20 Free Cincinnati Date Ideas For Romance on a Budget

By CityBeat Staff on Fri, Jan 29, 2021 at 9:56 am

Dating during a pandemic is difficult enough, but throw in the financial strain and it's a recipe for stress (the worst ingredient in a good date). But these date ideas are free and a little unique for when you're craving something more than watching Hulu with your boo. From self-guided mural tours to museum visits and virtual cooking segments from a local chef, here are a few fun ideas to keep the romance going on a budget.

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Sip, Bite and Stroll Your Way Through Findlay Market

Free to wander
While Findlay Market is free to wander, they do offer a free 30-minute guided tour bi-monthly to introduce you to special market vendors and recount tales of the market’s 160 year history. Grab a bite to eat — or groceries to make dinner later — and stop by Market Wines 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday for the famous wine tasting. For under $10 each, you can get hefty samples of four handpicked wines. 1801 Race St., Over-the-Rhine.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Explore Contemporary Art at Downtown’s 21c Museum Hotel

609 Walnut St., Downtown
The 21c Museum Hotel in downtown Cincinnati is one of the more unique hotel experiences you can have. You can reserve a free museum tour for your family, your date or for yourself for a night out. At 21c, there is art on the sidewalks, the elevators and everywhere in between. The hotel is also home to the restaurant Metropole, if you’re looking to splurge on your night out.
Photo via Facebook.com/21cCincinnati

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Take Your Pooches to the Park at Otto Armleder Memorial Park

5057 Wooster Pike, Linwood
The Otto Armleder dog park has become an unexpected hot spot for locals, with the wide green space providing a perfect socially distant area to stroll, play fetch with your pup, have a picnic, and, of course, watch airplanes at neighboring Lunken Municipal Airport take off.
Photo via Facebook.com/ottoarmledermemorialpark

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Take an ArtWorks Mural Tour

Since its inception in 2007, the ArtWorks mural program has been a boon to public art along the streets of Cincinnati. The nonprofit organization — dedicated to employing and training local youth and other creative individuals to achieve community impact through art — has created nearly 200 of them. Download or print a map from online and build-your-own tour.
Photo: Savana Willhoite

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Learn to Cook With Free Facebook Live Classes From Arnold’s Chef Kayla Robinson

Kayla Robinson, head chef at Arnold’s Bar and Grill, posts biweekly cooking videos on such dishes as cauliflower tacos, sesame soy-glazed salmon and Italian meatball subs. The videos premiere live, but each class remains on Arnold’s Facebook page if you can’t make it for it’s live stream. Open a bottle of wine, pop on a cooking video, and date night is planned.
Photo via Facebook.com/ArnoldsBar

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Consider the Stars at Stonelick State Park

2895 Lake Drive, Pleasant Plain
Ohio’s Stonelick State Park hosts a free star gazing event every Saturday night after dark. Dark skies and telescopes make perfect star gazing conditions for you and the center of your universe.
Photo via Facebook.com/StonelickStargazers

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Become an Art Buff for the Day at the Cincinnati Art Museum

953 Eden Park Drive, Eden Park
Daily general admission to the Cincinnati Art Museum is always free, but currently guests are required to register in advance for free tickets/museum access. Anila Quayyum Agha’s popular All the Flowers Are for Me exhibit has returned to the Art Museum now until May 30, 2021. Tickets for special exhibitions, like the current Frank Duveneck: American Master are $10 for the general public. Beginning Feb. 4, the museum will be open weekly from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
Photo via Facebook.com/CincinnatiArtMuseum

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Take in the View at Summit Park Observation Tower

4335 Glendale Milford Road, Blue Ash
The Observation Tower at Summit Park is a fun and free attraction in Blue Ash. On a clear day with stretching blue skies, you can see the city of Cincinnati in the distance. You can also see the Eiffel Tower at Kings Island, Mount Rumpke and Top Golf from the tip top of the 153-foot tower.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Take a Chance with Virtual Speed Dating

