The 17 Most Amazing Stargazing Airbnbs Around the World
Looking for a night sky getaway? The world is your oyster. The only question is… where will you sleep? How about staying at one of the world’s best stargazing Airbnbs!
Luckily there are tons of options. From space-themed hotels to bubble hotels and glamping spots, there are plenty of amazing places where you can stargaze before bed – or even stargaze from bed!
If you like staying in Airbnbs, this post is one to help you build out your space tourist bucket list. We’ve scoured the globe to find some of the best Airbnbs for stargazing around the world. Read on to book one (or all) of these stargazing Airbnbs – with a private observatory, glass roofs, and even an open-air bedroom, you’re sure to find at least one worth traveling for.
This post was originally published in August 2019, and was most recently updated in August 2022. If you notice any properties are no longer available, please let me know in the comments! Featured photo credit: Airbnb
Skywatch Observatory Domestays – NSW, Australia
The ‘Domestay’ at Skywatch Observatory near Coonabarabran in New South Wales is quirky. It’s a larger option for groups of up to six, with funky design touches and a nearby 18-hole mini-golf course. But once the sun sets, you’ll get why this place is so popular for stargazing: there’s an observatory in the backyard!
Inside this private observatory, you’ll find a 12.5-inch Newtonian telescope ready to reveal the wonders of the night sky. The hosts can teach you how to use the telescope, or guide you on a tour of the universe.
Starts from $209/night. Book Skywatch Observatory Domestays on Airbnb.
Greystone PurePod – New Zealand
New Zealand is a paradise for people in search of experiencing nature fully, whether that’s hiking, swimming, or stargazing. New Zealand has been blessed with rolling hills, ever-inviting beaches, and pristine skies.
Perched on the hills of Greystone vineyard, this PurePod features an all-glass design (even the roof!), allowing guests to see and experience nature vividly. There are no words to describe what’s like seto experiemce the dusk light change over the rolling hills until it’s complete gone and the sky becomes littered with stars.
Starts from $371/night. Book Greystone PurePod on Airbnb.
Explore the World & Night Sky
Dark Skies: A Practical Guide to Astrotourism is a brand new book from Lonely Planet, written by STG founder Valerie Stimac.
It covers stargazing spots, including some mentioned in this post, aurora viewing, eclipses, rocket launches, and even space tourism!
Geodesic Dome near World Biosphere Reserve – Chile
Chile is a dream stargazing destination with places like the Equil Valley and the Atacama Desert within its borders. While this Geodesic Dome isn’t in either of those locations, it is located near a World Biosphere Reserve, La Campana National Park.
You’ll be roughing it a little to enjoy the stars from this dome (think: outhouse, limited power) but it’s worth it as you look out over a remote vista in central Chile and see nothing but stars.
Starts from $72/night. Book Geodesic Dome on Airbnb.
Observatory Retreat – California, USA
Few Airbnbs are as tailor-made for stargazers as the Observatory Retreat. As the name suggests, this property features its own fully-automated high-tech observatory. Guests get to enjoy the privilege of having the observatory all to themselves to explore clusters, planets, and moon during their stay – you’ll only have to share it with the Alien guarding the observatory’s door.
This Airbnb also features a charming deck with breathtaking views of the sunrise and valley. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee while listening to the animal life chorusing as the day begins. There is also a fire pit a few steps up from the house to watch the sunset behind the mountains. Last but not least, there’s a hot tub to relax while the sky unfolds above you.
Starts from $413/night. Book the Observatory Retreat on Airbnb.
Domeland: Off-grid Adobe Dome – Texas, USA
If you love science fiction interpretations of our universe, then this off-grid Adobe Dome will blow your mind. Located in the ghost town of Terlingua, this Airbnb looks like a house from one of Star Wars’ planets (arid and desolated Tatooine).
From the get-go, this Airbnb masterfully plays with the concept of the desert being a daunting and alluring force at the same time. The Earthen materials, the round-edge walls, the delicate use of wood, everything gives this property a very special feel of being one with the landscape.
