40 Cool ways to celebrate your 40th birthday

Deciding to celebrate your 40th birthday with gusto is the first step.

While some people may dread turning forty, it’s actually a huge milestone and one that should be celebrated no matter how you feel about reaching four decades.

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
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It’s the perfect time to set new goals, try new things, and get a fresh start!

More than anything, your fortieth birthday is a great excuse to start checking some things off your bucket list or simply to spend a day doing nothing more or less than exactly what you want to.

Table of Contents

Here are forty ideas for how you can celebrate your 40th birthday.

If you have any other suggestions, we’d love to hear them!

1.- Visit a country you haven’t been to

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
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What better way to ring in your 40th birthday than travel? It’s a reminder that we can keep expanding our horizons as we grow older. 

Whether you plan to travel solo or bring friends, choose a destination that you’ve always dreamed of but never seemed to have the time or money for. 

2.- Enjoy a beach day

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
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If you live near the beach, this is actually a great way to spend any birthday, especially a milestone birthday like your 40th! I like to go by myself and I take my journal to reflect on the past decade and write goals for the upcoming one. 

I also love to catch up with friends and family on the phone, as most of them live far away. Now if you can round up a bunch of your loved ones to join you, your 40th birthday beach day will be that much more enjoyable.

3.- Go scuba diving

If you have never done this, scuba diving provides a unique opportunity to consider the world we live in from a different vantage point. 

I will never forget my first time scuba diving out in the ocean. It was everything I ever expected it to be and then some. You really don’t have to do it with friends (I didn’t) but it may be even more fun if you bring your significant other or BFF with you.

4.- Take an overnight train trip

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

There is something really romantic, and not in a falling-in-love way, about overnight train trips. If you don’t want to do this in the U.S. there are plenty of places in Europe where trains are the main way to get from one place to another. 

If you can overnight it in a bunkbed, it will be so nice to wake up in the morning and be at your destination, refreshed and ready to explore.

5.- Take a road trip to a city you’ve always wanted to visit

If road trips are your thing, then grab a friend or your significant other, or hit the road solo. Planning it out is half the fun, so set aside the dates on which you will travel, plan your pit stops and overnight stays, and book hotels or Airbnbs based on your budget.

Document your journey for posterity and enjoy every minute of it. Perhaps keep a journal of your trip for your kids or for your future self. You only turn 40 once.

6- Go for a hike or bike ride

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
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Pick a long hike, whether it is hours or days long. Check whether you need to buy gear if you are planning to hike overnight. Read up on your route and make sure you have all the safety measures in place that you may need.

Alert friends and family of your whereabouts, whether you are going in a group or alone, and make sure you check in with them at least once a day if you are planning on hiking for a few days. Enjoy! It’s your 40th!

7.- Have a girls’ night

Whether it’s a girl’s night in or a girl’s night out is up to you. A girl’s night at home can be like a pajama party, a sit-down dinner, a movie-watching marathon or just chilling out.

A girl’s night out can be clubbing, disco dancing, line dancing, bar hopping, or a fancy restaurant outing. You decide. Maybe you can book a limo to take you from one venue to another. 

8.- Get that special tattoo you’ve been thinking about

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

Whether you have ink or not, maybe there is a tattoo you always wanted and didn’t dare to get. Why not book it for your 40th birthday? Find a tattoo artist online (I like to find them on Instagram), and discuss with them your ideas.

A good tattoo artist will help you bring your idea to fruition. It is best to show up to your appointment knowing the size and placement of the tattoo, but you can always change your mind at the parlor.

Make sure you follow the after-care instructions to protect your fresh ink and enjoy showing off your new 40th birthday tattoo!

9.- Go to a rock concert

Pick a concert based on where you live or pick a band you love and plan to travel to see them on your birthday!

The energy of a live concert will help you feel celebratory of your 40th birthday and also as a reminder that the good old days are far from over!

10.- Book a hot air balloon ride

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

Whether you ride a hot air balloon in Texas or Capadoccia is up to you! Of course, the more beautiful the views, the better, but one way or another, the experience of being up in the air without an engine is something incomparable.

Toast to your 40th birthday up in the air if it is allowed, or upon descending. Take loads of pictures to commemorate the occasion and let it be a reminder that the best is yet to come.

11.- Take a ride in a helicopter

A helicopter ride is quite different from being in a plane, however small. Helicopters can hover over beautiful views and can get closer to the ground in flight than airplanes. 

