Yes, you can smoke at Belo Horizonte Confins Airport (CNF) — at the designated open-air areas outside the terminal, on the curbs by the departures and arrivals doors. Brazilian federal law (Lei 12.546/2011) bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces, so the terminal is smoke-free and there are no indoor cabins; plan to smoke before you clear security.
Tancredo Neves International Airport, branded BH Airport and known locally as Confins, is the main gateway for Belo Horizonte and the state of Minas Gerais, handling around 11 million passengers a year. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are joined into a single integrated building — T1 handles most domestic flights and the newer T2 handles international traffic — with departures on the upper floor and arrivals on the ground floor.
Where to Smoke
Smoking at CNF is outdoors only, landside, at the marked areas outside the terminal building. Step out through the doors, move clear of the entrances, find a designated spot, and you are free to light up.
Departures level (upper floor) — landside curbs
The check-in halls and security checkpoints sit on the upper floor. Before you pass through security, smoke at the open-air kerb outside the departures doors. Once you are through screening, there is no way back to a smoking spot without leaving the secure area, so have your last cigarette here.
Arrivals level (ground floor) — landside curbs
Baggage reclaim and the exits to ground transport are on the lower floor. The open-air area outside the arrivals doors is the natural place to smoke when you land, before you pick up a taxi, bus, or ride to the city. It is a short step from the carousels to the curb.
After Security — Airside
There is no smoking area after security at Confins. The airside boarding area, gates, and lounges are entirely smoke-free, in line with the national indoor ban, and the airport does not operate an open-air airside terrace. If you are connecting through CNF or have a long wait before boarding, the only way to smoke is to exit to the landside curbs and then re-clear security — allow enough time to pass through screening again before your flight.
Vaping
Vaping follows the same outdoor-only rule as cigarettes at CNF — never inside the terminal. Use the designated open-air areas outside the doors. Brazil’s health agency ANVISA bans the sale and import of e-cigarettes nationwide, so you cannot buy a vape or refills at the airport; bring your own device only within the personal-possession allowance.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor terminal (T1 & T2) | No | Smoke-free under Brazil’s federal indoor ban |
| After security / airside | No | No smoking room or open-air terrace past screening |
| Departures curb (landside) | Yes | Designated open-air area outside the upper-level doors |
| Arrivals curb (landside) | Yes | Designated open-air area outside the ground-level doors |
For Brazil’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Brazil airport guide.