This said, the Airbnb is for slightly more adventurous campers than glampers. There’s a composting toilet and windows don’t have screens for bugs or mosquitoes. It’s also completely off-grid, so you’ll enjoy less comfort in your stay.
Starts from $119/night. Book the off-grid Adobe Dome on Airbnb.
Glamping Pod with Glass Roof – Ireland
Ireland isn’t known for its clear skies, but it’s worth the risk to stay in this funky architectural Glamping Pod. It’s a little hard to get a sense of the structure of the building from the Airbnb pictures, but we’re sure there’s a glass roof above both the bed and the bathtub so you can enjoy the night sky from either place if it’s visible.
It’s a few hours drive outside Dublin to reach this spot, so it works well as part of a larger trip around Ireland. Maybe add in a stop at Kerry Dark Sky Park to try and see the stars there too.
Starts from $87/night. Book Lazy Lodge Glamping Pod on Airbnb.
Glass House Monferrato – Italy
You know what they say about people in glass houses right? They have excellent stargazing opportunities!
The Glass House Monferrato is actually nestled among trees and lacks a glass roof, so you can’t lay in bed and look straight up as you can with some of the other stargazing Airbnbs on this list. However, you can look out from bed, over the patio and hot tub toward the ski – or you can enjoy the same view from your en suite all-glass sauna.
Starts from $652/night. Book Glass House Monferrato on Airbnb.
Namseb Lodge Chalet – Namibia
There are actually five chalets at the Namseb Lodge listed on Airbnb. Number 1 and Number 4 seem to be the most popular based on the reviews (they all appear the same!).
Though there’s nothing about the structures specifically that makes these lodges perfect for stargazing, it’s all about location. They’re all clustered together (but not too close) in the Namseb Plateau, a huge expanse of the African savannah with little else in sight. Once the sun sets, you can sit out on your private patio or take a dip in your pool and look up at an unobstructed dome of night sky overhead.
Starts from $50/night. Book Namseb Lodge Chalet Number 1 on Airbnb.
UFO Camp with Glass Roof – Norway
We generally think of the Norwegian as practical, reasonable people with great taste in sweater designs and excellent aurora-viewing prospects. But this one shows that even the Norwegians have a quirky side.
Whether You Want to Believe! or not, the UFO Camp with Glass Roof near Hessdalen (several hours north of Oslo) is definitely a unique overnight spot. These round tipi structures are strong enough to ward off the chill of a winter night in Norway, but have glass panels near the apex of the building to offer you stunning views of the night sky and/or northern lights.
Starts from $129/night. Book the UFO Camp with Glass Roof on Airbnb.
Old Farmhouse – Iceland
Iceland is another top spot in the world to see the celestial bodies in all its glory. This old farmhouse is located in Vallnatún, an isolated farm on the South coast of Iceland.
Set in the shadows of towering mountains, the scenery surrounding the property is otherworldly. In warmer months, a blanket of lush greenery extends as far as the eye can see. In colder months, everything gets covered in snow, adding a lovely element of smoothness and brightness. The house can sleep up to six people. Stylistically, we can expect the famous Nordic style: natural materials, clean lines, and lots of white and gray hues.
Starts from $255/night. Book Old Farmhouse on Airbnb.
Treehotel – Sweden
Not exactly an Airbnb, but the Treehotel in northern Sweden should be on your stargazing bucket list. Hidden in the middle of the woods, the Treehotel is a collection of nine cleverly-designed suites contained within treehouses.
All nine treehouses are stunning from an architecture perspective, but the 7th Room takes the number one prize when it comes to stargazing. This tree house sits above the crown of a tall pine tree.
Its design attempts to blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor. Consequently, there’s a lounge, called the Northern Light lounge, boasting floor-to-ceiling windows that gives you the best chance to see the Aurora Borealis on a clear day. The cabin also features a double-layered net stretching between two bedrooms, providing an open terrace and a place to sleep under the night sky.
Starts from $1226/night. Book Treehotel’s 7th Room.
