Our Ardara Hotel And Accommodation Guide: 8 Lovely Places To Stay

There’s some gorgeous accommodation in Ardara, once you know where to look.

If you’ve read our guide to Ardara in Donegal, you’ll know that this lovely little village is one of our favourites in Ireland.

It’s an excellent base to explore from and it’s home to some mighty pubs and restaurants.

In the guide below, you’ll find a number of brilliant places to stay in Ardara, from Airbnbs and B&Bs to the one hotel Ardara has to offer.

Our favourite Ardara accommodation

The first section of the guide is packed with our favourite accommodation in Ardara – these are places that one of our team have stayed in over the years.

Below, you’ll find everything from cosy B&Bs and quirky guesthouses to the only hotel in Ardara. Dive on in!

1. Nesbitt Arms Boutique Hotel

We’re often asked which of the Ardara hotels are the best – it’s an easy question to answer as there’s only the one – the Nesbitt Arms.

This is a lovely family-run boutique hotel that offers bright and warmly furnished rooms right in the centre of the town.

The on-site Weavers Restaurant serves delicious full Irish breakfast each morning and there’s plenty to see and do nearby.

Thanks to its proximity to Owenea River, Maghera Beach, and Glenveagh National Park, this fabulous hotel is a perfect base to explore Donegal and the Northwest of Ireland.

2. Auntie B’s Bed and Breakfast

Auntie B’s Bed and Breakfast accommodation in Ardara boasts spacious and nicely decorated en-suite rooms with flat-screen TV’s and Wi-Fi.

The property is located within walking distance from the centre of Ardara and offers easy access to popular tourist attractions such as Assaranca waterfall and Maghera caves. 

There is a cosy shared lounge, as well as a well-maintained garden where guests can unwind after a day spent exploring.

3. Woodhill House

Woodhill House is a stunner of a spot and it’ll suit those of you looking for old-worlde-style accommodation in Ardara.

With spectacular views of Donegal Highlands, this coastal manor house features a picturesque old walled garden and offers comfortable accommodation for travellers exploring Donegal.

There is a nice bar inside the house, as well as a real open fireplace, that’ll warm the coldest of cockles on a winters evening.

4. Hillhead House

Hillhead House is one of the most popular places to stay in Ardara for several reasons – the rooms are bright and spacious, the property is nice and central and there’s some lovely shared spaces to chill in.

Located just a short drive from Doon Fort, this property features a nice terrace and a garden where guests can relax to the sounds of nature.

Guests say that Irene is a wonderful host and add how breakfast is delicious with lots of homemade foods.

Other great places to stay in Ardara

The next section in our Ardara hotel and accommodation guide is all about B&Bs and gorgeous guesthouses.

There’s an almost endless number of brilliant B&Bs and guesthouses in Ardara, from cheap and cheerful options to some very swanky places to stay.

1. Atlantic Lodge

Atlantic Lodge is finely located on the Main Street, a short ramble from countless places to eat and drink. This is some of the newest accommodation in Ardara and boasts bright, spacious rooms and boutique-style decor.

Each of the rooms is en-suite and there’s also shared access to a kitchenette where there’s a continental breakfast on offer.

Room wise, there’s superior and deluxe doubles and each, based on a Sunday in June, comes in at under €115 for 2 people sharing.

2. Robins Nest

We get asked about Airbnbs in Ardara quite a bit, as people tend to think they’re always more unique than B&Bs, but that isn’t always the case.

Robins Nest is one of the most picturesque places to stay in Ardara. It’s located a 7-minute spin from the town centre in a glorious spot overlooking the breath-taking Maghera Beach.

There are a couple of room types on offer here but, if you can, try and opt for the sea view room which offers beautiful views of the beach.

There’s a continental breakfast available each morning and it’s also a short, 1.7km from the mighty Assaranca Waterfall.

3. Ashling House

Ashling House is another of the many places to stay in Ardara that’s racked up impressive reviews online. It’s a 2-minute spin from the town centre and there’s double rooms on offer.

Reviews rave about the host, Louise, who by all accounts goes above and beyond, making each stay a memorable one.

The only downside to this place is that you don’t have a private bathroom, which isn’t ideal (reviews do mention that the bathrooms are spotless!).

4. An Charraig Ban

If you’re looking for places to stay in Ardara but you’d like to stay outside of the town, look no further than the excellent An Charraig Ban.

It’s around a 7-minute drive away from the town centre and it’s set in a lovely, quiet corner of the county where you can relax after a day spent exploring.

Room wise, there’s deluxe doubles and triples and, going off the reviews online, the rooms and the service are top-notch. This is also some of the better-value accommodation in Ardara with a Sunday night in June coming in at under €85.

Have any B&Bs or Airbnbs in Ardara to recommend?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some brilliant places to stay in Ardara from the guide above.

If you have a place that you’d like to recommend, let me know in the comments below and we’ll check it out!

FAQs about hotels in Ardara

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What’s the coolest Airbnb Ardara has to offer?’ to ‘Where’s good for couples?’.

In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.