Heading to a coffee shop to have some good conversation is a classic move, but I love finding uniquely fun things to do with friends. There are so many good ideas that go far beyond the usual movie night or going to a new restaurant.
And whether you want to stay at home, head out for the night, save money, or you need a great weekend plan, I think my list of things to do with friends will help you plan out your next hang.
I love getting creative and looking back at the fun activities I’ve done with my besties. I have such good memories of my social outings with friends and enjoying each other’s company while staying in or going out. And if you want some fresh + fun ideas to do with friends in 2026, then here are some ways you can spend time together.
It’s time to take your ideas out of the group chat and into real life, so plan out your next get together and enjoy some time with your friend group.
In This Article:
- Fun Things to Do With Friends at Home
- Fun Things to Do With Friends at Night
- Things to Do With Friends When You’re Bored
- Free Things to Do With Friends (No Money Needed)
- Chill Things to Do With Friends on the Weekend
- Creative Things to Do With Friends
Fun Things to Do With Friends at Home
If you and your besties just want a night in and don’t feel like dealing with traffic, then there are so many fun things to do with friends at home. You can host a dinner party or movie night, enjoy tasty snack boards, or try engaging activities like funny PowerPoint presentations and nostalgic childhood sleepovers. Try these creative ideas and have a fun, long night with good friends.
1. Host a Bad Movie, Serious Commentary Night
Pick the worst-rated movie you can find (or the worst movies you personally know) and treat them like you’re legit film critics. Pause to overanalyze, take notes, and give awards. Honestly, this is probably one of the most fun things to do with your friends on this list.
2. Do a Pantry “Master Chef” Challenge
You can only cook using what’s already in your kitchen. No running to the store, and weird combos are definitely encouraged. Also, it’s just a fun, cozy way to spend time together without breaking the bank.
SIDE NOTE: If you end up doing any of these things with your friends, please let me know in the comments. I legit wanna hear how it went! ♥️
3. Make a Shared Life Playlist
Each person adds 10 songs (or however many you want) that define the different important eras of their life. Then play them and tell the story behind each song.
4. Themed (Or Non-Themed) Dinner Parties
Whether it has a theme like tapas in Madrid or it’s just a chill gathering that lasts late into the evening, dinner parties are one of the most fun things to do. I did multiple of them within the last year and it’s such a nice way to enjoy really good food and company. Definitely at or near the top of my personal list of favorite activities to do with friends.
5. Create PowerPoint Presentations on (Very) Ridiculous Topics
So for example: “Why Dave Wouldn’t Survive in Medieval Times” or “Ranking Our Personal Red Flags.”
Everyone chooses their topic a week before, creates their PowerPoint, and has a set amount of time to do their presentation. Also, each of your friends could make a snack or drink that works with the theme of their PowerPoint topic. So for instance, with the “Ranking Our Personal Red Flags” presentation, you could make cupcakes with a small red flag sticking out of it.
6. Have a Themed Snack Board Night
So think only orange foods, only childhood snacks, only things you forgot existed, or only French sweets. It’s a fun way to get creative and eat really good food with good people.
7. Do a Personality Test Night
Whether it’s the love languages, attachment styles, enneagram, or weird online quizzes, you and your friends all get to analyze and then compare results like it’s actual serious research.
More Fun Activities to Try With Friends in 2026:
- 50 Solo Date Ideas for a Fun, Elevated, or Relaxing Day
- 20 Girls’ Night Ideas That Aren’t Just Netflix & Drinks
- 50 Things to Do at Night Instead of Doomscrolling
- 40 Sober Activities You Can Do Instead of Drinking on the Weekend
8. Start a Dinner and Movie Club
Pick out a movie and either make a really good meal to enjoy before or while watching it, or make a full dinner that works with the theme of the story. So for instance, if the movie takes place in Italy, make dishes from that region. Or if it takes place in a fantasy world, make recipes you think those characters would like.
