12 of the coolest holiday homes to rent in Ireland

12 cool places to stay in Ireland (from a local’s point of view).

I’m an Irish gal – raised in Cork. I love my home country – of course Ireland is stunningly beautiful but it’s also filled with lots of cool and unique things to do. And fabulous places to stay. In this piece, I’ll give you the lowdown on 12 cool places to stay in Ireland. This Summer more than any other year, more and more people will be holidaying local. So, lets get on with it – here are my top picks for the coolest places to stay in Ireland.

Here’s the list (more detailed information if you scroll down) –

1. The Lighthouse Keepers Cottage, Youghal, Cork
2. Urban Tranquilatree Treehouse, Cork City
3. The Lux Bus, Cobh, Cork
4. The Bird Box, Donegal
5. CroPod, Glencolmcille, Donegal
6. Finn Lough Bubble Domes, Fermanagh
7. Clissman Gypsy Caravans, Wicklow
8. Thatchers Rest Cottage, Bettystown, Meath
9. The Classic Ciara Constantia boat, Galway
10. Aran Islands Glamping
11. The Lost Cottage, Glenbeigh, Kerry
12. Cliffhouse Hotel, Waterford

The Lighthouse Keepers House, Youghal

The Lighthouse Keepers house was recently a finalist in the House of the Year competition in Ireland. This unique place to lay your head is certainly worth a visit. Painstakingly renovated for two years – the finished result is modern, spacious and of course has the excellent sea views you’d expect. The house is over 200 years old and the owner has been very careful to keep the old character of the house. These old features blend expertly with the overall modern decor. The bathroom has he best view in the house I think – imagine sitting in its tub on a Summer’s evening watching the sun set.

From Youghal, why not explore stunning West Cork!

The Lighthouse Keepers Cottage sleeps six guests and costs from €350 per night. You can book the cottage via airbnb

Urban Tranquilatree treehouse, Cork City

Located at the top of the steepest hill in Cork City – Patrick’s Hill. This cute and cosy wooden treehouse has an excellent view of the city of Cork below. It’s a fully insulated treehouse, six metres off the ground. Thankfully, the cool city of Cork is just a five minute walk away. Here in Cork City you can enjoy great barista coffee, excellent restaurants, lively bars and tons of shops.

The Tranquilatree sleeps two people and costs from €120 per night. You can book it via airbnb

The Lux Bus, Cobh

A bus doesn’t sound very luxurious, but this one is different believe me! This vintage London bus has been renovated to an extremely high standard with every mod con from an indoor fireplace, coffee machine & each of the two bedrooms features a TV. The Lux Bus is conveniently located in the tourist hub of Cobh, so, there’s a heap of activities on your doorstep. From the Titanic experience to the very grand Saint Colemans Cathedral you’re sure to have your days filled in Cobh.

The Lux Bus sleeps up to 7 people and costs from 80 per night. You can book the Lux Bus on airbnb.

The Bird Box, Donegal

A short distance from the famous Wild Atlantic Way driving route, this hand-crafted treehouse has excellent views of Glenveagh National Park. Access to this cosy space is via a fun rope bridge, also, worth noting is the Bird Box is only suitable for adults. The tiny home has a wood-burning stove to keep you warm on those colder evenings.

Located in Errigal, a gaeltacht area rich in Irish heritage and culture, and just a 5-minute drive to the local pub – you will certainly experience an authentic Irish stay at the Bird Box.

The Bird Box sleeps two adults and costs from €85 per night. You can book your stay through airbnb.

CroPod, Glencolmcille, Donegal

Consistently named as one of the best places to stay in Ireland by Irish media the CroPod is a modern mountain pod with a secluded beach and mountain scenery on its doorstep. There’s something very The Hobbit like about this under-the-mountain home. You will come to CroPod to escape and relax.

The CroPod costs from €80 per night and sleeps two people. You can book it here via airbnb.

Finn Lough Bubble Domes, Fermanagh

These fun bubble domes have 180 degree transparent walls to ensure guests get the full effect of the stunning surrounding scenery. The Finn Lough bubble domes are perfect for star-gazing. Also featuring bespoke four-poster beds, fluffy bathrobes and a nespresso coffee machine – it sure has all the fixings for a romantic weekend away.

The Finn Lough bubble dome costs from €300 per night (including breakfast), it sleeps two people. You can book it through their website.

Clissman Gypsy Caravans, Wicklow

Traditionally used by the nomadic gypsy’s of Ireland, these bright and colourful caravans offer a unique twist on a glamping experience. Nestled on a 100 acre family farm, just an hours drive from the capital city Dublin it’s a wonderful way to get back to nature whilst not being too far away from the conveniences of the modern world.

You can book your stay at Clissman Gypsy Caravans on their website.

Thatchers Rest Cottage, Bettystown, Meath

A picture-perfect thatched cottage right on the sea and just a 40 minute drive from Dublin. This cottage is fully self-catering and has three large bedrooms and two bathrooms. Luxurious but cosy at the same time, Thatchers Rest is certainly somewhere you’ll want to return to time and time again.

A three night stay at the cottage costs €1,350 and it sleeps up to six people. You can book your stay directly on their website.

The Classic Ciara Constantia boat, Galway

Built in 1933, this ex-french coastal patrol ship is certainly one of the coolest places to stay in Ireland. Fully restored in 2004, the boat now features two bedrooms, a bathroom and a fully equipped galley. Ideally located in Galway City Centre Dock, you’ll never run out of things to see and do.

The Classic Ciara Constantia sleeps up to four guests and costs from €250 per night. You can book your stay there via airbnb.

Aran Islands Glamping

The Aran Islands is one of the most unique islands in Ireland, and certainly should be added to every Ireland itinerary. The glamping pods are located on Inis Mór, the largest of the three Aran Islands. The pods look onto a private beach with Galway Bay and the mountains of Connemara beyond. A five minute walk will take you to the village of Kilronan with its small selection of bars and a supermarket.

A stay at Aran Islands Glamping costs from €125 for two people. You can book your stay here.

The Lost Cottage, Kerry

Set amongst the typical green scenery and rolling hills famous in Ireland, this bright red roofed cottage is a luxury getaway suitable for couples and families alike. The best feature of the cottage is probably the glass-roofed bathroom – from the bath you can gaze at the stars in Ireland’s only designated dark sky reserve.

You can walk the Ivereagh peninsula from your doorstep or take a short drive to Coumeenoole, a beautiful bay made famous by the film Ryan’s Daughter.

A stay at the Lost Cottage costs from €1700 for a week and sleeps up to four guests. You can book your stay here.

Cliffhouse Hotel, Waterford

Known as the finest small luxury hotel in Ireland, the Cliff House is the only hotel on my list. And for good reason, located in the scenic coastal town of Ardmore with beautiful sea views from every room in the hotel. The hotel clings to a cliff, hence the hotel’s name and has just 39 rooms. It’s small enough to feel personal, and the hospitality here is second-to-none. And for the foodies amongst you, the Cliffhouse is also home to a one Michelin-starred restaurant.

A room at the Cliff House hotel costs from €249 per night. You can book your stay here.

Have I convinced you to visit one of these cool places to stay in Ireland?

And there we have it – 12 of the coolest places to lay your head in Ireland. I’ve given you a treehouse in Cork City a river boat in Galway and a Gypsy Caravan in Wicklow – what more could you want? I hope this gives you lots of inspiration to explore Ireland this Summer!

PSST…read all about our move to Ireland, we moved ‘home’ to Cork in the middle of a pandemic!

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