What to talk about on a video date: 20 easy conversation starters

A first video date can make anyone a little nervous, especially with someone from another country. Different language, different culture, and a screen in between. What do you talk about when you can’t fall back on the menu or the music?

The good news: you don’t need perfect lines. You need curiosity, a few easy questions, and ideally something to look at together. Here are 20 conversation starters for a video date, grouped from easy to deeper.

Let the place start the conversation

The easiest video dates happen somewhere real. On fondly, your date is out in their city, at a market, a café or a beach, and you join live. Everything around them is something to talk about, so you are never just two faces waiting for the next question. If your date is at home, ask them to show you their view, their street, or their favourite corner of the room.

Easy openers

• “What is that?” Point at a stall, a sign, a dish or a building, and let them explain.
• “Do you come here often?” It tells you what their normal week looks like.
• “What would you order here?”
• “What is something here most visitors never notice?”
• “What does your street sound like right now?”

Getting to know them

• “What does a normal weekday look like for you?”
• “What would a perfect weekend in your city look like?”
• “Who are you most likely to call when something good happens?”
• “What are you looking forward to this month?”
• “What is a small thing that always makes your day better?”

About their world

• “What did you love about this place as a child?”
• “What do people from your country often get wrong about it?”
• “What food would you make me try first?”
• “What would you show me first if I visited?”
• “What do you miss when you travel?”

A little deeper

• “What made you want to meet someone from another country?”
• “Where do you see yourself living in five years?”
• “What is something you changed your mind about?”
• “What does a good relationship look like to you?”
• “What are you most proud of?”

Dating across languages

• Speak a little slower than usual, especially if you don’t share a first language. It is not about perfect grammar.
• If a word gets lost, type it in the chat and tap Translate. Laughing about it together is part of the date.
• Check, don’t assume. Jokes and sarcasm travel badly. If something sounds odd, ask what they meant.

Make it a conversation, not an interview

• Share something back. After every question, tell them a bit about yourself and your city.
• Follow up. The best question is often “Why?” or “What was that like?”
• Leave a few silences. Watching a street or a sunset together is part of the experience.

What to save for later

Some topics can wait until you know each other better: past relationships, money, and plans to visit. Bring up the trip once you both feel it. When you get there, our guide to meeting someone from another country for the first time can help.

The best first dates feel less like a test and more like a walk with a friend. Pick a good place, bring a few of these questions, and enjoy seeing a new corner of the world through someone else’s eyes. Looking for a place? Try one of our long distance date ideas.