To start, we asked our Instagram followers to tell us where their best dates were. It turned out that the most favorable environment for unforgettable meetings is nature and fresh air. Readers talked about dates on the river bank, in a winter park, at a skating rink and at the ruins of a fortress in Italy, and the young man invited one subscriber to play mini-golf.
We have compiled our list of ideas for how to spend Valentine’s Day in Moscow, collected a selection of places and told you what budget you can fit into.
Nostalgic day
To refresh old feelings, you need to bring them back into your head and heart. Therefore, remember the first meeting, the first dates, the first kiss. Remember that restaurant where you went for the first time, visit that park where you first took each other’s hands, climb that bridge where you kissed for the first time.
Just think through everything in advance: develop a route, book a table, collect everything that reminds you of a pleasant past (of course, you don’t need to come to the apartment where you lived five years ago). Nostalgia is great, but not more than once a year.
Another idea: put a “time capsule” on Valentine’s Day.
Write a romantic letter about what you have now and what you would like to achieve together in the future. Agree on how long you will open this message. After a couple of years, you will be incredibly pleased to remember your old dreams, especially if they all came true.
Traditions on February 14: how is Valentine's Day celebrated abroad?
The Valentine's Day appeared in the world quite a long time ago, but in our country it appeared much later - about 10-15 years ago. Many people still don’t like this day too much, but the younger generation treats it with great respect.
Over the years, different countries have formed their own ideas about traditions on this day. I'll tell you about the most interesting of them:
- In the United States, Valentine's Day has been celebrated for a long time, and it has its own traditional gifts, for example, a heart-shaped box of sweets filled with red and white candies.
- In Italy, sweets also come first among gifts: here they present chocolate or candy to their loved ones.
- In France, gifts for Valentine's Day are given by expensive people. Most often - jewelry.
- The British, like us, often give their loved ones valentines - small cards in the shape of a heart. Some openly express their feelings, while others anonymously.
- In Spain, traditions on this day take on a “passionate” color, like the Spanish temperament itself - here valentines are not just passed from hand to hand, they are sent using carrier pigeons.
- In Finland, mostly women are congratulated on this day, while in Japan, Valentine's Day is strictly for men; here, representatives of the stronger half of humanity are given gifts.
As for spending time on Valentine's Day, it does not depend on the country or race of lovers. Each couple chooses how and where to spend this day. And to make it easier for you to decide in the future, right now I’ll share the secrets of where you can go on February 14th.
Educational day
Try learning something together. For example, the most commonplace option is to take a dance master class. Just choose something very sensual: salsa, tango or waltz. This is a great way to get to know each other from a new side.
You can also sign up for a sommelier master class (you'll then boast that you've become a wine expert).
In fact, you can do anything - you just need to find something interesting for both of you.
Another idea: teach each other new things. For example, he is excellent at snowboarding, and she knows English perfectly. Isn't it time to share your skills with your other half?
Outfit
Even if you are having dinner at home on a holiday evening, resist the temptation to sit down to the table in your usual home attire. This is a holiday, so clothes should be festive . Of course, it is not necessary to wear a tuxedo and a floor-length evening dress, although this option is not excluded. But you still need to dress as you would before visiting a restaurant.
For girls, a prerequisite is a hairstyle and a beautiful manicure. Decorations will also come in handy.
However, if you don’t like excessive pathos, you can wear a beautiful peignoir instead of an elegant dress, in which you look extremely seductive.
Relaxing day
In the bustle of everyday life, we forget how nice it is to relax in the arms of a loved one after a hard day.
Have a day of complete relaxation on February 14 and sign up for a spa for two. Chocolate wrap, massage, champagne, scrub... Do you think a man won’t be interested in this? No matter how it is!
Men also really like such procedures, but sometimes they are afraid to admit it.
Another idea: you can rent a room in a good hotel with a spa program.
Go to the pool, have a massage, and then order a romantic dinner in your room.
Walk through the greenhouse
Budget: 600 ₽
In winter we miss bright colors. And in the greenhouses of the “Apothecary Garden” of the Botanical Garden of Moscow State University, it’s summer all year round. Southern plants can be seen in the palm greenhouse, all kinds of cacti and aloe - in the succulent greenhouse, unusual tropical plants, ferns and orchids - in the collection greenhouses. The entrance ticket to the “Apothecary Garden” costs 300 rubles.
Another idea.
A concert of jazz performers will be held in the subtropical greenhouse of the Apothecary Garden on February 14 at 20:00. For Valentine's Day, the musicians prepared a special romantic program. Tickets can be purchased at the concert box office of the Botanical Garden and on the Aptekarsky Ogorod website. Cost: from 1000 ₽ to 2200 ₽.
