Yes, you can smoke at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). After years of being completely smoke-free, the airport reinstated designated indoor smoking booths after security. These enclosed booths are available airside in Terminal 3 (and Terminal 1), so you can smoke between flights without leaving the secure area.
Ben Gurion is Israel’s main international gateway, and Terminal 3 handles the bulk of international traffic.
Where to Smoke
The smoking spots are enclosed indoor smoking booths (cubes) airside in Terminal 3, near the gates. Travellers have recently reported them around gates E3, E4 and D2 — but the booths have relocated since reinstatement, so treat those positions as recent reports rather than fixed locations and follow the signage. The official plan placed the booths between the Duty Free area and the boarding gates. Terminal 1 also has airside smoking booths. Landside, smoking is only allowed at designated areas outside the terminals.
For background: TLV was fully smoke-free from around 2020 until the Israel Airports Authority reinstated indoor smoking rooms in September 2023.
Vaping
E-cigarettes are classed as smoking products under Israeli law and are subject to the same indoor restrictions. Vape only inside the designated smoking booths, not openly in the concourse.
Summary table
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor booths – Terminal 3 (airside) | Yes | Reported near gates E3 / E4 / D2; between Duty Free and the gates |
| Indoor booths – Terminal 1 (airside) | Yes | Enclosed smoking booths after security |
| Landside (outside terminals) | Yes | Designated outdoor smoking areas only |
For Israel’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Israel airport guide.