5 Beginner-Friendly Raspberry Pi Projects to Try This Weekend
Whether you just unboxed your very first Raspberry Pi or you’re dusting one off from your parts bin, there’s something satisfying about using it to build a project. This list includes 5 Raspberry Pi projects for beginners. Each one comes with a short list of what you’ll need and a high-level overview of how it works so you can jump right in and start creating!
Retro Gaming Console
If you grew up on Mario Kart or Sonic the Hedgehog, this one’s going to hit you right in the nostalgia. With a Raspberry Pi and a little setup time, you can relive your favorite childhood games, all in one place!
What you’ll learn:
You’ll get familiar with flashing SD cards, navigating a Linux-based system, and setting up game controllers. Plus, if you happen to have a folder full of classic games on your hard drive, those will now come in handy!
What you’ll need:
Raspberry Pi* 3B+, 4B, or 5
microSD card (32GB+)
USB game controller
RetroPie OS
How it works:
Getting started with the project is dependent on your Raspberry Pi model. For a Raspberry 3 or 4, you’ll need to flash RetroPie onto your microSD card and place the card directly into your Raspberry Pi. If you’re using a Raspberry Pi 5, you’ll need to install RetroPie manually on top of Raspberry Pi OS which requires some familiarity with the terminal.
If you’re using a Raspberry Pi 3 or 4, the EmulationStation (RetroPie’s interface where you can browse and launch games) appears after the device boots. If you’re using a Raspberry Pi 5, you’ll need to launch EmulationStation from the terminal. However, you can later configure your system to auto-boot into EmulationStation.
On the first launch of the EmulationStation, you’ll be prompted to configure your game controller. Keep in mind, no games come with RetroPie! You’ll need to add your own ROM files (i.e. digital copies of game cartridges or discs) to the Raspberry Pi. Ater you’ve completed the initial setup and added some game files to your Raspberry Pi, you’re ready to start playing games from classic consoles like Super Nintendo Entertainment System!
Note: So, here’s the thing about Raspberry Pi compatibility and RetroPie. The Raspberry Pi 3B+ and 4B models have official RetroPie support. Raspberry Pi 5 requires a manual installation of RetroPie whereas there’s a RetroPie image available for 3B+ and 4B models within the Raspberry Pi Imager. However, don’t let the Compared to the other supported models, the Raspberry Pi 5 can run more demanding emulators and provides smoother performance overall.
Automate a Light with Motion Detection
This project feels like a small slice of sci-fi. You can walk into a room, and the light turns on automatically. It’s one of those “Wait, I actually built that?” moments that makes Raspberry Pi projects so addictive!
What you’ll learn:
You’ll learn about basic electronics (no soldering required), working with GPIO pins, and how to trigger real-world actions with code. It's a great intro to home automation without diving too deep into creating a smart home platform.
What you’ll need:
Raspberry Pi*
PIR motion sensor
Relay module
Standard light bulb and lamp
Note: You have quite your pick when it comes to choosing a Raspberry Pi model for this project. Essentially, any model with GPIO pins would work. However, the Raspberry Pi 3 and 4 models provide the easiest plug-and-play support.
How it works:
The PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor detects changes in infrared radiation (i.e. like when someone moves nearby). The sensor sends a signal (HIGH) to one of the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO input pins.
Your Raspberry Pi will be runing a Python script that listens for this input. When the Raspberry Pi detects the motion signal, the device responds by sending a signal to a relay module, which acts like an electronic light switch. The relay closes the circuit and turns your lamp on.
After a set amount of time (like 5 minutes) with no new motion detected, the script opens the relay again, and your light turns off.
Time-Lapse Camera
If you’ve ever wanted to capture the slow stuff (i.e. sunrises, plants growing, or your dog doing absolutely nothing all day), this is the perfect beginner photography-meets-code project!
What you’ll learn:
You’ll learn about camera setup, working with Python to automate snapshots, and the basics of media processing. You’ll also start seeing the power of scheduled tasks and shell commands like ffmpeg.
What you’ll need:
Raspberry Pi
Camera Module or USB webcam
SD card with enough space
How it works:
The Raspberry Pi Camera Module or USB webcam is connected to your Raspberry Pi and controlled with a small Python script. The script uses a loop and a timer to take a photo every few seconds or minutes.
