Dublin Airport (DUB) has two terminals, which are connected in both the public and transit areas.

You don’t need a bus to get between T1 and T2, and the walk itself takes about 10 minutes. However, from the furthest departure gates, you should allow up to 25 minutes’ walk.

If both flights are on the same booking, Dublin is one of the easier airports for transfers, and personally I much prefer it to, say, London Heathrow.

Follow the ‘Flight Connections’ signs; your luggage is usually transferred automatically, and you don’t need to leave the transit area when moving between terminals.

If you’ve booked two separate flights, the main factors to consider are your luggage, your boarding pass for the next flight and the time it takes to pass through Terminal 1.

Find a hotel near Dublin Airport

The airport is modern and well-organised overall. The longest walk is usually to Ryanair departure gates 101–121, where there is also a smaller selection of restaurants and shops. You can find an overview of restaurants, shops, lounges and other facilities in the section on Services at Dublin Airport.

Transferring between flights

At Dublin Airport, the terminal number itself does not determine the transfer process. Terminals 1 and 2 are connected via the transit area, and moving between them does not automatically require a new security check.

What matters is:

• where you’re travelling to
• whether you have a boarding pass for your connecting flight
• whether your luggage has been checked through to your final destination
• whether both flights are on the same booking or on separate tickets

Dublin is a very important transit hub, primarily thanks to Aer Lingus.

Overview of security checks by route

The following procedure applies to a guaranteed connection on a single booking with baggage checked through to your final destination.

Route	What to expect in Dublin
Europe → Europe or the UK	Passport control only
Europe → Canada	Passport control only
Europe → USA	security check + passport control (US Preclearance)
USA or Canada → Europe	passport control only

Transfer from Europe to the USA

This is the most administratively complex transfer in Dublin.

Please follow these steps:

1. After disembarking, follow the green ‘Flight Connections’ signs
2. Scan your boarding pass for your connecting flight
3. Go through passport control in the transit area
4. Go through the security check designated for passengers transferring to the USA
5. Go through US immigration, customs and agricultural checks, marked ‘U.S. Preclearance’
6. You do not need to collect your checked-in luggage if you have a guaranteed connection.

Upon arrival in the US, you are treated as a passenger on a domestic flight. You no longer need to go through US immigration or customs checks and can proceed straight to the baggage claim area or to your connecting flight.

Going through immigration checks at the time of your connecting flight saves a significant amount of time.

Flights via Dublin often go to airports such as New York JFK, New York Newark, Boston Logan, Chicago O’Hare or Washington Dulles.

Transfere from Europe to Canada

When travelling to Canada, there is no Canadian pre-flight security check.

The procedure is simpler:

1. Follow the ‘Flight Connections’ signs
2. Scan your boarding pass
3. Go through passport control
4. Proceed to the departure gate

You do not go through any further security checks and do not collect your checked-in luggage. You will only go through Canadian immigration and customs checks at your first airport in Canada.

This is the most common destination, so a guide to Toronto Pearson Airport may also be useful before your journey.

Transfaring from the USA or Canada to Europe

Upon arrival from North America, please follow these steps:

1. Follow the ‘Flight Connections’ signs
2. Scan your boarding pass for your European flight
3. Go through passport control in the transit area
4. Proceed directly to the departure gate

You will not need to go through security again, and you do not need to collect your checked-in luggage.

If you are travelling on to a country within the Schengen Area, you will only undergo Schengen entry checks at your destination airport. This is because Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area.

Transferring between two European flights

When transferring between two European flights, follow the ‘Flight Connections’ signs.

You will go through passport control but not security screening. This also applies when moving between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, provided you remain in the transit area.

Ireland is not part of the Schengen Area, so please have your travel document ready even when flying between two European countries.

Transferring between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2

The terminals are connected in two ways:

• in the public area via a pedestrian walkway; the journey takes approximately 5 minutes
• in the transit area via the Flight Connections area

If you have a guaranteed transfer and your luggage has been checked through to your final destination, follow the Flight Connections signs. You will walk between the terminals, and changing terminals does not require you to go through security again.

Connecting flights on separate tickets with hand luggage only

If you have a boarding pass for a connecting flight, you can usually use the Flight Connections area in the same way as passengers with a guaranteed connection.

The exception is a transfer via Terminal 1 outside the transfer corridor’s operating hours ( 06:00 to 13:00). In this case, you must:

1. Exit via the arrivals hall into the public area
2. Proceed to the correct terminal
3. Go through standard security screening
4. If travelling to the USA, you must also go through U.S. Preclearance

If you do not have a boarding pass and cannot obtain one online or at the transfer desk, you must also exit to the public area and check in again.

