Yes, Penang International Airport (PEN) has a smoking room airside — after security and immigration, near Gate A6 next to Old Town Coffee, in the international departures area. Landside outdoor smoking areas are also available at the terminal, so you can smoke before security too.
Penang International Airport is the main gateway to Penang island and one of Malaysia’s busiest airports, handling both domestic and international flights from a single terminal building. There is no separate second terminal — domestic and international operations share the one building, split across the departure levels. If you smoke, the most useful spot for an international traveller is the airside smoking room; domestic passengers and anyone still landside have outdoor areas to fall back on.
International Departures (Airside)
Once you clear security and immigration on the international side, keep walking to the right, past the shops, toward the far gates. The smoking room is near Gate A6, next to Old Town Coffee and just before the restrooms at the end. It is an enclosed, ventilated smoking room — the main after-security option for departing international passengers. Travellers reported it still open as of late 2025.
Because PEN is a compact single-terminal airport, the walk from the security checkpoint to the Gate A6 smoking room is short. If you have a connection or a wait before an international flight, this is the spot to plan around.
Travellers also report a designated smoking area at Level 2 of the International Departure area, near Gate 5. Signage inside the terminal points to the current smoking locations, so follow the marked smoking symbols once you are through to the departure floor.
Domestic Departures
On the domestic side, there is a reported designated smoking area at Level 2 of the Domestic Departure area, between Gates B5 and B7. Domestic passengers who prefer an open-air spot, or who are still on the public side of the terminal, can use the outdoor areas landside before passing through security.
Outdoor Areas (Landside)
Before security, smoking is at the marked outdoor areas around the terminal. The main designated outdoor spot is at the far end of the terminal past Gate 6 — keep going until you see the smoking sign. There are also open-air areas near the terminal entrances where smoking is permitted. These landside areas are the fallback for anyone who has not yet checked in or cleared security, and for arriving passengers who want to smoke before leaving the building.
Vaping
Vaping follows the same rules as cigarettes at PEN. Use the airside smoking room near Gate A6 or the outdoor areas landside; vaping is not permitted in the general terminal. Heated-tobacco devices are treated the same way — outdoor areas or the designated smoking room only.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| International airside | Yes | Smoking room near Gate A6, next to Old Town Coffee |
| Level 2 departures | Yes | Reported areas: International near Gate 5, Domestic between B5–B7 |
| Outdoor (landside) | Yes | Marked area at far end past Gate 6, plus areas near entrances |
| General terminal indoors | No | Smoking and vaping only in the designated rooms/areas |
For Malaysia’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our Malaysia airport guide.