Donegal Airbnb Guide: 14 Of The Most Unique Airbnbs In Donegal (2023)

If you’re in search of unique Airbnbs in Donegal, the guide below should tickle your fancy.

Donegal is home to its fair share of funky Airbnbs.

From hobbit huts and tipis to island libraries and more, there’s a little bit of something that’ll appeal to every kind of traveller.

In the guide below, we’ve rounded up the best rentals Donegal has to offer, so grab a cup of tea and dive on in.

Airbnb Donegal: The most unique places to stay

Section 1 tackles what are, in our opinion, the best Airbnbs Donegal has to offer, based on either personal experience or reviews online.

Note: if you book a stay through one of the links below we may make a tiny commission that helps us keep this site going. You won’t pay extra, but we really do appreciate it.

1. Meadowsweet Forest Lodge

The ‘Honeymoon Suite’ at Meadowsweet Forest Lodge looks like something you’d see deep south in America.

This really is a gorgeous little spot and it boasts character by the bucket load. You’ll find Meadowsweet Hill Lodge nestled in the hills of Donegal near Fintown in a secluded woodland area.

The Lodge is situated in a quiet and peaceful location where it’s tucked into a scenic woodland well off the beaten track. It’s also part of an organic farm!

This, in our opinion, is the best Airbnb in Donegal if you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle and kick-back in a beautiful, secluded and cosy setting.

2. Crohy Cottage

If you’re in search of Airbnbs in Donegal by the sea, look no further than Crohy Cottage. This place enjoys a picture-perfect location surrounded by rugged Donegal scenery and Atlantic views.

The well-appointed living room has wood flooring, sofa, dining table and a central logburner feature. There’s a modern kitchen with loads of space and a pine dining table for family meals.

Upstairs, three bedrooms sleep 6 in comfort with 3 double beds and an additional single if required. There are 3.5 bathrooms and outside space for enjoying this peaceful location.

3. Lough Mardal

Next up is arguably one of the best Airbnbs in Donegal for those of you exploring with a group of friends.

Nothing says comfy like a yurt fitted with sheepskins, wollen blankets and fat pillows. There is even a woodburning stove with an abundance of firewood inside.

Outside of your yurt is awe-inspiring views of the forests, lake and mountain nearby. The Lodge amenity close by comes with a large kitchen, showers and a huge fireplace to bask in.

4. Mamore Cottages

Mamore Cottages are like something from a land that time forgot, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Thatch roofs, cosy interiors and white-wash walls combine to make these cottages a dream for anyone that fancies a night away with a difference.

There are a number of different cottages to choose from at Mamore and, most importantly, each is a stone’s throw from endless adventure opportunities on the Inishowen Peninsula.

If you’re in search of beautiful, picture-perfect Airbnbs in Donegal, Mamore Cottages are well worth checking out.

5. Twig & Heather Cottage

Our next Donegal Airbnb is a gorgeous cottage earned a place in our guide to the best Airbnbs by the beach in Ireland, and it’s not hard to see why – this place is class!

The Fort Cottage is an ideal little gaff for couples seeking a seaside retreat in one of the most picturesque corners of the country.

Packed with old-world charm yet clean, modern and cosy, the Fort offers breathtaking views across the bay and out onto the Atlantic Ocean. 

If you visit when the weathers bad, you can kick back with a coffee and soak up the sea views from afar. 

6. Casa De Rosa

You’ll find Casa De Rosa in Muff on the magnificent Inishowen Peninsula where it boast some very cool accommodation. Here you’ll find everything from an outdoor cinema and a Canadian spa jacuzzi to rooms that sleep 6.

The icing on the cake is arguably the outdoor wood fire pizza oven where you can cook up a storm. The interior of Casa De Rosa is bright and spacious and it’s made all the more cosy by a roaring wood burner.

This place would make a great base for a summer family getaway as the unique outdoor facilities are a treat on warmer nights.

If you’re looking for cool places to stay in Donegal with a group, Casa De Rosa is well worth checking out.

7. The hideaway

Next up in our Donegal Airbnb guide is ‘The Hideaway’. This cosy spot is a beautifully handcrafted cabin that offers stunning views towards Glenveagh National Park. 

The hosts describe the cabin as a cosy, self-contained space that has been designed to make the most of the stunning mountain views that surround it.

If you’re looking to steer clear of the crowds and immerse yourself in peace, quiet and a good dollop of scenery, this place should do the job.

It comes equipped with a stove to make the place toasty and a lovely little outdoor seating area where you can eat, drink and soak up the views. 

Some of the best Airbnbs in Donegal according to reviews

Now that we have what we think are the best Airbnbs in Donegal out of the way, it’s time to see what else is on offer.

