55 Fun Hobbies & Interests: The Ultimate List

We have one life to live so let’s make the most of it. You may have ideas on new hobbies you’d like to try, but you aren’t sure where to begin. That’s where this hobbies list comes in!

We’ve researched and pulled together a wide variety of hobbies, creative interests and outdoor pastimes that you can try for yourself.

Whether you want to learn how to crochet, take up cooking classes, pick up photography as your new creative outlet, find an interest in sustainable living through gardening, you’ll find the inspiration here.

If you’re ready to try something new, check out this list of creative interests and hobbies below. We hope it helps!

The Health Benefits of Hobbies

Hobbies can have a direct impact on your physical and mental health. Obviously, if you have physically active hobbies this makes sense.

On the mental health side of things, let’s think of hobbies as a pleasant activities list.

By spending time on activities that make you feel good, give you a purpose or take you away from negative thoughts, you’ll ultimately have more positive feelings, thoughts and experiences in your life. 

Hobbies can give you:

• An appreciation for learning
• A new zest for life, especially if you feel stuck in a rut
• A sense of personal achievement
• Empowerment to take more control over your life and live more intentionally
• Work-life balance, allowing you to dedicate time to enjoyment and relaxation

Also, note – hobbies aren’t just for kids. You deserve to spend time doing things you’re passionate about too.

Types of Hobbies and Interests

To help you come up with some new hobbies to try the below list is broken down into the following areas:

• Creative hobbies
• Craft hobbies
• Games hobbies
• Outdoor hobbies
• Active hobbies

This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Read disclosure here for more info.

Creative Hobbies list

1. Photography

Having photography as a hobby can be available at multiple price points. You can learn how to use your smartphone to make your social media feed stand out – all the way to advanced photography

2. Furniture Refinishing

Sanding, staining, painting so you can transform a drab piece of furniture into something beautiful.

You can even turn this hobby into a side business if that’s what you’re looking for.

3. Art

Painting, drawing, pottery, origami are just a few ways you can express yourself with art. Perfect for any budget or skill level.

4. Cooking / Baking

We have to feed ourselves and our families, right? So make the most of it by learning how to cook from different cultures around the world, master new techniques and tools in the kitchen to impress yourself and others.

5. Blogging

A wonderful way to get creative and can even be a great tool to improve your mental health.

6. Journaling

Journaling can be beneficial in so many ways. You can do bullet journaling, gratitude journaling, self-love journaling and more.

Check out some journaling ideas here.

7. Reading

Reading is such a great activity to help you relax and help you explore new perspectives and different worlds. Whether you love fiction or non-fiction pick up a new book (or 5) and start turning those pages 🙂

You can even set a goal to read a certain number of books this year.

8. Writing

We’ve covered a few types of writing above (blogging and journaling), but there are many other ways you can flex your writing muscles.

Some ideas:

• Letter writing
• Writing a book
• Poetry
• Self-reflection writing (similar to journaling)
• Short stories
• Autobiography writing – you can try Storyworth where you submit your story and they print a beautiful book for you

9. Play a musical instrument

Did you know you can sign up to online music lessons with Skillshare?! You can get a free month and start playing a new instrument. See music classes here.

10. Colouring

I’m referring to adult colouring books. Such a fun way to express creativity, relax and unwind.

My absolutely favourite adult colouring books are from Johanna Basford.

My personal favourites:

• Secret Garden
• Enchanted Forest
• And one for the holidays, Johanna’s Christmas

11. Graphic Design

Take your love of art online and learn how to use graphic design tools to make your visions come to life.

• I recommend Canva for beginners which is free. You can also try 1 month of Canva Pro for Free which has more features for you to play with.
• For more advanced software choose Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer which are great alternatives to Adobe products (almost the same functionality with a one time payment that’s affordable!)

12. Podcasting

You can simply get into different podcasts to listen to while driving, cooking, etc or you can even start your own!

Craft Hobby Ideas

13. Jewellery Making

A great way to play with your creativity and make some beautiful gifts too. Check out this resource with tips to help you get started.

14. Candle-making

A great way to get creative and make your home healthier too. I make beeswax candles and all you need is

15. Scrapbooking

Scrapbooks are great to hold on to memories, whether it’s your child’s first day of school, vacations, or family holidays.

