Quick answer. DUB has AIB and Bank of Ireland ATMs in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals halls, plus a Permanent TSB machine in the T2 ground transportation concourse. All three charge zero operator fee on foreign cards and use the actual Visa or Mastercard interbank rate. Ireland has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so BoA debit cards still pay the BoA-side 3 percent non-network surcharge, but the Irish side is free at any AIB, Bank of Ireland, PTSB, or An Post ATM. Skip the Travelex and ICE counters in arrivals (5 to 12 percent markup) and walk past the standalone Euronet units that have moved into post-Ulster-Bank gaps along the arrivals corridor. The Dublin Express airport coach, the Airlink 747 bus, and the Aircoach private services all accept contactless tap-to-pay (Dublin Express and Aircoach via in-vehicle terminals, Airlink 747 via TFI Tap), so you can leave the airport with zero euros and withdraw at any AIB or Bank of Ireland ATM in central Dublin once you arrive.
Where to get euro at DUB
DUB has the standard Irish airport mix: zero-fee AIB, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB ATMs inside T1 and T2 arrivals; a small number of Euronet standalone units that have moved into post-Ulster-Bank gaps in the ground-transport corridor; and the Travelex and ICE counters in arrivals. The cost math below assumes you withdraw EUR 100 starting from a USD account.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIB / Bank of Ireland ATM (DUB T1 and T2 arrivals) | T1 and T2 arrivals halls | EUR 0 operator fee + interbank rate | ~$108 + EUR 0 fee |
| Permanent TSB ATM (T2 ground-transport concourse) | T2 ground-transport level | EUR 0 + interbank rate | ~$108 + EUR 0 fee |
| AIB / Bank of Ireland ATM in central Dublin | After 30-min Dublin Express coach | EUR 0 + interbank rate | ~$108 + EUR 0 fee |
| Pre-ordered euros (CEI) | Delivered to your US address | ~2-3% | ~$110-112 |
| Travelex counter (DUB T1 and T2 arrivals) | T1 and T2 arrivals halls | 8-12% over mid-market | ~$117-121 |
| ICE Currency counter (DUB arrivals) | T1 and T2 arrivals near Travelex | 8-12% | ~$117-121 |
| Standalone Euronet ATM (DCC trap, ground-transport walkway) | Between arrivals and bus/coach pickup | EUR 1.99-3.50 + 4-12% DCC | ~$114-125 |
Where to find AIB and Bank of Ireland ATMs at Dublin Airport
Dublin Airport (DUB) is Ireland's main international gateway, handling roughly 30 million passengers a year through Terminal 1 (the older original terminal serving Aer Lingus short-haul, Ryanair, and most low-cost European carriers) and Terminal 2 (the 2010 terminal serving Aer Lingus long-haul, the US carriers United / American / Delta, plus most full-service European long-haul and connecting services). Both terminals have separate arrivals halls connected by a short covered walkway. The AIB and Bank of Ireland ATM concession dates back decades and survives despite Ulster Bank's 2023 exit from the Republic; the standalone Euronet machines that have moved into Dublin city centre post-Ulster-Bank are less present inside DUB itself, but a small number have appeared in the ground transportation corridors. AIB (Allied Irish Banks) is Ireland's largest retail bank by branch count post-Ulster exit and charges zero operator fee on foreign-card withdrawals at the actual Visa or Mastercard interbank rate.
Terminal 1 (Aer Lingus short-haul, Ryanair, low-cost European carriers)
Ryanair short-haul, Aer Lingus short-haul, EasyJet, Wizz Air, plus most Schengen connections. T1 also serves the small number of long-haul Aer Lingus services that don't fit T2 slots
From T1 arrivals, the AIB ATM is on the wall directly after baggage claim on the way to the arrivals exit. Bank of Ireland is at the opposite end of the arrivals concourse. A standalone Euronet unit sits in the ground-transport walkway between the T1 arrivals exit and the bus/coach pickup points; walk past it to reach the AIB or Bank of Ireland units inside the terminal.
Terminal 2 (Aer Lingus long-haul, US carriers, full-service European long-haul)
Aer Lingus long-haul to North America, United, American Airlines, Delta, plus full-service European long-haul (KLM, Lufthansa Group, Air France) and selected long-haul carriers. T2 is the standard terminal for US travelers arriving on the transatlantic services
T2 arrivals exit into a long concourse with the AIB ATM at the airport side near the customs exit and Bank of Ireland units near the ground-transport exit. The Permanent TSB ATM sits in the ground-transport concourse near the bus and coach pickup zone. Walk past the Travelex counter that sits between baggage claim and the arrivals exit.
Do you actually need cash at Dublin Airport?
