If you're looking for something fun and different to do for a date night or special occasion, why not plan a romantic treasure hunt for your partner? They'll enjoy deciphering the clues and following the trail as their anticipation grows. The whole thing takes a little effort to pull off, but it's definitely worth it and the two of you will make memories to last a lifetime. Here, we've gathered some great ideas that will take you from the initial planning stages to the moment your partner sets off on their journey.

1

Choose the location of the final treasure first.

  1. The easiest way to plan your treasure hunt is to work backward. Pick a place that has meaning for you as a couple. Your treasure hunt might end at your favorite restaurant, where you had your first date, or where you had your first kiss.[1]
    • Pick a final spot where you can set up everything you need to. Make sure you get permission if you're going to set up in a business, such as a restaurant or café.
    • You might plan your treasure hunt based on where your partner is naturally headed. For example, if you're going to start the hunt with your partner at their workplace, you might have the final stop be at home—that way they can follow your path home from work.
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2

Map out your route.

  1. Choose 4-8 stops for a hunt that lasts 1-2 hours. Make a list of places you want to include as stops. If they're scattered throughout your city, use a trip-planning app, such as Google Maps, to easily find a logical route.[2]
    • For example, if you're choosing stops that are significant to your relationship, you might include the place where you first met or had your first date, your favorite café or restaurant, and the place where you had your first kiss.
    • You don't have to create a long route if you don't want to. You can have a short treasure hunt inside your own home—no map necessary.
3

Choose small gifts to plant at each stop.

4

Design the cards to write your clues on.

  1. Use thick cardstock or construction paper in bright colors that stand out. If you have a theme in mind, you can cut your clues into a shape that fits your theme. You might even draw a picture or design on each one—this is your chance to let your creative juices flow![4]
    • For example, if you're doing the treasure hunt for Valentine's Day, you might cut red paper into a heart shape. You could also use different pastel colors to mimic candy hearts.
    • You could also type the clues into text boxes and print them out, then cut around the words. If you go this route, you can also find graphics online to copy and use (which is great if you're not much of an artist yourself).
5

Introduce the idea of the hunt in the first clue.

  1. Tell your partner what's going on and get them excited. Make the first clue easier than the rest to get your partner off and running fairly quickly and feeling confident about their ability to find and decipher the next clue. Here are some examples you can adapt and personalize:
    • "Get ready for an adventure that can't be beat! To find the next clue, you'll have to turn up the heat." (The second clue is hidden next to or inside the thermostat.)
    • "Follow the clues for a special surprise. The next one is hidden where the laundry dries." (Clue is in the dryer or on the clothesline outside.)
    • "To discover your gift requires a little work—head to where you practice your clean and jerk." (Next clue is at your partner's gym.)
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6

Write riddle clues if your partner likes to solve puzzles.

7

Use rhyming clues that point directly to the next spot.

  1. You don't want your partner to waste time trying to figure out a riddle. To make it easier to find rhymes, stick to simple words with common endings that have a lot of options.[6] Here are some examples you can adapt to fit your hunt:
    • "You've tracked me this far—man, you're good! To find the next clue, search under the hood." (The next clue is under the hood of the car.)
    • "From the very first date, you revved me up. Before you get the next clue, you'll have to track down our pup." (The next clue is attached to your dog's collar.)
    • "There's no denying you've captured my heart. Look for the next clue behind our favorite art." (The next clue is behind a favorite painting or other piece of art.)
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8

Add special clues that talk about your relationship.

  1. Amp up the romance with clues that talk about your feelings for your partner. You could even write the clues so that, when read together, they form an entire poem about your relationship. Great for an anniversary gift! Here are some ideas to get you going:[7]
    • "This was a night I'll never forget! Go to the place where our lips first met." (The place where you had your first kiss.)
    • "You know I like to keep it light. Go to where we had our last tickle fight."
    • "Love so fine even turtles say 'wow'—go to the spot where we exchanged vows." (The place where you got married.)
9

Get friends and family involved if you want.

  1. Having people give out some of the clues makes the hunt more personal. Tell the person where they need to be and what they need to do. If they need to say anything specific to your partner, give them a written script.[8]
    • This works especially well if your ultimate treasure is a marriage proposal—you can include people who supported you as a couple.
    • If you want to have a clue at a specific business, talk to the manager and get their permission. They'll usually be more than happy to help and might even throw in a little treat, such as a free cup of coffee at the café where you had your first date.
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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about being romantic and creative, check out our in-depth interview with Laura Bilotta.

About This Article

Laura Bilotta
Co-authored by:
Dating Coach & Matchmaker
This article was co-authored by Laura Bilotta and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Laura Bilotta is a Dating Coach, Matchmaker, and the Founder of Single in the City, her dating and relationship coaching service based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With over 18 years of experience, she focuses on helping singles date more intentionally, encouraging them to let go of negative patterns so that they can attract the love that they deserve. Her experience, skills, and insights have led to thousands of successfully united over 65,000 singles through events and one-on-one matchmaking coaching sessions. She has been the host of The Dating and Relationship Show on Global News Radio 640 Toronto (AM640) for 6 years and is known as The Hookup Queen of Clubhouse; her popular singles club, Single in the City, has over 95.5K members who regularly join in weekly dating and relationship-focused rooms. This article has been viewed 301,289 times.
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Co-authors: 14
Updated: March 23, 2023
Views: 301,289
Article SummaryX

To plan a romantic treasure hunt, it’s easiest to start with your final treasure and work your way backwards. Once you've picked where you want your final treasure to be, choose 5-10 locations to hide clues in that lead up to that last spot. Ideally, choose places with sentimental value to you both. You can do a small scale treasure hunt around the house, or a bigger one, using locations around your town or city. For example, the first clue might be, “The place we first kissed,” or “Our favorite restaurant.” Then, hide the second clue at that location. You can also leave small gifts with the clues to build up to the final gift. Once you’ve set up the treasure hunt, give it a test run to make sure it all fits together. Then, give your partner the first clue or leave it somewhere obvious for them to find. For more tips, including how to incorporate activities into your romantic treasure hunt, read on!

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