Introduction
Friendship is the soil where joy grows. Whether you’re planning a lazy afternoon with your bestie or a spontaneous evening in, having a menu of warm, playful, meaningful ideas at your fingertips can rescue you from boredom more often than you think. In this guide, I gather and reorganize ideas from the Hallmark “50+ fun things to do with friends” list and Apartment Therapy’s “62 Ways to Have the Most Fun Staying In with Your Friends” list — adding in a few fresh ideas of my own. Think of this as your friendship playbook.
I’ll group ideas by setting or vibe (at home, at night, outdoors, creative, low-cost), and sprinkle in 5 new ideas you won’t find in the originals.
At Home
Staying in doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. The Hallmark list offers many cozy, bonding home ideas — spa nights, board or card games, baking, vision-board parties, craft nights, karaoke, hosting a sleepover, and even joint decluttering. Apartment Therapy’s “staying in” list leans into hands-on hobbies, customizing things (e.g., decorating a deck of cards), cozy cooking, or themed nights.
Here’s a curated set for home:
- Spa night / self-care ritual — masks, foot baths, candles, and relaxing music.
- Game night/card games / DIY trivia — try classic board games or invent your own quiz.
- Bake or cook something together — pick a new recipe or remake a childhood favorite.
- Crafting / DIY / vision board party — cut magazines, glue, collage, or even make custom postcards.
- Karaoke or sing-along — whether in the living room or via an app.
- Movie/binge-watching / themed watch party — lean into a film series or a genre night.
- Scrapbooking/photo albums/memory sharing — go through old photos, laugh, tell stories.
- Decluttering / “nesting” together — tackle messy corners, swap clothes, upcycle.
- Customize a deck of cards / creative object making — as Apartment Therapy suggests, turning something mundane into your own art.
Night / Evening Ideas
When darkness falls, a few well-chosen activities can transform a regular night into a memorable one.
Hallmark suggests stargazing, bonfires or fire pits, and s’mores, boat rides, dancing, outdoor movie nights, breakfast for dinner, jazz clubs, and sunset hopping (moving from one vantage point to another). From Apartment Therapy, many of the staying-in ideas also suit evenings: cozy cooking, light projects, or games to wind down.
Here are evening ideas:
- Outdoor movie/projector night — set up a sheet in the yard or turn your balcony into a cinema.
- Bonfire or fire pit + s’mores evening
- Dance night / try a new dance style
- Jazz or live-music night
- Sunset hopping or rooftop watching
- Breakfast-for-dinner or dessert crawl
- Themed dinner nights (e.g., tapas, sushi, fondue)
- Nighttime picnic/lantern walk — bring lanterns, fairy lights, cozy blankets.
Outdoors & On-the-Go
Sometimes you need fresh air, movement, and a change of scenery. Hallmark’s list is rich with outdoor ideas: hiking, cycling (even tandem biking), kayaking, disc golf, skateboarding, visiting an outdoor art fair, farmers’ markets, gardening, flea markets, outdoor yoga, and “nontraditional crawls” through shops, bakeries, or plant stores
From Apartment Therapy, while their main focus is “night in,” some of their hands-on hobby ideas can travel outdoors (crafting, walking, exploring).
Outdoors ideas:
- Hiking/nature walk/forest trails
- Bike rides/tandem bike / casual cruising
- Kayaking/canoe/paddle boat
- Outdoor yoga or meditation
- Farmers’ markets / local bazaars/flea markets
- Nontraditional crawls (e.g., bakery crawl, bookstore hop, plant shop hop)
- Outdoor art fairs/festivals/street markets
- Picnic in a park or by the water
- Geocaching/treasure hunt walk
Creative & Theme-Based
These are ideas that push you to try something new, imaginative, or clustered around a theme or challenge.
Hallmark mentions: canvas portrait painting, arts & crafts, fake podcast creation, bucket lists, puzzle nights, making a gallery wall, scrapbook, and random-topic podcast. Apartment Therapy adds customizing items (deck of cards), themed dinners, or low-lift hosting ideas like “Podcast Club” or “BYOB board night.”
Here are creative ideas (with new ones too):
- Group storytelling or collaborative writing game — each person writes a line, passes it on.
- “Reverse scavenger hunt” — each person brings an odd object, and you craft stories around them.
- Themed photo challenge — pick a theme (textures, shadows, joy) and take photos around your city.
- Microfilm / short video night — write, shoot, and screen a 2-minute film.
- DIY escape room at home — build puzzles, riddles, and lockboxes for your friends to solve.
- Create a zine or mini-magazine together — write, draw, collage, fold, and copy.
- Upcycling/repurpose night — give old clothes or items new life via sewing, painting.
- Language or foreign-culture immersion night — pick a country, cook its food, watch films, and learn a phrase.
Low-Cost / Budget-Friendly
One of the beauties of friendship is that you don’t need dollars to make magic. Hallmark includes many low-cost ideas: walks, sports, clothing swaps, musical swaps, library visits, volunteer activities, free events, board games, plant swapping, museum “free days,” picnics, birdwatching, etc.
Apartment Therapy’s staying-in list also emphasizes minimal-cost creativity, especially with crafting, remixing, and hands-on hobbies.