9. Recreate That Childhood Sleepover Energy
Put blankets on the floor, eat junk food, tell scary stories, keep phones away, maybe watch a nostalgic movie, order pizza, and stay up way too late for no reason.
10. Do Unique Tastings
People typically think of wine when it comes to tastings, but it can be so much more than that. You could do a Portuguese cheese tasting, floral honey tasting, Bolivian coffee tasting, or even a chocolate tasting from a specific artisanal brand. It really is a great way to get everyone to hang out and enjoy really good food and drinks.
Fun Things to Do With Friends at Night
If you’re looking for nighttime activities beyond the standard bar scene or binge-watching another Netflix series, these things to do with friends at night are for you. From fun outings like city trips to low-key nights in making comfort food together at midnight, this guide is full of creative ideas to try with your friends.
11. Go On a Night Walk With Some Kind of Mission
Pick a random, oddly specific goal like “find the prettiest house,” “spot 5 cats,” or “rate restaurant signs.” It turns a normal walk into a bit of a mini adventure.
This is also a great one to pair with some of the other ideas on this list. So for instance, you could do this friend outing and then go back to one of your places and have that sleepover with childhood energy that I mentioned above.
12. Do a Late-Night Drive With a Dramatic Playlist
Windows down, music up, and no destination. Just take turns picking songs that feel like the end credits of a movie and enjoy some good conversation. You can also make a stop at some late night eatery or not, up to you.
13. Have a Candlelight Snack + Story Hour
Turn off all the lights, light some candles, eat tasty snacks, and tell weird, funny, or slightly spooky stories from each of your lives. Might also be a good time to secretly (or not so secretly) film people’s reactions and stories and turn it into a short video to keep the memory alive.
14. Do a Deep Talk Roulette
Write random but deep questions on pieces of paper. Then when you pull one out every 10 minutes, everyone has to answer honestly. It’s a great way to learn how your friend really think and start good and/or interesting conversation.
15. Make Midnight Comfort Food Together
Whether it’s grilled cheese, pancakes, ramen, brownies, or really good chocolate chip cookies, make something that would get you scolded by a parent for eating too late.
Also, as I was looking at ideas on things to do with friends, I saw this sweet response on a Reddit post:
“I love cooking with my friends. I made homemade butternut squash ravioli with my friend a few months back, we set up a little assembly line—she rolled out the pasta dough and cut the circles and I filled them, closed them, and boiled them. We talked and listened to music and at the end the ravioli were delicious. All this to say: cooking with friends is fun!” – BenevolentRascal
Makes me realize how much I might be missing out on when it comes to making food with friends!
16. Stargaze Like You’re in a Coming-of Age Movie
Lay out blankets (in the yard, balcony, rooftop, or by a window), look at the sky, maybe put on a good playlist, and talk about life like you’re in a movie scene.
17. Do a Trip to a City That’s 30 Minutes to 1 Hour Away
Pick 1-3 fun things to do in a nearby city that’s 30 minutes to 1 hour away. It’s far enough to feel like a real outing, but not so far that you’re gonna hate driving back when you’re tired.
18. Dress Up for Legit No Reason
Put on full outfits, perfume, nice shoes, and then… sit in the living room, drink something good, and talk like you’re at a fancy party. You could also head out to grab snacks and drinks and come back, or eat at your favorite burger joint or 24-hour diner.
19. Order the Most Random Food You Can Find on a Delivery App
Get something none of you would normally order and then rate it like you’re all food critics. Honestly, this is even better if you do it from 2-3 (or more) places. You get more choices and more fun + new experiences.
20. Late Night + Strange Conversations
Sit in near-darkness (candlelight maybe) and talk about conspiracy theories, ghost stories, or really weird experiences. Nighttime kinda makes everything 10x more interesting.
Also, before each of you meets up, all of you need to create a list of crazy, interesting, and/or strange topics to talk about so there’s no long silences while everyone scrambles to think of something.