Whether it’s a helicopter tour of the city where you live or a new place you are visiting, it is worth doing at least once. Why not let that be your 40th birthday?

12.- Spend the day at a spa

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Phot: Shutterstock

An entire day at the spa is quite the experience. One day of facials, massages, saunas, hot tubs, and mani-pedis is a lot of self-care to celebrate your 40th alone or with friends.

Make sure to bring some bubbly to toast to a new decade and plan to include more self-care in the years to come.

13.- Take a new fitness class

Not just any fitness class, but something you’ve always wanted to try, perhaps pole dancing or pole fitness, aerial yoga, Pilates, Burlesque or bungee fitness. 

It’s always more fun if you do it with friends, so maybe all of you meet at the fitness class and then go out for drinks or mocktails. 

14.- Splurge on a shopping spree

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

Set aside some money all throughout the year leading up to your 40th birthday and then on the actual day of your 40th, go on a shopping spree. Pick items you usually would not buy for yourself and consider quality over quantity. 

If you live in a big city, maybe there are secret sample sales happening, or perhaps you’d rather go to the nearest outlets. Make sure it’s an actual in person shopping experience, although online shopping can be fun too.

15.- Go to the movies for a movie marathon

When was the last time you binged on movies at the movie theater? Pick a venue that has those comfy lounge seats and maybe even food and drinks and treat yourself to a day of reruns or new blockbuster movies.

16.- Enjoy a Broadway show

Whether you have to travel to NYC to see it or you already live there, it’s quite the experience to see a Broadway show or even an off-Broadway show.

Of course, you don’t have to go to the Big Apple to see a show, so if you’re on a budget, then find what’s happening on the stages near you and support local talent by booking a night out to see them in action.

17.- Host a movie marathon of your favorite genre

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.

Whether you do this at home or in the theater is up to you. As long as this is something that is out of the ordinary for you, it will be a memorable experience.

Hopefully, you’re not spending your days on the couch binge-watching TV shows or flicks. If you are, then please go choose some other activity that will get you out of the house. 

18.- Tour a vineyard

If you’re into wine, perhaps travel to California, or La Rioja in Spain, or fly to France or Italy to visit a vineyard and give wine tasting a go.

If you’re not a wine lover, then lean into the new experience and allow yourself to celebrate your 40th birthday by doing something out of the ordinary.

19.- Take a beer brewing class

Now that craft beers are all the rage, why not learn how to brew your own beer? It is fun to learn about what goes into your favorite beverage if you’re a beer drinker.

A second best could be to purchase a craft beer-making kit and host a party at home, either to make the beer or taste it once it’s made.

20.- Book a race car driving experience

If you’re into speed, why not book yourself an experience on a car race track? Another alternative would be going to an amusement park where there are also race tracks, although these are quite different from the real deal.

21.- Run a 5k, a half marathon, or a marathon

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.

Of course, it’s all about the preparation and training leading up to the actual race, so you get to enjoy the process of getting ready to accomplish such a feat on your 40th birthday.

Even if you were not a runner before, consider that many runners started at older ages and that older runners often have more endurance than younger athletes.

22.- Take yourself to a burlesque or magic show

The point is to treat yourself to a kind of show that you’ve never seen before. Turning 40 is all about rediscovering the joy of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

Whether it’s burlesque, magic, or even a strip show, you get to ring in your 40th doing something that is out of character. Nothing like that to actually build character as you age.

23.- Spend the day at an amusement park and ride every ride

If you are able to, book fast passes to avoid the long lines to get on rides at the amusement park. After all, it’s your special day and you deserve to breeze through the attractions.

If you’re afraid of roller coasters, maybe face your fear and ride one. I did this so that my kids wouldn’t grow up mimicking my fears and now I enjoy these crazy rides like I never thought I would.

24.- Participate in a sip and paint event

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

Whether it’s painting or any other creative activity the point is to gather your friends and family around an activity instead of just hanging out.

The bonus is everyone gets to take their creation home and you will have something to show for this evening when you celebrated your 40th birthday.

25.- Throw a themed birthday bash

Whether it’s a costume party, a decade party (the 70s, 80s, 90s), or any other kind of party, a themed party is always fun.

Make sure you organize your party in advance and send out invites with time enough for your guests to plan their outfits.

26.- Dress up just for the heck of it

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Viva Fifty

Whether you are doing something special or not, dress up in sequins or a ball gown and take some cool pictures of yourself or book a photoshoot.

We often postpone dressing up for special occasions like weddings or galas, but how many of those do we attend each year?

