Dominican Republic Airport Smoking Areas

By , Author, Air Travel Writer · Updated

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, and it too keeps airside smoking options.

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)
  • Enclosed indoor smoking rooms airside at Santo Domingo, near the A gates, plus a Sala Caribe lounge smoking 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.

Las Américas International Airport (SDQ). The capital’s Aerodom-operated gateway takes the opposite approach to Punta Cana: conventional air-conditioned terminals with enclosed indoor smoking rooms airside near the A gates — travellers report a Camel-sponsored room and a tapas-bar room — plus a smoking room in the 24-hour Sala Caribe lounge and outdoor areas landside.

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

AirportAfter securityIndoor roomOutdoor area
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ)Yes–Yes
Smoking at Santo Domingo Airport – SDQYesYesYes

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Punta Cana Airport (PUJ)?

Yes — Punta Cana’s open-air, thatched-roof (palapa) terminals have designated open-air smoking spots after security, so you can smoke airside. There is no enclosed indoor smoking room (the terminals are open-air), and the Dominican Republic’s law explicitly permits designated airport smoking areas.

Where can I smoke at Punta Cana Airport (PUJ)?

Travellers report an airside open-air spot at Terminal B’s far-end bar/patio (past the gates) and one in Terminal A near the food court (around Gate 8). Because the terminals are open-air, smoking is at open-air points rather than sealed lounges — ask staff, as exact spots shift.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Dominican airports?

Dominican law doesn’t clearly regulate vaping; travellers report it’s tolerated in the same open-air smoking areas. Vape devices must travel in carry-on, never checked baggage.

Is there smoking after security at Dominican airports?

At both main airports, yes — Punta Cana’s open-air airside spots sit after security, and Santo Domingo (SDQ) keeps enclosed indoor smoking rooms airside near the A gates, plus a smoking room in the Sala Caribe lounge. DR law explicitly permits designated airport smoking areas.

Does the Dominican Republic allow airport smoking areas?

Yes — the Dominican Republic’s tobacco control law bans indoor public smoking but explicitly permits designated smoking areas in airports.