We can’t forget about Cincinnati singles with this list. If you can’t find that special someone to share a picnic at Devou or explore Findlay Market with, there is now local virtual speed dating event every Friday night using Filter Off, a virtual speed dating app. You’ll be set up on three, 90-second dates, and hopefully, you will find your perfect match.
Photo via Cincinnati Speed Dating Eventbrite Page

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Take a Breather at Smale Riverfront Park

166 W. Mehring Way, Downtown
Smale Riverfront Park is a great date destination for a jog, picnic and/or people watching. The park features a beautiful view of the Ohio River, porch-style swings, a human-sized chess set and multiple playgrounds.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Explore History and Hidden Gems with a NKY Mural Tour

Are your eyes hungry for some art? There are several different Northern Kentucky-based self-guided mural tours available around the area. Covington has a Black history tour, with Riverside Drive offering a statue tour. These tours are great for a beautiful day and a curious mind.
Photo via NKYArtTours.com

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Get Lost in Art at the Weston Art Gallery

650 Walnut St., Downtown
The Weston Art Gallery reopens Jan. 30 with three free galleries available to the public. Located inside the Aronoff Center for the Arts, the gallery features an “eclectic mix of emerging and professional artists” in Cincinnati’s downtown, according to their website. The gallery, which will be open Wed. through Sat. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is a great pre-dinner activity with your loved one.
Photo via Facebook.com/WestonArtGallery

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Enjoy a Hike at Withrow Nature Preserve

7075 Five Mile Road, Anderson Township
The 271-acre park on Five Mile Road is a beautiful spot in Cincinnati for exploring nature and hiking with loved ones. The preserve is open daily from dawn until dusk, so you can decide whether a sunrise or sunset hike is best for your romantic rendezvous.
Photo: Paige Deglow

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Celebrate First Friday and Explore Kentucky’s Bellevue Neighborhood

This first Friday of every month, the historic shopping district is open late and welcoming folks to strut and sip along the avenue’s Bellevue Entertainment District (BED). Shops, restaurants and bars will take part, with all safety precautions and mandates to be followed.
Photo: Liz Davis

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Cozy Up for Picnic and a View at Devou Park

1201 Park Drive, Covington
Covington’s Devou Park is one of the best spots for a city view and some fresh air. Pack a picnic (or pick up takeout) and settle in at any of the picnic tables or lay out a blanket on the endless green space. Your date is sure to be swooned by the scenery.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Bask in the Art of Masters at the Taft Museum

316 Pike St., Downtown
Downtown’s The Taft Museum is one of the oldest private-home-turned-museums in Cincinnati. There is art from multiple centuries, with art ranging from Chinese porcelains to pieces by Rembrandt, Goya and Sargent. Admission is always free on Sundays, making the Taft Museum a perfect weekend date destination.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Give Back by Volunteering at Cincinnati’s Freestore Foodbank

The Freestore Foodbank is “the largest emergency food and services provider to children and families in Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana,” and since the start of the pandemic, they have distributed more than 24 million meals to those in need in partnership with more than 600 agencies across 20 counties. There are several ways you can volunteer and currently three locations to volunteer at; the Mayerson Distribution Center; Liberty Street Market; or the large distribution. Register online.
Photo via Facebook.com/FreestoreFoodbank

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Take a Stroll Across the Roebling Bridge

The John A. Roebling bridge is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Cincinnati. The blue bridge, planned by the same architect who designed the Brooklyn Bridge in New Yori City, is a hot spot for walkers and joggers alike. A romantic stroll across the 1,057 foot bridge is sure to impress whoever you bring.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

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Go Off the Beaten Path at Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum

4521 Spring Grove Ave., Spring Grove Village
This National Historic Landmark and second-largest cemetery in the United States is unexpectedly scenic and beautiful. The Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum is open daily for those looking for a spooky stroll or just a quiet connection with nature.
Photo: Kellie Coleman

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