Overview
It's that time of year again: Valentine's Day. Whether you await the day in eager anticipation of receiving a rose and a love letter, or cringe at the cheesiness of it all, February 14 is inevitable, so you may as well make the most of it.
But that doesn't mean you have to succumb to cliches and overpriced flowers. Spend Valentine's Day your way with a date, some mates or by your glorious yourself. No matter what your relationship status, there's a whole heap of things to do around Sydney worth crawling out of your doona fort for.
BRAVE THE WEATHER FOR A PICNIC
Even the staunchest non-romantic can't resist a picnic. Pack a basket of goodies and choose a prime spot from our list of favourites, before whiling away your afternoon with endless chips and dip in front of a priceless view. If you want to involve alcohol (after all, what's V-Day if not an excuse to pop a bottle of Champagne?), check out our guide to picnic places where you can BYO. Some highlights include Parsley Bay, where you can take a dip in the calm waters, or the enormous Centennial Park, where you're sure to find a secluded patch a suitable distance away from other loved-up picnickers.
La La Land
SNUGGLE UP AT A MOVIE
Catching a movie is a tried and true date night classic — and with some amazing films to choose from at the moment (and the Oscars coming up), it's the perfect Valentine's Day activity. Plus, Valentine's Day this year happens to fall on a Tuesday, which means discounted tickets across Sydney. If you're craving a good sob, Lion, the true story of an Indian boy separated from his family, should do the job, or else give the critically acclaimed drama Moonlight a go. To really get into the romantic spirit of Valentine's Day, take your experience outside, with your pick of Sydney's best outdoor cinemas. Sunset Cinema, Moonlight Cinema and Ben & Jerry's Open Air Cinema will be playing this season's ultimate rom-com La La Land.
No Lights No Lycra
BUCK CLICHES FOR AN UNCONVENTIONAL DATE
If you prefer to go against the grain, don't ditch Valentine's Day altogether — just do it a bit differently. We've compiled a list of date ideas that are completely out of the ordinary and definitely not boring. There's also a heap of special events planned this year, like No Lights No Lycra's Anti-V Day Party, a celebration of self-love and singledom, and speed dating events at Riley St Garage and Coogee Pavilion.
Fred's
GO ALL OUT AT ONE OF SYDNEY'S BEST DATE BARS
Food and romance go hand in hand, so where better to feel the love on Valentine's Day than at one of Sydney's top restaurants? Choose from this list of places that make perfect date material and then hunker down for the night with a few drinks and some seriously good grub. Whether you're after an elaborate degustation, a restaurant that suits big groups or somewhere to dine up at the bar, you'll find somewhere in Sydney to suit your Valentine's needs.
Top image: Norsk Dor.