11 of the World’s Best Cabins for Stargazing
From treetop dwellings to glass retreats, these cabins make it easy to wish upon a star.
As daylight wanes and the nights grow longer, add stargazing to your list of evening activities. If you’re dreaming of getting away, these cabins will leave you feeling moonstruck—and they’re perfect for social distancing, to boot.
A Prefab in the Italian Countryside
Immerso Glamping, a 65-square-foot prefab structure designed by Italian architects Fabio Vignolo and Francesca Turnaturi, is located in the Piedmont region of Italy. With a simple palette of birch plywood and plexiglass, the cabin was inspired by the architects’ experience designing easy-to-assemble, flat-packed cabins for disaster relief. You can book it on Airbnb for around $90.
Courtesy of Marco Rostagno
Clad in translucent polycarbonate siding and topped with a steel roof, this wood-frame structure opens up to a wraparound deck and panoramic views of California’s Yucca Valley. The off-grid, solar-powered cabin has just enough room for a bed—a kitchen and bath are housed in separate nearby structures.
Courtesy of Sam Friedman
Watch the Northern Lights from the comfort of your warm bed at Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland. Designed by the Estonian company ÖÖD Homes, the two 2,000-square-foot prefab cabins are thoughtfully made for small-space living. Each has a bedroom, living room, bathroom, and kitchen.
Courtesy of Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland
Experience Norway’s splendor in one of Livit’s sleek Birdbox cabins tucked away in remote areas like Fauske and Langeland. The Norwegian company also has two prefabs available for purchase (choose between 76 or 131 square feet) with the option for a totally turnkey cabin.
Courtesy of Livit
A quick 20-minute boat ride from Helsinki, this cliffside A-frame can be rented for $35 a night. Designed to have a minimal footprint, the plywood-clad Nolla Cabin has a triangular polycarbonate window overlooking the water and is simply yet comfortably furnished.
Courtesy of Neste
Another one of Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland’s stargazing cabins is just a quick 30-minute drive from Reykjavík at Hvalfjörður (Whale Fjord). The glass-encased vacation rental includes a hot tub, so you can take your stargazing outside.
Courtesy of Panorama Glass Lodge Iceland
Totally immerse yourself in nature with 180-degree views at Northern Ireland’s Finn Lough resort, which offers bubble dome glamping accommodations on 45 wooded and waterfront acres. Without WiFi and cell service, these futuristic dwellings are intended for travelers who truly want to unplug.
Courtesy of Finn Lough
Five tiny glass cabins on Sweden’s Henriksholm Island allow travelers to unplug from the noise of their technology-driven lifestyles. The "72 Hour Cabins" are Norwegian spruce structures that offer peace and quiet with minimally furnished yet cozy interiors.
Courtesy of Maja Flink
Take in the Northern Lights on the Norwegian archipelago of Fleinvær, where Fordypningsrommet has four unique sleeping cabins for rent, along with other structures that house a kitchen, bath, sauna, and studio. It’s the perfect getaway for a small group, as you can rent the property (and nine structures) for a week at $4,275.
Courtesy of Pasi Aalto
The 7th room in Northern Sweden’s Treehotel is a two-bedroom treehouse located high in the canopy of a pine forest. Its treetop positioning makes for ideal views of the Northern Lights. There’s also a giant hammock that stretches between the two bedrooms, so fearless travelers can sleep beneath the stars.
Courtesy of Johan Jansson
For the nature-loving traveler, The Edward Bed & Breakfast in Prince Edward County, Ontario has a glass-and-wood cabin for rent with a neighboring bathhouse. The cozy inn provides everything from breakfast to camp gear, so you can pack light.
Courtesy of Brooke Stephenson of @foundmythrill