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Speed dating

Speed dating — how it works, what it costs, and the best organisers by city

Everything about speed dating — how an evening works, how matches are shared, what it costs in each city, the best organisers in London, Berlin, New York, Prague, Vienna and Amsterdam, and tips to get the most out of it.

Updated

Speed dating sounds old-fashioned, but it solves exactly what apps don't: instead of a hundred matches and no dates, you get eight to eleven real conversations in one evening — and you find out immediately if there's chemistry.

How an evening works

  1. Register for an event in your age bracket (some are themed or language-specific).
  2. Arrive, get a name tag and a scorecard or app login.
  3. Rotate — about four minutes per date until you've met everyone.
  4. Pick who you'd like to see again.
  5. Only mutual matches are shared, often within an hour.
  6. Stay for a drink — often where the best conversations happen.

Organisers by city

City Organisers Typical price
London Thursday, DateinaDash, SpeedDater, Original Dating, Slow Dating, Lovestruck £10–30
Berlin SpeedDating.de, DateYork, 7Minutes2Love, SpeedDating XXL, MatchQuest (English), Thursday €10–30
New York OnSpeedDating, PlentyofParties, Single and the City, Pre-Dating / Lock & Key, Weekenddating $30–50
Prague Rande Motýl (English EXPATS events), Seznamovací večer, SpeedDating.cz 490–890 CZK
Vienna City Speed Dating, SpeedDating XXL, DateYork, Thursday €20–30
Amsterdam Original Dating (English), Expatica SpeedDates, Guaranteed Amsterdam, Thursday €15–45

Details and addresses are in each city guide.

Tips

  • Prepare two or three questions that aren't "what do you do?" — "What's the best thing you've done this month?"
  • Write a two-second note after each date. By date seven, faces blur.
  • Be generous with your picks. Four minutes is short; a second, longer conversation is low-risk.
  • Stay for the after-drink.
  • Follow up within a day with a specific time and place. Ideas: first date ideas.

Quick answers

How does speed dating work?

You meet around 8–11 people for about four minutes each. Afterwards you mark who you'd like to see again, and only mutual picks are shared — often within an hour.

How much does speed dating cost?

Roughly £10–30 in London, €10–30 in Berlin and Vienna, €15–45 in Amsterdam, $30–50 in New York and 490–890 CZK in Prague.

Is speed dating worth it?

If you judge chemistry better in person than in text, yes — it's one of the most efficient ways to meet several singles in one evening.

More guides

  1. City guidesCity guides — where to meet people and where to go on a first datePractical city guides for meeting people offline — run clubs, language exchanges, dance socials, speed dating, first-date spots and local safety numbers for London, Berlin, New York, Prague, Vienna and Amsterdam.
  2. The main guideHow to meet people offline — a practical guide for adultsHow to meet people in real life as an adult — why recurring activities work, the best places to meet people (run clubs, classes, language exchanges, volunteering), how to turn acquaintances into friends or dates, and what the research says about loneliness.
  3. SkillsHow to start a conversation with someone you like in real lifeA practical, respectful guide to starting a conversation with a stranger offline — where it works, what to actually say, how to read interest, and how to exit gracefully.
  4. First datesFirst date ideas that are actually goodFirst date ideas that make conversation easy — the rules of a good first date, ideas by type (drinks, walks, markets, activities, rainy day, cheap), what to avoid, and first-date spots in London, Berlin, New York, Prague, Vienna and Amsterdam.