Below, you’ll find everything from pods and cabins to a cool Airbnb in Donegal with a private beach.

1. Cottage with a private beach

Next up is an Airbnb in Donegal with a private beach (personally, I didn’t think there was any such thing as private beaches in Ireland).

This place is a traditional granite cottage that was fully refurbished for 2018 with a contemporary timber extension.

The cottage itself is over 100 years old and even though it has been recently refurbished, it retains its original ‘underthethatch’ (I’m not sure what that means, but it sounds class) under a modern roof.

2. Captain’s Tiny House

Located in the charming town of Dunfanaghy, the Captain’s Tiny House is run by the folks at Narosa Surf School (it’s a short ramble from Killahoey Beach).

This place started off its life as a garage but, thanks to a clever conversion, is now a stylish studio. There’s a fully kitted out kitchen, a beautiful mezzanine bed and some carefully selected furnishings.

It’s small, yes, but beautifully designed and makes the perfect base for exploring this corner of Donegal.

3. The lakeside container

Next up in our Donegal Airbnb guide is a very stylish container that sits right over Traighenna Bay down a long stone track in West Donegal.

The interior is nice and bright thanks to massive windows that look right out over the water and it’s also cleverly decorated with everything you’d need for a weekend away..

You can soak up the views as you chomp away on your breakfast, or you can take your coffee out onto the outdoor decking area and sip it while you watch the sunrise.

4. The barn in Rathmullan

You’ll this stunning Donegal Airbnb in a mighty little corner of the county known as Rathmullan where it’s home to many a fine view.

The Barn is a couple’s getaway dream. Overlooking a beautiful, secluded beach, this small but perfectly formed apartment has heaps of character and a good whack of seaside charm.

Think guitars on the walls, vintage crockery and retro floor tiles and you’ll get the idea. Rathmullan itself is a lovely little village that boasts a handful of great pubs and restaurants.

5. The Birdbox

The Birdbox is arguably the most aesthetically pleasing Donegal Airbnb. This is a cosy, handcrafted treehouse that’s nestled in the branches of beautiful mature oak and scots pine trees. 

This treehouse boasts stunning views towards Glenveagh National Park that you can soak up while you kick-back in the morning with a coffee, or with something a little stronger as the sun starts to drop.

The Birdbox is a self-contained treehouse that’s suitable for adults only. You’ll access it via a 30-metre walk along a stepped wooden walkway through a bank of mature trees, which lead to the decked area of the treehouse.

If you’re looking for cool places to stay in Donegal with your other half, this is a great option.

6. Arranmore glamping

Finely plonked on the wild and rugged Arranmore Island, these glamping pods couldn’t be situated in a more beautiful setting.

Arranmore Glamping boasts bright and reasonably spacious (considering their size) pods that offer guests glorious ocean views from the living area..

The island is a handy 20-minute ferry ride from the mainland and there’s plenty of walks and points of interest to check-out while you’re there.

7. The hobbit hut

The chances are that you’ve seen this place before. But it’s easily the quirkiest Airbnb Donegal has to offer, so it’d be impossible to exclude it from this list.

You’ll find this place built into the rugged landscape of Southwest Donegal, in Glencolumbcille (a stunning part of Donegal that’s often missed).

The beauty of this place is that you can chill outside and enjoy the scenery when the weather’s fine or admire it from the living area when it’s lashing down.

More unique stays in Donegal

So, as you can tell, there’s heaps of great Airbnbs in Donegal where you can kip for a few nights. However, there’s plenty of other cool places to stay, if you know where to look.

Below, you’ll find everything from 5-star hotels and luxury cottages to campsites, quirky guesthouses and much more.

1. Boutique hotels

There’s plenty of incredible hotels in Donegal, with something to suit most budgets, once you know where to look. Here’s some guides to our favourites:

• 21 hotels in Donegal worth your hard-earned €€€
• 7 of the finest spa hotels in Donegal for a pamper
• The fanciest luxury accommodation and five star hotels in Donegal

2. Funky glampsites

Donegal’s home to heaps of places to camp and glamp. In the 2 guide below you’ll find the best campsites and glampsites on offer:

• 17 quirky places to go glamping in Donegal
• 13 scenic places to go camping in Donegal
• The most scenic Donegal cottages to rent in 2022

Airbnb Donegal: What have we missed?

I’ve no doubt that we’ve unintentionally left out some unique stays in Donegal from the guide above.

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

FAQs about the best Airbnb in Donegal

We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘What is the funkiest Airbnb Donegal has to offer?’ to ‘Which is good for families?’.

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.