--- title: "Smoking at Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport – VNS" canonical: "https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/india/vns-varanasi-lal-bahadur-shastri-international-airport/" language: "en-us" description: "Smoke at Varanasi Airport (VNS) in the smoking booth upstairs in the concourse after security, 50 m left of the stairs, or outside at the terminal entrance." lastmod: "2026-10-28T00:00:00Z" --- # Smoking at Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport – VNS Yes, Varanasi Airport (VNS) has a smoking booth inside the terminal after security: a reader described a long, narrow modern booth upstairs in the concourse, 50 metres to the left of the stairs, on 28 October 2026, and another reader called it a good smoking area on 19 September 2026\. Outdoor smoking spots are also available near the terminal entrance and parking lot. Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS) serves one of India’s most important religious and cultural cities, welcoming millions of pilgrims and tourists every year. The compact airport handles domestic flights to major Indian cities and limited international services. ### Inside Terminals The smoking booth is upstairs in the concourse after security, 50 metres to the left of the stairs — long, narrow and modern, as a reader described it on 28 October 2026\. Ask at the information desk if the signs do not show it. VNS is a smaller airport, and its smoking facilities are more basic than what you’d find at major hubs like Delhi or Mumbai. Under India’s Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), any smoking facility an airport provides has to be an enclosed, separately ventilated room, so the airside zone is a room rather than an open corner. Travellers placed it on the first floor in April 2018; the airport publishes no location of its own, and it is undergoing expansion to handle growing passenger numbers, so follow the signage on the day. Your own lighter is taken at security, and the wall-mounted electric lighters standard in Indian airport smoking rooms are the workaround — [here’s how the machines work](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/how-to-use-electric-lighter-indian-airports/), with video. ### Outside Terminals Outdoor smoking is permitted at designated spots near the terminal entrance. The parking area and forecourt provide open space where smoking is common. If arriving, the area outside the arrivals exit offers an immediate option. If your international itinerary routes through the Gulf, it helps to plan ahead for [the indoor smoking rooms you will find after security at Dubai International Airport (DXB)](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/uae/dxb-dubai-dubai-international-airport-smoking-zones/) on a long layover. For India airport smoking rules, the PECA vape ban, lighter-machine instructions, and other rules, see our [India smoking guide](https://www.airportsmokingzones.com/india/). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I smoke inside Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)? Yes — a reader described a long, narrow modern smoking booth upstairs in the concourse after security, 50 metres to the left of the stairs, on 28 October 2026, and another reader called it a good smoking area on 19 September 2026\. The airport publishes no location of its own, so follow the signs or ask staff. ### Where are the smoking zones at Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri Airport? After security, upstairs in the concourse: a reader placed the smoking booth 50 metres to the left of the stairs on 28 October 2026\. Outside, designated areas are near the terminal entrance and parking lot. Check signage or ask staff for directions. ### Is there a smoking area after security at Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)? Yes — upstairs in the concourse, a long, narrow modern booth 50 metres to the left of the stairs, as a reader described on 28 October 2026\. The airport is undergoing expansion, so follow the signs or ask staff if it has moved. ### Can I vape at Varanasi Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (VNS)? E-cigarettes and vaping devices are completely banned in India. They will be confiscated if found at any Indian airport, including Varanasi.