Howaya! 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.
Unique Airbnbs in Donegal
If you’re planning a trip to Donegal in 2020 and you want to spend the night somewhere a little bit different, the guide below should give you a clatter of ideas.
On a final note, if you book a night using any of the Airbnb links below, we’ll make a tiny commission that goes towards the running of this site (you won’t pay anything extra).
1. The Barn by the beach
You’ll find our first 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.
If you base yourself in this place, you’ll be a stone’s throw from many of the best things to do in Donegal. You can book a night or see more here.
2. Breasty Bay House at Malin Head
A stunning home on the very wild Malin Head, Breasty Bay House it is the perfect remote escape that you can share with up to five of your friends or family.
You’ll get to enjoy the rugged beauty of the North Atlantic coastline in this unique but surprisingly affordable place.
One of the main highlights of this place is the incredible location – it’s finely plonked near the northernmost point of Ireland.
It’s also based on a 60-acre property which is only shared with one other cottage, so you’ll feel as though you have the entire coastline to yourself. See more or book a night here.
3. The Native American Tipi
You’ll find this tipi beautifully located in the forests of the Knader, surrounded by clear lakes, mysterious mountains and fields.
Now, if you’re thinking to yourself, ‘Eh, there’s no way I’m sleeping in a tent in Donegal, pal – the hole would be frozen off of me’, then don’t be worrying – this place is nice and cosy (see below)!
Here’s how the host describes this unique Donegal Airbnb; ‘Whether you wanna head off after a hearty breakfast with homemade bread and free-range eggs and go ride the waves of the wild sea or swing yourself on the back of a horse.
hike the green mountains or canoe the great lakes, go out for some action and do a bit of whitewater-rafting or cliff-jumping, or take it easy and follow the footsteps of famous Irish writers, poets and revolutionaries exploring the country’s mysterious ancient and recent history – we’ve got you covered’ You can book a night or see more of this place here
4. A sea-view Suite with a ‘180° Panoramic tidal view’
This Tidal View Suite includes your own lounge, bedroom and en-suite with a private entrance and terrace on this property on Cruit Island.
It’s the perfect location to enjoy the beaches and scenic coast of the island with just a short 10-minute drive to Donegal airport.
The coastal view is the main draw of this little cottage. The front garden leads down to the nearest beach with beautiful views across the sea to the mainland.
The lovely cosy lounge area has a fireplace and large glass windows so you can admire the view from the comfort of indoors. Book a night or see more here.
5. The Library on Inch Island
Next up is an Airbnb in Donegal that’s finely tucked away on Inch Island that’s arguably one of the most unique Airbnbs in Ireland.
Known as ‘The Library’, this quirky gaff dates back to the 17th century and was beautifully renovated a couple of years back.
It’s since been kitted out with hotel furnishings and all of the features that you’d expect from a modern home, so you’ll be able to flake out in style and comfort during your stay.
A fine little place to escape the hustle and bustle. See more of the Library here (this place works out pretty reasonably if you book midweek!).
6. A hideaway in the hills of Donegal
Aptly known as ‘The Hideaway’, this cosy AirBnB 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. See more of this place here.
7. The Fort Cottage
This gorgeous cottage earned a place in our guide to the best Airbnbs near a 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. Book a night or see more here.
8. The hobbit hut
The chances are that you’ve seen this place before. But it’s easily the quirkiest Airbnb in Donegal, 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 Glencolumbkille (a stunning part of Donegal that’s often missed).
Here’s how the host, Gary, describes it: An amazing contemporary mountain pod inspired by Irish archaeology and under new ownership, this bespoke ‘one-off’ retreat is a perfect ‘minimoon’/Honeymoon destination in a wilderness landscape.
He goes on to say that you can, ‘Walk to the secluded beach or up ‘your’ mountain to discover the seven lakes.’ Book a night or see more here.
9. A Luxurious cliff lodge with panoramic sea views
This newly renovated swanky cliff-side lodge overlooks the stunning Rossnowlagh beach and offers visitors panoramic views of the rugged Donegal coastline.
You can nearly hear the crash of the waves and smell the salty sea air from a glance at the photo below.
If you fancy taking a ramble out to the beach, it’s a handy 7-minute stroll, with restaurants and pubs just 2 minutes away.