Things to Do With Friends When You’re Bored
When you’re bored with friends, there are so many fun and creative activities you can do (I promise). You can host a fake awards ceremony, head out and go on a cafe crawl, celebrate holidays from around the world, or have some low-key fun like creating new snack combos. Pick one or more of these ideas to do with your friends and enjoy some quality time and good conversation.
21. Do a Cafe Crawl
Choose the cafes you wanna hit up and try a new drink, pastry, or even a savory dish at each one. Maybe even get it to-go and enjoy it all at a park and turn it into a picnic. 🧺
22. Rearrange One Small Area of a Room and Give It a Mini Glow-up
Whether it’s a cute shelf, coffee table, or a desk, give it a glow up and change up the vibe/aesthetic. Then take some before and after photos like it’s a makeover show.
23. Google the Weirdest (Or Coolest) Holidays Happening Today
Once you find it, celebrate it immediately with whatever you have on hand or make a quick stop at a store and make a day of it. Yes, it’s a cool way to experience something from a different part of the world, but it’s also a fun excuse to celebrate with friends.
24. Play a Game of Rate My Camera Roll
Scroll back to a random month + year and explain what was going on in your life. Then each of you can rate that month/year’s camera roll and the person with the best one wins a random prize.
25. Try Inventing a New Snack Combo
Try making a tasty snack combination that’s something oddly specific like sweet + salty + crunchy. This is more something you add onto one of the other things to do with friends. It really is a fun addition when you pair it with a sleepover night or some other kind of hangout session.
Related: Here are some more good ideas for when you need things to do when you’re bored.
26. Do a Draw Each Other Without Looking at the Paper Challenge
The results are probably gonna be terrible but definitely funny. Also, each of you could use the drawing you like best of yourself (or the one you find funniest) as your Instagram profile photo.
27. Make a List of Fake Business Ideas You’d Never Actually Start
The more ridiculous and over-serious your pitches are, the better. Also, feel free to debate and ask cliché questions like, “Why should we invest in your company?”
28. Narrate Each Other’s Actions Like You’re in a Nature Documentary
“Here we see Sarah approaching the fridge for the fourth time…” Bonus points if you do it at random times throughout your hang-out session.
29. Look Up Houses for Sale in a Random Country
Pick a country, pick a budget, and then check out the homes that come up in that country. Then once you have one picked out, start planning out the imaginary life you’d live there.
Could also be interesting if in the future all of you traveled to that country and stayed in a home similar to the one you chose.
30. Create a Fake Award Ceremony for Yourselves
Create categories like “Most Likely to Forget Why They Walked Into a Room,” “Eats the Most Servings” award, and anything else you can think of. It’s kind of a funny way to call out the silly habits you notice your friends have.
Free Things to Do With Friends (No Money Needed)
There are so many ways you can enjoy quality time with your friends without spending any money (no, really). You can head outdoors and explore pretty neighborhoods or go on a themed photo walk. Or you can try other creative ideas like hosting skill shares or playing group games (Never Have I Ever is a personal favorite). Try one or more of these free ideas the next time you all gather!
31. Go On a Photo Walk That Has a Theme
Pick just 1 or 2 prompts like shadows, red things, or interesting doors and then compare shots at the end. Could also use those photos at the end of the year and make it a part of a year-in-review friend scrapbook.
Another person on Reddit did it this way, “Urban photo-hunting. We made a list of things that we wanted to find (an elephant, a person laughing, a famous landmark, something from a recent news story, etc.) and set off to find everything on the list. It was originally supposed to be competitive, but too many people canceled for us to form teams.” – 1600Birds
This actually does sound like a lot of fun!
32. Do a Skill Share for 30 Minutes (Or However Long You Want)
Each friend teaches something tiny they know really well. So think pretty hairstyles, folding fitted sheets, phone photography tricks, making really good focaccia, and anything else you can think of.
Also, make sure to have a set amount of time to demonstrate and then show them how they can do it themselves.
33. Start Up a Compliment Circle
Go around and say one specific, genuine thing you really admire about each friend. It’s a nice way to pass the time while growing your bonds.