16. Flower Arranging

There are so many different types of ways to arrange flowers, so if flowers make you happy this could be an amazing hobby to try. Check out local classes or learn online.

17. Crocheting

You have to check out Sigorni Macaroni for free classes, tutorials and patterns. She teaches all things crocheting for all levels.

18. Sewing

If you want to get into sewing there are tons of online resources. Check out this post that shares the best sewing bloggers to follow based on what you want to sew.

19. Calligraphy/Brush Lettering

To find inspiration for this new hobby do a search on Instagram or check out The Happy Ever Crafter which offers courses.

A little inspiration for you with these basic calligraphy strokes to try…

20. Pottery

If you have a coffee or tea obsession (like myself) you probably have your favourite mugs to drink from. Well, why not learn how to handmake your own?

Pottery is the perfect gift and is actually at the top of my current bucket list of new things to try.

21. Leaf and Flower Pressing

If you like spending time in nature or gardening and want to bring some of that into your home, leaf and flower pressing is the hobby for you.

Games Hobbies & Activities

22. Puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are a great way to relax the mind and work the brain. You can do it the old-fashioned way with a physical puzzle or try a puzzle you can do on your smartphone.

23. Euchre

A fun (addicting) 4-player card game is a great way to socialize. Euchre is pretty popular and you can find euchre leagues/groups in your area.

24. Darts

With darts, you can become an expert or stick with beginner’s luck. Either way, it’s a fun hobby you can do at home, in a pub or pool hall.

25. Video Games

Passing the time with video games can be a time suck for some or an escape for others, but one way you might want to try gaming is with fitness video games.

Some great options to try:

• Just Dance – Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 / 5 and Xbox.
• Zumba: Burn it Up – Nintendo Switch
• Fitness Boxing – Nintendo Switch

26. Chess

If you watched The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix, you may have heard that the popularity of Chess has exploded. If you’re looking for a strategic game you might want to give it a try.

27. Sudoku

A great game to keep the mind active and engaged you can play Sudoku on your phone or get a paperback book of puzzles. Note: This is not just for numbers lovers – but everyone.

28. Board Games

Family board game night, couples board games… both fun ways to socialize and show off your competitive skills.

29. Billiards

Similar to darts you can casually play a game of pool or go much deeper and learn expert-level moves.

Either way, it’s a fun hobby to pick up and great when you’re looking for a night out.

Fun Outdoor Hobbies To Try

30. Gardening

If you’re new to gardening you can start small by growing some herbs, or container gardening and learn more and more every year.

Planting perennials and seeing them begin to bloom in the spring is also extremely rewarding.

31. Hiking

Regardless of the weather, you can always hike. Look for national parks in your area and create a hiking bucket list of places you’d like to go.

The best hikes (in my opinion) bring you to beautiful landscapes, waterfalls and views.

Hiking is a wonderful way to relax, clear your mind in nature and get some exercise.

32. Bird watching

To get inspired you must check out this Instagram account, Santisoukp.

Even if you don’t do bird watching you may find yourself getting sucked into her feed of stunning wildlife (I sure have).

I just think it’s amazing that she’s found these beautiful creatures, never mind the gorgeous way she captures them on camera.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by santisouk p (@santisoukp)

33. Fishing

Now, this is a fun hobby you can do throughout the season either on your own, with friends or with your family.

Fish from the side of a river, pond or lake and of course taking a boat out is the most fun.

34. Horse Riding

If you’re an animal lover and you live close to the countryside learning how to ride a horse can be a wonderful experience.

Not only is it fun (I’m speaking from experience as someone who rode a lot as a kid), but it’s also a great workout and connecting with your horse, before, during and after is a therapeutic experience. I highly recommend it.

35. Golf

A great way to get outside in the warm months. If you’re starting out try a driving range to see if golf is right for you and then you can move on to a larger golf course.

36. Stargazing

Explore nature and science by learning about astrology and the stars. You can simply go out on a clear night to see what you find.

37. Snowshoeing

If you enjoy hiking there’s a good chance you’ll love snowshoeing. It can make getting around on trails in the winter easier so you can connect with nature.

