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5 hour layover in Dublin airport

Hello, I'm pretty sure I know the answer is probably just suck it up & stay in the airport for 5 hours BUT thought I'd ask the question if there is anything close enough where we could go to leave the airport & walk around a nearby small town for a quick bite before heading back to the airport for our next flight? I have no idea if the Dublin airport is large & chaotic or not and if there is anything remotely close so just asking. THANK YOU.

Posted by
1420 posts

I'm going with no, stay put. But I also ask... are you on your way back to the US with this 5 hour layover? If so, you go through regular TSA equivalent and then you go the USA Preclearance/ Immigration so that when land back on US soil, it's like arriving on a domestic flight.

That takes more time, and also want to give you a heads up that once you go through USA preclearance, there's nothing there but small stands to buy a premade sandwich and vending machines. So eat in the main part of the terminal before USA Preclearance.

Posted by
6 posts

Thank you for your response. It is on our way to Rome so it's USA to Dublin with 5 hour layover on to Rome. Good to know for way home though flying through Dublin regarding food. I really appreciate that!

Posted by
1799 posts

Dublin airport is small and quite manageable. But whether you have a full 5 hours as a layover is an open question. If you leave the secure area you will go through immigration. The lines can be long depending on how many flights are arriving.

Malahide is a nice town about a 20 minute cab ride away from the airport. But between immigration, 40 minutes of transit, needing to go back through security to get to your next flight, you probably won’t have much spare time.

Posted by
962 posts

While I agree with previous post, especially if you have lounge access, I will say
that Dublin Airport is pretty close to the city, and you can get downtown (Temple
Bar, for instance) in less than 30 minutes on the airport bus. So if you do your
homework and don't mess up, you might have a couple of hours to stroll around.

Note that in addition to having to clear security again on the way back in, since you
are not in Schengen in Ireland, you may have a passport check station to clear (I'm
sure someone else can confirm).

I wouldn't worry too much about food if you're heading to Rome....

Posted by
298 posts

I'd say pay for a lounge. We spent several enjoyable hours in the Dublin airport in a lounge. The food and drink is free once you pay for the lounge and the seating is comfortable. Anything you need for a few hours.

Posted by
6 posts

Katie- How do I get the lounge access? I like this idea. Can I just do it when we are there at the airport? if so, do you happen to know the cost? And is it easy to find? THANK YOU for this!

Posted by
962 posts

Dublin Airport Lounges

Note that the 51st & Green Lounge is located after security preclear for going to the USA
so don't book that one. If you Google the lounges, a review or two will undoubtedly pop up.

Posted by
1799 posts

Look at shoeflyer's link. It is Dublin Airport's access to booking the airport's 4 lounges. All but the 51st&Green lounge will be accessible to you from the secure side of the airport. The two terminals are T1 for short-haul flights (probably from where your flight to Rome will depart) and T2 (probably where you will arrive from the US). There is an airside corridor between the two terminals. It is the corridor immediately before passport control and the corridor you will use to get to your Rome flight. One of the lounges is between the two terminals along that corridor.