Yes, you can smoke at Cibao International Airport (STI) — outdoors, landside, away from the terminal building. Dominican Republic law (Ley 48-00) bans smoking only inside enclosed public and private spaces, and it requires those institutions to set aside a place for smokers, so an outdoor spot exists somewhere on the property; the airport’s own site does not publish exactly where. Both of the terminal’s lounges explicitly rule out smoking.
Cibao International serves Santiago de los Caballeros, the Dominican Republic’s second-largest city, and is the country’s second-busiest airport after Punta Cana, handling a little over 2 million passengers a year through a compact six-gate terminal. The terminal is currently being redeveloped, with a new building expected to open in 2026.
Before Security, Landside
Smoking at STI happens outdoors, away from the building. There is no published designated or marked area, so look for signage near the terminal entrance or ask an airport employee — a common approach at Dominican airports where Ley 48-00 obliges the operator to provide a smokers’ area without necessarily marking it on a public map. Do this before you check in, since the airport publishes no smoking facility past the checkpoint.
Sala Zafiro and Turquesa Lounges — No Smoking
STI’s two published lounges both rule out smoking. Sala Zafiro, the airside departures lounge on the second floor near the international gates, lists its policy as no smoking. The Turquesa Lounge, a landside facility open 24 hours opposite the lift after Immigration in arrivals, is also a no-smoking facility. Neither is an option if you’re hoping to smoke in comfort, so don’t plan a layover around them for that purpose.
After Security
No smoking facility is published for the airside departure concourse itself, beyond the no-smoking Sala Zafiro lounge. If you need a cigarette after clearing security, your only realistic option is to wait for your destination or a connecting airport with airside provision, such as Punta Cana’s open-air smoking areas or Santo Domingo’s indoor smoking rooms on the Dominican side.
Vaping
Dominican Republic law does not clearly regulate e-cigarettes, and STI has no published vaping-specific rule. Treat vaping the same as smoking — outdoors, landside — and carry any devices and spare batteries in your hand luggage, never in checked bags.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor, landside | Yes | No marked spot published; ask staff or check entrance signage |
| Sala Zafiro lounge (airside) | No | Airport’s own listing states no smoking |
| Turquesa Lounge (landside, arrivals) | No | Airport’s own listing states no smoking |
| Airside departure concourse | No | No smoking facility published after security |
| Vaping | Yes, landside outdoor only | No published rule; treated the same as smoking |
For the Dominican Republic’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Dominican Republic airport guide.