natural history museum outfit. If in doubt, going for a classic, slightly preppy look can give you the balance you’re looking for. Most of all remember to wear something that makes you look and feel your most comfortable!

A museum date night - or afternoon - has the potential to be really romantic and fun. But like any other date, they can go wrong. Here are some pitfalls to avoid:

If you’re insecure about your lack of cultural or historical knowledge, you can do some research beforehand on the museum website. But don’t overcompensate and bore your date with too many ‘fascinating facts’, otherwise you’ll come off as a know-it-all. 

Ok, art galleries have plenty of classic paintings featuring ladies and men without many clothes on. This has the potential for awkwardness on dates, so maybe don’t spend too long admiring these paintings, unless you both burst into fits of giggles, in which case you’ve probably found your soul mate.

Just because you’re in a museum or art gallery, it doesn’t mean that you need to be anything but yourself. Your date wants to get to know you, not some pretend version of yourself who is really into surrealist art. If you think it’s just a bit weird, that’s fine!