Yes, you can smoke airside at Santo Domingo Las Américas International Airport (SDQ) — there are enclosed indoor smoking rooms after security near the A gates, so you can light up once you have passed the checkpoint. Designated outdoor smoking areas also sit landside outside the terminal, on the Arrivals and Departures levels.
Las Américas (José Francisco Peña Gómez), operated by Aerodom, is the capital’s main international gateway and the country’s second-busiest airport, handling around 5.5 million passengers in 2024. Unlike Punta Cana’s naturally ventilated, thatched-roof palapa halls, SDQ has conventional air-conditioned terminals, so its smoking happens in sealed indoor rooms rather than at open-air spots.
Smoking After Security (A Gates)
Most of SDQ’s smoking options are airside, near the main satellite concourse (gates A2–A6). After immigration, heading right toward the A gates, travellers consistently report a Camel-sponsored smoking room on the left — an enclosed indoor room you can use once you are past security. Further along, past the shopping area, a tapas bar on the left has a large smoking room of its own, though it typically closes around 8–9pm, so it suits earlier departures.
For a more comfortable option, the airside Sala Caribe VIP lounge on Terminal A’s second level has a separate smoking room among its facilities. It runs 24 hours and is open to Priority Pass, LoungeKey and Diners Club members (or on paid entry), which makes it a reliable fallback if the concourse rooms are busy or shut for the night. Concourse B (gates B1–B4) is more limited, so smokers routing through the B gates should plan to use the A-side rooms before heading to their gate.
Because these are enclosed rooms rather than the open-air spots at Punta Cana, treat exact locations as traveller-reported and confirm with staff on the day — the airport is expanding, and facilities can move. If you want to compare the two Dominican gateways, see Punta Cana’s open-air smoking spots.
Smoking Landside (Arrivals & Departures)
Before security, smoking is outdoors only. SDQ provides designated outdoor smoking areas outside the terminal building on both the Arrivals level (Level 1) and the Departures level (Level 3), so you can step out for a cigarette on either the drop-off or pick-up side. Arriving passengers can use the Arrivals-level areas on the way out to ground transport; departing passengers can smoke at the Departures-level areas before checking in and clearing the checkpoint.
Vaping
Dominican Republic law does not clearly regulate vaping, and travellers report it is tolerated in the same smoking areas used for cigarettes. Carry vape devices in your hand luggage — never in checked baggage.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor rooms airside (A gates) | Yes | Camel-sponsored room + tapas-bar room, after security, traveller-reported |
| Sala Caribe lounge (Terminal A, L2) | Yes | Separate smoking room; Priority Pass / LoungeKey / Diners Club or paid entry |
| Outdoor landside | Yes | Designated areas outside the terminal, Arrivals (L1) and Departures (L3) |
For the Dominican Republic’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Dominican Republic airport guide.
Useful Links
Aerodom – Las Américas International Airport (official operator)