Yes, you can smoke at São Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH) — in the open air at the designated curbside areas outside the terminal, on the departures and arrivals levels. Brazilian federal law (Lei 12.546/2011) keeps every enclosed public space smoke-free, so the terminal is entirely non-smoking; plan to light up before you clear security.
Congonhas is São Paulo’s close-in domestic gateway, about 8.7 km from the city centre, and Brazil’s second-busiest airport by passenger numbers. It handles a heavy schedule of domestic flights — including the famous Ponte Aérea air bridge to Rio de Janeiro — and carries a large share of the country’s business travellers each day. The airport has been operated by Aena Brasil since late 2023 and has seen renovation work under the concession, but no indoor smoking facility has been added.
Where to Smoke
Smoking at CGH is outdoors only, landside, at the marked curbside areas outside the passenger terminal. Step out through the main doors, move clear of the entrances, and you are free to smoke in the open air.
Departures level
The most convenient spot for departing passengers is the curbside outside the check-in hall, at the departures drop-off. Smoke here before you join the security queue — once you are airside there is nowhere inside to light up.
Arrivals level
Arriving passengers can smoke in the open air just outside the arrivals exit doors, at the kerb where the taxis and ride-hail cars wait. This is the quickest place to reach after you collect your bags.
Because Congonhas is a compact, single-complex airport with a tightly packed flight schedule, keep an eye on the time: the walk from the curb back through security and to the domestic gates is short, but the security lanes can be busy at peak business-travel hours.
After Security
There is no smoking area past security at Congonhas — no enclosed room and no open-air airside terrace. Federal law prohibits indoor smoking rooms at Brazilian airports, and CGH has none. If you are connecting or waiting airside and need to smoke, you will have to exit to the curbside area and then re-clear the security screening, so leave yourself plenty of time before boarding.
Vaping
Vaping is treated the same way as cigarette smoking: outdoors only, never inside the terminal. Brazil bans the sale, import and advertising of e-cigarettes under ANVISA rules, so devices are not sold at the airport, though carrying one for personal use is not criminalised. Use the curbside areas if you vape.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor terminal | No | Smoke-free under Brazilian federal law |
| After security / airside | No | No smoking room or open-air airside area |
| Outdoor (landside) | Yes | Curbside areas on the departures and arrivals levels |
For Brazil’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Brazil airport guide.