Art appreciation
It might surprise you that a terminal building can double as an art gallery, but in T2, you can see the acclaimed Faces of Ireland exhibition by Kevin Abosch. The exhibition is comprised of 250 large photo portraits of people of all ages from all over Ireland and from all walks of life.
Play pool
Play like Tom Cruise in The Color of Money at the back of the Oak Café Bar in Terminal 2. Its dramatic wooden installation adds to the ambience.
Up close and personal with planes
The R108 (old Airport Road) runs parallel to one of the runways, where you can get a fantastic view of aircraft taking off and landing. It’s around a 30-minute walk from the terminal, so great if you have time to kill before your flight.
Catch some zees
There are plenty of comfortable seats for snoozing, but if you really want to zone out, head for the lounge seating area in T1. You’ll find colourful pods recessed into the wall where you can find your inner zen.
Executives Lounges
Both terminals have executive lounges that are free for club-class passengers. Other travellers can enter for a modest fee. These lounges offer complimentary food, drink, newspapers and magazines for all visitors.
What’s more, the lounges have a business centre with computer access and the lounge in Terminal 2 even has showers in case you need to freshen up during a long layover.
The US preclearance lounge in T2 (51st & Green) is now available to all passengers for a fee and is the closest to an active runway, so it offers a comfortable location for plane-spotters.
Take a loop around The Loop
Dublin Airport’s shopping area, known as The Loop and accessible in both terminals, boasts great savings on high-street prices for fragrances and cosmetics. Get advice on which Irish Whiskey to choose or have fun sampling the latest designer perfumes. If you’d like some help with your purchases, you can book a personal shopper to assist you. Phone +353 1 8145735 or email personalshopper@theloop.ie to book your helper and feel like a VIP.
Ease the tension
Jo Malone, which is located in The Loop, offers a free arm and hand massage, which is perfect if you’ve been lugging heavy bags or unruly children around.
Get camera-ready
Aveda offers free, three-minute hair fixes for both men and women, so whether you need to de-frizz or add some volume, they’ll have you looking fabulous in no time. If you’d like to make your eyes pop and even out your skin tone, you can book a make-up experience at MAC. They offer free walk-in demos or you can pay to have a full makeover with tuition.
Make a toast with bubbly
If you’d like to give your trip an impressive start with a taste of luxury, pop along to Flutes Champagne Bar in T2. Here you can find an array of champagnes and sparkling wines to quaff while watching the hustle and bustle of a busy airport.
Let the children play
Dublin Airport is very family-oriented with both terminals providing soft-play areas in convenient spots near places to eat. Allowing the little ones to let off steam before travelling can really pay dividends, especially if you have a long flight ahead of you.