A great date in Cincinnati doesn’t have to cost a lot. As long as you put time and thought into your date ideas, you can have a fun day or night out in the Queen City without even spending a penny.

From a free mural scavenger hunt to a night under the stars at the Cincinnati Observatory, there are plenty of affordable and fun activities for you and your partner, whether it’s your first date or you’ve been together for decades. Keep scrolling to see some of the ideas we put together that won’t cost you more than $30.

“When my parents first moved down here a few years ago, my mom spent a good month referring to ‘the OTR.’ That feels like a good start” -AMPduppp Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Take a Romantic Walk at Smale Riverfront Park and Ride Carol Ann’s Carousel $2 per person Nestled between Great American Ball Park and Paul Brown Stadium, Smale Riverfront Park is dotted with fountains, gardens, an event lawn, a labyrinth, a playground and Carol Ann’s glass-enclosed, year-round carousel. Open select days and hours depending on the season, it features 44 whimsical, Cincinnati-centric creatures for you to ride. If spinning around in circles works up your appetite, Condado Tacos at The Banks nearby has affordable tacos and margaritas. 8 E. Mehring Way, Downtown. Photo: Jesse Fox
Cincinnati Observatory 3489 Observatory Place, Mount Lookout Built in 1873, the Cincinnati Observatory is the oldest public observatory in the United States, housing fully-functional 19th century telescopic technology for the public to use. Seated atop Mount Lookout, the original building and the infamous dome added in 1895 are a significant fixture in the city’s history. Known as “The Birthplace of American Astronomy,” the Cincinnati Observatory is a bedrock for astronomical discoveries and advancement. Photo: Brittany Thornton Photo: Brittany Thornton
Try Your Hand at Duckpin Bowling or Pinball at Pins Mechanical Co. $7-$8 a game This multi-level OTR entertainment bar features duckpin bowling, vintage pinball machines, ping pong, foosball and a rooftop patio with bocce ball and firepits. Duckpin bowling uses smaller bowling balls (without holes), smaller pins and smaller lanes than traditional bowling alleys. Games are first-come, first-serve and are only $7 or $8 per person per game, depending on the day; no special shoes required. If there’s a line for a lane, happy hour runs until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, so grab a drink while you wait for your name to be called; or if you want to be extra thrifty, Monday’s happy hour special includes free duckpin. Giant Jenga and the arcade games are free and pinball games are $1 each. 1124 Main St., Over-the-Rhine. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Do a Scavenger Hunt of All of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine’s Murals Free Downtown Cincinnati and Over-the-Rhine are covered in free artwork, and the adventurous can go on a journey to find all of it. Download a PDF of downtown and Over-the-Rhine murals at artworkscincinnati.org. Photo: Provided by the Institute for Middle East Understanding
Breakfast at Bowtie Cafe Followed by a Visit to the Cincinnati Art Museum Bowtie Cafe: Price varies; Cincinnati Art Museum: Free Bowtie Cafe in Mt. Adams offers affordable and delicious breakfast options, from the bagel (plain or everything) with cream cheese or peanut butter for just $4 to the breakfast burrito for $10. Their coffee and tea menu also has drinks, all of which are $5.50 or less. Following breakfast, if the weather is nice, you can take a walk up the hill – or take the Art Climb – to the Cincinnati Art Museum in Eden Park where you can view the museum’s “diverse, encyclopedic art collection” of more than 67,000 works spanning the ancient world to modern times – all for free. Bowtie Cafe, 1101 St. Gregory St., Mt. Adams; Cincinnati Art Museum, 953 Eden Park Drive, Walnut Hills. Photo: Don Ventre
Take a Walk on the Wild Side at the Krohn Conservatory $10 per person Located in historic Eden Park, the Krohn Conservatory is an aluminum-and-glass Art Deco destination (in the shape of an upside-down heart) filled with more than 3,500 plant species from around the world. Permanent displays include a rare orchid house, a steamy tropical room, a succulent-filled desert space and a fun walk-through rainforest rock waterfall. 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough
No. 8 Best Overall Bar/Club: MOTR Pub 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine Photo: facebook.com/MOTR Pub
Have a ‘Grain to Glass’ Experience at Boone County Distilling Co. $14 per person A member of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and Northern Kentucky B-Line, Boone County Distilling Co. offers you and your date the chance to see what goes into crafting their bourbon and rye whiskeys. The Grain to Glass Tour shows you how grains are ground, cooked, mashed and then double-distilled in a 500-gallon copper pot, nicknamed “The Bear.” Following the tour, you’ll get the chance to sample products. 10601 Toebben Drive, Florence.. Photo: facebook.com/Boone County Distilling Company
Alice OTR Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Sip, Bite and Stroll at Findlay Market 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine At more than 150 years old, Findlay Market is Ohio’s oldest continually operated public market. Go for the farmers market, butcher shops, flower stalls, OTR Biergarten and eclectic eats. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Spice Up the Romance with Candles Made at the Candle Lab Price varies Nothing says “romance” like candles, especially if you made them by hand with your partner in mind. The Candle Lab offers pour-your-own candle-making where you can create a custom candle and scent from over 100 fragrance oil options. You can choose from a variety of sizes, many of which are under $25, or create custom-scented aromatic mists, reed diffusers or wax tarts instead. 1325 Vine St., Over-the-Rhine; 7454 Beechmont Ave. #308, Anderson Township. Photo: facebook.com/The Candle Lab Cincy
