Airbnb's 10 most exotic rentals around the world

The spaces for rent on Airbnb truly run the gamut. The lodging website lists everything from a spare bedroom to an empty apartment to a luxurious castle. But a doghouse?

If you dig a little deeper into the listings on Airbnb, you can find some truly unique opportunities for your next vacation digs—a place that will make you the hit of pretty much any cocktail party for the next few years.

As with most Airbnb offerings, the nightly rates vary wildly—and with more than 1 million listings, it's difficult to say with scientific certainty that these 10 homes are the oddest Airbnb listings—but they're certainly not the typical chocolate-on-the-pillow hotel room.

In fact, they are very likely to be unlike any place you've ever stayed.

Photo: The Dog Bark Inn, a bed-and-breakfast in Cottonwood, Indiana

—By Chris Morris, special to CNBC.com
Posted 24 July 2015

Lighthouse accommodations are more common than you might expect on Airbnb, but haunted lighthouses? Those are a bit more rare. Featured on the show "Ghost Adventures," this facility on the Long Island Sound was built in 1840. The area is known as Execution Rocks, where pre-revolutionary British soldiers would tie prisoners to the rocks at low tide, then slowly drown them as the tide rolled in. In the 1920s it was the dumping spot for a serial murderer, and before the facility became automated, Coast Guard members who worked there would swear they heard strange sounds and saw ghostly images.

Location: Port Washington, New York

Rate: $350 per night

Want a room in London with a view? This mini apartment set in the clock tower at St. Pancras Station looks out over St. Paul's Cathedral and Kings Cross Station in London. You'll generally share the apartment with the owner or other guests, but the facility can occasionally be rented out by one group and is ideal for parties.

Location: London

Rate: $240 per night

Buckhead is one of the social centers of Atlanta, but it's also the home to this suite of three connected treehouses, which are all connected by rope bridges. Furnished with antiques (including a 12-candle chandelier) and pillow-top beds, it's the sort of thing the Swiss Family Robinson dreamed about. And when nature calls in your in-town nature hideaway, there's a private bathroom available in the owner's nearby home.

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Rate: $350 per night

Looking for a getaway for a train enthusiast? This renovated coach is designed for couples. It's set on grounds that are sometimes occupied by wild peacocks and a variety of other birds. And it's just a short drive from the Malibu beaches and several state parks.

Location: Agoura Hills, California

Rate: $195 per night

You don't have to be an old lady with a large brood of children to live in this shoe. Described as a "retreat ideal for romantic weekends," this two-story cottage indeed looks like Paul Bunyon's footwear from the outside. It's nestled among a grove of hazelnut trees and offers courtyard dining options.

Location: Tasman, New Zealand

Rate: $204 per night

Don't expect to find a TV, Internet connection or even running water in this traditional Afghan dwelling—though you will find a portable toilet behind a curtain. Set in a tranquil garden and filled with memorabilia from the owners' world travels, it is a cozy spot for a single or couple, though that couple should be extraordinarily comfortable with each other before signing up.

Location: Nuremberg, Germany

Rate: $32 per night

You won't be trekking across the Oregon Trail in this 1920s sheep wagon, but it will make your stay in Wyoming much more authentic. Restored to include a bed, stove and the ability to use modern lighting, the covered wagon is nestled on a 30,000-acre ranch—a good base of operations for people who like to fish, hunt for rocks, walk amid the wildflowers or just enjoy the peace and quiet (except for the sounds of cows and sheep).

Location: Shirley Basin, Wyoming

Rate: $100 per night

You've tried king, queen, full and twin beds. Maybe even bunk beds. But have you ever slept in a beer-barrel bed? To be clear, this is a fairly normal room, with the usual TV, Internet access and shower, but the highlight is the gigantic beer barrel in the corner, where you sleep. Built in the 19th century and in use until 1995, it's the perfect place to have hoppy dreams. (As a bonus, there's also a barrel sauna on the property.)

Location: Ostbevern, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Rate: $112 per night

Staying in this tent is a fairly rustic experience, as you might expect. But it does come with some modern amenities, including a bed, safe and heat (in the winter). Situated at the foothills of Ritma Ruins, about two hours southwest of Jerusalem, the tipi is on a farm, which also includes a large balcony that guests can use for their events.

Location: Meitar, Israel

Rate: $121 per night

Sure, you could stay in a fancy hotel while in Napa, complete with a comfortable bed, daily massage service and a top-end bar offering the region's finest wines. Or if you like the idea of roughing it, you could pitch a tent in the grassless backyard of Steve, a local resident. You've got access to the bathrooms in his house as well as the kitchen and outdoor grills. Among the house rules? "Music is good. Jamming is encouraged." However, he warns, no tuba waltzes.

Location: Napa, California

Rate: $40 per night