Smoking areas in European airports: A comprehensive summary

We have divided this list by country, and within that, by airport. We have compiled the biggest airports from each country, and we hope you find what you are looking for!

Before we get into it, did you know you may be eligible for up to 600€ in compensation for your delayed, cancelled, or overbooked flights, under the EU261 law? Check your flight now and see if your flight disruption can be compensated!

Now for airport smoking areas!

London Airports

Smoking area in London Gatwick Airport (LGW):

Gatwick airport has a smoking area, but only before you go through security. This applies both to North and South terminals. However, once you go through the security checks, there are no smoking areas, either inside or outside. These rules apply both to traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes or vapes.

The smoking area for the North Terminal is outside, near the main entrance. You will find clear signposts that indicate the smoking area. This area is located right next to the LGW P6 Parking.

There is a dedicated ashtray, and you can smoke freely here before entering the airport to go through security.

Similarly, the smoking area for the South Terminal is also located outside, near the entrance to the Departures / Arrivals area. If you are arriving at Gatwick, there are signs that lead you to the smoking area inside the airport, before the exits. It is located next to the South Terminal Bus Station. There is also a dedicated ashtray and roof in case it rains.

Once you pass security in Gatwick, there are no smoking lounges and no outside areas that allow you to smoke. If you want to smoke, you will need to arrange for this before you enter the airport. 

Smoking area in London Stansted Airport (STN):

Stansted has a dedicated smoking area outside the airport, before going through security. It is located near the Taxi Stand. This is similar to Gatwick. There are no smoking areas inside the airport in the departure area. This includes balconies, terraces, or smoking lounges. This includes both traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes or vapes.

Similarly to Gatwick, if you need to smoke before your trip, make sure to arrange this before you pass security!

Smoking area in London Luton Airport (LTN):

In line with the above-mentioned, Luton airport has a dedicated smoking area, but only before passing security. The airport has a no-smoking policy on the airside portion of the airport (past security and into the departures area).

You can find this area outside the terminal area, near the coach station. Make sure you use the time before your entry into the airport for your last smoke before your trip. Indeed, there are no smoking lounges or balconies in the departure area. This applies to vapes and e-cigarettes too.

Smoking area in London Heathrow Airport (LHR):

Heathrow has smoking areas in 2 of the 5 terminals within the airside portion of the airport. Terminals 2 and 4 have smoking areas: T2 has them near Gates A1 / A5, and T4 has an outdoor smoking area near the Burberry shop.

However, similarly to the other London airports, Terminals 1 / 3 / 5 do not have a designated smoking area in the airside part of the departures. This means you must have your cigarette before going through security if you are departing from these terminals. Again, this applies to traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapes.

United Kingdom Airports (excl. London)

Smoking area in Manchester Airport (MAN):

Manchester airport has smoking areas beyond security in two of the three terminals. If you are departing from Terminals 1 or 2 and you are a smoker, you’re in luck! Smoking is permitted beyond security in these terminals. This includes all types of smoking. However, vaping is not allowed inside the airport, you must go to the dedicated smoking area to vape. 

Terminal 1’s smoking area is located near the food court in the departure area, allowing smokers easy access to the smoking area.

Terminal 2’s smoking area is located near Gate 300, if you fancy a smoke before your flight. The same rules apply here for e-cigarettes or vapes: they can only be smoked in the designated area. There is no vaping allowed inside the airport.

On the other hand, Terminal 3 has no designated smoking area beyond the security gates. Like previously stated, the only smoking area is at the entrance of the departures, outside the airport. So unfortunately, if you are flying from Terminal 3, your last cigarette before your flight will have to be before security.

Smoking area in Birmingham Airport (BHX):

Birmingham airport only has a smoking area outside of the entrance, before the security checks. There is a smoking area outside the entrance where the Birmingham Airport Station is located. Next to the arrivals door there is a sign that leads you to the smoking area. This smoking area is for all types of cigarettes (traditional, e-cigarette, vape). 

Smoking beyond the entrance of the airport is prohibited for all types of cigarettes, so make sure to get in your last smoke before your trip at the entrance of the airport!

Smoking area in Bristol Airport (BRS):

Good news for smokers! There is a smoking area beyond security in Bristol Airport. It is located next to Gate 4, near the Starbucks. It is for all smoking types, and there are available ashtrays. Smoking outside of this zone is prohibited, including vapes.

Naturally, there is also a smoking area outside the airport, before the entrance to the building.

Smoking area in Glasgow Airport (GLA):

Unfortunately, there is no smoking area in Glasgow Airport beyond the security gates. You can find designated smoking areas in front of the main terminal building, but not beyond in the airside portion of the airport.

Smoking area in Edinburgh Airport (EDI):

Unfortunately, there is no smoking area inside the terminal. This means that you will have to have your last nicotine hit before the security checks, outside the main building. You will find designated smoker’s areas where ashtrays are available. Smoking vapes and e-cigarettes is prohibited inside the terminal, so make sure to smoke those outside too!