According to the hosts, this unique Donegal Airbnb contains state of the art electrical appliances, furniture and fittings to deliver the perfect self-catering experience. Book a night or see more here.
10. The Birdbox
This place looks all kiiiiiinds of fancy from the outside. The Birdbox 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.
The last five metres is accessed by the rope bridge you can see in the photos above. I’d happily live in this place! See more in our guide to the Birdbox.
10. A snug cottage with a private beach
Yes, you read correctly – this Airbnb in Donegal comes with its own PRIVATE BEACH. This one has caused me a bit of physical pain. I’d love to own somewhere like this.
This Airbnb 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.
The icing on the cake? It comes with the private beach in the picture above! You can see more of this place or book a night here.
11. The Wild Atlantic Yurt
This Donegal Airbnb is up there with the best places to go glamping in Ireland. This gorgeous little yurt is located up in the North-West of Ireland in the middle of the Gaeltacht in Gweedore.
This yurt sleeps 2 in twin beds and its structure has been based on a traditional Mongolian design with a shared bathroom hut nearby. It looks seriously damn cosy.
I love the idea of kipping in one of these things as the rain batters the walls (does a Yurt have walls?!) from every angle.
If you fancy giving this place a bash, you can book a night or see more here.
12. Island Hill House
You’ll find Island Hill House a handy 5-minute drive from the little fishing village of Killybegs in Donegal.
It’s the view out over Fintra Beach that gives this Donegal Airbnb it’s zing. You’ll (literally) be able to see the sand from your doorstep.
The house is a new, modern, spacious home, with 5 double bedrooms, 5 bathrooms (3 ensuites + 2 jacuzzi baths), kitchen/ dining, family room, sitting room, games room and study.
Considering its size along with its proximity to Killybegs (a 15-minute stroll), this would be the perfect spot for a night away with a group of friends. Book a night or see more here.
13. An Corrach by the waterfront
An Corrach is not only stunningly built – it’s also situated in an absolutely magnificent location that provides those that stay with breathtaking views out over Tranarossan Beach.
Less than two years old (it was built in 2018), an Corrach offers the perfect blend of luxury and scenery. One thing to note is that An Corrach is directly at the waterfront.
According to the hosts, young children will need supervision as there are steep cliffs and dangerous areas surrounding this Donegal Airbnb.
This is one of those places that I could see myself happily retiring in. Imagine waking up to that view every morning. Mad stuff. See more of this place here.
14. A romantic rural thatched cottage
This is one of a handful of old thatched cottages in Donegal that you’ll find available for rent on Airbnb.
Nestled in a little hollow in a peaceful rural setting with beautiful surroundings and a lake within walking distance, this little cottage will satisfy any explorer looking to experience an Ireland from times past.
The cottage is 150 years old and has been carefully restored to ensure that many of its original features have been brought back to life.
The perfect little getaway for those looking to step back in time. See more or book a night in this place here.
15. An off-grid eco-cottage
This eco-cottage is a 3-minute walk to the Atlantic Ocean… It sits alone in a wild, iconic location above a smooth-stoned beach and the tiny harbour of Port in Donegal.
If you stay here, you’ll be a handy 25-minute drive to Maghera’s huge sandy beaches and caves, 35 minutes from Silver Strand and 45 minutes from Tramore, and Bundoran.
According to the host: ‘This is a simple, mod-con-free, and genuinely eco, zone. A small amount of power comes from the solar panels – enough for a 12V. few lights Our water comes into the house from a hillside river, and we heat it at the back of a wood-burning stove.
We have no fridge – food is chilled in the outside larder and milk/drinks in the stream. This is an important part of the simple charms of Port, but it wouldn’t suit anyone too power-hungry’.See more or book a night here.
16. The “Honeymoon Suite” at Meadowsweet Forest Lodge
The ‘Honeymoon Suite’ at Meadowsweet Forest Lodge looks like something you’d see deep south in America.
Minus the chap sat on the front porch with a glass of whiskey and a sawn-off shotgun… 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 where the hosts grow their own veg and produce homemade herbal teas. See more of this place here.
Have you a unique Airbnb in Donegal that you’d recommend?
Whack a comment into the comments section below and we’ll check it out!
Traditional stone shed in Donegal