Each image is saved to your microSD card or external storage. Once you’ve captured enough frames, you can use a command-line tool like ffmpeg to stitch the photos into a smooth time-lapse video, compressing hours (or even days) into a few seconds of visual magic.
You can mount the Raspberry Pi on a tripod, windowsill, or even outside (with a weatherproof case), depending on what you're capturing!
Set Up a Personal File Server
Imagine having your own private cloud that lives in your house, no monthly fees, no third-party snooping. Just your files, on your terms. That’s what this project gives you!
What you’ll learn:
You’ll learn how to mount and share drives, configure network access, and set up either a simple Samba share or a full-on Nextcloud instance. It’s a perfect intro to file management and basic networking.
What you’ll need:
Raspberry Pi 4 or 5
External hard drive or SSD
Samba or Nextcloud software
How it works:
With an external hard drive or SSD plugged into your Raspberry Pi, you install file-sharing software like Samba (Windows/macOS-friendly) or Nextcloud (more like a Dropbox clone).
The Raspberry Pi acts as a mini server. You connect to it over your home network, and you can upload, download, and organize files from any device (i.e. laptop, phone, or tablet). It’s a great way to store photos, backups, or documents without using Google Drive or paying for extra iCloud space.
Bonus: You can configure it to access files remotely from outside your home, but that’s a slightly more advanced setup involving port forwarding or a VPN.
Make a Custom Alarm Clock
Here’s your chance to ditch that awful default alarm tone. With this setup, you can wake up to your favorite playlist, podcast, or even a motivational quote!
What you’ll learn:
You’ll learn how to use Python to schedule events, play audio, and even fetch live data like the weather. You’ll also get comfortable with basic time-based logic and input/output controls.
What you’ll need:
Raspberry Pi
Small speaker
Python for scripting alarms
How it works:
Your Raspberry Pi runs a Python script (or cron job) that plays a sound file at a scheduled time (ex: like 7:00 AM every weekday). You can use built-in tools like omxplayer or Python libraries like pygame to handle the audio playback through a speaker.
Want to take it up a notch? Use Python to fetch and read out the weather, your to-do list, or motivational quotes using text-to-speech. Add a button for snooze, an LED for visual alerts, or even a small screen that displays the time.
The beauty of this project is how customizable it is — and it teaches you a ton about scheduling, automation, and hardware interaction.
Monitor Door Activity with a Sensor
You don’t have to go full spy-mode for this one, but it’s kind of fun that you could! With a simple sensor and a bit of code, your Raspberry Pi becomes a silent watcher that knows when a door’s been opened.
What you’ll learn:
Your Pi runs a Python script (or cron job) that plays a sound file at a scheduled time — like 7:00 AM every weekday. You can use built-in tools like omxplayer or Python libraries like pygame to handle the audio playback through a speaker.
Want to take it up a notch? Use Python to fetch and read out the weather, your to-do list, or motivational quotes using text-to-speech. Add a button for snooze, an LED for visual alerts, or even a small screen that displays the time.
The beauty of this project is how customizable it is, as it teaches you a ton about scheduling, automation, and hardware interaction!
You’ll learn how to detect physical changes (like a door opening) using GPIO. You’ll also learn how to respond, whether that’s turning on a light, sounding a buzzer, or sending a notification.
What you’ll need:
Raspberry Pi Zero or newer
Magnetic reed switch
Buzzer or LED (optional)
How it works:
A magnetic reed switch consists of two parts, one attached to the door, the other to the door frame. When the door is closed, the magnet keeps the circuit “connected.” When it opens, the circuit breaks.
The Raspberry Pi listens to this change using its GPIO pins. When it detects that the circuit has gone from “closed” to “open,” it triggers a response (ex: a buzzer sounds, an LED lights up, or it logs the event to a file).
If you’re feeling fancy, you can even configure it to send a text or email when the door opens. This is the kind of project that shows you just how much real-world awareness you can build with a few wires and a little bit of Python.
Final Thoughts
The Raspberry Pi is one of those rare tools that can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. These beginner projects are just the starting point! you’ll build skills with each one and open the door to more advanced experimenting down the road.
So, pick a project that excites you, carve out an hour or two this weekend, and give it a go. The fun part? Watching your Raspberry Pi turn from a tiny circuit board into something truly useful!
