The Dominican Republic is unusually smoker-friendly at its biggest tourist gateway, partly thanks to architecture: Punta Cana’s terminals are open-air, palapa-style (thatched-roof) structures, so smoking happens at open-air spots airside rather than in sealed lounges. DR law also explicitly permits designated airport smoking areas.
For international travel through the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana (PUJ) is the busiest gateway; Santo Domingo (SDQ) is the capital’s airport.
How Dominican Airport Smoking Works
The Dominican Republic’s tobacco law bans indoor public smoking but explicitly permits designated airport smoking areas:
- Open-air airside smoking spots at Punta Cana (its terminals are open-air, so no enclosed indoor room)
- Outdoor smoking landside
- Vaping is not clearly regulated; travellers report it’s tolerated in the same open-air spots
- Vape devices must travel in carry-on, never checked
The Hub
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ). The country’s busiest airport and a major resort gateway, known for its open-air thatched terminals. Travellers report airside open-air smoking spots at Terminal B’s far-end bar/patio and in Terminal A near the food court (around Gate 8). Exact spots shift — ask staff.
Tips for Smokers at Dominican Airports
- Punta Cana’s open-air terminals mean you can smoke at open-air spots airside — handy for a resort departure
- Look for the Terminal B end-of-pier bar/patio or the Terminal A food-court area
- Carry vape devices in your hand luggage, never checked
- Exact smoking spots move around — ask an airport employee
Dominican Republic Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security
| Airport | After security | Indoor room | Outdoor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) | Yes | – | Yes |