Here’s your pocket-friendly list:
- Take a neighborhood walk or explore a new street
- Clothing/accessory swap among friends
- Library visit / free museum day
- Volunteer together for a cause
- Board game or card game night
- Picnic or potluck in a local park
- Birdwatching/nature spotting
- Music-album-rating or listening party
- Write a song together / improv lyric jam
5 Fresh Ideas You Didn’t See (Bonus!)
Here are five ideas I’m adding just for you — to spark new memories:
- Silent disco in your living room/backyard
Everyone gets headphones, picks playlists, and dances together in silence (except for laughs). - Memory-lane walking tour
Map out places (from childhood, school, or neighborhoods) important to each friend and walk, share stories, and revisit old haunts. - “Swap lives for an hour” challenge
Pick one hour where each person does one small task the other would normally do (e.g., cook their meal, write a to-do list, pick their playlist). It’s playful empathy. - Backyard stargazing + storytelling kit
Bring blankets, star-charts, record voice-memo “tales” to your future selves — talk about dreams, fears, wishes. - DIY “friendship time capsule”
Each person writes a letter, picks small meaningful objects, and seals them in a jar or box to open in 1–5 years.
Tips for Choosing & Doing These Ideas
- Balance energy levels: After a long day, go for low-key (movie, crafting) rather than a marathon hike.
- Set loose structure: Even a little plan helps (e.g., “we’ll cook from 7–8, then board games”).
- Let personality lead: Use your friends’ interests. Are they quiet, sporty, artistic?
- Mix indoor & outdoor: If the weather allows, combine a walk, then come home for crafting.
- Be flexible & forgiving: Sometimes plans change — the fun is in being together.
- Pack essentials: Snacks, music, blankets, portable lights — things that elevate any hang.
FAQ: Fun Things to Do with Friends
1. What are some fun things to do with friends at home?
There are tons of fun things to do at home with friends — host a game night, bake something new, do a DIY spa session, or have a karaoke and dance-off in your living room. You can also get creative with crafting, making vision boards, or starting a movie marathon with matching snacks.
2. What can I do with my friends at night?
Fun things to do with friends at night include stargazing, setting up a backyard bonfire, exploring your city’s night markets, or planning a cozy indoor pajama party. You could also host a themed dinner night, have a Netflix binge marathon, or go for a late-night dessert crawl.
3. What are fun, cheap things to do with friends?
If you’re on a budget, try hosting a potluck dinner, having a clothing swap, or exploring free local attractions like parks, beaches, or museums on free-admission days. You can also plan a board game night, volunteer together, or take a scenic walk with homemade snacks and good playlists.
4. What are some outdoor activities to do with friends?
Outdoor fun things to do with your friends include hiking, biking, kayaking, picnicking, or visiting farmers’ markets and outdoor art fairs. You can also plan a photo challenge around your city, do a “bakery crawl,” or simply enjoy sunset watching together.
5. How can I have fun with my best friend on a lazy day?
On a lazy day, keep it simple! Try comfort activities like baking cookies, watching your favorite shows, sharing old stories, or doing a mini spa day together. You could even build a pillow fort, order takeout, and chat about life — sometimes the simplest plans are the most meaningful.
6. What can I do with friends when we’re bored?
When boredom hits, switch things up — try a random activity like painting each other’s portraits, making a short video, or learning a TikTok dance together. You can also pick a random word and each person finds something fun related to it — it’s silly but surprisingly fun!
7. What are creative things to do with friends?
Creative ideas include starting a mini photo shoot, writing a song or story together, making a zine, upcycling old clothes, or hosting a “no-talent talent show.” Anything that lets you express yourself and laugh counts as creative fun.
8. How do you make a night in with friends special?
Add a theme or a ritual! You could do a “build your own pizza” night, a cocktail/mocktail bar, a cozy candlelight dinner, or even a gratitude circle. Curate music, lighting, and snacks to make your home feel like an experience — not just a hangout.
9. What are fun things to do with friends without spending money?
Free activities include taking a walk in nature, watching a sunset, playing board games you already own, or having a digital detox night. You could also journal together, do free yoga or workouts on YouTube, or write letters to your future selves.
10. How can I make lasting memories with friends?
The best memories aren’t about fancy plans — they’re about connection. Take photos, try something new, laugh until you cry, and be present. Whether you’re camping, crafting, or cooking together, the shared moments — not the cost — are what you’ll remember.
Why This Matters
Friendship isn’t just entertainment — it’s nourishment. It reminds you that you’re seen even in your mess. It’s in the laughter that bubbles up mid-bake, the quiet walk when none of you speaks, the joy when someone “gets” your weird joke.
By having a toolkit of fun things to do with friends, you’re less likely to fall back on routines or default to screens. You give yourself permission for connection, spontaneity, surprise.
So next time you text, “Wanna hang?” pull out this guide, pick a few that spark “Yes,” and lean into that friendship magic. Because memories built in laughter and simple moments last.
Here’s to more inside jokes, warm evenings, impromptu dance parties, and knowing your people.
Conclusion: The Magic of Shared Moments
Friendship is one of life’s simplest joys — and one of its greatest treasures. The laughter, shared silence, and spontaneous plans become the glue that holds memories together. Whether it’s a cozy night in with candles and karaoke, a creative afternoon crafting something silly, or a late-night walk under the stars, these moments remind us that connection doesn’t require perfection — only presence.
The best part? You don’t need extravagant plans or endless money to make it special. Just intention, curiosity, and the willingness to say “yes” to time together. So, gather your favorite people, try something from this list, and let joy unfold naturally
Here’s to countless more laughs, adventures, and moments that make friendship the truest form of happiness.