Smoking area in Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA):

There is a designated smoking area in Leeds Bradford Airport beyond the security gates! It is located near the sportsbar, on the ground floor. However, be mindful that there is a £1 charge to get in, so make it count! This also applies to vaping and e-cigarettes, as you are not allowed to smoke these in non-smoker areas. 

France Airports

Smoking areas in Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG):

Good news! There are many smoking areas beyond the security gates at CDG, you just have to watch out for the orange smoking signs. These areas are not posted on the official website, but you can find them on the airport map.

Here is a breakdown of where you can find smoker’s areas in CDG:

There are a few more smoking areas that haven’t been documented here, but this is an overview of the places you may find smokers lounges in CDG. 

Smoking areas in Paris Orly Airport (ORY):

There are designated smoking areas outside the security area, before entering into the airport proper. These are located outside the main entrance of the airport. 

Beyond the security, there are a few designated smoking areas airside. Here is a breakdown:

Orly Ouest (Orly West):

• Level 1: 
  • Next to the iCare lounge and the Ladurée, in Hall 4
  • Next to the Hop Air France Lounge, in Hall 2

Orly Sud (Orly South):

• Hall A, next to gate A10
• Hall A, between gates A26 and A27

Smoking areas in Lyon Saint-Exupéry Airport (LYS):

There is no designated smoking area inside the airport before the security check. However, there are certain designated smoking areas outside the building. There are bins with ashtrays in front of the building. Be mindful that smoking in public places is prohibited in France, so please smoke in a designated smoking area.

After the security checks, there is a smoking lounge in front of gate B02. There doesn’t seem to be any smoking areas for Terminal 2.

Smoking areas in Marseille Provence Airport (MRS):

There are designated smoking areas outside the main building, but not inside before you go through security. After security and after passport control, there is a smoking area towards gates 10-18.

Smoking areas in Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE):

As with all French airports, there are designated smoking areas outside the main building, before security checks. They are all equipped with ashtrays and are signposted. However, no smoking is allowed inside the building before the security checks.
After the security and passport control checks, there is one smoking area in Terminal 1, and one smoking area in Terminal 2. Terminal 1’s smoking lounge is located between gates A06 and A07. Terminal 2’s smoking lounge is located close to gate A13.

Dutch Airports

Smoking at Schiphol Airport (AMS):

There is a dedicated smoking area outside of the airport, on Jan Dellaertplein, before going through the security checks. However, once inside the airport, no smoking lounges can be found. Be sure to smoke your cigarette or any other smoke-producing nicotine product before entering the airport!

Smoking at Eindhoven Airport (EIN):

Smoking at Eindhoven Airport is only permitted outside the airport building, before entering the terminal. There is no smoking any type of cigarette (traditional, e-cigarette, vape) within the building. 

Spanish Airports

Smoking at Madrid Barajas Airport (MAD):

You are permitted to smoke anywhere outside the building before entering the airport, you are not restricted to smoking areas. Good news for smokers! However, it is always to be mindful of your surroundings, and respectful towards those around you who are not smokers.

Furthermore, within the airport, past the security checks, there is only one public smoking area, located in Terminal 4, near gate B26. It is a large terrace with chairs and vending machines. 

Smoking at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI):

Good news for smokers, Palma de Mallorca Airport offers smoking areas before and after security. Before security, as with most other European airports on this list, you can only smoke outside the building, however there are no designated smoking areas. You are free to smoke anywhere outside. There are benches to sit down and have a smoke before your flight.  Despite the more relaxed rules, it is important to be mindful of your surroundings, and be respectful towards the people that may be standing around you.

After security, there is only one designated smoking area in the airport, located in Module C. Once past the duty-free zone, there are signs that will direct you to the smoking area. Note that if you are leaving to a non-Schengen destination, you will be departing from Module A, and therefore will not be able to smoke once you’ve arrived in that Terminal. Make sure to smoke before you go through passport control. You will not be able to go back to Module C if you have done the passport control. 

Smoking at Ibiza Airport (IBZ):

There are no smoking facilities inside the airport, before or beyond security. However, you are free to smoke outside the main building before you enter the airport. There are designated smoking zones outside the airport, clearly signposted. However, contrary to other Spanish airports, you are not free to smoke anywhere.

Smoking at Barcelona Airport (BCN):

Outside the terminals, before the security checks, you are only permitted to smoke outside the building. There are designated areas to smoke, clearly signposted.

Once inside the building, past security, in Terminal 1, there is a smoking area near the McDonald’s. It is an outside terrace. 

Terminal 2 also has a smoking area, and coincidentally, it is also located next to a McDonald’s. It is also an outdoor terrace, there is sufficient seating and has a large surface area, so there is enough space for you to feel comfortable.

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