Fifty West Burger Bar 7605 Wooster Pike, Newtown Fifty West Brewing Company continues to build upon their Columbia Township empire with the addition of the new Fifty West Burger Bar, an homage to the 1950s roadside root beer stand. Offering a variety of proteins (including the vegetarian-friendly ‘Beyond patty’), each is offered in 12 different ways, named for the 12 different states U.S. Route 50 travels through. Photo: Savana Willhoite Photo: Savana Willhoite
Jungle Jim’s Jungle Jim’s is an amusement park for foodies, and not just because of its kitschy statues and animatronics. The huge store (more than 6 acres) contains equal parts weekly shoppers scanning the aisles for super fresh seafood, exotic produce and international eats from more than 70 countries and visitors wandering, mouths agape at the wacky decor, likely with a beer in hand. The singing soup can is a beloved sight to snap a photo of; same goes for the elaborate restroom hidden behind a port-a-potty facade. This Hogwarts of grocery stores also offers nearly 1,500 different kinds of hot sauce, and the aisle is pretty hard to miss: It’s the one with the giant fire truck on top of it. Photo: junglejims.com
Cuddle with Some Cats at the Purrfect Day Cafe $15 purr person Reserve a 50-minute session to cuddle with kitties in Purrfect Day Cafe’s cat lounge room. Roughly 15-20 adoptable cats hang out in the lounge room, and all can be interacted with. You may also purchase a variety of beverages, including beer, wine, bourbon, tea, coffee and soda. 25 W. Eighth St., Covington. Photo: Ashley Moor
Bender Mountain Nature Preserve 6320-6468 Bender Road, Delhi Township Bender Mountain Loop Trail is a 2.3-mile hike past scenes of wildflowers and woods. This trail is considered moderately difficult and is great for a small challenge with beautiful scenic payoffs of the ravine as well as the Ohio River. And if you like ghost stories, you’ll be fascinated by the old Darby-Lee Cemetery along the route, whose residents are linked to the local legend of Fiddler’s Green. Photo: Paige Deglow
Sing Your Heart Out at Tokyo Kitty Free at the main bar This Tokyo-inspired bar features free karaoke in the main bar and seven private rooms (hourly rates start at $50) that come with a drink delivery robot. They serve loads of specialty cocktails from $10-$15, as well as fun mocktails. 575 Race St., Downtown. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Hard Rock Casino Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Ride the Loveland Bike Trail Loveland, Ohio Spanning more than 70 miles along the Little Miami River, the Loveland Bike Trail is a haven for cyclists, runners and walkers alike. The paved, flat trail was developed in 1983, replacing what was once the Pennsylvania Railroad. Now, visitors pedal through to immerse themselves in the landscape of Little Miami State Park, grab ice cream at Loveland Sweets or Loveland Dairy Whip, and maybe even learn a thing or two at the Loveland History Museum. Loveland is also a DORA (Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area) district, so if you grab a brew from Narrow Path Brewing, you can take it with you while you wander the quaint downtown. And if you don’t own a bike, don’t worry — rentals are a phone call away. Photo: facebook.com/Loveland Bike Trail
Find Bargains and Hidden Gems at Valley Thrift Cost varies Turn your date into the ultimate treasure hunt as you search for great finds at Valley Thrift and connect over your love of vintage clothes and good deals, or have a friendly competition to see who can find the coolest item under $15. If you’re more into antiquing, you can check out Riverside Centre Antique Mall in the East End or Ohio Antique Mall in Fairfield. Over-the-Rhine and Northside are home to several vintage shops, as well. Valley Thrift: 9840 Reading Road, Evendale & 4301 Dixie Highway, Fairfield. Photo: facebook.com/Valley Thrift
See the Latest Exhibit at the Contemporary Arts Center Free With changing exhibits, an eclectic gift shop and a hip cafe, the Contemporary Arts Center welcomes visitors free of charge. 44 E. Sixth St., Downtown. Photo: © Ryan Kurtz // facebook.com/cincycac
Challenge Your Date to a Friendly Game of Pickleball at Sawyer Point Free If you have the gear, you and your date can have a friendly competition at Sawyer Point to see who’s the pickleball champ. Their courts are open and free to play on from March through December, and players of all skill levels are welcome. They even installed state-of-the-art LED lighting and are open until 10 p.m. so you can keep playing late into the night. 815 E. Pete Rose Way, Downtown. Photo: facebook.com/Cincinnati Pickleball Club
Catch a Show (for Free) During the Wednesday Welcome Experiment at Know Theatre Free or pay-what-you-wish for walkups or $15 in advance Know Theatre is known for putting on cutting-edge and avant-garde productions in its black box theater (true to type, it also produces the city’s annual Fringe Festival). The Wednesday Welcome Experiment makes shows accessible to all with totally free or pay-what-you-wish admission for walkups, so you can spend the ticket money you saved at the venue’s Underground Bar — a cocktail and cabaret space with drinks and programming that complements the goings-on upstairs. 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine. Photo: Dan R. Winters
Take Your Kids Bowling (for Free) When you register for the Kids Free Bowling program, your kids get two free games a day at participating bowling alleys during the summer. Some (but not all) participating spots include Western Bowl in Green Township, Scene 75 in Milford and Stones Lanes. You may still need to pay for shoe rentals and snacks, but the program makes for a fun, affordable day out, especially when you want to escape the heat and humidity. Lace up a pair of those questionable, borrowed shoes, grab a ball and knock down some pins in the sweet, sweet musty air conditioning. Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Show Off Your Moves at Beechmont Rollerarena Admission: $5-$11; Skate rentals: $3-$5 Lace up those skates for a fun night under the disco balls at this nostalgic roller rink. Beechmont Rollerarena offers open skating on Wednesday and Friday through Sunday. Admission prices vary from $5 to $11 depending on the day and time, and skate rentals are $3 for regular skates and $5 for speed skates. The concession stand also offers a lot of affordable eats, like pizza, cheeseburgers and hot dogs. 3988 Commercial Blvd., Union Township. Photo: facebook.com/Beechmont Rollerarena