Dublin Airport says it hopes to announce plans soon for a new smoking area in one of its terminals, after years of passenger requests. The news comes as Ireland’s busiest airport continues to invest in passenger facilities following a record-breaking 2025.
A New Smoking Area Hoped For at Dublin Airport
Speaking in late December 2025, Graeme McQueen, DAA head of media relations, said: “We’re hopeful of being able to soon announce plans for a new smoking area in terminal – which has been a constant ask from passengers in recent years.”
Currently, Dublin Airport has just one smoking area after security – The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1. Travellers have described a 10-15 minute airside walk to it from Terminal 2; a reader on our Dublin page, departing from Pier 4 on 5 October 2026, was told by five staff members that there is no connection after security, and the airport publishes no route between the terminals for departing passengers, so Terminal 2 passengers should ask staff or smoke before security.
Record Passenger Numbers in 2025
The announcement comes as Dublin Airport revealed impressive statistics for 2025:
- Over 35 million passengers traveled through the airport
- Guinness sales topped €8 million – a testament to the popularity of Irish pints before flights
- More than 43 tonnes of Toblerone were sold in duty-free
- 409,000 litres of Irish whiskey purchased by travelers
Other 2026 Improvements
The smoking area is part of broader terminal improvements planned for 2026, including:
- A revamped duty-free area in Terminal 1
- A new lounge in Terminal 1, twice the size of the previous one
- An upgraded 51st and Green lounge in Terminal 2
In 2025, the airport completed the rollout of new C3 scanners in both terminals, removing the 100ml liquid limit – making travel significantly more convenient for passengers.
Current Smoking Options at Dublin Airport
Until the new smoking area opens, travelers can use:
- The Garden Terrace (Terminal 1) – An outdoor beer garden after security, located on the upper level near gates 101-224. Features a bar serving Guinness and other drinks.
- Outside Terminal 1 – Designated area outside the departures entrance, refreshed in September 2026
- Outside Terminal 2 – Designated area near departures entrance
Update (September 2026): The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1 is still the only airside smoking area at Dublin Airport. Answering “Are there smoking areas airside in Terminals 1 and 2?”, the airport’s own FAQ says: “Terminal 1’s Garden Terrace Bar has a smoking area” — no second airside facility is listed. Terminal 2 passengers should ask staff whether the airside walk to Terminal 1 is open, or smoke before security. We will update this article when the new area is announced.
Update (October 2026): Dublin Airport has refreshed the smoking area outside Terminal 1 departures with new seating and privacy walls. The Garden Terrace in Terminal 1 is still the airside smoking area.
For full details on where to smoke at Dublin Airport, see our complete Dublin Airport smoking guide.
Sources: Irish Examiner; Dublin Airport FAQs