Almost never. The Dublin Express airport coach, the Airlink 747 bus, the Aircoach private services, every Dublin Bus and Luas tram in central Dublin via TFI Tap, every Uber via Free Now, and every Dublin taxi accept contactless tap-to-pay. Even airport vending machines and the WHSmith, SuperValu, and Insomnia Coffee outlets at DUB take contactless. The first cash-only situation you are likely to hit (a trad-music session tip jar in a pub like The Cobblestone or O'Donoghue's, a Galway Saturday Market stall, a Beara peninsula B&B that prefers cash) is well outside Dublin. Here is what works on tap:
Dublin Express airport coach (DUB to O'Connell Street, Trinity College, Heuston) (EUR 8-9 with contactless): Every 10 to 15 minutes, 25 to 40 minutes depending on stop. Contactless tap via in-vehicle terminal. Tickets also via the Dublin Express app..
Airlink 747 city bus (DUB to O'Connell Street and Heuston Station) (EUR 7 with TFI Tap): Every 15 minutes, 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. TFI Tap contactless via Dublin Bus card reader; same TFI Tap tap continues to all Dublin Bus, Luas, and DART services..
Aircoach private services (DUB to Grafton Street, Ballsbridge, southern suburbs) (EUR 9-12 with contactless): Every 15 to 30 minutes. Contactless via in-vehicle terminal or app. Useful for travelers staying in south Dublin or Killiney..
Dublin taxis (Free Now, Lynk app) (EUR 30-50 to central Dublin): Pre-book or use the rank at T1 and T2 curbside. Card readers in every vehicle. Free Now app handles payment in-app..
Uber (via Free Now branding) (EUR 30-50 to central Dublin): Card-only via the app. Pickup from the dedicated rideshare zone at T1 and T2 curbside. Bolt does not operate in Dublin..
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Dublin Airport to Dublin?
No. Dublin Express airport coach (DUB to O'Connell Street, Trinity College, Heuston) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order euro before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical euro to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 euro for taxis and tips on day one.
Which ATM is best at DUB arrivals?
The AIB and Bank of Ireland ATMs in T1 and T2 arrivals halls and the Permanent TSB machine in the T2 ground-transport concourse are functionally identical: same zero operator fee on foreign cards, same Visa/Mastercard interbank rate. The densest cluster is in T2 arrivals because of the higher international long-haul volume. If you can wait until central Dublin (20-40 minutes by coach or DART), the AIB, Bank of Ireland, and PTSB ATMs on O'Connell Street, Grafton Street, Dame Street, and at the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre all cost the same and are surrounded by the rest of the city centre.
Should I use the Travelex or ICE counters at Dublin Airport?
No. The Travelex and ICE counters in DUB arrivals (T1 and T2) are the source of consistent traveler complaints about poor rates. They post euros at 5 to 12 percent off the interbank rate plus fixed transaction fees. A real AIB or Bank of Ireland ATM is 30 to 60 seconds further along the arrivals concourse and will save you roughly EUR 10 on a typical EUR 100 withdrawal. The same applies to any Travelex standalone ATM you might see in ground transportation.
What about the Euronet machines near the ground transportation level?
Walk past them. Euronet has installed a small number of standalone ATMs inside DUB along the ground transportation walkways and near the bus/coach pickup points. They charge a EUR 1.99 to EUR 3.50 surcharge per withdrawal plus stage a hard DCC pitch ("charge in USD" at 6-12 percent over mid-market). The AIB and Bank of Ireland units are 30 to 90 seconds further along the same walking path and cost zero on the operator side. Look for the bank logo on the housing, not just the word "Cashpoint" or "ATM".
Can I leave DUB with zero euros?
Yes, and most travelers should. The Dublin Express airport coach and the Aircoach private service both run direct from DUB Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 curbside to multiple stops along O'Connell Street, Grafton Street, and the south Dublin city-centre hotel strip every 10 to 15 minutes, accepting contactless tap-to-pay via in-vehicle terminals. The Airlink 747 city bus to O'Connell Street and Heuston Station accepts TFI Tap contactless (any contactless Visa, Mastercard, or Amex). Uber via Free Now from the dedicated rideshare zone is card-only via the app. If you have a no-FX-fee card you can land at DUB, tap onto the Dublin Express or the Airlink 747, and withdraw at any AIB or Bank of Ireland ATM in central Dublin for the same zero operator-fee structure.
How do I get from Dublin Airport to central Dublin?
Three good options. The Dublin Express airport coach from T1 and T2 curbside to O'Connell Street, Trinity College, Heuston Station, and other city-centre stops runs every 10 to 15 minutes, takes 25 to 40 minutes depending on stop, and costs EUR 8 to 9 with contactless. The Airlink 747 bus to O'Connell Street and Heuston Station via the same route runs every 15 minutes for EUR 7 with TFI Tap contactless. Uber via Free Now or a regular Dublin taxi from the dedicated rideshare and taxi zones runs EUR 30 to 50 to central Dublin depending on destination and traffic, accepting contactless via in-car terminal or card-only via the app.
Can I order euros before flying to Dublin?
Yes, and Ireland is a reasonable pre-order destination because the post-Ulster-Bank rural ATM map is thinner than it was, and trad-music session tipping is consistently cash. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical euros to your US address in 2 to 5 days at rates roughly 2 to 3 percent over interbank. A small EUR 100 to 150 pre-order covers the first night plus pub-round cash and trad-session tips without needing a Dublin ATM withdrawal at all.