Whether you’re looking for a quaint retreat, an outdoorsy getaway, or small-town charm, chances are that you can find it in Connecticut. As an alternative to choosing a familiar hotel chain for your trip, you can opt for a local Airbnb to get to know the community a bit better and feel right at home. Here are our top picks for Airbnbs in Connecticut.
Windy Top Cottage - Granby
This very popular guesthouse accommodates up to four people and is an old stone cottage constructed in 1932. It’s a place to come to for fresh country air and charming 1,000-square-foot space with original bath fixtures. There is no kitchen here but the great room has a vintage fridge and a small coffee service area. The hosts also provide a toaster oven and espresso machine. The second floor has the bedrooms, and the cottage also has an exterior patio and firepit for making s’mores. When you stay here, you’ll be near the best boarding schools in the state – seven of which are all within 20 miles of the cottage.
Cozy, Modern Forest Cabin with Babbling Brook - Cornwall
This entire house is available to rent on Airbnb for up to four people and has two bedrooms and two baths. It’s a cozy cabin from the 1930s with a modern interior, new kitchen, and that overlooks a forested hill and private brook. Within 10 minutes, you can get to great restaurants, skiing, swimming, and kayaking. The Appalachian Trail is also close by for hiking. Guests who stay here have access to a deck with outdoor seating, high-speed Wi-Fi, and Netflix. Sleeping accommodations are two queen-size beds in their own bedrooms.
Waterfront Studio Apartment with Fireplace - Milford
Guests also love this apartment for two people because it’s off the patio level of a waterfront home. You’ll get lovely views of Long Island Sound and have your own entrance. It’s close to the Metro North railroad and I-95. Other perks of staying here are the 50-inch smart TV, Wi-Fi, cable TV, and gas BBQ grill. There is not a full-size stove in the space, but you will have a toaster oven, blender, coffeemaker, induction cooktop, and oven. Although the studio apartment isn’t on a beach, you’ll have access to the shoreline for walks along the water.
Tiny House on a Sustainable Farm - Guilford
Two guests can stay in this tiny house on the Waystone Farm and enjoy the lovely eight acres here. The farm has goats and chickens and is where the hosts grow their own food. When you’re here, you can kayak, hike, go to the beach, learn to can vegetables, and help out on the farm if you like. Inside the tiny house, you’ll get a full bath, full kitchen, Wi-Fi, air conditioning, heat, and a queen-sized bed for sleeping. It’s a great place to get away from your normal routine; however, pets are not allowed in the tiny house.
Unique Coastal Chalet - East Lyme
You can have this entire chalet to yourself and up to four total guests when you book on Airbnb. It’s located in a private beach community and less than a mile from the private beach. The space is 830 square feet in size and has free Wi-Fi. From here, you can get to Niantic Village in three miles, Essex in 12 miles, and Mystic in 20 miles. For outdoor living, there’s a sunny front deck, fire pit in the backyard, and playground with basketball and tennis courts in the beach community.
Water Forest Retreat, Hikers Haven - Norwich
For a tiny house option, this retreat is on the same property as the Norwich octagon house and treehouse listed above. It is about 2/10ths of a mile downhill through a forest to access and has 57 steps, so pack light. The tiny house is 198 square feet in size and has heat but no running water. There’s a bathroom in the house with a vented composting toilet. In lieu of a full kitchen, there are camp-style cooking supplies provided. The private outdoor shower is at the main house and about a four-minute walk away.
The Tree House at Underhill Hollow - Thompson
For a unique stay in Connecticut, book this treehouse for up to four people. It’s great for both family vacations and romantic getaways, and it’s situated on a seven-acre 1825 farm. The adventurous property has chickens, deer, blue heron, a hammock, and walking paths. You’ll feel like you’re camping but have a real bed, internet, and air conditioning. The treehouse has a composting toilet, and guests can also use the flush toilet in the main house. There’s an outdoor hot water shower, a mini-fridge and electric grill in a small cooking area, and many restaurants in the area. Plan to bring your own towels, linens, blankets, and pillows if possible.
Bluebird Farm Barn Loft - Willington
For a unique farm stay experience in Connecticut, book this Airbnb that’s a converted loft and garden gazebo on Bluebird Farm. It’s a 40-acre sanctuary on a working farm that has a kitchenette, bathroom, and shower. Guests have access to the gas grills, animal pasture when guided by the host, and lots of farm experiences all around. Pets and parties are not allowed here. Up to 15 people can stay here but there is an additional charge per person after the first guest. An outdoor porta-potty rental is required for groups of eight people or more.
Cozy Lake Cottage, 10 Minutes to Mystic - Ledyard
Meanwhile, this cottage is a wonderful Airbnb property to stay in when you visit the Connecticut communities of Ledyard and Mystic. Up to four guests can stay here in the two-bedroom, one-bath cottage by the lake. Families, couples, and groups of friends enjoy the hot tub, kayaks, fire pits, and games provided. The cabin has a rustic feel and is right on the water with a screened-in porch for enjoying meals with a view. The hot tub overlooks the water, and there’s a massage therapist here that you can schedule a massage with.
Water Forest Retreat Tree House - Norwich
This couple in Norwich has several highly recommended and unique Airbnb properties that will make your stay in Connecticut very special. One Airbnb rental, this treehouse, accommodates two guests in 168 square feet of space and is nestled in 100 acres of forest. It has electricity but no running water. The treehouse has a composting toilet, queen-size bed, and a cabinet with camping essentials for preparing camp-style meals. There is no traditional kitchen here. You’ll love the 2.5 miles of trails and guided nature walks with your host. Stay here for your next glamping adventure!
Private Room in Historic Home, Close to Yale - New Haven
Another option is to book this apartment in a historic home in New Haven and be less than 10 minutes from downtown. Yale Fields and Hopkins School are within walking distance when you stay at this 1916-built charming home. Guests who stay herein this completely private third-floor apartment get a queen-size bed, private bath, shared bath, shared kitchen and dining area, and Wi-Fi. Many traveling nurses at Yale University Hospital stay here, as well as students and professionals. You’ll have your own mini-fridge and microwave in the apartment’s living room for quick meals and also have access to the home’s full kitchen, library, living room, and solarium as shared spaces.
Water Forest Retreat Octagon - Norwich
This unique octagonal tiny house that’s 144 square feet in size sits on 100 acres of forest land. It’s an ideal place to relax, snowshoe, make art, gaze at the stars, write, and watch the wild animals. The octagon house has electricity but no running water. Enjoy the hiking trails, try your luck with some catch-and-release fishing, and head over to Gardner Lake State Park about 15 minutes away. The octagon house has a composting toilet, and the outhouse has an electric heater for the winter months.
Lakeside Cabin on Beach Pond with Sauna - Voluntown
It’s also fun to rent a cabin in Connecticut for your getaway. This one has three bedrooms and one bath, and it is a camp cottage built in the 1960s. It has two bedrooms and sleeps four people, while there’s also a detached bunkhouse with three single beds if your group is larger. From here, you are within walking distance to trails and get to enjoy a peaceful lakeside location. The sauna is available year-round, the cabin has propane and electric heat, and the cabin has everything you need to cook meals.
