City Guides

23 Most Fun Date Ideas in Albuquerque in 2024

Published on Jun 27th 2024
date ideas in Albuquerque

There are plenty of fun and romantic date ideas in Albuquerque. The city is New Mexico’s largest city surrounded by desert. The Old Town area is full of great date night ideas and historical buildings to visit, such as the San Felipe de Neri Church.

Meanwhile, the Downtown is more modern. It is difficult to select a date idea when there are so many ideas. So, perhaps you are asking, where should I take a girl on a date in Albuquerque?

There are many unique date ideas in Albuquerque. Before going through the 23 most fun date ideas in Albuquerque, you might ask, how do you make a date fun? Being open and creative is important and you can do this by selecting a date night idea that will allow you to get to know each other in unique ways.

Check out first date ideas and even double date ideas, to spice things up even more. Now, let's get to the most fun date ideas in Albuquerque. 

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Unique Date Ideas in Albuquerque

1. Cooking Classes

A great date night idea is to learn to cook as a couple. Cooking classes in Albuquerque vary in theme and are a fun activity for couples. These are hands-on cooking classes, where an expert chef will teach you how to cook the best cuisine.

Cooking together is a romantic and fun date night idea, which will help you get to know each other more internally. Meanwhile, you will learn new culinary skills along the way.

cooking classes date idea albuquerque
via Classpop!

2. Electric Playhouse

An alternative date idea in Albuquerque is to visit the Electric Playhouse, a digital landscape where you can enjoy fun interactive games with each other. Feel free to attend events here too, such as yoga sessions. This popular destination is just one of many unique date ideas in Albuquerque.

3. Go Brewery Hopping

Albuquerque is home to wonderful craft breweries and so a great idea for a date is to go on a date visiting many of the breweries in the city.

In the Downtown area, the Marble Brewery is not only a great place to drink alternative beer, they also have scrumptious food. There is also the Brewery District, where you can go to places like the Canteen Brewhouse and compare different beers together.

4. Take a Ghost Tour

Explore the History of the Old Town through a scary but fascinating date idea, a ghost tour! This ghost tour will show you the history the old town and all the special secrets you didn’t know about the area.

This is Albquereque’s oldest and original year-round walking tour which focuses not just on ghosts, but on food, cultural wonders, sounds and more. How do you make a date fun? Well, this is a great idea to make a date very enjoyable.

5. ABK Biopark Aquarium

The ABK Biopark, next to the Rio Grande is a place to look for many date ideas in Albuquerque. From exploring the zoo, botanic garden and Tingley Beach, there are plenty of fun things to do in Albuquerque for young adults.

We recommend the ABK Biopark Aquarium, where you can explore a variety of sea creatures, from stingrays to sharks and have a romantic time with your date amongst incredible animals. 

aquarium with giant whale shark
via Canva

6. Stargaze at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science

Following a passion is a great way to find romantic date ideas in Albuquerque. If that is stargazing and exploring the stars, then you should head to the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. There is a planetarium and observatory here, perfect for an intimate date.

7. Make Delicious Chocolate Together

A great way to learn a new skill through a unique date idea is to make chocolate together as a couple. Chocolate and romance are intrinsically linked and at Eldora Chocolate you can learn all about how they make their delicious chocolate. You can also enjoy plenty of their chocolate offerings here.

8. Go to a Concert

There are plenty of places to go for a concert in Albuquerque. Go to the KiMo Theatre in Downtown Albuquerque, a place which is known for its historical significance and range of things to do, from films to theatre performances. This is just one of many fun things to do in Albuquerque for young adults.

Romantic Date Ideas in Albuquerque

9. Enjoy Wine Tasting Together

Romantic date ideas in Albuquerque are numerous. Now, we will turn away from food and towards the lovely wine of the region.

A great way to get to know your date better is through wine tasting. Taste, swirl and enjoy numerous wines at different wineries, such as the Casa Rondeña Winery.

wine tasting date idea in albuquerque
via Canva

10. Enjoy Watching Flamengo Dancing

This is a perfectly romantic date night idea, one which fits perfectly amongst Valentine’s Day date ideas. Tablao Flamenco is an intimate place where you can enjoy colorful flamenco dancing and if you go on a weekend, you can enjoy a delicious meal during their dinner shows.

This shows that there are a wide range of romantic date ideas in Albuquerque. 

11. Enjoy Incredible Food at the Farm and Table

Located in the very picturesque north valley of the Albuquerque area, the Farm and Table is a twelve-acre property that has served delectable food sourced from their land, other ranchers and food artisans since 2012.

There are not many places better for a fascinating and romantic meal than this restaurant, where chef Jens Smith prepares incredible dishes. This is a great example of the amazing date night restaurants in Albuquerque.

