Yes, you can smoke at Almaty International Airport (ALA) — there is an indoor smoking room after security in the international terminal, dedicated smoking rooms inside the Extime lounges, and outdoor designated areas landside outside both terminals. Kazakhstan permits designated airport smoking rooms, so transit passengers can smoke without leaving the secure zone.
Almaty is the largest and busiest airport in Kazakhstan. It now runs on two buildings: the new international Terminal 2, opened on 1 June 2024 and operated by TAV/Extime, and the original terminal (Terminal 1), which was converted to handle domestic flights. Each has its own smoking provision, so where you smoke depends on which terminal your flight uses.
International Terminal (Terminal 2)
Terminal 2 is the modern glass building that handles all international departures and arrivals. Once you clear passport control and security, an airside smoking room is available in the departures concourse. Travellers report it on the lower level of the departures area; because the layout changed when the terminal opened in June 2024, follow the in-terminal signage or ask staff at an information desk for the current location.
If you have lounge access, the Extime Business Lounge — reached by turning left after security and taking the lift up to the mezzanine level above the main concourse — has its own enclosed smoking room. The connected Extime VIP Lounge (entered through the separate VIP door on the north side of Terminal 2, with private check-in and security) shares that smoking room. Both are airside, so they suit passengers on a layover.
Domestic Terminal (Terminal 1)
The older terminal now serves domestic flights and keeps a smoking room for departing passengers past security. Passengers with lounge access can also use the smoking room in the domestic Extime VIP Lounge, which has its own street-level entrance between Terminals 1 and 2 with private check-in and screening.
Outdoor Areas and Landside
Before security at either terminal, smoking is straightforward: use the outdoor designated areas at the kerbside, outside the terminal doors. This is the simplest option for arriving passengers and anyone not yet through security.
Vaping
IMPORTANT: Kazakhstan has banned the sale, import and distribution of e-cigarettes, vapes and heated tobacco nationwide (effective 2024), with heavy penalties; supply is black-market only. Do not bring a vape into the country. The airport smoking rooms are for combustible cigarettes only.
Summary table
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| International airside smoking room (T2) | Yes | Departures concourse, lower level (traveller-reported) |
| Extime lounges airside (T2) | Yes | Business + connected VIP lounge share a smoking room; access required |
| Domestic terminal (T1) | Yes | Airside smoking room + domestic Extime VIP Lounge room |
| Outdoor landside | Yes | Kerbside designated areas outside both terminals |
| Vapes | Banned | Prohibited nationwide |
For Kazakhstan’s airport smoking rules and the nationwide vape ban, see our Kazakhstan airport guide.