Smoking Areas at Istanbul Airport (IST): Where to Smoke & Gate Locations
Quick answer: You can only smoke at Istanbul Airport (IST) in the designated open-air terraces, and they are all airside, past security. There are 13 in total — 10 on the international side and 3 on the domestic side. Smoking inside the terminal building is not allowed. Follow the signs marked “Terrace” or “Teras”, not “Smoking Area”; the handiest ones sit near Gates C1, D16, B1/B18 and across the F concourse.
Can you smoke inside Istanbul Airport?
No. Smoking is banned inside the terminal building everywhere except the designated terraces, which are open-air or semi-open spaces rather than enclosed rooms. Istanbul Airport provides 13 smoking terraces in total: 10 across the international airside and 3 on the domestic airside. They are free to use and stay open around the clock, so on a long layover you are never far from one. The key thing to know is that the signage points you to a “Terrace” (“Teras” in Turkish), not a “Smoking Area”, which is why many travellers walk straight past them. The table sums up the essentials.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| How many | 13 terraces — 10 international airside, 3 domestic airside |
| Where | Airside only, past security and passport control |
| Type | Open-air / semi-open terraces (no enclosed smoking rooms) |
| Inside the building | Not allowed anywhere |
| Cost | Free |
| Sign to follow | “Terrace” / “Teras” (not “Smoking Area”) |
Where are the smoking terraces at Istanbul Airport?
The terraces are spread along the airside concourses from A to F and at the junctions between the wings, so one is usually a short walk from your gate. Useful spots to aim for include the terrace near Gate C1 (next to the NapZone rest area), the one beside Gate D16, the terraces near Gate B1 and Gate B18, and several in the F concourse, including the F13 terrace and the spots between F12–F13 and F9–F10. Watch the overhead signs for “Terrace”, follow them to the windows, and you will reach an open-air deck. If you are unsure, any information desk or the IST mobile app can point you to the closest one.
| Area | Where to look |
|---|---|
| C concourse | Terrace near Gate C1, beside the NapZone |
| D concourse | Terrace next to Gate D16 |
| B concourse | Terraces near Gate B1 and Gate B18 |
| F concourse | F13 terrace, plus between F12–F13 and F9–F10 |
| Lounges | Outdoor smoking terrace inside the iGA lounges (lounge access needed) |
Is there a smoking area before security at Istanbul Airport?
Not inside. All 13 terraces are airside, which means you reach them only after security and passport control. Before security — in check-in, arrivals and the public landside areas — there is no indoor smoking, so your only option is to step outside the terminal building, where smoking is permitted away from the entrances. If you are arriving and craving a cigarette, the quickest option is usually to head outside once you leave the baggage hall rather than to look for a terrace, since the terraces sit on the departures side. The table compares the two zones.
| Zone | Where you can smoke |
|---|---|
| Landside (before security) | Outside the terminal building only; nothing indoors |
| Airside (after security) | The 13 open-air terraces across the concourses, plus lounge terraces |
Are there smoking terraces in the Istanbul Airport lounges?
Yes. Several of the airport lounges, including the iGA lounges past passport control, have their own outdoor smoking terrace, so you can rest, eat and smoke without leaving the lounge. There are lounges on both the international and domestic sides, and access comes through Priority Pass, DragonPass and similar memberships, an eligible airline ticket, or a pay-at-the-door fee. If a comfortable seat and a quiet smoke matter more than the open-air decks, a lounge is the better choice; our Istanbul Airport lounges guide lists which passes get you in, and the free NapZone rest areas sit right next to some of the terraces if you also want to rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can you smoke inside Istanbul Airport?
No. Smoking is not allowed anywhere inside the terminal building. The only places to smoke are the designated open-air terraces, and they are all airside, past security.
How many smoking areas are there at Istanbul Airport?
There are 13 smoking terraces in total: 10 on the international airside and 3 on the domestic airside. They are free and open around the clock.
Where are the smoking areas at Istanbul Airport?
They are spread across the airside concourses from A to F. Handy ones are near Gate C1 (beside the NapZone), Gate D16, Gates B1 and B18, and across the F concourse. Follow the signs marked “Terrace” or “Teras”.
Is there a smoking area before security at Istanbul Airport?
Not indoors. Every terrace is airside, so before security your only option is to step outside the terminal building, away from the entrances.
Are the smoking areas at Istanbul Airport free?
Yes, the open-air terraces are free to use. Some airport lounges also have a smoking terrace, but those need lounge access through a membership, ticket or entry fee.
Can you vape at Istanbul Airport?
Treat e-cigarettes and heated tobacco like cigarettes: use them only in the designated terraces, never inside the building. Note that Turkey restricts the sale and import of e-cigarettes, so bring your own device and supplies.
About the author. Anastasia Maisuradze writes about Istanbul Airport and travel across Türkiye, with a focus on practical, current airport guidance for connecting and departing passengers.
Smoking-terrace counts and locations were checked against Istanbul Airport information in June 2026 and can change. Terraces are occasionally relocated during construction, so confirm the nearest one on the IST app or at an information desk. This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the airport.