12. Eat Romantic Food at Pueblo Harvest

Date night restaurants in Albuquerque are numerous and full of romance. A great example of this is Pueblo Harvest, a highly loved restaurant in the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

They offer a menu with a modern take on traditional Native American cuisine. This is also a great opportunity to learn about the history and culture of New Mexico’s Native American tribes.

13. Have a Hotel Staycation

The city is home to many fancy and beautiful hotels that offer a perfect place to have a night away from home without traveling far. Just off Route 6 and in Downtown Albuquerque, a historic hotel called the Hotel Andaluz sits glamourously.

This is the perfect palace for a romantic staycation. The Italian-inspired, modern and luxurious Hotel Paro Central is another great spot for a hotel stay, which is at the top of the list of date ideas in Albuquerque for couples. 

hotel andaluz date idea in albuquerque
via Hotel Andaluz

14. Enjoy Food at Ten 3

Sitting at 10,300 feet at the top of the Sandia Mountains is Ten 3, which you can access via the Sandia Aerial Peak Tramway. Searching for date ideas in Albuquerque for couples?

Look no further than this gorgeous restaurant, where the food matches the gorgeous scenery. Visit Ten 3 to eat scrumptious food and enjoy the views of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains together.

Outdoor Date Ideas in Albuquerque

15. Take a Trip on the Sandia Aerial Peak Tramway

If you want to get to Ten 3, you should take the Sandia Aerial Peak Tramway so you can enjoy the spectacular mountain views just before you have a couple of drinks and some delicious food. There are plenty of hiking routes once you get to the top, so it is very much worth the trip.

16. Hot Air Balloon Ride

Alphabet date ideas are a great way to spice up your dating life by selecting a different date for each letter. If you are searching for date ideas in Albuquerque with the letter ‘H’, look no further than a hot air balloon ride.

From morning rides to private and even adventures during sunset, there are plenty of different options to choose from. Rainbow Ryders is a great option for hot air balloon rides in the area.

17. Kayak on the Rio Grande

If you are searching for fun things to do in Albuquerque for adults, then think about kayaking on the Rio Grande. Most water sports take place along the roughly 28-mile-long part middle of the Rio Grande. By booking with Quiet Waters, you can also not only kayak but paddleboard as well.

young guy kayaking at sunset
via Canva

18. Hike in the National Parks

Albuquerque is full of incredible hiking routes around the borders of the city. The Sandria Mountain Foothills is full of amazing routes, such as the Foothills Trial 365.

The Rio Grande Bosque Hills, Cibola National Forest and the West Mesa hiking area are other great locations for hikes.

19. Los Poblanos Inn and Farm

Looking for fun date ideas in Albuquerque that involve delicious food? Think about visiting the Los Poblanos Inn and Farm, a place that exists amongst 25 acres of lavender fields, greenery and cottonwood trees. This is a great location for either a romantic getaway or brunch or dinner.

20. Have a Picnic Amongst Nature

Simple but fun things to do in Albuquerque for adults is to go to one of the incredible wildlife spots in the area and have a delicious picnic.

This romantic and intimate idea will help you to get to know your date even better by creating magical memories. Tingley Beach, the Elena Gallegos open space and of course, the ABQ Biopark are fantastic picnic spots.

Free Date Ideas in Albuquerque

21. Albuquerque Museum

Visiting museums features heavily in winter date ideas. The Albuquerque Museum is a lovely place, full of knowledge and visiting this institution is a wonderful idea, whatever the weather.

Albuquerque Museum was established in 1967 and is a leading institution for culture, art and history in the Southwest area. Admission is free for everyone on the first Wednesday of every month and from 9 am to 1 pm on Sunday. 

museum date idea in albuquerque
via Canva

22. Explore the Old Town

The Old Town in Albuquerque is home to beautiful shops, galleries, museums, cafés and restaurants. The area respects the tradition of the area, whilst also accepting modern changes.

Full of historical buildings, the place is great for an evening stroll. This is just one of many cheap date ideas in Albuquerque.

23. Explore the Nob Hill Area

If you are searching for cheap date ideas in Albuquerque, exploring the Nob Hill area is a great idea as not only can you have a romantic stroll, but you’ll find plenty to do in the area.

Nob Hill is located near the famous Route 66 and has lots of local shops, authentic and high-quality restaurants and fun bars making this spot a favorite for the locals.We have explored the best date ideas in Albuquerque, from the unique to the romantic, outdoors and free of charge. There are plenty of date night ideas in Albuquerque.

You should try as many unique dates as possible because according to the Gottman Institute, dedicating two hours to dates per week can boost emotional connection and understanding between each other.

For even more fun date ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!