Where else can you catch summer in winter:
- City farm at VDNKh. On the farm territory there live wild and domestic animals in enclosures: raccoons, alpacas, rabbits, peacocks - you can pet and feed them (treats should be purchased at the checkout). The farm also has a greenhouse with exotic and native plants to our area. There you can warm up and please your eyes with fresh greenery. Ticket: 350 ₽ per person.
- Oceanarium. The Crocus City Oceanarium has three exhibitions: “Seas and Oceans” with large and colorful fish, corals and turtles; “Rivers and lakes” with freshwater inhabitants and even crocodiles; "Jungle" with live tropical plants, birds, reptiles and monkeys. Ticket: 1000 ₽ per person.
- Water parks. There are several of them in Moscow - and everywhere you can swim in pools, ride down slides, steam in baths and saunas and lie on sun loungers (but you won’t be able to get a tan). Cost: "Moreon" - from 1170 ₽ per person, "Karibia" - from 1390 ₽ per person (if purchased online), "Kva-Kva-Park" - from 900 ₽ per person.
Travel day
If traveling is your common passion, then going on a trip is the best decision for Valentine's Day.
You can drive to a nearby city on Friday (or fly to another country) and spend the entire weekend there. This idea may seem banal to you, but nothing brings people closer together than shared experiences.
You can discuss the route with your partner in advance, but it's better to make it a surprise.
Secretly buy tickets, book a hotel, quietly collect things for two, come up with a legend (for example, that you urgently need to go to the store or to the cinema), and then admit that the store is in another city!
Another idea: find a good restaurant in advance in the city where you are going. A festive dinner should take place in any case.
What could be more romantic than escaping together to the mysterious Northern Palmyra on Valentine's Day?
Climb under the dome of the House of Books and admire St. Petersburg, wind up the Peacock clock in the Hermitage, ride in a retro tram through the streets of the city, enjoy the stunningly beautiful ballet “The Legend of Love” at the Mariinsky Theater in the royal box, take your beloved on an icebreaker ride through ice-bound waters Neva, seat your beloved in a personalized chair in a private hotel box at the Mikhailovsky Theater...
The Belmond Grand Hotel Europe staff will help you make all her dreams come true!
You can book a room at the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe here.
How to classically spend February 14th?
If both you and your significant other are not fans of outdoor activities, then the best option for you to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to choose something from the classic list.
What is suitable for lovers who do not like to be creative and “reinvent the wheel”:
- Home entertainment.
If you not only come up with something original, but also don’t want to leave the house, you will need puzzles, tasty, aromatic tea and a couple of suitable films. You can lie in bed all day watching movies, or you can put together a puzzle with 300, 500 or 1000 pieces. A good addition to such a celebration would be cake and tea, and maybe a bottle of good wine.
- Going to the theater or cinema.
The easiest way to organize your leisure time is to go to the cinema, theater, operetta or ballet. Here, focus on your preferences, as well as the interests of your lover. After watching a movie or performance, you can go for a romantic dinner.
- Going to a restaurant.
The most classic option for spending time on February 14 is dinner at a restaurant. In such a romantic setting, it is common to talk about relationships, your feelings and plans for the future. This is also a great option if you intend to propose marriage to your beloved. My only advice to you is that restaurants are often crowded on this day, so be sure to book a table in advance.
- A trip to places of memory.
If you and your significant other started dating in the same city you live in now, you can have a nostalgia day - walk through the park where you first met, kiss where you first kissed, and have dinner at the restaurant where you first heard words of love from your soul mate. Such memories are the most romantic.
- A day of relaxation and SPA treatments.
I am sure that both you and your significant other will enjoy the day of relaxation that you will spend together in the SPA salon. You can try a variety of body wraps, massages and beauty treatments. As practice shows, both men and women equally enjoy this Valentine's Day holiday.
- Homemade holiday lunch or dinner.
If you or your lover don't mind experimenting in your own kitchen, then why not have a romantic dinner right at home? To do this, decide what dish you will prepare, then go to the supermarket and buy everything you need, and then get down to business. While you're cooking, you can open a holiday bottle of wine and add some fun memories to your cooking skills.
Remember that when choosing an option for spending time on Valentine's Day, you will need to take into account not only your wishes, but also the preferences of the other party. I am sure that after thinking about this together, you will come to a common denominator that will suit both of you.
Top 20 gifts that you can give to a girl on February 14
Holy day
Spend this day in bed. Or you can do it in the kitchen, in the living room, in the hallway... Well, you get the idea.
Let this be a day of hot fantasies and forbidden topics. Try something you've wanted for a long time, but were afraid to admit.
