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 joins the European airports with indoor smoking after security — see Zurich Airport’s many indoor smoking lounges after security and Vienna Airport’s airside smoking rooms in the Terminal 3 piers.
Helsinki Airport is operated by Finavia and serves as Finnair’s main hub for Asia–Europe transfer traffic. Since the multi-year terminal expansion finished, it runs as a single unified terminal, with Schengen and non-Schengen gates under one roof, which keeps connections short for transit passengers. Finavia’s official wording is simply that the airport is non-smoking with “a few well-ventilated smoking facilities in the gate area,” and its interactive airport map marks five of them — two on the Schengen side and three on the non-Schengen side. Follow the map or the on-site signage for the nearest current room.
Smoking on the Schengen Side (Gates 5–36)
The Schengen departure area has two indoor smoking rooms, both marked on Finavia’s airport map. One sits by Gate 12, next to the Brew’d bar; the second is a level above the concourse near Gates 28-29, by the bookshop and the toilets. Both are enclosed, ventilated rooms, and either one lets you smoke airside after security without heading back out to the terminal entrance.
Because the rooms are set slightly off the main walkway, allow a few extra minutes to reach one and return to your gate, especially if you are boarding soon.
Smoking on the Non-Schengen Side (Gates 37–55)
Passengers on long-haul and non-Schengen flights are served by the far end of the terminal, where Finavia’s map marks three rooms. The largest is by Gate 50, next to Burger King and the Finnair Service Desk — a roomy, well-ventilated lounge that transfer passengers use between Asian and European connections. A smaller indoor booth sits near Gate 40, opposite the Duty Free shop, and a third room is a level above the Gate 43-45 area, by the toilets.
This side is where most Finnair intercontinental departures gather, so the Gate 50 room is the handiest option if your onward flight is to or from Asia.
Outdoor Terrace and Landside Smoking
If you prefer fresh air airside, the Toastery Cafe, Bar & Terrace by Gates 20-21 has an outdoor terrace where travellers smoke, and no purchase is required to step out. Finavia lists the terrace as open around the clock, weather permitting, and it is a rare open-air option inside the secure zone.
Landside, before security or on arrival, smoking is at marked areas outside the terminal building only — the entire indoor landside area is smoke-free.
Finland’s Tobacco Act (549/2016) bars serving or consuming food and drink inside a smoking room, so finish your coffee or beer before stepping in.
Smoking During an Asia–Europe Layover
Helsinki’s whole appeal for smokers is that the airside rooms exist on both sides of passport control. Finnair funnels a large share of Europe-to-Asia traffic through HEL, and many of those connections are too tight to leave and re-clear security. Because there are ventilated rooms on the Schengen side (Gates 12 and 28-29) and the non-Schengen side (Gates 40, 43-45 and 50), you can almost always find one near your connecting gate without leaving the secure area.
Vaping
Finavia’s official rule is that smoking indoors, including e-cigarettes, is only allowed in the designated smoking rooms. Vape in the same gate-area rooms as cigarettes, not at the gate or in the concourse. Finland’s national vape rules are strict — the details are in our Finland guide linked below.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen gates (airside) | Yes | Indoor rooms by Gate 12 and above Gates 28-29, after security |
| Non-Schengen gates (airside) | Yes | Indoor rooms by Gate 50 (next to Burger King), Gate 40 and above Gates 43-45 |
| Outdoor café terrace (airside) | Yes | Toastery terrace by Gates 20-21, no purchase needed |
| Landside | Yes | Marked areas outside the terminal only |
For Finland’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Finland airport guide.