34. Wander a Neighborhood With No End Destination
Turn when you feel like it, make stops at pretty parks, and notice gardens, sounds, and tiny details you’d normally just miss. And if you want, it could end at a cute cafe or at one of your friends’ homes.
35. Start a Shared Future List Note
This is a space for you all to share places you wanna go, meals to cook, and things to try together someday in the future. Also, you can start checking things off as they start happening. It’s a fun way to share what’s meaningful, interesting, or important to you, and then kind of celebrate when they actually happen.
36. Play Two Truths and a Lie but Make It Legit Believable
Only choose lies that sound like they’re on par for you. You can’t make it anything obvious, so always stay away from the fantastical or out-of-pocket lies.
Related: Want more fun game ideas? Here are some truth or dare questions to change things up.
37. Read Your Old Journal Entries or Notes (If You Have Them)
Laugh, cringe, reflect on past versions of yourselves, and enjoy some good questions and late night conversations.
38. Do a Pretty Sunset or Nightfall Watch
Walk to a pretty spot, sit quietly, and notice the light change. It’s a nice way to enjoy the colors, quiet, and maybe some good conversation if you’re feeling it.
39. Make Up Backstories for Any Strangers You See
This is one of my personal favorites to do with my best friend. Just sit at a park bench, balcony, window, or eatery and turn it into an improv storytelling moment. I’ve done this so many times and years later end up referring back to it because it became an inside joke.
40. Declutter One Small Drawer Together
Weirdly satisfying, and it’s a nice opportunity to get creative with your organization and enjoy some good yap. Also, Pinterest is a good place to find some cute + creative organization ideas.
Chill Things to Do With Friends on the Weekend
Weekend activities with friends are kind of the best; there are so many ways to get creative and have fun during your time off. And whether you want to explore bookstores, relax and read together, get more active and do a day trip, or try something more unique like a leveled-up picnic, this list of things to do with friends on the weekend is for you and your besties.
41. Have a Slow, No-Rush Breakfast in Pajamas
Invite them over for some really good coffee, sourdough toast, fresh fruit, eggs, thick-cut bacon, and talking for way longer than the food requires. Even better if you stay overnight either at their place or yours, wake up, and make said breakfast together.
42. Head to a High-End And/or Historic Hotel for Coffee and Dessert
I am always talking about this one and I will never stop. It’s so underrated and it’s one of my favorite things to do. Just find a beautiful hotel that feels like you’re in a different era or country; it’s an amazing way to romanticize your life.
43. Do a Fun Day Trip and End It With a Sleepover
Pick a pretty town or city that’s 1-3 hours away, make a total day trip out of it, and enjoy a good lunch and coffee. Then come back, order some delivery, watch a movie, talk, and have a sleepover. It’s a nice way to extend the fun.
44. Go to a Farmers’ Market and Make a Dish With What You Buy
Buy that fresh bread, produce, and other artisanal goods and enjoy a really good meal together. Also, if you see pretty bouquets at the farmers’ market, grab one and put it in a vase to make your lunch or dinner feel a bit more special.
45. Journal Next to Each Other
You don’t have to share what you’re writing; just enjoy some quiet time together and maybe make some nice drinks.
46. Make Simple Snacks, Enjoy Them Slowly, and Watch a Foreign Film
So think cheese, fruit, good bread, tea, coffee, nuts, nice jams, and high-quality butter. Let it feel European + unhurried and enjoy a really cool foreign film.
47. Read in the Same Room
Each person has their own book, maybe there are the occasional comments, and perhaps there’s a nice playlist and some snacks. A very peaceful way to spend an afternoon or early evening.
48. Explore a Small Bookstore or a Historic Library Together
Split up (or don’t), then meet up to show your weirdest or best finds and talk about it.
49. Have a Leveled-up Picnic
Bring some wine glasses, non-alcoholic drinks, cheeses, fresh fruits, maybe some prosciutto, a couple Trader Joe’s snacks or desserts, a soft blanket, and you’re all set.
