Yes, you can smoke after security at Helsinki Airport (HEL). Finavia provides a few well-ventilated indoor smoking rooms in the gate areas after security, so you don’t have to leave airside to light up.
Helsinki Airport is operated by Finavia and serves as Finnair’s main hub for Asia–Europe transfer traffic. It runs as a single unified terminal, with Schengen and non-Schengen gates under one roof, which keeps connections short for transit passengers.
Where to Smoke
The smoking facilities are ventilated indoor smoking rooms located in the gate area, after security. They are available on both the Schengen side — travellers report rooms near Gates 12 and 28 — and the non-Schengen side. Finavia’s official wording is simply that there are “a few well-ventilated smoking facilities in the gate area,” so treat specific gate numbers as traveller-reported rather than fixed.
Under EU rules, no food or alcohol is allowed inside the smoking facilities, so finish your drink before stepping in.
There is also an airside café, the Toastery, with an outdoor terrace where travellers report being able to smoke. Landside, smoking is permitted only at marked areas outside the terminal building.
Vaping
Finavia’s official rule is that smoking indoors, including e-cigarettes, is only allowed in the designated smoking areas. So vape in the same gate-area smoking rooms, not at the gate or in the concourse.
Finland regulates nicotine strictly at the national level: only tobacco-flavoured e-liquids are permitted, nicotine is capped at 20 mg/ml, and sales are restricted to ages 18 and over.
Summary table
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor gate smoking rooms (airside) | Yes | Schengen + non-Schengen sides, after security |
| Outdoor café terrace (airside) | Yes | Toastery terrace, traveller-reported |
| Landside | Yes | Marked areas outside the terminal |
For Finland’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Finland airport guide.