Luxury Shepherds Hut – United Kingdom
You don’t often hear the words “luxury” and “shepherd’s hut” in the same sentence, but this vacation rental in Cornwall, England will convince you that in certain circumstances, they can. This cute tiny house, called “Stargazey“ is nestled in the middle of the woods. Its privileged location offers amazing 180 degree uninterrupted southern sky views at night and wonderful views across the wooded valley and distant fields during the day.
Visitors can enjoy the night sky in their private garden until it’s too chilly, then head indoors to warm up by the small wood stove. Best of all, this house is a stone’s throw away from the local Observatory, which hosts Weekly sky watch sessions (by appointment only).
Starts from $108/night. Book the “Stargazey” Luxury Shepherd’s Hut on Vrbo.
Architect’s Off-Grid Stargazing Cabin – California, USA
If you’ve seen our guide to stargazing in Joshua Tree, you know this splurge-worthy Architect’s Off-Grid Stargazing Cabin tops our list for where to stay during your trip.
A stunning bespoke home with an open-air bedroom that allows you to literally look straight out at the sky, you may be tempted to never leave to explore the nearby National Park. But, once you’ve freshened up in the luxe bathroom and admired the view out the huge windows, you’ll be tempted to go out and stargaze in Joshua Tree and then come back and doze off under the stars.
Starts from $690/night. Book the Architect’s Off-Grid Stargazing Cabin on Airbnb.
Area 55 Futuro House – California, USA
In the search for stars, some are hopeful they may spot another form of life in our universe. Whether you believe in UFOs or not, you can’t deny that sleeping in one would be a pretty awesome experience.
You can do it! In the middle of California’s famed Joshua Tree there’s an original Futuro House offered as an Airbnb. Designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, the Future House rose the fame for resembling a flying saucer. Today, there are only 19 in the USA, and only 1 available.
This off-grid tiny house boasts a retro-futuristic style. There are ball chairs with bold-colored upholstery, sci fi artworks, oh, and a shelf with all the Alien and Star Wars movies – talk about sustaining the stargazing theme all around. There’s also a fire pit outside for roasting marshmallows before your stargazing sessions begins.
Starts from $225/night. Book the Area 55 Futuro House on Airbnb.
Dome in the Desert – California, USA
Joshua Tree’s desert boho vibes are just impossible to resist for glampers. Perhaps, that’s why there are so many unique Airbnbs around this area.
The Dome in the Desert is one of the most sought-after Airbnbs in Joshua Tree. And it’s easy to see why. Its quirky charm encapsulates the essence and beauty of Joshua Tree’s arid landscape.
Set in the middle of nowhere, the tiny white dome sits right next to, well, a Joshua Tree. Inside, the decoration is in tune with the landscape, borrowing from Native American and Mexican influences. There’s a lovely combination of earthy tones, Navajo patterns, and cacti plants with a few chic touches here and there to enliven the space.
Starts from $164/night. Book the Dome in the Desert on Airbnb.
Off the Grid Fire Tower – Oregon, USA
You know you’ve seen it on Instagram: this fire tower-turned-Airbnb is located deep in the woods in southwest Oregon… but at 40 feet up, you’ll be high enough for huge night sky views once the sun goes down.
The Summit Prairie Fire Tower is so popular that they book out months in advance using Airbnb, and you need to join a mailing list to try and get your spot during the 10 minutes booking is open each season. But, once you’ve hiked up to the tower and climbed to the top, you’ll see it’s all worth it.
Starts from $232/night. Book the Fire Tower on Airbnb.
Stargazing Hut – Tennessee, USA
Nestled in the woods of eastern Tennessee near the Blue Ridge Mountains, this funky off-grid tiny home is perfect for those who want to get way away from it all. In the shape of a Quonset hut, the entire roof of the Stargazing Hut is transparent plastic, so you can see the stars twinkling overhead as you lay in bed.
Be prepared that you’ll be rough it a bit, but that’s what it takes to get a pocket of the dark sky as you’ll find here.
Starts from $84/night. Book the Stargazing Hut on Airbnb.
Which of these stargazing Airbnbs will you add to your travel list? Let s know in the comments!
Valerie Stimac
Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth.
