Spending a night in while travelling — whether with your partner, travel buddies, or new friends you’ve met on the road — doesn’t have to mean scrolling through your phone or defaulting to Netflix. Here are a few fun and simple ideas to keep the good times rolling until the early hours, all without even leaving your hotel, Airbnb, or cozy guesthouse.

Drink-Making & Tasting

Making some drinks and doing a tasting is easily one of the simplest things you can do for a night of entertainment or as part of a date night. Additionally, you don’t even have to drink alcohol to do it. 

You can make mocktails, make a long macchiato as part of a coffee tasting, try different teas, or anything in between. Being able to make some delicious drinks and rank them is far more fun than you may think, and a great way to spend an evening. 

Game Night

A games night is always a great option because you can do one with your partner, your family, or your friends. In addition, there are plenty of games that can be played over a few days, weeks, or even months, such as Dungeons & Dragons. 

You also don’t even have to stick to the regular suspects like Monopoly or Risk, as there are so many exciting new types of board games out there that you can quickly and easily order online. 

Homemade Escape Room

Escape rooms have been a global hit for years, and now, several websites make it easy to bring the adventure wherever you are — even on your travels. Whether you’re staying in a hotel, an Airbnb, or a hostel common room, you can host your own escape room experience with pre-made kits or by creating one yourself.

While many of the best options aren’t free, they’re affordable, easy to customise to your group’s interests, and can be adjusted to suit the number of participants — perfect for a memorable night in while exploring new places.

Arts & Crafts

Arts and crafts have always been a popular “fun night in” idea, and for good reason. You can spend as much or as little money as you want, and almost all the tools and materials you need can be found on sites like Amazon. 

You can create clay sculptures, draw a portrait of your partner, and compare the results, or add a retro feel and follow along with a Bob Ross painting tutorial – the possibilities are almost endless. 

Cooking Competition

Nothing sparks a little friendly rivalry on the road quite like a cooking competition! Whether you’re whipping up each other’s favourite dishes, creating a meal on a tight travel budget, or challenging yourselves to cook with ingredients of just one colour or from one country, it’s a fun and delicious way to spend a night in.

Take it up a notch by scoring each other’s creations and crowning a winner — it’s a playful, memorable bonding experience that can easily be customised to suit whatever ingredients (and kitchen space!) you have while travelling.

Couple’s Trivia

Couple’s trivia is a brilliant game to play between the two of you, but is even more fun if you include a few friends. The game is simple: write a few questions about yourself, and see if your partner or friend can answer them. 

Not only is this a fun way to share a few laughs, but it’s also a brilliant way to learn new things about the people you love and those closest to you. 

Dance Lessons

Thanks to YouTube, learning to dance while travelling has never been easier. Whether you’re picking up a few new moves for your next night out in a new city, learning a special dance for an upcoming event, or simply looking for a fun way to connect with your partner or travel buddies, all you need is a screen, an internet connection, and a little space to practice. It’s a fun, spontaneous way to create memories wherever your adventures take you.

Learn an Instrument

While this may sound a bit extreme, learning to play an instrument is most certainly something you can start on a night in and continue whenever you want. This is because not every instrument is made equally, and there are a couple that you can get a tune out of with a couple of hours of practice. 

For instance, a ukulele is a fun instrument that is famously easy to learn, especially for beginners. The same can be said for a harmonica. While you may only get a few simple melodies, you will have a lot of fun doing it. 

Plan Your Dream  Vacation

Sometimes the best part of travelling is the excitement of what’s next. Settle in with some snacks and drinks and spend the evening planning your next adventure or tomorrow’s itinerary. Whether you’re creating a mood board for your dream destination or mapping out all the must-visit spots in the town you’re heading to, it’s a fun and meaningful way to bond with your partner or travel buddies. All you need is a laptop or tablet, a little imagination, and a few hours to dream big and get inspired for the journey ahead.