Your 40th birthday is definitely a special occasion that merits dressing up however you want.

27.- Swim with manatees or dolphins

You don’t have to leave the country to do this. Even Florida has great places, like Crystal River, where you can swim with manatees, especially in the colder months.

The Florida Keys also have beautiful locations where you can swim with dolphins. Make sure to do your research well in advance to ensure the best experience. 

28.- Take a gourmet cooking class

Maybe you’re tired of cooking the same old stuff for the family or of ordering out if you live alone. Either way, a gourmet cooking class can spark your creativity and be a reminder that cooking can be a fun and creative experience.

29.- Take a cruise on a luxury yacht or sailboat

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

Forget regular cruises, which can also be a great experience if you’ve never been on a cruise. A luxury yacht, catamaran, or sailboat is a much more personalized experience.

To begin with, it’s more exclusive and you can pick from a variety of destinations. Make sure that you save up for this in advance and be ready for a great adventure.

30.- Adopt the pet you’ve always wanted

That little pup or kitten you’ve been wanting? Go rescue it! Make sure you are actually ready for the long-term commitment of taking care of a pet before you run out to adopt one. 

Once you are sure you can deal with training your pup and are ready to field the expenses that come with being a dog owner, then go ahead and indulge in a loyal companion. If you have kids, your pup or cat will still be with you when the children move on. Happy 40th!

31.- Buy that piece of jewelry you’ve been lusting after

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Pexels

It is an empowering feeling to buy yourself what you want instead of waiting for someone else to do it for you.

As we grow older, it’s a great practice to take ownership of our dreams and desires. Buy yourself that piece of jewelry you’ve been eyeing and it will be there to remind you of your 40th way after your birthday.

32.- Get a fresh haircut and style

A 40th birthday is a great time to reevaluate your hairstyle. This does NOT mean you absolutely have to cut your hair short. It’s an outdated notion that women can’t sport long hair after a certain age.

Maybe you want to grow your hair out or experiment with a different cut or color. Perhaps you want to let your silver show, or maybe you prefer to hide it. As long as your hair matches how you feel, you’re good.

33.- Buy yourself flowers

You can buy yourself flowers any day of the year, of course, but on your 40th, why not splurge on the kind of bouquet you wish someone would buy for you?

After a certain age, it’s all about making empowered decisions. Treat yourself, because you can and because you’re worth it.

34.- Invest in a new hobby

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

Is it playing an instrument? Signing up for an improv class? Getting certified as a yoga instructor? Learning to rollerblade?

No matter what your pick, your 40th birthday is a great day to choose a new hobby and buy the equipment you will be needing for it.

35.- Make reservations at a Michelin-starred restaurant

There is nothing wrong with going to great hole-in-the-wall joints where they serve great food. But if you have been wanting to try a high-end restaurant, your 40th birthday is a great time to make that reservation.

36.- Take a guided tour of your hometown

Whether you’re a newcomer or have been living at your current place of residence for a while now, it’s easy to take for granted the beauty of our surroundings.

Tour your town like a tourist, and be ready to see it from a different perspective. 

37.- Go river or white water rafting

If you’re interested in adventuring, river or white water rafting is definitely up your alley. Pick the spot where you would like to experience this on your 40th, and book ahead of time.

There are plenty of places to go rafting. Ask your friends ahead of time whether they’d like to join you and then you can all get excited and nervous together before your big day.

38.- Book a photoshoot to commemorate your 40th birthday

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Photo: Shutterstock

If you’re the one always taking family pictures, keep in mind that your kids will love to have pictures of you when they are older.

Book a photoshoot of your choice: outdoorsy, boudoir, fitness-inspired, you name it. A decade later, you will be thankful that you did it.

39.- Spend the day with the people you love the most

Spending quality time with people you love may seem super low-key, but it’s actually one of the nicest things you can do for yourself on your birthday.

That said, choose the crowd wisely and don’t invite people into your celebration that you don’t feel comfortable with, no matter whether they are blood-related.

40.- Relax or party it up! Just do you

The point is to enjoy the day exactly the way you want to. If you really don’t want to make a big deal out of turning 40, then so be it. One way or another it all boils down to being true to yourself.

Happy 40th birthday to you!

Make your 40th birthday a big deal! Here are 40 ways to celebrate turning forty. There is something for every personality.
Viva Fifty!

Viva Fifty! is an online bilingual and multicultural community that celebrates your best age. Midlife and beyond.

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