Smoking Areas at Cape Verde Airports

English

Cape Verde’s airports permit open-air, landside smoking under national law (Law 8/X/2022), and every terminal is smoke-free inside. The Atlantic island nation off the West African coast runs a network of small airports serving substantial European tourist traffic and the Cape Verdean diaspora. The most-trafficked is Sal Amílcar Cabral International (SID), serving the popular Sal Island beach resorts; Praia’s Nelson Mandela International (RAI) serves the capital on Santiago Island; Boa Vista’s Aristides Pereira International (BVC) serves the beach-tourism island; and São Vicente’s Cesária Évora Airport (VXE) serves the northern islands.

The Major Airports

Amílcar Cabral International (SID). Sal Island’s main airport, named after the independence leader. Open-air smoking areas outside the single terminal, near the entrances and exits. Substantial European charter traffic.

Nelson Mandela International (RAI). Praia’s capital-city airport on Santiago Island. Open-air, landside smoking is permitted under Law 8/X/2022; the airport publishes no designated area, and no smoking facility after security is confirmed.

Aristides Pereira International (BVC). Boa Vista Island’s beach-tourism airport, the country’s third-busiest. Open-air, landside smoking is permitted under Law 8/X/2022; the airport publishes no designated area, and no smoking facility after security is confirmed.

Cesária Évora International (VXE). São Vicente Island, named after the Cape Verdean singer. Open-air smoking outside the small terminal, before security.

All four Cape Verde airports have been run by Vinci Airports under a concession since July 2023.

Tips for Smokers at Cape Verde Airports

All airports outdoor-only, before security — smoke outside the terminal doors and step clear of the entrances
Tropical Atlantic climate pleasant year-round
Portuguese-language signage; English at tourist airports
Cigarettes inexpensive in Cape Verde
Leave the vape at home — e-cigarettes are banned under Law 8/X/2022

Cape Verde Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

Airport	After security	Indoor room	Outdoor area
Smoking at Boa Vista Aristides Pereira International Airport – BVC	–	–	Yes
Espargos Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID)	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Praia Nelson Mandela International Airport – RAI	–	–	Yes
São Vicente Cesária Évora Airport (VXE)	–	–	Yes

Last updated: September 5, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Cape Verde airports?

Yes — open-air, landside smoking is permitted under Cape Verde’s Law 8/X/2022 at all four airports: Sal Amílcar Cabral (SID), Praia Nelson Mandela (RAI), Boa Vista Aristides Pereira (BVC) and São Vicente Cesária Évora (VXE). The terminals are smoke-free indoors; RAI and BVC publish no designated area, and no smoking facility after security is confirmed at any of the four.

Where can I smoke at Sal Airport (SID)?

In the open-air areas outside the single terminal at Amílcar Cabral International, near the entrances and exits, before you clear security. Sal is Cape Verde’s most-visited tourist airport, handling substantial European charter traffic. The terminal is smoke-free indoors; travellers occasionally describe an open-air spot past passport control, and it stays unconfirmed, so plan your cigarette landside.

Are there smoking areas at other Cape Verde airports?

Yes — São Vicente Cesária Évora (VXE) has outdoor smoking in the open air outside its small terminal, before security. Boa Vista’s Aristides Pereira International (BVC), the country’s third-busiest airport, permits open-air landside smoking under the same national law; the airport publishes no designated area.

Where can I smoke at Praia Airport (RAI)?

Open-air, landside smoking is permitted under Cape Verde’s Law 8/X/2022 at Praia’s Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI); the airport publishes no designated area, and no smoking facility after security is confirmed. RAI serves the capital on Santiago Island.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Cape Verde airports?

Cape Verde bans e-cigarettes under Law 8/X/2022, which prohibits their import and sale and bars their use in enclosed public spaces. Keep any device out of the terminal; conventional cigarettes are permitted only in the open-air landside areas.

What should I expect at Cape Verde airports as a smoker?

Expect open-air smoking areas at the terminal entrances, before security, and smoke-free terminals inside. Cape Verde’s tropical Atlantic climate is generally pleasant year-round (warm but moderated by ocean breezes). Bring water for daytime smoke breaks. Portuguese-language signage with English at Sal, the main tourist airport.