Another idea: try being “artists.” Paint your bodies with special paint, and before it dries, start loving each other on a white sheet! And then look what you got.
Serving
The table must be beautifully set. Use a beautiful festive tablecloth and fabric napkins. You can make your own napkin rings in advance by decorating them with images of hearts.
For this occasion, you need to get the most beautiful dishes and glasses . Never use mismatched plates and cups. Even if you don’t have a full dinner set at home, you can buy a set of dishes to set a table for two people in any case.
When decorating the table, do not overdo it with the number of decorative items; there should be enough free space on the table for arranging dishes. You should not put a lush bouquet on the table; it is better to limit yourself to one rose on a low stem in a small vase.
Zooden
This option will appeal to those couples who truly love animals. Go horseback riding or dog sledding. It's really very romantic and fun.
Afterwards, you can arrange a “charity” date: go to a shelter with pets. Walk with the dogs, feed them, pet them.
Such kind deeds truly bring people together. And maybe you will finally decide to get a little puppy or kitten?
Another idea: you can go to the zoo, feel like little children and watch animals that live in pairs.
Light
Many people associate a romantic dinner with candles. Indeed, the flickering color of candles creates a special atmosphere. Surely, many have seen beautiful scenes in films when lovers were in a room decorated with hundreds of burning candles. Of course it is very beautiful. But when choosing the number of candles, consider the size of the room . You shouldn’t place a lot of candles in a small room, because they “burn out” the oxygen, and the room will soon become very stuffy. And it’s unlikely that anyone would think of opening the windows in February, because you could catch a cold.
Therefore, it is better to limit yourself to a couple of candlesticks. You can do without a live fire altogether by using beautiful night lights and lamps that allow you to adjust the lighting power. Beautiful garlands will also decorate the room; you can use them to illuminate various objects or simply hang colorful light bulbs on the walls.
Extreme day
Give each other an “extreme surprise”: hot air balloon flight, parachute jump, snowmobiling, scuba diving, paragliding, zorbing, helicopter ride... The choice is yours.
You know that endorphin (“the hormone of happiness”) is often produced along with adrenaline? You'll see, your loved one (beloved) will not be able to stand on his feet!
Another idea: prepare an interesting quest. Come up with tasks and a route for your significant other - for example, to go around all your memorable places. Each of them will contain a small surprise (your favorite chocolate bar or flower) and a new task.
Do not leave valuable gifts in public places - it is better to give them in person when your love arrives at a restaurant or coffee shop.
Quick and easy menu for the holiday
If you want to quickly prepare dishes for a romantic dinner, then first you need to decide on the menu. Ideally, the table should have:
- Hot dish.
- Appetizers and salads.
- Dessert.
- Beverages.
You need to approach the preparation of the main dish with great responsibility. It is not recommended to use recipes for everyday use. There are many options for holiday dishes, and any housewife can prepare them, even without culinary experience. Bake chicken or fish, make meatloaf, julienne, fried squid, rabbit in sour cream, meat in sauce, etc.
Appetizers and salads are also a must. It is recommended to prepare for dinner with light snacks so as not to be distracted by them. You can make rolls, sushi, Caesar salad, Neptune salad, Prague salad, salmon tartare, creamy mousse, exotic sandwiches.
Dessert can be absolutely anything, but preferably low-calorie. Delight your loved one with cheesecake, baked apples, strawberry ice cream, fruit salad or canapes, cottage cheese dessert, chocolate or fruit jelly, pears in wine.
You can also find simple recipes on our website.
Think through the scenario and be prepared for anything
From all of the above, you can make a good holiday scenario, filling it with sweet surprises and a feeling of mutual tenderness. Just don’t put off preparation until the last minute, because the necessary attributes may not be available in the nearest store.
In addition, your ideal, clear holiday plan may fall apart due to your partner’s banal reluctance to participate in something or lack of mood. The main thing here is to remember why you are organizing your holiday: to please your partner and yourself, strengthen relationships and again feel bright, strong emotions.
Do whatever pleases both of you and enjoy the evening.
Looking for gifts
This is an interesting method that can be used anywhere: at home, on the street or in a shopping center, although it will be more convenient at home. The point is that you prepare in advance a card or pieces of paper with inscriptions on which your crush will look for her gift.
The game becomes interesting even at the thinking stage: for directions you can use riddles from your common memories and life events, for example, a photo next to the window will mean that the next clue is somewhere there, and on the back you can write clarifications in the form of a riddle or verse - the scope for imagination is simply immense.
In the end, everyone will enjoy it - the game itself will become a gift, and at the end of the quests there will be a material gift waiting for you.