38. Camping

This outdoor adventurers hobby is a great way to connect with nature.

You can do it all year long (with the right equipment) and it’s an affordable way to enjoy so many things… birdwatching, swimming, hiking, campfires, foraging and more.

39. Geo-caching

A global treasure hunt of people looking for objects (caches) using a GPS. You can use a geocaching app to start your first treasure hunt.

This is a fun one to do with the family and when visiting a new place.

40. Foraging

Finding food in the great outdoors is not only exciting but also healthier and more affordable. Some of the best fruits and veg to forage for are:

• Grapeleaves
• Mushrooms
• Berries
• Nettles
• Dandelion
• Wild garlic
• Fiddleheads
• Asparagus
• Wild leeks

Do some local research on what you can find in your neck of the woods and make sure to know in advance what’s safe to eat.

41. Kite Flying

In many countries, kite flying is a popular past-time (Indonesia, China, India) and there is quite the culture around it with kite festivals held every year around.

It’s a lot of fun and sends you to spectacular places. So, go fly a kite!

Physically Active Hobbies

42. Yoga

The best part about yoga is anyone can do it – all skill levels and fitness levels. You can find classes online, go to a local yoga studio or do some yoga as part of your morning routine.

43. Pilates

An alternative to yoga, it’s another great way to build core strength and flexibility. Find classes at local gyms and studios or online.

44. Dancing

Belly dancing, hip hop, Zumba, salsa. You can join a class online or in person.

Fun fact: I used to do belly dancing for 5 years. What a fun experience connecting with like-minded women and wow, was it a great way to get fit too.

45. Swimming

Get to a local community center and start some lane swimming. It’s an affordable activity and is the perfect way to start your day.

46. Rock Climbing

Check out a local indoor rock climbing place to get started. You can get lessons as a beginner and when you are ready you can take it outdoors to experience more advanced terrain.

47. Canoeing / Kayaking

Perfect for water and nature lovers who want some tranquillity.

• Look for places to kayak/canoe locally. (You’d be amazed what you can find close to home and even in the city)
• When travelling look for canoe/kayak rentals which are readily available.

48. Sports

Join a local team and try a new sport or a sport you used to love. Baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, tennis.

49. Running

The best part about running is all you need is a good pair of shoes and you can get started. To stay accountable you can join a running group or find a running buddy and even train for a 10K and ultimately a marathon.

50. Cycling

A great hobby for your mind and body. It’s a fun way to pass the time in nature and get around when you’re travelling to new places.

51. Scuba Diving

You can start scuba diving by getting your PADI locally and then you’ll be ready when you go on your next vacation.

52. Ice Skating / Roller Skating

In the winter make sure to get your skates sharpened and keep them readily available (in your car if you can) so you’re ready to go at any time.

In the warmer weather, roller staking is perfect and has become more popular over the last few years. Look for a roller skating rink in your area.

More Interesting Hobbies to Pick Up

53. Geneology

Learn more about your family history. The best place to get started is on Ancestry.com

54. Wine and Beer

From a hobby perspective you can do this in 2 main ways:

• Learn more about wines and beers – how they’re made, regions, food pairings, etc
• Winemaking, homebrewing

55. Collecting

If there is something you’re passionate about it could be really interesting to be a collector and literally, the world is your oyster. You can collect:

• Art
• Records
• Vintage clothing
• Memorbillia
• Shoes
• Antiques
• Wine corks

You get the idea!

The Ultimate List of Hobbies & Interests: Final Thoughts

You’ll notice that many of these hobbies naturally go well together.

• Camping and hiking
• Bird watching and photography
• Reading and writing
• Cycling and wine-tasting

Let’s say you already have one hobby – well, it’s pretty easy to add on another related hobby, which is a perfect way to start something new.

I’d love to know…

What are your hobbies and are you planning to try a new hobby soon?

Share in the comments below!

Related Resources To Round Out Your Hobbies:

• 125 Things To Do On a Rainy Day
• 30 Day Challenge Ideas to Enhance Your Life
• 40 Examples of Personal Goals To Set for a Happy Life
• 15 Ways to Be Intentional in Life
• 75 Things To Do When Bored At Night