Kazakhstan permits designated airport smoking rooms, so Almaty — the country’s largest airport — keeps an indoor smoking room after security plus lounge smoking rooms, even after opening a new international terminal in 2024, and Astana’s Nursultan Nazarbayev International has an enclosed airside room in each of its two terminals. The catch for vapers: Kazakhstan has banned e-cigarettes nationwide.
For international travel through Kazakhstan, Almaty (ALA) is the busiest gateway; Astana (NQZ) is the capital’s airport.
How Kazakh Airport Smoking Works
Kazakhstan allows designated smoking rooms at its airports; the general indoor ban on smoking in public places covers everywhere else:
- An indoor smoking room after security in Almaty’s international departures
- Enclosed airside rooms in both Astana terminals, linked by an airside walkway
- Extime lounge smoking rooms (lounge access)
- Outdoor designated areas landside
- E-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco are banned nationwide (sale, import, distribution) since 2024 — heavy penalties
The Hubs
Almaty International Airport (ALA). The largest airport in Kazakhstan, with a new international Terminal 2 opened on 1 June 2024 and the original building (Terminal 1) converted to domestic flights. Almaty’s airside smoking room in international departures sits on the lower level of the departures concourse by traveller reports; the location shifted with the new terminal, so follow the signage. The Extime business and VIP lounges have dedicated smoking rooms, the domestic terminal keeps its own airside room, and outdoor designated areas are landside at the kerbside.
Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ), Astana. The capital’s gateway runs two terminals joined by an airside walkway, and Astana’s enclosed airside smoking rooms are listed among the passenger amenities in both — travellers place the Terminal 1 (international) room behind the large staircase to the upper floor and the Terminal 2 (domestic) room on the 2nd floor. Landside smoking is outside the building; Astana’s winters fall well below −30 °C, so the airside rooms are the practical choice once you are through security.
Tips for Smokers at Kazakh Airports
- Almaty and Astana both have airside indoor smoking rooms — you can smoke without leaving the secure zone
- The Extime lounges also have smoking rooms if you have access
- Do not bring a vape to Kazakhstan — e-cigarettes are banned nationwide with heavy penalties
- The airside room may have moved with the 2024 terminal — ask staff if you can’t find it
Kazakhstan Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security
| Airport | After security | Indoor room | Outdoor area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Almaty International Airport (ALA) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) | Yes | Yes | Yes |