Smoking Areas at Ireland Airports

Ireland’s one after-security smoking spot is The Garden Terrace at Dublin Airport (DUB) — an outdoor beer garden on the upper level of Terminal 1, near gates 101-224, reachable airside from both terminals and served by a small bar. Everywhere else, smoking is at the outdoor areas by the terminal entrances: Dublin’s own landside spots, Cork (ORK) and Shannon (SNN).

Ireland was the world’s first country to implement a comprehensive national indoor smoking ban — the March 2004 Public Health (Tobacco) Act took effect on 29 March 2004, banning smoking in all enclosed workplaces including airports, restaurants, and pubs. This made Ireland a pioneer that other countries followed. For airport smokers, the consequence is that every Irish smoking area is open-air; the terminals themselves are smoke-free throughout.

Dublin Airport (DUB)

Ireland’s primary international gateway. Two terminals (T1 and T2). After security, The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1 is the airport’s only smoking area — an outdoor beer garden on the upper level near gates 101-224, behind Starbucks off Food Court 2, open to passengers from both terminals through the airside connection (allow 10-15 minutes each way from T2). Landside, outdoor smoking areas sit at the arrivals and departures entrances of both terminals. Dublin also runs a US pre-clearance facility: once you enter that zone there are no smoking facilities and no way back out, so have your last cigarette on the terrace first.

Cork Airport (ORK)

Southern Ireland’s main airport. Outdoor smoking areas at the terminal entrances, landside before security.

Shannon Airport (SNN)

Western Ireland, historically a transatlantic refuelling hub and now a major US-direct airport (serving the US Pre-clearance facility for outbound passengers). Outdoor smoking areas at the terminal entrances, landside.

Tips for Smokers at Irish Airports

All Irish smoking areas have been open-air since the 2004 indoor ban
Dublin’s Garden Terrace (T1, upper level, gates 101-224) is the country’s only after-security smoking area
Connecting through Dublin from T2? Allow about 30 minutes round trip to the terrace and back
At Cork and Shannon, smoking means exiting security — plan for a 3-hour-plus layover
Cigarettes in Ireland are among the world’s most expensive (~€16-18/pack)
Vaping and heat-not-burn follow the cigarette rule: designated areas only
US Pre-clearance at DUB and SNN has no smoking facilities and no way back out

Ireland Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

Airport	After security	Indoor room	Outdoor area
Dublin Airport (DUB)	Yes	–	Yes

Last updated: September 2, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Irish airports?

Yes — at designated outdoor smoking areas. Dublin (DUB) has The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1, an outdoor beer garden on the upper level near gates 101-224 that sits after security and is reachable airside from both terminals; Dublin, Cork (ORK) and Shannon (SNN) all have outdoor areas at their terminal entrances landside. Ireland’s pioneering March 2004 indoor smoking ban — the world’s first national workplace smoking ban — closed the indoor smoking lounges, so every Irish airport smoking area is open-air.

Where can I smoke at Dublin Airport (DUB)?

At The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1, an outdoor beer garden on the upper level near gates 101-224 — after security, follow the signs for Food Court 2, take the escalator up and look behind Starbucks. It is the airport’s only after-security smoking area and is reachable airside from Terminal 2 as well, about 10-15 minutes each way. Landside, outdoor smoking areas sit at the arrivals and departures entrances of both terminals. The US pre-clearance zone has no smoking facilities and no way back out.

Are there smoking areas at Cork and Shannon airports?

Yes — Cork (ORK) has outdoor smoking areas at its terminal entrances, and Shannon (SNN), historically a major transatlantic refuelling hub and now serving direct US routes, has the same arrangement. Both are landside, before security, in keeping with the open-air-only pattern the 2004 law created.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Irish airports?

Yes — vaping is allowed in the same designated smoking areas as cigarettes: The Garden Terrace after security at Dublin, and the outdoor areas at the terminal entrances at Dublin, Cork and Shannon. Irish law on indoor vaping is more relaxed than UK law; airport operators still set their own policies, and Dublin Airport keeps vaping to those designated areas. Heat-not-burn devices such as IQOS follow the same rules.

Can I smoke during an Irish airport layover?

Yes — at Dublin, The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1 is airside, so a connection needs no exit and no re-screening; from Terminal 2 the airside walk runs about 10-15 minutes each way, so allow around 30 minutes round trip. At Cork and Shannon a smoke break means exiting the secure zone and re-clearing security, realistic only on layovers of three hours or more.