At Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM), you can smoke in a designated airside area after immigration and security, an enclosed room in the landside Executive Lounge, or the outdoor area at the domestic terminal. Nepal’s law allows airport managers to designate ventilated smoking areas. Vaping is prohibited in public places, so leave the e-cigarette packed away.
Nepal Airports Compared: Before and After Security
Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.
| Airport | Before security | After security |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu (KTM) | Yes | Yes |
For international travel through Nepal, Kathmandu (KTM) is the airport that matters.
How Nepali Airport Smoking Works
Nepal’s Tobacco Product (Control and Regulation) Act bans smoking in public places but carves out an airport exception:
- An airport manager may designate a ventilated smoking area — Kathmandu has one airside
- The landside Executive Lounge has an enclosed indoor smoking room
- Vaping is prohibited in public places including airports — there are no vaping facilities
- The domestic terminal has an outdoor smoking area
The Hub
Tribhuvan International Airport (KTM). Nepal’s main international gateway. Travellers describe a designated smoking area in the international departure/gate-hold hall (on the far left when facing the gates), after immigration and security. The Executive (Radisson) Lounge has an enclosed indoor smoking room on the 2nd floor (before the final security check, lounge access required). The airside Horizon Lounge is non-smoking.
Tips for Smokers at Nepali Airports
- Kathmandu has an airside smoking area in international departures — you can smoke without leaving the secure zone
- The Executive Lounge smoking room is landside, before the final security check
- Vaping is banned in public places in Nepal — don’t rely on the smoking rooms for e-cigarettes
- The domestic terminal’s smoking area is outdoors