Yes, you can smoke at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). The airport reinstated designated indoor smoking booths after security in September 2023, and the enclosed glass cubes are available airside in Terminal 3 and Terminal 1 — recent traveller reports place the Terminal 3 booths around gates E3, E4 and D2. Landside, smoking is allowed at designated areas outside the terminals.
Ben Gurion is Israel’s main international gateway, sitting between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Terminal 3 handles the bulk of international traffic; Terminal 1 is the smaller low-cost terminal.
Terminal 3 — Smoking Booths in the E and D Gate Concourses
Terminal 3’s smoking facilities are enclosed indoor booths (glass cubes) placed airside, in the departures concourse between the central Duty Free plaza and the boarding gates. When the Israel Airports Authority reinstated smoking in 2023, the official plan called for three designated smoking areas in exactly that stretch — Duty Free to the gates — and that is where travellers keep finding them.
Recent sightings, newest first:
- Gate E3 — two basic cubes, reported in early 2025 and again as “back at E3” in March 2025
- Gate E4 — two glass boxes near the gate, reported in January 2025
- Gate D2 — four booths near the exit to the gate, reported in February 2024
The booths have relocated more than once since reinstatement, so treat these gate numbers as recent reports rather than fixed positions. From the Duty Free plaza, walk toward the E or D piers and follow the smoking signage; staff at the information desk can point you to whichever cubes are currently open. Shortly after the 2023 reinstatement some smokers also reported a small outdoor yard with seating near the Terminal 3 synagogue — the enclosed cubes by the gates are the reliable option.
Terminal 1 — Booths in the Low-Cost Terminal
Terminal 1, used mainly by low-cost carriers, also has airside smoking booths after security — travellers in mid-2024 described them as plentiful. One caveat matters here: Terminal 1 operates on-and-off. It closed entirely from late February 2026 during the conflict with Iran and reopened in stages — domestic flights from 28 June 2026, international departures from 1 July 2026, with the full departure process (check-in, security, passport control, Duty Free) running in the terminal again. When Terminal 1 is closed, its flights move to Terminal 3, where the smoking cubes above apply. Check which terminal your flight actually departs from before planning a cigarette.
Smoking on a Layover or in Transit
Connecting through TLV is straightforward for smokers: the booths in both terminals are inside the secure area, so transit passengers can smoke without exiting and re-clearing security. If you have a long layover and prefer fresh air, you can exit to the designated outdoor smoking areas in front of the terminal; allow ample time to re-clear Ben Gurion’s security screening, which is famously thorough and can be slow at peak times.
Landside — Before Security and at Arrivals
Inside the public halls, smoking is prohibited. Smoke at the designated outdoor areas outside the terminal buildings — by the departures drop-off and arrivals exits — before you check in or after you land.
Vaping
E-cigarettes are classed as smoking products under Israeli law and fall under the same indoor rules. Vape only inside the designated smoking booths or at the outdoor areas, not openly in the concourse.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor booths – Terminal 3 (airside) | Yes | Reported near gates E3 / E4 / D2; between the Duty Free plaza and the gates |
| Indoor booths – Terminal 1 (airside) | Yes | Enclosed booths after security; terminal operates periodically (reopened July 2026) |
| Terminal concourses and public halls | No | Smoke-free outside the booths; vaping follows the same rules |
| Landside (outside terminals) | Yes | Designated outdoor areas by the departures and arrivals exits |
For Israel’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Israel airport guide.