Yes, you can smoke at Keflavík International Airport (KEF) — there are designated smoking areas airside after security on the departures level, plus outdoor space landside outside the terminal entrances.
Keflavík is Iceland’s main international gateway and the hub for Icelandair and PLAY, so it carries heavy transatlantic-stopover traffic between Europe and North America. The airport is in the middle of a major expansion, so signage and the exact position of some facilities are still changing — check Isavia’s airport map or the on-the-day signage before you go looking.
After Security (Airside)
Isavia, the airport operator, officially designates the smoking and e-cigarette areas and publishes a map showing where they are; the marked areas sit on the departures/shopping level once you are through security. Travellers consistently report two main airside spots:
- Near gates A and C — behind the escalator up to the Saga lounge, next to the elevator, opposite passport control in the Schengen area.
- Near gate D — reached through a clearly marked door by the stairs down to the restrooms, opposite the ATMs.
There is also a designated area by the restrooms in the main departure hall, past the duty-free store. Iceland bans smoking in enclosed public spaces, so these designated areas open to the outside air rather than being indoor lounges. Travellers note you can usually carry a drink bought at a nearby bar into the area. Treat the precise locations as traveller-reported while the expansion continues, and follow the on-site signage, as some marked doors and spots are being relocated as new piers open.
Before Security (Landside)
Landside, smoking is permitted outdoors, outside the terminal entrances. Step away from the doors to a designated outdoor spot before lighting up. The terminal interior is smoke-free, so if you are arriving, meeting someone, or have not yet cleared security, use the outdoor areas.
Vaping and E-cigarettes
Iceland restricts e-cigarette use in public places the same way as smoking. Isavia marks designated e-cigarette areas on the same airport map — vape only there, not at the gates or elsewhere inside the terminal.
Summary table
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airside near gates A & C | Yes | After security, opposite passport control (Schengen area) |
| Airside near gate D | Yes | Through a marked door by the stairs to the restrooms |
| Departure hall by restrooms | Yes | Designated area past the duty-free store |
| Landside outdoors | Yes | Outside the terminal entrances |
| Vaping | Designated e-cig areas only | Same Isavia map; not at the gates |
For Iceland’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Iceland airport guide.