Personally, I wouldn’t allow less than 3 hours for this type of connection.

How much time do you need for a connection?

Dublin is one of those airports where I’m not at all worried about a short connection. From my own experience, I can confirm that if you have a boarding pass, your luggage is checked through to your final destination and you do not need to go through US Preclearance, you can easily complete the entire transfer in under 35 minutes.

Nevertheless, Aer Lingus officially recommends the following minimum times:

• 60 minutes from North America to Europe
• 60 minutes from Europe to Canada
• 75 minutes from Europe to the USA
• 45 minutes between two European flights

These figures represent the airline’s safety buffer, not the time you will actually spend travelling between flights. A typical guaranteed connection takes significantly less time, and I consider 60 minutes in Dublin, for example, to be perfectly comfortable.

Make sure you allow extra time, particularly when travelling to the USA, as you will need to go through security and U.S. Preclearance.

For flights on a single booking, you need not worry about a short connection. If your first flight is delayed and you miss your connecting flight, the airline will rebook you free of charge. Conversely, for separately purchased tickets, do not rely on the stated times – you bear the full risk of missing your flight yourself.

For separate tickets, I’d recommend allowing significantly more time:

• 2.5 hours if travelling with hand luggage only and a printed boarding pass
• 4 hours if you have checked-in luggage
• 4 hours or more before a long-haul flight to the US
• An overnight stopover before an expensive long-haul flight, if missing it would mean having to buy a completely new ticket

Cheap hotels near Dublin Airport

Connecting to a flight to the US and US Preclearance

Dublin is one of the few European airports where US immigration and customs checks take place before departure.

The U.S. Preclearance facility is located in Terminal 2 and is used by most direct flights from Dublin to the US.

During the check, you will complete:

• US immigration checks
• Customs declaration
• Inspection of imported food and agricultural products
• Any additional security checks

Upon arrival in the US, you will be treated as a passenger on a domestic flight. You will not need to go through US passport or customs control and can proceed directly to the baggage reclaim area or to your connecting domestic flight.

If you are travelling under the Visa Waiver Programme, you must have a pre-approved ESTA registration. Submit your application exclusively via the official ESTA website at least 72 hours before departure.

Eligible travellers, including ESTA holders, can also use the free Mobile Passport Control app, which can speed up the immigration process. The app is not a substitute for ESTA.

Once you have passed through U.S. Preclearance, there is a significantly smaller selection of restaurants and shops. If you have time, I recommend having a meal before entering this area.

Which terminal does my airline use?

Terminal allocation is based on the airline, not the destination. The exception is flights to the USA, which depart from Terminal 2.

Terminal 1

Ryanair and most other European, Canadian and Middle Eastern airlines operate from Terminal 1:

• Aegean Airlines, airBaltic, Air Canada, Air France, Air Transat, Aurigny, China Eastern, Croatia Airlines, Dan Air, Egyptair, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Finnair, FlyOne, Hainan Airlines, HiSky, Icelandair, KLM, Loganair, Lufthansa, Luxair, Norwegian, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Ryanair, SAS, SkyUp Airlines, SunExpress, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, Transavia, TUI, Turkish Airlines, WestJet and Widerøe

Terminal 2

Terminal 2 is mainly used by Aer Lingus and airlines flying to the US:

• Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Emerald Airlines, Emirates, Iberia Express, JetBlue, United Airlines and Vueling

This allocation is subject to change, so please check the terminal for your flight using the flight number on the official list of airlines before travelling.

Overnight layovers

Both terminals are open 24 hours a day, but there are very few comfortable places to sleep in the public areas. If you’re planning an overnight stopover, I’d recommend staying at one of the nearby hotels.

The nearest hotels are within walking distance, whilst cheaper accommodation is usually provided by the airport’s own shuttle service.

Find a hotel near Dublin Airport

If the overnight stay has caused a delay to your guaranteed flight, ask the airline for a hotel first. Only book your own accommodation if the airline refuses to help.

Are you travelling on from Dublin to the US or Canada?

Dublin is a common transit point for flights to North America. Before you set off, have a look at our handy guides, where we compare prices and journey times from the airport to the city centre:

• New York – a comprehensive guide to New York, transport from JFK Airport and transport from Newark Airport
• Chicago – a comprehensive guide to Chicago and transport from O’Hare Airport
• Boston – transport from Boston Logan Airport
• Toronto – transport from Toronto Pearson Airport

If you’re travelling outside the EU, you can download a data eSIM before you set off. Check out the latest Airalo discount codes.

Terminal map

The official interactive map of Dublin Airport shows your departure gate and the quickest route through the airport.

For short layovers, focus primarily on your departure gate number. This has a greater impact on the time required than the Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 designation itself.