Dublin Airport has two passenger terminals and a single airside building. After your flight lands, you walk to immigration, collect your bag, exit through the green channel, and step into the public arrivals concourse. Taxis wait directly outside both terminal doors. Pre-booked private hire drivers wait inside the arrivals hall holding a name board. The whole sequence, gate to driver, usually takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on the queue at passport control.
This guide walks through that journey end-to-end, from the moment the wheels touch the runway to the moment the car pulls away. It is written from the operator side of the trade, so the small things tourists usually miss — the right meeting spot in Terminal 2, the Port Tunnel routing to the north side, the missing Terminal 3 — are called out where they matter.
How Dublin Airport’s terminals are laid out
Dublin Airport (DUB) has Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There is no Terminal 3 — if a booking confirmation or transfer instruction mentions one, it is a mistake. The two terminals are about a five-minute walk apart along a covered link, and the multi-storey short-term car park sits between them.
Airlines split across the two buildings:
- Terminal 1 serves Ryanair, easyJet, Aer Lingus Regional, Lufthansa, KLM, British Airways shorthaul, and most low-cost European carriers.
- Terminal 2 serves Aer Lingus mainline, US flights (Aer Lingus + United), Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and most transatlantic + long-haul carriers.
Check your boarding pass or your airline’s app for the terminal — it is printed in the gate information. If you are meeting someone, ask which terminal their flight comes in to before you set off.
Step-by-step: from landing to in the car
Step 1 — Walk to immigration
After deboarding you follow signs for “Baggage Reclaim” and “All Arrivals”. US-bound passengers on Aer Lingus pre-clear customs in T2 before departure — that does not affect your arrival into Dublin. Irish and EU/EEA passport holders use the e-passport gates. Non-EU passport holders go to the staffed immigration desks. Queues at peak times (early morning + late afternoon) can be 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 2 — Collect your bag
Check the overhead boards for your flight number — they tell you which carousel your bags are coming to. If your luggage is missing or damaged, the lost-baggage desk for your airline is signposted from each baggage hall.
Step 3 — Exit through the green channel
The green channel is for passengers with nothing to declare. Walking through it is your customs clearance. If you have items to declare (most travellers do not), follow the red channel signs to the customs desk. Allowances for EU and non-EU arrivals are posted on the wall.
Step 4 — Step into the public arrivals hall
This is the first place you can be met. In Terminal 1 the meeting and information desk is straight ahead as you exit. In Terminal 2 the meeting area is in the centre of the first-floor lounge. Both have screens listing arriving flight times and digital signage for transport links.
If a friend or family member is collecting you, agree on a meeting spot before you fly. The information desk in T1 and the centre of the T2 meeting area are the obvious landmarks because they do not move.
Step 5 — Meet your driver (or take the rank)
If you have pre-booked a private hire car with Irish Ride or another licensed Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) operator, the driver waits inside the arrivals hall holding a board with your name. Look for the board, not for a uniformed driver — there is no standard uniform across operators.
If you have not pre-booked, walk out through the main exit doors. The Terminal 1 taxi rank is immediately outside, beside the short-term car park. The Terminal 2 taxi rank is directly outside the main arrivals doors at the same level. A marshal usually waves the front taxi forward. Quoted fares are metered, not flat-rate, and every licensed Irish taxi has accepted card payments since 01 September 2022 under the National Transport Authority’s cashless rule.
Step 6 — Drive away
Pre-booked drivers will already know your destination and route. Hailed taxis will ask. For north-side hotels or anything north of the M50, ask for the Port Tunnel — it is a tolled tunnel and shaves 15 to 25 minutes off rush-hour routes into Dublin city centre. For destinations south or west of Dublin, the M50 ring road is the standard route; the toll at the West-Link section (between junction 6 and junction 7) is automatic and paid by the driver, then added to the final fare. Confirm toll handling with your driver up front — most pre-booked operators quote a fare inclusive of tolls.
Where to meet for the smoothest pickup
A common arrivals mistake is to leave the meeting area to grab a coffee or use the toilet. Drivers cannot leave the meeting zone to look for you because of how the airport polices the arrivals concourse. If you need a few minutes, message the driver first — most pre-booked operators including Irish Ride share a driver mobile number once the booking is confirmed.
The single best meet-and-greet point in Terminal 1 is directly under the arrivals information desk. In Terminal 2 it is the centre of the first-floor meeting area, near the food concessions. These two spots are the ones every regular Dublin Airport driver knows.
Picking someone up yourself
Both terminals have a short-term car park with hourly rates from €3. Block A at Terminal 1 has 450 spaces and is drive-up only — you cannot pre-book it. The multi-storey car park between the terminals has 1,500 spaces and is a five-minute walk to T1 or six minutes to T2. The Terminal 2 Short Term Car Park is on Level 3 of the multi-storey.
Drop-off is at the front of each terminal but is heavily timed and policed — a few minutes at the kerb only. For waits over five minutes, use the short-term car park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a Terminal 3 at Dublin Airport?
No. Dublin Airport has only Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There is also no Terminal 3 under construction. If your booking lists one it is an error — check with the airline.
How long does it take to clear arrivals at Dublin Airport?
Allow 25 to 40 minutes from wheels-down to the public arrivals hall, depending on immigration queues. Peak times are 06:00 to 09:00 and 15:00 to 19:00.
Where do pre-booked drivers wait?
Inside the arrivals hall, with a board showing your name. Terminal 1 drivers wait near the arrivals information desk. Terminal 2 drivers wait in the centre of the first-floor meeting area.
Where is the taxi rank at Dublin Airport?
Directly outside the main arrivals exit doors at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. There is a marshalled queue at busy times.
Can I pay a Dublin Airport taxi by card?
Yes. Since 01 September 2022 the National Transport Authority requires every licensed Irish taxi to accept cashless payments. Contactless, chip and PIN, and major mobile wallets are all standard.
What is the Port Tunnel and should I ask for it?
The Port Tunnel is a tolled tunnel connecting the airport corridor to Dublin Port and the city’s north quays. For destinations north of the M50 or in the north of the city it saves significant time in rush hour. The toll is added to the fare by the driver.
Where do I pick someone up if I am driving to Dublin Airport?
Use one of the short-term car parks. Block A at Terminal 1 (450 spaces, drive-up only) is closest to T1 arrivals. The multi-storey 1,500-space car park serves both terminals. Hourly rates start from €3.