I used to do this with my friend and it made things feel so much more elevated, fun, and relaxed. Just find a really pretty spot and you’re all set!
Side Note: Here are some good picnic food ideas if this sounds like a good idea to you!
50. Do a Botanical Garden (Or Green House) and Coffee Date
Head to a really pretty botanical garden or green house in your area (or in the city over), enjoy your time there, and then head to a cafe that you know makes really good coffee. And lastly, just spend time having some great conversation.
51. Garage Sales With Friends
“I love going garage saleing with friends! It’s so much fun. Make everyone iced coffee at home, get someone to make a playlist/run the aux, and then it’s a day of driving around, seeing cool neighborhoods, getting some sun, etc.” – 0bsolescencee via Reddit
Honestly, I have no idea how I never thought of this friend activity. It sounds like such a fun and chill way to spend a weekend morning or afternoon.
Creative Things to Do With Friends
Creative activities you can do with your friends are such a great way to have fun and connect. You can host a “choose your craft night,” try DIY painted candles, or have a baking session. Or you can head outside and visit an arcade, host afternoon tea in your backyard, or have a beach picnic. It’s up to you and your besties!
52. Paint Small Canvases With Zero Pressure
There’s no talent required, just make abstract blobs, whimsical patterns, pretty nature scenes, and anything else you want to paint. Then display them like it’s an art gallery afterwards.
53. Create Personal Mood Boards on the Floor
This is just for the vibes, dreams, and aesthetic. Then once you’re all done, explain your board like it’s a TED Talk.
54. Head to an Arcade + Cute Diner
Legit just spend hours at an arcade together, get some prizes, and then head to a burger joint. And when I say burger joint, I mean a cute diner that has those retro vibes. Something about pairing an arcade outing with a cute diner serving a big burger + fries (or whatever fried food you love) + a milkshake just sounds like it goes together. 🤝
55. Write a Short Story Together, One Sentence at a Time
Go around in a circle and each time it comes to a person, they write down the next sentence of the story. It always becomes unhinged and funny. Also, because they’re written down, you can keep the stories as a nice memory.
56. Do a Baking Session Together
Each of you has your own recipe and you get to enjoy a little bit of everything at the end together. Just don’t forget the coffee or tea.
57. Invite Friends Over for Afternoon Tea
It’s a cute, chill way to spend a few hours, you can take a bunch of pictures, you get to enjoy some tasty sweets and teas, and it makes for some fun memories. Also, it’s even better if you all dress up; it really makes it feel like an occasion.
58. Paint Candles Together
Grab some tea lights with different colors, light them so the colorful wax melts, and then use some paint brushes to dip into the wax and paint taller, bigger white candles.
59. Choose Your Craft Night
Have a few different craft ideas available at your place. So think gem art, shell candles, canvas wall art, air dry clay trinket trays, painting, and anything else you can think of. Then turn on a playlist, have food and drinks ready, and enjoy getting creative while you talk.
60. Have a Beach Picnic
Yes, I’ve mentioned picnics above, but a beach picnic gives completely different vibes. So get the blanket and coats, grab something fizzy, cut up some watermelon, pack some really good sandwiches, maybe bring a baked good, and enjoy the sunset.
61. Consume Multiple Forms of Art in One Day
Pick a day and go to the theater, art gallery, a music concert, and maybe a museum. Then at the end, you can hang out, talk about it, and discuss your thoughts, feelings, and opinions over coffee (or something else).
62. Host Your Own Knit & Crochet Party
“I’ve hosted knitting and crochet parties where everyone brings a project they’re currently working on and we eat snacks and chat. I also had extra yarn/hooks and a simple project to teach one of the ladies who didn’t know how to crochet. It was fun!” – gingerytea
If you and your friends love crafts and making your own knitwear and other cute projects, then I honestly think this is the perfect friend activity for your group.
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, HuffPost, & Apartment Therapy.